page_title: Exsanguination
section_title: Effects
hierarchical_section_title: Exsanguination / Effects
caption_attribution_description: Diagram of aortic aneurysm Figure A shows a normal aorta. Figure B shows a thoracic aortic aneurysm (which is located behind the heart). Figure C shows an abdominal aortic aneurysm located below the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys.
context_page_description: Exsanguination is losing enough blood to cause death. A person does not have to lose all of their blood to exsanguinate. People can die from losing half to two-thirds of their blood.
  The average adult has about 4 to 6 liters of blood in their body. The average man has more blood than the average woman, and people who weigh more or are taller than others have more blood. This means a person can die from losing 2 ¹/₂ to 4 liters of blood. To compare, this is five to eight times as much blood as people usually give in a blood donation.
  Children and babies have much less blood than adults, and can exsanguinate by losing much less blood than adults.
  Exsanguination is often called bleeding to death or bleeding out. It is a medical emergency.
context_section_description: If a person is losing blood very quickly (for example, from a broken aortic aneurysm), they will only be conscious for 20 seconds to a few minutes.  If blood loss is slower, and the person does not get medical treatment, they may be conscious for a few hours.  However, they will get more and more confused and tired as they lose more blood.  Eventually the person will go into a coma because there is not enough blood left in their body to bring oxygen to their brain.  Finally their heart will stop and they will die.
caption: Figure A shows a normal aorta. Figures B and C show aneurysms in parts of the aorta.  When an aneurysm breaks (like a popped balloon), a person can exsanguinate in just minutes.
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