Can you die if you get stabbed in left armpit?

Medically speaking, any stab or serious wound to the body can kill or cause serious injury.

The most important factor in determining this is what internal damage the stab has done to the body. Internal damage may include arterial damage, venous damage, nerve ending damage and a lot more other complicated problems.

The main cause of death from stab wounds is severe bleeding and consequently developing hypovolemic shock. Hypovolemic shock is a form of shock where the a significant amount of blood loss has been suffered.

If you are stabbed in the armpits (axilla) or any other body part for that matter, apply firm pressure using a gauze dressing and raise it above the heart if it is a limb. If the blade is still embedded, DO NOT remove it. Simply pad around it and wrap a roller (crepe) bandage. Be prepared to see a jet of blood spurting from the wound if the blade has severed an artery. The blood from an arterial wound will be bright red and could spray more than a metre from the patient.

Any stab wound requires urgent medical intervention. Call the ambulance immediately and alert the ambulance personnel to the nature of the scene so they can inform the police.

If you have just been stabbed, remember that the attacker could still be lurking around. It is paramount that you alert both the police and ambulance to the scenario.