Wound: Encyclopedia II - Wound - First aid

Wound - First aid

Wound - Minor Open Wounds small cuts and grazes

Minor cuts and grazes are easily treated at home. The priority with minor wounds is to reduce the risk of infection.

1. The cause of the wound should be removed, or the casualty should be moved away and the dangerous area marked.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, dry them, and put on disposable gloves if available
3. Wash the wound gently with clean, potable water (alternatively a sterile saline solution may be used), and clean the surrounding area with mild soap and water.
4. Pat the wound dry with a clean gauze swab or similar clean, non-fluffy material.
5. Cover the wound with a dressing (for small cuts a sticking plaster is ideal). The wound should not be left open to the air.
6. If the bleeding does not stop, if there is a special risk of infection, or if the wound does not begin to heal within 48 hours, advise the injured person to seek medical attention.
7. Ask whether the casualty has been vaccinated against tetanus. If the injured person has never been immunised, or if he or she is unsure if the the course of vaccinations was completed, or if the last injection was more than ten years ago, advise the casualty to seek medical advice.

Wound - Severe/Major Open Wound

The priority with major wounds is to prevent further blood loss. Treat the casualty to control the bleeding, prevent shock, and call for help as soon as possible.

1. Emergency medical servicess should be called.
2. Disposable gloves should be used. The casualty's clothing should be removed to expose the wound.
3. Get the casualty to raise the wound above the level of the heart (if the wound is in a limb) and, if there is no object embedded in the wound, apply direct pressure to the area with their own hand.
4. Help the casualty to lie down (on a blanket or carpet to protect them from the cold). If shock is suspected, raise the casualty's legs and support them on a chair or similar.
5. A sterile dressing should be applied (or if none is available, an improvised dressing made from a clean towel or cloth). The dressing should be secured with a bandage that is tight enough to maintain pressure on the wound (but not so tight as to impair circulation beyond the wound).
6. If blood seeps through the first dressing, a second dressing should be applied on top of the first. If blood seeps through the second dressing, both dressings should be removed and a fresh one applied, with sufficient pressure applied.
7. The injured part should be supported in a raised position - a leg supported on a chair, or an arm rested across the chest (so that it is above the level of the heart).

Wound - If an object is embedded in a wound

If there is an object (for example, broken glass) embedded in the wound, or an open fracture where a broken bone sticks through the skin, pressure should not be applied over the object or the object removed. Treat as follows:

1. Put on disposable gloves, if available, to protect yourself from infection.
2. Press firmly on either side of the embedded object to push the edges of the wound together.
3. If the wound is in a limb, raise and support the limb above the level of the heart.
4. Help the casualty to lie down (on a blanket or carpet to protect them from the cold). If you suspect that shock may develop, raise the casualty's legs and support them on a chair or similar.
5. Build up padding on either side of the object (using dressing pads, rolled-up bandages, or similar), so that you are able to bandage over the object without pressing on it.
6. Summon an ambulance, if you have not sent someone to do so already (alternatively if the wound is minor, the wound is not bleeding heavily, and the casualty is comfortable, arrange to transport the casualty to hospital by another means). Monitor the casualty's condition until help arrives.

Wound - Minor Closed Wounds contusions

Ice (not applied directly to the skin as it causes frostbite) applied to the skin should ease any pain or swelling. Note that pain and swelling should be minor. If it is not medical attention should be sought to make sure that the wound is not more serious.

Wound - Major Closed Wounds hematoma and crushing injuries

1. Ice - put ice on the wound (recommended in instances of 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) Direct contact of ice with the skin is discouraged, as this may cause ice burns or abrasions. Wrapping the ice in a towel prevents this.
2. Compress - use a pressure dressing or manual compression to slow or stop bleeding (internal)
3. Elevate - if the injury is a limb, elevate injured tissue above the heart. This will help to keep the swelling down, which decreases pain.
4. Splint - If necessary, splint above and below the wound to slow or stop bleeding and to reduce pain.

Always be alert for shock in major closed wound patients. This can result from internal bleeding, so be sure to evaluate them for such.

A concussion is an injury to the brain, often resulting from a blow to the head, that can cause temporary disorientation, memory loss, or unconsciousness. If you or someone else has had a blunt force trauma to the head, seek medical attention immediately, because a concussion is a likely possibility, especially if they exhibit any of the signs listed previously.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "First aid", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki