Utilizing your Aircare Access First Aid Kit, tape 3 sides of the occlusive dressing over the wound. This allows you to continue your assessment and provide necessary care for the patient.
IMPALED OBJECTS
Impaled objects are actually quite common and can range from bullets to pens to fish hooks to knives. Any object that penetrates the body is potentially a life threat. In most cases, more damage can result from removing an impaled object than from leaving it in place. Your priority should be to stabilize the object the way it was found until it can be removed at a hospital.
To stabilize an impaled object, you may need to hold it manually at first. Be careful to hold it as still as possible. Stabilizing the object further may take the help of a second crew member. Place bulky dressings, such as rolled towels, on all sides of the impaled object. Then, tape across the dressings to hold the object in place. These are worrisome injuries to the patient, so a little extra reassurance may need to be given as you monitor the patient’s CABs. Notify the PIC and call Aircare Access.
EYE INJURIES
Eye injuries pose special circumstances. Our eyes do not work independently of each other. When your left eye moves, so does your right. For this reason, it is imperative to stabilize the impaled object in the injured eye, then minimize movement of the uninjured eye by covering it.
A disposable cup works well to protect impaled objects in the eye. Simply place the cup over the object and the injured eye, securing it to the face with tape. A gauze pad can be placed over the non-injured eye to minimize movement.
Objects in the eye that do not penetrate are also very painful and can cause damage to the eye over time. To remove loose objects in the eye, flush the eye with copious amounts of water. Holding the eyelid open with your gloved hand, flow water from the bridge of the nose into the eye and off the side of the face. The eye will likely still feel irritated even if the object is gone.
AMPUTATIONS
Occasionally, trauma will result in the amputation of a body part. More often than not, fingers or toes are the body parts involved. In more serious cases, an entire extremity, such as arm or leg, may be involved. Your main priority is bleeding control and patient reassurance. Contact the PIC and Aircare Access.
Care for an amputated part is: 1. Gather the part(s) together. 2. Place them in a plastic bag. 3. Seal the bag.
4. Place the bag in a small amount of ice. DO NOT USE DRY ICE!
Advances in microsurgery often allow successful reattachment of amputated body parts, sometimes even hours after the injury. The key to successful reattachment is often directly linked to the care the body part received at the emergency scene. Again, your actions can make a difference!
DENTAL INJURIES
Dental injuries run rampant in summer months and affect mostly children. Injuries can include avulsed teeth, fractured teeth and soft tissue injuries. The oral cavity is extremely vascular and heals remarkably fast. Teeth, on the other hand, are a
Trauma 71
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101
