First Aid and CPR Chapter 10 Notes Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft Tissue Anatomy  This is your skin and muscles  Skin; composed of layers Epidermis; outer layer that protects from bacteria. Dermis; contains nerves, hair, roots, sweat, oil glands and blood vessels. Hypodermis; contains fat, blood vessels, and connective tissues. It insulates to help maintain body temperature.  Muscles; lie beneath the skin and make your body move.

Types of Soft Tissue Injuries  Closed Wounds Contusion or bruise  Open Wounds Abrasions Lacerations Avulsions Punctures  Burns Superficial burn Partial thickness burn Full thickness burn Critical burn

Closed Wounds  This is internal bleeding which causes swelling and discoloration.

Care for Closed Wounds  Direct Pressure  Ice; put something between ice a skin, do not ice longer than 20 minutes.

Open Wounds  Abrasion; skin that is rubbed or scrapped away.  Laceration; a cut which can have smooth or jagged edges and can be shallow or deep.  Avulsion; a cut where skin is partially or completely torn away. Amputation can result from a severe avulsion. The blood vessels retract.  Puncture Wound; the skin is pierced with a pointed object. Embedded object is an puncture wound where the object stays.

Bandages for Care  Depending on the type of wound you can use any of these dressings/bandages. Occlusive dressing; closes a wound and keeps any air from getting to it. Bandage; this is used to hold a dressing in place, apply pressure, and keep it clean from dirt. Adhesive Compress; a piece of gauze already attached to tape. Roller Bandage; rolls around a dressing to hold it in place. Elastic Roller Bandage; an ace bandage, gives support to control swelling.

Care for Minor Open Wounds  Use barrier between you and wound (gloves and gauze)  Apply direct pressure  Wash wound with soap and water  Apply triple antibiotic cream  Cover the wound with a sterile dressing and bandage

Care for Major Open Wounds  Call 911  Use gloves  Cover wound and apply pressure  Do not remove soaked bandages, apply more  Monitor abc’s and consciousness  Treat for shock  Keep patient from getting to hot or chilled  Wash hands after care

Care for an Avulsion  Call 911  Use Gloves  Wrap body part with sterile gauze  Place body part in a plastic bag  Place body part in ice to keep cool  Make sure part is transported with victim

Care for an Embedded Object  Call 911  Use Gloves  Do not remove object  Use bulky dressing to stabilize object  Control bleeding using a dressing and bandage  Wash hands after care

Burns  25 % of all tissue injuries  Severity; Temperature of the source of the burn Length of exposure to the source Location of the burn Extent of the burn Victim’s age and medical condition  Classified by hear, chemicals, electricity, radiation

Types of Burns  Superficial (first degree); involves only top layer, red and dry skin usually painful, heals in 5 – 6 days.  Partial-Thickness (second degree); involves epidermis and dermis, red skin with blisters and swelling, painful, heals in 3 – 4 weeks.  Full-Thickness (third degree); destroys all layers of skin as well as any to all layers underneath, black/charred skin, very painful, takes longer to heal.

Critical Burns  Hard to tell, Call 911 if; Trouble breathing Burn covers more than one body part or a large surface area Suspect burns to the airway Burns to the head, neck, hands, feet or genitals Has full thickness and in younger than 5 or older than 60 Burn is a result of chemicals, explosion, or electricity

Care for Burns  Check, Call, Care  Stop burning by removing victim from source  Check for life threatening conditions.  Cool the burn with large amounts of water  Cover burn with loose, dry sterile dressing  Prevent infection  Prevent shock  Keep victim from getting overheated or chilled  Comfort and reassure victim

Caring for Other Types of Burns  Chemical; Call 911 Flush burned area with cold water for 20 minutes If it is a dry chemical brush off excess then use water If it is an eye put affected eye lower when flushing

 Electrical; Turn off power source Be prepared to perform CPR or defibrillation Cover any burns with a dry sterile dressing Care for Shock Signs;  Unconsciousness  Dazed, confused behavior  Obvious burns on the skin  Trouble breathing or no breathing  Burns with entrance and exit wounds

 Radiation Burns; sunburns Treat similarly to other burns. Cool with water Stay out of sun If around radiation in your work place there should be policies in place

Assignment  Your assignment is to create a First Aid Kit for your car or your home. You need to include an inventory list that is taped to the inside of your kit so that when your kit is used you know what to replace. Make sure you include items for soft tissue injuries and musculoskeletal injuries (hint;use your book). You may include more than this if you feel it is necessary. This assignment is worth 40 points.