Community First Aid & Safety Cuts, Scrapes, & Bruises Community First Aid & Safety

Cuts, Scrapes, & Bruises Blood- 60,000 miles of blood vessels Heart Arteries Veins Capillaries

Bleeding occurs when a blood vessel is torn Most bleeding will usually stop by itself with in a few minutes Severe bleeding can occur at the skin’s surface or below it

Stitches Uncontrollable bleeding Wounds that show muscle, bones, joints Large and deep puncture wounds Embedded objects Human / animal bites Needed when edges of skin do not fall together or when a wound is over an inch long

Types of Wounds Contusion (bruise) Abrasion (scrape) Incision (cut / laceration) Avulsion Puncture

Contusion (Bruise) Damage to soft tissues & blood vessels causes bleeding under the skin At first it may appear red Turn purple

Scrape (abrasion) Most common type of wound caused by skin that has been rubbed or scrapped away Usually painful because scraping away of outer skin exposes nerve endings

Incision (cut / laceration) May be jagged or smooth edges Commonly caused by sharp objects Can also be caused by a blow from a blunt object

Avulsion A cut in which a portion of the skin or other soft tissue is partially / completely torn away May hang like a flap Severed (finger)

Puncture Caused when a pointed object pieces the skin (nail, tack, bullet) An object that remains embedded in the wound is called an impaled object

Signs of Infection Swollen / redness Warm / throb / pain Pus discharge Fever, feel ill Red streaks The best initial defense against infection is to clean the area Soap (anti-bacterial) & water Tetanus (5-10 years)

Care for Infection Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin) Soak in warm water Elevate Change coverings If persists or worsens- seek a physician

Caring for Soft Tissue Injuries Closed Wound (internal injuries) Apply something cold to control swelling Signals of Internal Bleeding Tender, swollen, bruised Rapid / weak pulse Skin (cool, moist, pale, bluish) Vomiting / coughing up blood Excessive thirst Confused, faint, drowsy or unconscious Steps to Take:  Where there is severe bleeding from an artery, always control it by direct pressure and elevation, and then, only if necessary, at a pressure point, and only as a last resort use a tourniquet.  If a limb is involved, elevation will help to control bleeding.   Carefully cut or tear the clothing so that the injury may be seen.  If loose foreign particles are around the wound, wipe them away with clean material. Always wipe away from the wound, not toward it.  Do not attempt to remove a foreign object embedded in the wound, since it may aid the doctor in determining the extent of the injury. Serious bleeding and other damage may occur if the object is removed. Stabilize the object with a bulky dressing.  Leave the work of cleansing the wound to the doctor.  Do not touch the wound with your hands, clothing, or anything that is not clean, if possible, and do not pour water or any other liquid into or on the wound.   Immobilize the injured part, and keep the patient quiet.  Place a bandage compress or dressing over the wound, and tie it in place.  All dressings should be wide enough to completely cover the wound and· the area around it.  The dressing and bandage should be applied firmly and snugly, but should not be so tight as to affect the blood supply to the injured part.  The bandage should be securely tied or fastened in place so that it will not move.   There should be no loose ends that could get caught on any other object while the patient is being moved.  Protect all bandages, compresses, or gauze dressings by an outer bandage made from a roller or triangular bandage, except dressings for wounds of the eye, nose, chin, finger, and toe, or compound (open) fractures of the hand and foot when splints are applied. If a bandage is used, open it enough to cover the entire dressing.  Unless otherwise specified, tie the knots of the bandage compress and cover bandage over the wound on top of the compress pad to help in checking the bleeding.  Preserve all avulsed parts.   Calm and reassure the patient.

Caring for an Open Wound Control bleeding (sterile dressing-direct pressure) Raise / elevate above heart (if no broken bone is suspected) Apply bandage snugly over dressing (if bleeding does not stop apply additional dressing) If bleeding cannot be controlled, put pressure to supplying artery

Continued Call EMS Care for shock Wash hands after care Shock usually follows wounds, especially if much blood is lost. Give emergency care promptly, and administer oxygen.

Shock Shock is likely to develop in any serious injury / illness Life-threatening condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver blood to all parts of the body Blood flows to most important organs (heart, lungs, brain) can lead to death

Signals of Shock Restlessness / irritability Altered consciousness Nausea Pale, cool, moist skin Rapid breathing Rapid pulse

Caring for Shock Have victim lie down, elevate legs about 12” (unless you suspect head, neck, back injuries) Call 9-1-1 Control any external bleeding Help victim maintain body temperature Do not give food or drink Reassure victim

Special Situations

Severed Body Part Wrap the part completely in gauze or a clean towel. Wet the towel with cool water. Place the wrapped body part in a plastic bag & seal it shut. Place the sealed bag in to another bag or bucket filled with ice. Take the bag with the amputated body part to the hospital with the victim.

Embedded Objects Do not remove it Place several objects around object to support it Eye-cover both eyes

Organs that Break Through the Abdomen Carefully remove clothing from around the move Cover organs with a moist, sterile / clean dressing Cover dressing with plastic wrap Place a folded towel / cloth to keep warm