1. Head and Spinal Injuries

2. Severe scalp wounds may be accompanied by:
Bleed profusely because the scalp has a rich blood supply and the blood vessels there do not constrict
Severe scalp wounds may be accompanied by:
Concussion
Skull fracture
Impaled object
Spinal injury

3. Care for Scalp Wounds
Control bleeding by gently applying direct pressure with dry, sterile dressing
If you suspect a skull fracture- apply pressure around edged rather than on the center of the wound
Keep head and shoulders slightly elevated to help control bleeding if no spinal injury is suspected
Seek medical care

4. Scalp Wounds Click to edit the outline text format
Second Outline Level
Third Outline Level
Fourth Outline Level
Fifth Outline Level
Sixth Outline Level
Seventh Outline Level
Eighth Outline Level
5/11/10

5. Recognizing a Skull Fracture
Difficult to determine except by X-ray unless the skull deformity is severe.
Signs and Symptoms of a skull fracture include:
Pain at the point of injury
Deformity of the skull
Bleeding from the ears or nose
Clear,pink,watery Cerebrospinal fluid leaking from ear or nose. (halo sign) on white cloth will form pink ring around slightly blood-tinged center
Discoloration around eyes (raccoon eyes)
Discoloration behind an ear (Battles sign)
Heavy scalp bleeding if skin is broken- may expose skull or brain tissue.

6. Recognizing Skull Fracture
Click to edit the outline text format
Second Outline Level
Third Outline Level
Fourth Outline Level
Fifth Outline Level
Sixth Outline Level
Seventh Outline Level
Eighth Outline Level
5/11/10

7. Care for Skull Fracture
Monitor the victim’s breathing and provide appropriate care
Stabilize the victims neck to prevent movement
Slightly elevate victims head and shoulders to help control bleeding
Cover wounds with sterile dressing
To control bleeding, apply pressure around edges of the wound.
DO NOT:
Stop the flow of blood from an ear or nose-could increase pressure within the skull
Remove impaled object
Press on fractured area

8. Brain Injuries Causes short-and long-term problems
Most are a result of motor vehicle crashes and falls
50,000 people die in the US of head trauma and 2x that have brain injuries that leave them with permanent damage
Brain injuries are difficult first aid emergencies to handle, victim is often confused, or unresponsive making assessment difficult
Brain will swell from bleeding when its injured
Unlike other tissues, however the brain is confined in the skull- interferes with brain functioning
Nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord unlike most other cells in the body, are unable to regenerate-once dead, they are lost forever and can not be replaced.

9. 3 Types of Common Occurring Brain Injuries
Concussion- temporary loss of brain function, usually without permanent damage
Contusion- bruising of brain tissue
Hematoma – localized collection of blood as a result of a broken blood vessel

10. Concussion
temporary loss of brain function, usually without permanent damage
No bleeding in brain occurs
Person can be unconscious or have amnesia
Longer the victim is unconscious, or the longer the memory loss lasts, the more serious the concussion
Unlikely-but can cause death
Grade 1- no loss of consciousness, symptoms or mental status abnormalities resolve in less than 15 minutes
Grade 2- no loss of consciousness, symptoms or mental status abnormalities last more than 15 minutes
Grade 3 – Any loss of consciousness

11. Concussion
Concussion
Football Concussion
Double KO

12. Care for Brain Injury Seek immediate medical care
Stabilize the victims head - Suspect a spinal injury in an unresponsive victim until proven otherwise
Grasp victims head over the ears and hold head and neck until EMS arrives
If long wait, kneel with victims head between your knees
Monitor victims breathing
Control bleeding
Brain-injury victims tend to vomit. Roll victim onto his/her side while stabilizing neck
Monitor level or responsiveness- best indicator of neurologic function

13. Further Care
Several signs appearing within 48 hours of a head injury indicate a need to seek medical care
Headache lasting 1 or 2 days or increases in severity
Nausea, vomiting
Drowsiness- wake victim every 2 hours to check consciousness and sense of orientation
Vision problems
Mobility
Speech
Seizures

14. Eye Injuries
Penetrating eye injuries: sharp object, such as knife or needle penetrates eye
Care:
Seek immediate medical care
Stabilize object

15. Blows to the Eye
Blows to the eye – blood vessels around the eye rupture
Care
Apply ice or cold pack for about 15 minutes
Seek medical care if there is double vision, or reduced vision

16. Cuts of the Eye or Lid Signs: Cut appearance of the cornea
Inner liquid filling of the eye
Lid is cut
Care:
If eyeball is cut do not apply pressure
If only eyelid is cut, apply sterile dressing with gentle pressure
Bandage both eyes lightly
Seek medical care immediately

17. Eye Avulsion Knocking the eye from its socket Care
Eye Avulsion Injuries
bone/photos-ecs70070f1- 78af8f4e205936f4.html
X_5zIXxKEU&feature=related
Basketball Eye Avulsion
ANtDOk6FCk
Knocking the eye from its socket
Care
Cover eye loosely with sterile dressing that has been moistened
Do not try to push eyeball back into socket
Cover undamaged eye with patch to stop movement
Seek medical care immediately

18. Broken Nose Signs Care Pain, swelling, and possible crooked appearance
Bleeding and difficulty breathing through nostrils
Black eyes appearing 1-2 days after injury
Care
Seek medical care
If bleeding is present give care as for a nosebleed
Apply ice
Do not try to straighten

19. Knocked-Out Tooth Common dental emergency
To prevent tooth from drying and protect ligament fibers from damage reimplantation needs to be done within 30 minutes
Care
Place rolled gauze pad in socket where tooth came out to control bleeding
Place tooth in Milk if available. Preferably whole milk
Take victim and tooth immediately to dentist

20. Broken Teeth Frequently broken by falls or direct blows Care
Gently clean dirt and blood from injured area
Apply ice pack on the face in the area of the injured tooth
Seek immediate dental care

21. Spinal Injuries
Spine- column of vertebrae stacked on one another from tailbone to base of the skull
Each vertebra has a hollow center through which spinal cord passes
*If a broken vertebra pinches spinal nerves, paralysis can result
A mistake in handling a spinal injury victim could mean a lifetime of paralysis for the victim
Falls
Diving accidents
Motor vehicle crashes

22. Recognizing Spinal Injuries
Pain radiating into arms or legs
Neck or Back pain
Numbness, tingling weakness, burning, or lessened sensation in the arms or legs
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Paralysis of the arms or legs
Deformity: odd looking angle of victims head and neck

23. Checking for Spinal Injuries
Have victim wiggle fingers
Squeeze fingers and ask if they can feel it
Squeeze victims hand
Ask victim to wiggle toes
Have victim push foot against rescuers hand
Pinch victims hand for response

24. Care for a Spinal Injury
Monitor breathing
Stabilize victim to prevent movement
Call 9-1-1