1. Soft Tissue Injuries Chapter 10

2. Soft Tissue The skin is composed of two primary layers:  Outer (epidermis)  Deep (dermis) The dermis layer contains the—  Nerves.  Hair roots.  Sweat.  Oil glands.  Blood vessels.

3. Wounds Wounds are typically classified as either closed or open. ◦ Closed wound— soft tissue damage occurs beneath the surface of the skin. ◦ Open wound— has a break in the skin.

4. Closed Wounds The simplest closed wound is a bruise, also called a contusion. Bruises result when the body is subjected to force.

5. Care for closed wounds  Direct pressure  Ice or a cold pack  Elevate

6. Open Wounds 5 common types of open wounds: ◦ Abrasion ◦ Laceration ◦ Avulsion ◦ Puncture ◦ Amputation

7. Care for Open Wounds All open wounds need some type of covering to help control bleeding and prevent infection.

8. Dressings and Bandages A bandage applied snugly to create pressure on a wound or an injury is called a pressure bandage. Commonly used bandages: ◦ Adhesive compress. ◦ Bandage compress. ◦ Roller bandage, ◦ Elastic roller bandage

9. Dressings and Bandages To apply a roller bandage— ◦ Check feeling, warmth and color. ◦ Do not cover fingers or toes. ◦ If blood soaks through the dressings, don’t remove them. Apply additional dressings and another bandage.

10. Care for Minor Open Wounds  Put on disposable gloves.  Wash with soap and water.  Place a sterile dressing over the wound.  Apply direct pressure  Remove the dressing, apply an antibiotic ointment once the bleeding is controlled.  Apply a new sterile dressing.

11. Care for Major Open Wounds  Call 9-1-1  disposable gloves.  To control external bleeding:  Cover the wound with a dressing and press firmly against the wound with a gloved hand.  Apply a pressure bandage.  Monitor airway and breathing.

12. Care for Major Open Wounds  If the victim has an amputation:  Disposable gloves.  Wrap the severed part in sterile gauze  Place the wrapped part in a plastic bag.  Place the bag on ice.  Make sure the severed part is transported with the victim to the medical facility.

13. Care for Major Open Wounds ◦ If the victim has an embedded object in the wound—  Put on disposable gloves.  Do not remove the object.  Use bulky dressings to stabilize the object.  Control bleeding by bandaging the dressing in place around the object.

14. Burns The severity of a burn depends on—  The temperature of the source.  The length of exposure to the source.  The location of the burn.  The extent of the burn.  The victim’s age and medical condition.

15. Burns Burns are classified by their source:  Thermal (heat)  Chemicals  Electricity  Radiation

16. Burns Burns are also classified by depth:  Superficial (first-degree)  Partial thickness (second-degree).  Full thickness (third-degree). Superficial (first-degree) burns involve only the top layer of skin. ◦ Appear red and dry. ◦ Are usually painful. ◦ May swell. ◦ Generally heal in 5 to 6 days without permanent scarring

17. Burns Partial-thickness burns (second-degree)  Appear red.  Have blisters that may open and weep clear fluid.  May look mottled (blotched).  Are usually painful.  May swell.  Usually heal in 3 or 4 weeks. Scarring may occur.

18. Burns 2222 Full-thickness burns (third-degree) involve all the layers of skin, as well as muscles, bones and nerves.  Appear brown or charred (black), with the tissues underneath sometimes appearing white.  Can either be extremely painful or relatively painless if the burn destroyed nerve endings in the skin.  Can be life threatening.  Take longer to heal and usually result in scarring.

19. Care for Burns Thermal Burn:  Check the scene for safety.  Remove the victim from the source of the burn.  Check for life-threatening conditions.  Cool the burn.  Cover the burn.  Prevent infection.  Take steps to minimize shock.  Comfort and reassure the victim

20. Care for Minor Burns To care for minor superficial burns—  Cool the area.  Wash the area with soap and water and keep it clean.  Apply an antibiotic ointment.  Watch for signs of infection.