Unit 3 Trauma-Related Medical Issues PDF

Unit 3 Trauma-Related Medical Issues Lesson 3 Puncture Wounds Lesson Goal At the end of this lesson, you will be able to provide emergency first aid for a patient with a puncture wound such as an impaled object or a gunshot wound. Impaled Object Puncture wounds are usually the result of an...

Unit 3 Trauma-Related Medical Issues Lesson 3 Puncture Wounds Lesson Goal At the end of this lesson, you will be able to provide emergency first aid for a patient with a puncture wound such as an impaled object or a gunshot wound. Impaled Object Puncture wounds are usually the result of an object, blunt or sharp, penetrating the skin’s soft tissue. A penetrating or puncture wound’s severity depends on the wound location, the penetrat- ing object’s size, and the force that created the injury. An impaled object is an object that punctures the soft tissue and stays in place. An object impaled in the head, neck, chest, abdomen, back, or upper thighs needs immediate care followed by prompt EMS transport. ✅ HL233.1. Describe how to provide treatment for an impaled object To treat a patient for an impaled object: 1. Do not remove the object from the wound unless it obstructs the patient’s airway. 2. Cut away clothing around the impaled object to determine if the patient has other wounds or to expose enough skin to apply the stabilizing dressing. 3. Apply proper dressing to prevent further contamination of the injury. 4. Secure the object by surrounding it with stabilizing dressing or any material that prevents the object from moving. You might use, for example, two pillows, rolls of gauze, or a paper cup. 5. Stop bleeding. Only apply enough pressure to the wound site to stop bleeding. Be careful not to put pressure on the embedded object. Chapter 2 First Aid for Criminal Justice Officers / 101 Figure 2-19 Impaled object 102 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (HL): Volume 2 Human or Animal Bites A bite can be a serious injury. The wound can later become infected if not treated and cause severe discomfort. ✅ HL233.2. Describe how to provide treatment for a human or an animal bite To treat a patient for a human or animal bite: 1. Clean the wound site with sterile gauze.  Head and face bites have the potential to cause airway compromise.  Be aware of the possibility of bloodborne pathogens.  Follow your agency’s policies and procedures for reporting a bite. 2. Dress and bandage the wound. 3. Apply only enough pressure to stop bleeding. If you are treating an animal bite, make every attempt to find the animal. It may carry rabies or other infections. Follow local protocol and department policy when contacting specialized units, such as animal control. Notify the proper agency of all animal bites. Gunshot Wounds Gunshot wounds can cause serious injury by fragmenting, penetrating, vibrating, and damaging internal organs. When a bullet passes through the body, it can form a cavity, which is the space left by the tissue that is destroyed or displaced by the passage of the bullet. A small entry wound that causes little bleeding might mask severe internal injuries. The damage from the wound may extend farther and deeper than just the exposed area. Bullets may frag- ment or may deflect off bone, travelling significant distances within the body. Complications from gunpowder, clothing, and bacteria drawn into the wound can cause infection. Depending on the location, a gunshot wound could cause a spinal cord injury as well. Exit wounds are sometimes larger than entry wounds and may not be aligned with the entry wound. There can also be multiple entry and exit wounds. However, it is important to note that not all gunshot entrance wounds will have an exit wound. ✅ HL233.3. Describe how to provide treatment for a gunshot wound To treat a patient with a gunshot wound: 1. Notify EMS of a gunshot wound patient. 2. Look for the entry wound and possible exit wound. Chapter 2 First Aid for Criminal Justice Officers / 103 3. Dependent upon where the entry and possible exit wounds are on the body, the type of bleeding, and the involvement of internal organs, determine the appropriate medical intervention and follow basic bleeding control procedures. 4. Dress and bandage the entry or exit wounds as needed until EMS arrives. 104 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (HL): Volume 2