The water element rarely leaves anyone indifferent. Swimming, diving, boating, surfing - these and many other water activities bring a lot of fun to both children and adults. At the same time, staying in the water is enough dangerous occupation, requiring increased attention and good coordination of movements.
No one is immune from incidents leading to sad results. Particularly dangerous for swimmers, including experienced swimmers, are reservoirs with numerous whirlpools and strong currents, areas near bridges and ice-cutters. That is why everyone should know how to provide first aid to a drowning person.
What is drowning and how does it happen?
Drowning is an asphyxial condition resulting from the filling of the respiratory tract with fluid. Having fallen under water, a person first instinctively holds his breath, but as he weakens, he swallows. At some point he experiences laryngospasm, and then loss of consciousness.
While the swimmer is unconscious, water continues to passively flow into the lungs. The result pathological changes the body becomes damaged in the respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The composition of the blood changes. There may be muscle cramps. After cardiac arrest, brain function is impaired. It is noteworthy that death in fresh water occurs 4–5 times faster than in salt water, namely after 2–3 minutes.
How to understand that there is a drowning person in front of you? There is an opinion that a drowning person is actively fighting for life and calling for help. In fact, due to impaired breathing, he is unable to speak or row. Moreover, a person who struggles to stay afloat will sink faster, using up precious oxygen.
Help is needed when a swimmer periodically dives into water above the mouth line. At the moments when he manages to raise his head above the surface, he only manages to take a convulsive breath of air and tries to clear his throat. A drowning person is always in vertical position and does not make supporting movements with the legs. He has a glassy look. He does not wave his arms, but, spreading them to the sides, chaotically pushes off from the water.
This is how real (wet) drowning occurs, but there are other types of this condition.
- False (dry, asphyxial) drowning is accompanied by a feeling of lack of oxygen, which occurs as a result of a breathing spasm. Sometimes this condition is caused by a panic attack, sudden muscle cramps in the legs, and dizziness. A suffocating person, unlike a truly drowning person, can give signals (call for help, wave his arms), but without outside support it is difficult for him to get to shore.
- Reflex (instant) drowning occurs as a result of vascular spasm, stroke, or heart attack. A person who has had an attack first turns pale, and then quietly and quickly goes under the water. Having pulled such a victim ashore, the rescuer must, skipping the stage of clearing the airways of water, begin resuscitation measures.
Rules of conduct in case of drowning
If you feel tired while swimming, you need to lie down on the water and relax. You should breathe evenly: inhale deeply and, after a short pause, exhale slowly. Another option to stay on the water is to take the “float” pose. To do this, you need to pull your legs towards your body and hold your knees with your hands. As you inhale, the face is raised above the water, and as you exhale, it is immersed. Having become disoriented during a dive, you need to exhale a little and, noticing where the bubbles are heading, follow them. In case of cramps, you should straighten your leg, grab the thumb and forcefully pull your foot towards you.
If a person is drowning next to you, do the following actions.
- Look around for a rescue craft. If you find one, take it with you.
- Before you swim, really assess your capabilities: take into account your swimming ability, distance, strength of wind and water current.
- If you are not sure that you will swim, ask the rescue center on duty for help.
- When rescuing yourself, calm and encourage the drowning person. If he is conscious, ask him to hold on to your shoulders.
- Take the unconscious person under the armpits from the back or grab him by the hair and tow him to shore.
- If a drowning person goes under water, dive as deep as possible in the place where you last saw him.
Important! Rule number “1” - swim up to the victim from behind so that he, being in an inadequate state, does not accidentally drown you.
What to do in case of true drowning
First aid for rescuing a drowning person depends on the type of drowning. A person who has swallowed water will have a bluish face and neck. True drowning may also be indicated by coughing, vomiting, and pink foam coming from the mouth and nasal cavity.
According to the severity, three phases of the condition are distinguished: initial, agonal, terminal. First aid for the victim who is conscious, is to warm and calm him down, and prevent him from choking on vomit. Signs of initial drowning usually go away quickly. If the victim still feels unwell after half an hour or an hour, you should consult a doctor.
At the agonal stage, the victim is unconscious, but breathes, has weak pulse. First aid is to:
- clean Airways. From oral cavity remove vomit, silt, algae;
- remove water from the lungs. The victim is turned onto his stomach and thrown over the knee of the bent leg. While supporting his head, he is patted firmly in the area of the shoulder blades;
- do artificial respiration. The victim is placed on his back, his head is thrown back and his mouth is opened. With one hand they hold his face by the chin, with the other they pinch his nose. Inhale deeply and, wrapping your lips around the victim’s mouth, make two exhalations lasting a second each;
- normalize blood circulation. The victim's legs are raised and a cushion is placed under them;
- combine artificial respiration with closed cardiac massage. Place your palms on the victim’s chest and forcefully and rhythmically perform 30 pushes. When giving a massage to an adult, do not bend your arms at the elbows - this allows you to lean on with your full weight. As for the child, the pressure should be lighter. A breast massage is performed with the thumbs. Alternate two breaths with thirty compressions.
At the terminal stage comes clinical death: there is no pulse even in the carotid artery, there is no breathing, dilated pupils do not react to light. How to help such a drowning person? Artificial respiration begins as early as possible. While still in the water, as soon as the victim’s face is above the surface, exhale into his nose. To prevent air from escaping, cover the victim's mouth with the palm of his hand. After inhalation, they withdraw so that passive exhalation occurs. Insufflation is done every 4–5 seconds.
Activities begin on the shore cardiopulmonary resuscitation. To start the heart, a precordial blow may be required: a palm is placed in the area of the lower third of the sternum, and then the fist of the other hand is sharply struck on it. Check the pulse in the carotid artery. If it is not there, they move on to artificial pulmonary ventilation and closed cardiac massage. An adult is given sixty pressures per minute, a child – eighty. Every fifteen pushes, two blows are made into the mouth. To provide qualified medical care a drowning person needs to be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible.
What to do in case of false and reflex drowning
In case of dry or instant drowning resuscitation measures start with cardiac massage and artificial respiration. Providing first aid to a drowning person should continue after he regains consciousness. A victim who has experienced clinical death may again stop functioning of the heart and respiratory organs and develop pulmonary edema. The person who has regained consciousness needs to be changed into dry clothes, warmed with a warm drink and a blanket.
Doctors should also provide first aid: you must call emergency assistance or take the victim to the hospital yourself. The patient may require further examination and hospitalization.
First aid for injuries is urgent action, which are required in case of unpleasant incidents or various damages.
These actions are determined by the main goal of PMP, aimed at eliminating factors that threaten the life and health of the injured person, to avoid unwanted complications, to decrease pain syndrome and assisting the injured person until paramedics arrive. All these actions are quite simple, and everyone can easily perform them, without special education and preparation.
In many cases, timely provision of first aid for injuries can save a person’s life or save him from undesirable consequences and complications. Therefore, it is very important that every person knows exactly how to behave in a given situation and what actions to take.
Classification of injuries
Trauma is a disruption of the functioning of an organ due to damage to it. external factors. There are different types of injuries:
- Mechanical injuries are the most common. They are divided into open (when the skin is torn due to injury and bleeding occurs as a result) and closed (without breaking the skin).
- Physical injuries occur when the body is exposed to different temperatures (burns, frostbite), as well as when the body comes into contact with an open source of electric current.
- Chemical injuries occur through accidental unwanted contact chemical substances with human skin.
- Mental trauma is a negative consequence of the action of irritants on the human body. Most often they are the result of severe fear or some kind of stressful situation.
Wounds
First medical aid for injuries and wounds should be determined to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Most The right way To stop arterial bleeding is to apply a tourniquet.
If you don’t have it at hand, you can use any thing that is suitable for this purpose - a belt or tie. The tourniquet should be applied only to the arms or legs, but strictly above the wound site.
To avoid damaging the skin, place any soft cloth or napkin under the tourniquet.
To avoid dead skin, the tourniquet can only be applied for a period of no more than 2 hours, but every 30 minutes it must be loosened a little and then tightened again. You also need to record the time of application of the tourniquet.
Minor bleeding from small wounds can be stopped with a tight bandage. The edges of the wound should be treated with iodine, several layers of sterile bandage should be applied to the wound and bandaged tightly. It will also be better if you can slightly elevate the injured area.
If medium or large blood vessels are injured, you can temporarily stop the bleeding by pressing the damaged area with your finger. If it happened arterial bleeding, then you need to press the place above the wound, and if it’s venous, below.
If bleeding comes from the nose, you can stop it by inserting a gauze or cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide into the nose.
Bruises
A bruise is a type of injury in which the soft fabrics and blood vessels of the body, and as a result bruises occur. The most common cause of a bruise is a strong blow or collision with a blunt object.
The main signs of bruises include:
- Sharp pain that occurs at the moment of the bruise and does not subside for some time;
- Swelling usually forms several hours or even the next morning after an unpleasant incident;
- Bruising may appear a couple of hours after receiving this injury, or may appear only a few days later if the deep tissues of the body are bruised.
Providing emergency care for injuries of this nature consists of the following steps:
- Applying a bandage to the injured area;
- Raising the affected area slightly above body level;
- Applying a cold compress to the injured area (ice pack, towel soaked in cold water).
For complex head injuries, chest or abdominal cavity It is imperative to call a doctor and ensure that the injured person is completely rested and immobilized before he arrives.
Dislocations
Dislocation is damage joint capsule and the illogical movement of the bones that fit into these joints. Such injuries can occur due to a strong impact or an unsuccessful turn.
The main signs of dislocations include:
- Sharp pain that does not subside for several hours;
- Problems with the normal functioning of the injured arm or leg;
- Atypical posture of a sprained leg.
Types of dislocations
Emergency care for injuries associated with dislocations requires special care, since its goal is not only to reduce the victim’s pain and prevent the development of swelling, but also not to aggravate an already difficult situation. First of all, you need to fix the damaged part of the body - the arm can be suspended or simply tied loosely to the body, but the leg should absolutely not be moved or moved, it can simply be covered with soft cloth. The victim must be urgently taken to medical institution. At the same time, transportation of a victim with a dislocated arm is possible in any position, but with an injured leg - only in a supine position with the leg tightly secured.
Fractures
A fracture is a violation of the integrity of the bones of the human skeleton by violent means. There are closed (without wounding the skin layers) and open fractures (with destruction of the epidermis).
Main signs of bone fractures:
- Pain in the broken limb, which may get worse with movement;
- Impaired functioning of the injured limb;
- Irregular shape of the injured limb (curvature or reduction in size);
- Instability of bone fragments in the wound.
First aid for skeletal injuries is necessary to reduce the level of pain, fix parts of the broken bone and prevent the muscles from being torn by sharp fragments.
The first stage of assistance is the application of a fixing splint to the injured limb, including the joints located above and below the injured area.
Only two joints need to be fixed, with the exception of injuries to the shoulder or hip, when several joints are fixed.
PMP for open fractures is performed to protect the wound from unwanted infection.
For such injuries, it is necessary to treat the skin around the wound antiseptic and apply a sterile napkin, and only then apply a splint.
The limb is attached to the splint exactly as it became as a result of the injury. A patient who has received this type of injury must be immediately taken to a medical facility.
Immobilization of an injured limb is carried out using specialized medical splints or those objects that are at hand - a board, a ski, a straight stick.
Fractured ribs
Rib fractures most often occur with a strong blow or intense compression of these bones. The most common fractures of the ribs are from the fifth to the eighth.
Signs of a rib fracture:
- Feeling of pain when taking a deep breath, when pressing on the injured area;
- Prolonged bouts of prolonged coughing;
- Unusual body posture of the injured person;
- Tension in some chest muscles.
First aid for mechanical injuries this type is provided to minimize motor activity chest.
To do this, you need to wrap the chest very tightly and place the patient in a sitting or semi-sitting position.
If the injured person feels severe pain, a pain reliever can be taken.
Spinal fracture
A spinal fracture is the most dangerous and serious injury to the musculoskeletal system, which can cause vertebral displacement and damage to the spinal cord.
The main signs of a spinal fracture:
- Piercing pain in the back, which becomes more severe when moving;
- Protrusion of the injured vertebra above the surface of the back;
- Decreased sensation in the legs, and in some cases paralysis;
- Violation of the basic functions of the pelvis;
- The patient's state of shock.
First aid for musculoskeletal injuries has the main goal of moving the patient to the hospital. In this case, the injured person can only lie on his back, on a hard surface, without moving or turning over.
If the victim feels pain in the neck area, the head and neck should be supported with pillows or blankets. It is advisable to wrap the patient warmly.
To prevent unwanted movement or movement of the patient, he can be taped to a stretcher.
Traumatic brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are considered to be concussions or damage to the integrity of the skull. A concussion is a very serious injury that often occurs when there is a blow to the head with a blunt object, resulting in a brain contusion.
Main signs of a concussion:
- Headache;
- Extraneous noises in the ears;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Pale skin;
- Lethargy and drowsiness;
- Loss of consciousness during injury;
- Short-term memory loss.
To help with a concussion, it is necessary to place the injured person in a lying position and apply a cold compress to his head. Then the victim in mandatory is taken to the hospital.
Skull fracture
A fracture of the skull bones is considered one of the most life-threatening injuries to a person, since as a result of such an injury the brain cavity opens, and various unwanted infections can enter it.
The main symptoms of this type of injury:
- Discharge of fluid from the ears and nose;
- Hearing impairment;
- The appearance of bruises under the eyes (after some time).
To properly provide primary care when the integrity of the skull is compromised, the patient must be placed on his side so that blood does not enter the respiratory tract.
A sterile bandage should be applied to the open wound and the victim’s head should be secured. It is not allowed to wash the wound.
The injured person must be transported to the hospital as quickly and carefully as possible.
Traumatic shock
Traumatic shock is the body’s way of reacting to an external situation when various types of injuries occur.
Characteristic signs of traumatic shock are the extinction of the functions of the central nervous system, the inconsistency of all human life processes, a decrease in blood pressure and increased breathing.
Traumatic shock occurs in two phases:
- Excitement phase. In this phase there is clarity of consciousness and excitement in movements and speech behavior.
- Braking phase. During this phase, the victim is in clear consciousness, but he is absolutely indifferent to everything that happens. The patient's face turns pale and his eyes sink, he breaks out in a cold sweat, his pulse quickens and weakens, his blood pressure and body temperature drop.
First aid to a victim suffering from traumatic shock should be provided very carefully and carefully.
After carrying out all the necessary medical procedures After bandaging and fixing the injured areas, the victim should be wrapped in a warm blanket and, if possible, given hot tea or coffee.
Source: https://PerelomaNet.ru/travmy/pervaya-pomoshh.html
Actions and first aid for injuries
There are many various injuries both by the nature of origin and by the characteristics of the damage itself.
Depending on the type of injury, its characteristics and nature, there are various ways first aid.
Let's consider what needs to be done to preserve the health of the victim, as well as what rules exist for providing assistance in case of various types damage to the human body.
Dislocations
Dislocation is a complete exit of the head of the bone from the joint capsule, in which the contact of the joints in the articulation area is completely lost. Usually, this type injuries occur as a result of ligament ruptures, as well as injuries to the joint capsule.
Most often, dislocations occur in the hip, elbow and shoulder areas, as well as ankle joints. Signs of a dislocation are sharp pain in the area of injury, obvious displacement of bones and immobility in the area of dislocation.
First aid for injuries of this type is as follows:
- the damaged area must be cooled;
- local or general painkillers are used;
- the limb is fixed in the position in which it was injured;
- the victim must be taken to doctors.
Bruises
Bruises represent damage internal organs and tissues, as a result of which their integrity is not compromised.
Most bruises are minor and do not require first aid, but for brain contusions and severe bruises internal organs (for example, as a result of an accident or fall from high altitude) urgent medical intervention is required.
First aid for mechanical injuries of this type consists of applying a pressure bandage to the site of the injury, elevating the body and applying cold compresses to reduce the area of hemorrhage.
Sprains and tears
As a rule, they arise as a result of careless movements that exceed the physiological capabilities of the ligaments and tendons.
Most often, sprains and tears appear in the ankle, knee, wrist and shoulder joints.
In order to maintain the health of the victims, it is necessary to perform the following actions in a timely manner: apply a bandage and bandage the site of the sprain or rupture, after which a cold compress is applied to the site of injury. First aid for sports injuries complicated by ligament rupture should consist of immobilizing the rupture site by applying a tight bandage.
Fractures
A fracture is a complete or partial deformation of a bone as a result of external mechanical influence. Fractures can be open (with bone displacement followed by rupture skin), as well as closed (without damaging the skin). Signs of fractures are:
- sharp pain in the area of the fracture;
- gradually appearing swelling;
- the functionality of the limb is limited;
- possible appearance pathological mobility bones.
First aid for this type is carried out as follows:
- The bone in the fracture area is immobilized.
- Actions are being taken to save the victim from shock.
- The victims are being transported to medical institutions.
Splints for fractures should be applied as follows:
- They must be tightly fixed; complete immobilization of the fracture site is necessary.
- Additionally, two joints are fixed, which are located above and below the fracture site.
- For open fractures, when applying a splint, it is necessary to treat the wound with an antiseptic and apply disinfecting bandages.
Limb fractures
First aid for injuries femur: from axillary area splints are applied to the foot, which are carefully bandaged; the same actions are performed with inside(from the foot to the beginning of the groin area).
If transporting victims is difficult, it is necessary to additionally apply a splint at the back (from the foot to the scapular area). If there are no splints, it is recommended to fix the injured leg to the healthy leg.
Providing first aid for injuries to hands, fingers, humerus and bones of the forearm: the same actions are performed as described in the previous case - the damaged bone must be fixed with a splint. Note that fixation of the fingers and hands during fractures should be carried out without straightening them, and in case of fractures of the arm bones, it is necessary to splint the arm, having first bent it at the elbow joint.
Spinal fractures
Spinal fractures are one of the most severe injuries, in which transportation of victims is very difficult.
In case of such fractures, it is strictly forbidden to try to put the victims on their feet or sit them down - instead, the person must be placed on a hard surface, on which further transportation will take place.
Transportation of unconscious victims should be done in a prone position. Transferring the body to a hard surface should be done in one action to prevent additional fractures and displacements in the spine.
Fractures of the skull bones
Along with spinal injuries, it is a very dangerous injury.
Signs of fractures are dents, abrasions and bruises in the skull, leakage of blood and brain fluid through the mouth and nose, loss of consciousness, and the onset of a twilight state.
First aid for injuries of this type consists of moderate fixation of the head and neck using a soft tissue roller. Transportation of victims is carried out on rigid boards or stretchers.
Injuries
Wounds represent a violation of the integrity of the skin or internal organs as a result of mechanical impact.
Wounds come in many varieties - gunshot, stab, cut, bruised, lacerated, punctured, etc.
Depending on what kind of injury was caused by the wounds, what tissues or organs were affected, and also depending on the number, intensity and scale of injuries, the types and rules of assistance are determined.
First aid for injuries is as follows:
- Stop the bleeding.
- If necessary, take measures aimed at preventing shock.
- If possible, disinfect the wound.
- Seek help from the nearest medical facility.
Please note that it is necessary to take first aid measures very quickly, especially in the presence of deep and large-scale wounds.
One of the main tasks in case of injury is to stop bleeding, which is a violation of structural integrity blood vessels.
There are two types of bleeding:
- Arterial. It is characterized by bright red blood, which, due to high pressure, comes out of the wound in a pulsating stream.
- Venous. Characterized by more dark blood, which flows evenly from the wound.
According to the characteristics of hemorrhage, a distinction is made between internal and external bleeding.
External bleeding
First aid for this type of bleeding should be carried out as follows:
- the body in relation to the site of injury should be located in an elevated position;
- after localizing the bleeding site, a tourniquet or tight bandage is applied to the area located above;
- The limb is fixed by maximum flexion in the articular area;
- If possible, a clamp is applied to the damaged vessel to stop the bleeding.
Internal bleeding
It is much more dangerous than external bleeding.
The impossibility of localizing the site of injury, the proximity of vital organs and arteries, as well as the impossibility of prompt stoppage, make such injuries one of the most dangerous.
Most often observed with mechanical injuries to the abdominal or thoracic region, in which blood from organs and vessels spills into the abdominal or pleural cavity.
Signs of internal bleeding are: sharp decline pressure, weak pulse, pale skin, the victim may experience somatic disorders, as well as severe noise in the head, dizziness, and thirst.
Breathing, despite a weak pulse, is rapid. The only way to provide independent first aid in in this case- this is a questioning of the victim about the circumstances of the injury, as well as determining the location of the force.
Providing assistance in this case is difficult. Since the health of the victims is in danger, it is necessary to transport them to a medical facility as soon as possible for surgery.
If you suspect the presence of internal bleeding, it is necessary to provide complete rest to the victim and call a doctor as soon as possible.
Self-transportation of victims is carried out only in extreme cases, since the nature of the wound and its location if moved incorrectly can lead to death.
Note that the health of the victims and methods of providing first aid depend on what kind of injury was inflicted.
Thus, independent resuscitation measures for gunshot wounds are limited and consist only of stopping bleeding and ensuring proper transportation of victims; in case of wounds with hard, piercing and cutting objects, more actions are possible.
Source: http://VseOpomoschi.ru/travmy/pervaya-pomoshh-pri-travmax.html
First aid for bruises, pre-medical and medical – symptoms, sequence of actions and medications
After strong blows, soft tissue injury occurs without damaging the skin, but with pain and bruising - in this case, first aid for bruises is necessary. The manifested hematoma is popularly called simply a bruise.
The difficulty of treatment is that it cannot always be easily separated from a fracture, sprain, rupture of internal organs or concussion.
You will learn more about what to do in case of a severe bruise and how to distinguish it from more serious injuries.
What is a bruise
Injury to soft tissues with preservation of the integrity of the skin, resulting from a mechanical shock. This is how the term “bruise” is deciphered in medicine. The impact can occur accidentally and be caused by some object.
The result of it direct impact and kinetic energy and tissue cell damage occurs.
With such an injury, the skin, vascular network and subcutaneous fat take the entire blow, in which a local reaction to the traumatic reagent is triggered.
The first symptom of a bruise is swelling at the site of the impact and short-term pain. Then depending on damaged tissue they can gradually increase.
The result is constant intense pain, which causes dysfunction of the muscles in the affected area. The lesion is significantly enlarged relative to the original one. If the vessels are affected, a hematoma appears.
This is blood accumulated in the soft tissues, or just a bruise. The extent to which these signs of injury occur depends on the severity of the injury:
- First. This slight bruise. Minor skin injuries in the form of abrasions and scratches that do not require special treatment.
- Second. Characterized by a gap muscle tissue, the appearance of swelling, hematoma and severe pain.
- Third. In this case, muscles, tissues and tendons are already damaged. This degree of injury is diagnosed more often with dislocations.
- Fourth. Noticeable swelling forms, internal organs suffer, so hospitalization is required for a more accurate diagnosis of the bruise.
When diagnosing a bruise, it is very important to distinguish it from a fracture. The latter injury is more serious.
It is a partial or complete violation of the integrity of cartilage or bone, which is accompanied by damage to the surrounding soft tissue. A bruise cannot be confused with open fracture. In this case, the bone is visible and there is bleeding.
A closed fracture may well not be recognized, because it has symptoms similar to a bruise. They can be distinguished by the following characteristics:
- the pain syndrome during a fracture only intensifies over time, and during a bruise, on the contrary, it gradually subsides;
- swelling in case of a bruise appears immediately, and in the case of a fracture only after 2-3 days;
- damage to the integrity of the bone prevents you from leaning on it due to sharp acute pain;
- when the bone is displaced, one can visually observe the deformation of the limbs and even a change in their length compared to healthy ones.
What to do if you are injured
You can get a bruise anywhere, but a doctor is not nearby in all cases, so it is important to provide yourself or the victim with first aid correctly.
Specific interventions depend on the injured body part, but there are several general rules that are worth following.
- Immediately apply snow, ice, or a bubble with cold water or a towel moistened with it or something else, but always cold;
- For abrasions and scratches, treat the damaged area with iodine or alcohol, then bandage it;
- with bruised joints, dislocation is possible, so the patient must be immobilized;
- the injured limb must be positioned higher relative to the body;
- at severe pain take a painkiller.
What is the sequence of first aid
In addition to the general rules of first aid, it is important to know more specific actions, because some of them can be done if one part of the body is bruised and not with another.
Each of them reacts to damage in its own way. A bruise on a leg or arm goes away without any complications, but on the head, on the contrary, can lead to serious consequences.
For this reason, proper bruise first aid, or bruise first aid, is so important.
For soft tissue bruises
Muscles, skin and subcutaneous tissue are soft tissues.
Their injury in most cases is accompanied by a bruise, which can reach large sizes.
It can be located anywhere, because soft tissues cover the entire human body. First aid for their injury includes the following measures:
- in case of injury to a limb, she needs to be provided with rest, in other cases simply take a comfortable position;
- to reduce swelling, apply something cold to the damaged area for 10-15 minutes - a bottle of water, ice or even frozen chicken;
- After the specified time, if possible, apply to the site of the bruise. pressure bandage;
- if there are wounds or scratches, you should treat them with iodine and apply a sterile bandage to prevent infection;
- if the pain does not subside, you need to take a painkiller, but only if you are absolutely sure that it is a bruise and not a fracture.
If your condition worsens, you should immediately seek help at the hospital.
Fainting, weakness, impaired movement functions, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing with severe bruises of the chest, spine or abdominal cavity are a signal of dangerous injuries.
This could be muscle rupture, intestinal damage, internal bleeding, which require mandatory medical intervention.
If you hurt your leg
First aid for leg bruises again includes applying something cold to the injury site. It is better to do this through soft fabric. Cold should only be applied for 15 minutes per hour, otherwise there is a high risk of frostbite.
In this case, the limb must be freed from shoes, then placed on a hill, for example, a pillow. If bleeding wounds occur on the leg, they should be treated with an antiseptic, and then a clean bandage should be applied.
Further first aid measures are as follows:
- a day later, apply dry heat to the damaged area;
- then lubricate with any absorbable ointment;
- To avoid ligament rupture, it is better to go to the emergency room.
In case of injury to internal organs
Damage to internal organs is often associated with car accidents, falls, and jumps from heights.
Bruises affect the chest and abdominal cavity.
If the abdomen is injured, a person may feel quite normal, but first aid is simply necessary. It involves the following actions:
- lay the person on his back, bend his legs;
- bandage the bruised area with a tight bandage and apply a cold compress to it;
- do not allow the victim to drink or eat until doctors arrive.
Another dangerous injury to health is a bruise of the chest with damage to the ribs and internal organs, i.e. lungs or heart. It is accompanied by sharp pain and heavy breathing. A chest bruise is dangerous due to possible clinical death. First aid in such a situation includes:
- restriction of physical activity;
- inspect for dents and bulges in the chest that indicate fractures;
- anesthesia;
- heart massage and artificial ventilation lungs with loss of consciousness and respiratory arrest;
- applying a cold compress and applying a tight bandage.
With a head injury
One of the most dangerous injuries is a head injury. In this case, it is important to determine its extent and the likelihood of serious damage: whether there are signs of a concussion or the threat of hemorrhage.
The victim must be placed in a horizontal position, especially if there are symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and muscle weakness.
If you have a brain contusion, you should not give any medications, so as not to smear clinical picture before medical procedures. Before the ambulance arrives, you need to provide first aid:
- if there is bleeding, rinse the wound, try to stop the bleeding using bandages, napkins, clean cloth;
- then apply cold to this place;
- when vomiting, turn the victim on his side so that the vomit does not enter the respiratory tract;
- If symptoms increase and a person’s condition worsens, be sure to call an ambulance.
Remedies for bruises
After providing first aid, it is important to know how to treat bruises at home. The goal is to reduce swelling, bruising and pain. Depending on the condition, the patient may be prescribed medications for internal or external use.
The latter include compresses, which significantly accelerate the healing and resorption of bruises. They are represented by recipes traditional medicine Therefore, it is better to use such methods at home in conjunction with the main therapy.
Compress
This procedure consists of applying certain ingredients to the site of the injury, most of which are present in the kitchen of any housewife.
List of the most effective folk recipes includes:
- aloe compress with honey;
- cabbage leaf, pierced in several places;
- chopped boiled beans, which are applied warm to the bruise;
- cold compress of ice;
- plantain crushed to a pulp;
- tea leaves;
- bread crumb soaked in milk.
Medicine
After providing first aid after a bruise, you need to continue to treat them, but with special medications. There are several groups of medications that are used against such injuries:
- hematoma-absorbing ointments and gels based on heparin (Troxevasin, Spasatel, Lyoton);
- vasodilating ointments – Capsicam, ArpizatronYu;
- painkillers and swelling relievers enzyme preparations– Wobenzym, Phlogenzyme;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve swelling and pain - Fastum, Deep Relief, Indovazin.
Painkillers
Separately, it is worth noting the group of painkillers. They are presented in capsules or tablets.
In terms of safety and effectiveness, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Analgin, Ketanov, Diclofenac come first.
They can be taken immediately after a bruise to avoid shock and for several days after the injury according to the sensations, if the pain is too severe.
Patch
Of all the methods describing how to treat a bruise, especially good reviews uses the Nanoplast patch. It is released in different sizes, but acts after sticking to the skin. It is often used for a variety of injuries, even by athletes.
The patch has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and regenerating effects. The drug is convenient because it is easy to always keep with you, so you can stick the strip on at any time.
The patch cannot be applied to open wounds and use during pregnancy.
Treatment of bruises in the elderly
Fragile vessels in older people can cause a huge hematoma even with light blows. For this reason, treatment is best carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
To remove painful sensations older people are also prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, Celebrex or Nise. When too severe symptoms application of local anesthetics in the form of Fastum gel or Febrofid ointment is indicated.
To avoid complications, it is worth observing bed rest for a couple of days and immobilizing the bruised part of the body.
Treatment of bruises with folk remedies in adults
Most folk first aid recipes for bruises are compresses or lotions. Alcohol tinctures are very effective in this case, because alcohol warms and absorbs everything from the herbs. medicinal substances. For compresses you can use the following recipes:
- Mix 30 g of St. John's wort with 20 g of oak bark and the same amount of marshmallow leaves. Pour in all 300 g of vodka, leave for about 4 days, and strain before use.
- Mix half a liter of vodka with 30 g of linden bark and 3 tablespoons of lemon zest. After 4 days, the product can be used for compresses.
- Pour about 100 g of hop cones into 400 g of vodka, let it stand for 2 days, then use it as a compress on the bruised area.
Badyaga
One of the effective folk recipes for treating bruises is the use of badyagi. It comes in the form of a gray-green powder, gel or ointment. It helps to quickly get rid of bruises.
The powder is very hot, so you need to use the product carefully. To apply to a bruise, it is diluted with water to a paste-like state. Leave the composition on the skin for about 20 minutes, after which it is washed off with warm water.
The same is repeated with gel or ointment. There is no need to wash them off.
Contraindications for bruises
There are a number of measures that are not only not included in first aid after bruises, but are completely prohibited, because they can worsen the condition. During the first day, the damaged area should not be heated. This will only increase inflammation. You cannot do the following:
- apply ice directly to the naked body, only through a bandage or cloth;
- actively move the injured limb;
- do massage, hot compresses and baths for 4-5 days;
- open the hematoma at the site of the bruise;
- forcefully bend a joint after an injury;
- wash the eye after a bruise;
- transport the victim without a rigid stretcher in case of a back injury;
- bandage the chest tightly;
- use locally irritating drugs immediately after a bruise.
First aid is actions the purpose of which is to save a life or restore the normal state of an injured person. First aid should be provided by a person nearby (mutual aid), or by the patient himself (self-help) until they arrive. medical workers. The most important thing is urgency, because if you provide help faster, it will be better for the victim. First aid instructions depend on the type of injury.
What to do?
Before providing assistance, you need to assess the situation. It is important to know what happened, the cause of the incident, the number of victims, find out whether someone can provide first aid and whether it is necessary to call an ambulance. When assessing a situation, you need to maintain common sense and reason soberly in order to make the right decision. Instructions for providing first aid to the victim will be as follows:
- First of all, you need to eliminate the source of the damage.
- You should immediately take all necessary actions aimed at providing first aid.
- The person who finds himself next to the victim must prevent the victim’s condition from worsening and do everything to save the person’s life.
- Under no circumstances should you risk yourself, because then you won’t be able to help the victim.
- The first thing you need to do is look to see if there are any damages that are preventing access to oxygen.
What if several people need help?
If several people are injured, it is necessary to determine who needs help more. It is necessary to provide first aid to the victims. The instructions for rendering are as follows:
- Often there is a “clinical” death, so you need to try to help the person, because the absence of breathing and pulse is not an indicator.
- You cannot leave the victim alone, because he may need something.
- Call emergency help at number 03. If the person who is helping the victim cannot do this, he should ask someone to take care of this matter.
- It is necessary to record the time, cause, nature of the accident, the condition of the victim and the measures that were taken before the arrival of the ambulance. Pass all this information to your doctor.
- Until the doctors arrive, monitor the victim’s condition: periodically check breathing and pulse.
First aid to a victim in an accident is provided immediately at the scene of the accident before the doctor arrives or before the victim is transported to the hospital. Every worker must be able to provide first aid to the injured and help himself (“self-help”). When providing first aid you must:
remove the traumatic factor;
remove the victim from the scene;
treat damaged areas of the body and stop bleeding;
ensure immobility of the fracture site, prevent traumatic shock;
deliver the victim to a medical facility.
When providing first aid, you should have the skills to handle the wounded. This is especially important for fractures, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, thermal and chemical burns. The wounded person should be lifted and carried carefully, supporting him from below. To provide first aid, each production site, each construction site must be equipped with standard first aid equipment.
First aid kit. The first aid kit includes dressings (bandages, cotton wool, individual bags, adhesive plaster, sterile wipes, hemostatic tourniquet); ammonia (used to stimulate breathing, treat skin with acid burns, and insect bites); 5% alcohol solution of iodine (for treating wounds); potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) - a slightly pink solution is made for gastric lavage, also used for treating wounds; baking soda (for gastric lavage, skin treatment for burns); boric petroleum jelly (for lubricating napkins when closing penetrating wounds, lubricating the skin); activated carbon (5...10 tablets, crush and drink for various poisonings); boric acid (for washing eyes, treating skin); nitroglycerin (for heart pain); analgin, amidopyrine (painkillers); papaverine (used for heart pain, hypertensive crisis); scissors, knife, cup for taking medications, finger pads, supply of drinking water.
№87. First aid for wounds and bruises.
The person providing assistance should wash their hands with soap, wipe them with alcohol or lubricate their fingers with iodine. Do not wash the wound with water, clean it, or touch it even with washed hands. If the wound is dirty, you can only wipe the skin around it from the edges of the wound to the periphery with sterile cotton wool or gauze. Abrasions, injections, minor wounds that do not bleed should be lubricated with 5% tincture of iodine or brilliant green and a bandage applied.
Small wounds can be sealed with a strip of plaster, BF-6 glue, or collodion, which disinfect the wound and protect it from contamination. In the absence of an individual dressing package, you can use clean handkerchief, after moistening it with iodine.
Wounds are accompanied by damage to blood vessels and bleeding, which can be internal (the most dangerous) and external. Internal bleeding occurs when penetrating wounds into the abdominal or chest cavity, when internal organs rupture as a result of a strong blow, a fall from a height, compression, etc. Blood accumulates in the internal cavities of the body.
Symptoms of internal bleeding; pale face, weakness, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, dizziness, thirst, fainting. It is impossible to stop internal bleeding using first aid methods. The victim must be kept calm and a doctor must be called. Cold (ice, snow, etc.) should be applied to the injury site. External bleeding may be:
capillary - blood appears in separate drops over the entire surface of the wound;
venous - dark red blood flows out in an even stream;
arterial - the blood is enriched with scarlet oxygen and flows out in the form of a pulsating stream.
Venous bleeding can be stopped by applying a tight bandage below the damaged area or by applying a tourniquet or twist.
The most dangerous arterial bleeding. Arterial bleeding can be stopped by applying a tight bandage above the damaged area or by applying a tourniquet or twist.
For twisting, you can use a scarf, belt, belt, rubber tube, etc. Before applying a tourniquet, the wounded limb is raised, the tourniquet and twist are applied over clothing or a piece of cloth is placed under it (Fig. 9.3).
Rice. 9.3. Stopping bleeding with a twist:A - tightening the knot;b -twisting with a stick;V - twisting the stick
You only need to tighten the cord until the bleeding stops. The tourniquet should not be left in a tightened state for more than 2 hours, otherwise necrosis of the limb may occur. During this time, it is necessary to take the victim to the nearest medical facility.
№88. Sun and heat stroke.
Signs: initially, severe headache, weakness, rush of blood to the head, tinnitus, nausea, dizziness, thirst, cyanosis of the face, shortness of breath, pulse 120...140 beats per minute, body temperature rises to 40 °C. The victim's skin is hot and red, and the pupils are dilated. The victim experiences convulsions, hallucinations, and delusions. The condition quickly deteriorates and he can die within a few hours from respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrest.
First aid: move the victim to a cool place, in the shade, take off his clothes and lay him down, raising his head slightly, apply cold compresses or pour cold water on the head and heart area. If consciousness is not lost, you need to drink plenty of cold drinks. To stimulate the victim, give the victim a cotton swab soaked in ammonia to sniff. In case of respiratory failure or cardiac arrest, immediately perform artificial respiration and chest compressions.
№89. Frostbite.
Cases of frostbite occur mainly when working outdoors during the cold season.
There are four degrees of frostbite. With first-degree frostbite, the skin becomes pale and swollen, and its sensitivity decreases. Characteristic signs of the second degree are the appearance of bubbles with a light liquid. With third degree frostbite, the skin becomes necrotic and the blisters are filled with blood fluid; fourth degree - complete necrosis of all small tissues.
First aid: remove the victim’s clothes and shoes. Apply a heat-insulating bandage to the affected limb. It should be applied covering an area of healthy, intact skin. In this case, sterile dry wipes are applied to the frostbite area, and a thick layer of cotton wool is placed on top of them. After this, the limb is wrapped in oilcloth, tarpaulin or metal foil. The bey bandage is fixed with a bandage. The victim is placed in a warm room, given plenty of hot drinks, painkillers - analgin or amidopyrine. If the ears, cheeks, or nose are frostbitten, rub these areas with your hand until they turn red, then treat them with ethyl alcohol. Rubbing frostbitten areas with snow is unacceptable. When using a heat-insulating bandage, do not remove it until a feeling of warmth and tingling appears in the frostbitten areas. The victim is taken to the nearest medical facility.
Freezing. First aid: the victim, after removing his clothes, is placed in a bath: the water temperature in which should be 36-37 ° C, within 15-20 minutes the water temperature is raised to 38-40 ° C. Warming in the bath is continued until the body temperature, measured in the victim’s rectum, reaches 35 °C. Care must be taken to ensure that the victim does not choke.
If it is not possible to prepare a bath, the victim is washed with warm water, gradually increasing its temperature. After restoring normal temperature and consciousness, the victim must be given hot tea, wrapped in a warm blanket and quickly taken to a medical facility.
№90. Electrical injury.
Local tissue changes during electrical trauma are thermal burns varying degrees of severity. General changes develop primarily as a result of damage to the nervous system. These changes in nervous system and determine the picture of the lesion and its severity.
Lightweight the degree of damage is characterized by weakness, fatigue, fear, and sometimes fainting.
Average the severity of the lesion is characterized by loss of consciousness of varying duration, pallor or cyanosis of the skin, convulsions, weakened breathing and impaired heart function. Breathing is rapid, shallow, pulse is weak and frequent. There is often paralysis of the limbs.
At severe defeat - shock, often a state of clinical death. A general traumatic effect (electric shock) occurs when unacceptable amounts of current flow through the human body and is characterized by excitation of living tissues of the body, involuntary contraction of various muscles of the body, heart, lungs, and other organs and systems, and their functioning is disrupted or completely stopped.
When a person is injured by electric current, it is necessary first of all to free him from the action of electric current. This can be achieved either by separating the victim from live parts, or by turning off the voltage. Separation from live parts is carried out using a dry stick, board, shovel handle, etc. The victim can be pulled away by dry clothing. If it is difficult to separate the victim from live parts, you should cut the wires with an ax with a dry handle or some object with an insulating handle. You cannot touch the victim with your bare hands.
The main condition for the success of first aid is speed of action, since 5 minutes after cardiac paralysis a person cannot be saved. If the victim is at a height, then before turning off the voltage, you should ensure that the victim falls.
After eliminating the effect of the current, the condition of the victim should be determined. If the victim is conscious, he must be laid down or seated in a comfortable position and ensure complete rest until the doctor arrives, always monitoring his breathing and pulse.
If the victim is unconscious, but is breathing normally and his pulse is palpable, he should be placed comfortably, unfasten the collar and belt, and bring a cotton swab moistened to his nose. ammonia, spray it with water and ensure complete rest.
Stopping breathing and cardiac activity are the most severe consequences of electric current. If there is no breathing, but the victim has a pulse, you need to start artificial respiration. If there is no heartbeat, then along with artificial respiration, external (indirect) heart massage should be performed.
When the victim comes to his senses, as well as with mild injuries, he should be given analgin or amidopyrine, given plenty of liquid to drink, apply a bandage to the burn area and urgently take him to a medical facility.
№91. Burns.
First aid: remove the victim from the area of high temperature. Quickly extinguish flammable clothing or substances burning on the body, cut off air access to the burning area (cover with thick cloth, cover with earth, sand), pour water on smoldering clothing. For a victim with extensive burns, parts of the clothing should be cut off and left in place. Do not open blisters or tear off pieces of clothing stuck to burns! Do not touch burned areas with your hands. Cover the burned areas with clean gauze or apply a dry cotton-gauze bandage. For extensive burns, the victim is wrapped in a clean sheet. You can disinfect the damage by moistening it with cologne.
Wrap the victim in a blanket, give plenty of fluids, give analgin or amidopyrine and immediately transport him to a medical facility.
Burns occur from exposure to high temperatures on the skin (thermal), as well as from exposure to acids and alkalis (chemical), and from exposure to electric current (electrical).
There are four degrees of burns based on severity:
I - redness and swelling of the skin;
II - blisters filled with blood plasma;
Ш - strings, tissue necrosis;
IV - charring of fabric.
For first degree burns, the burned area of the skin is washed with alcohol, cologne, vodka or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
For burns of II and III degrees, a sterile bandage should be applied to the affected area of the skin. Do not open the formed bubbles and separate the stuck pieces of clothing. Particular care must be taken when removing clothing from burned areas of the body. In this case, it is recommended to remove clothes and shoes so as not to tear off the skin and not contaminate the wound.
For eye burns caused by exposure to an electric arc, apply lotions of a 2% solution boric acid.
The area of skin burned with acid or alkali is washed with a stream of cold water for 12...20 minutes. Then apply a lotion from a soda solution for acid burns, and for alkali burns - from a weak solution of vinegar or boric acid (1 teaspoon per 1 glass).
№92. Chemical poisoning.
Poisoning causes headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, convulsions and loss of consciousness. If signs of poisoning appear, the victim must be taken to Fresh air, put a cold compress on your head and let the ammonia smell. If vomiting occurs, the victim should be placed on his side. If you lose consciousness, you should immediately call a doctor and perform artificial respiration until he arrives.
First aid for chemical poisoning basically comes down to removing the poison from the body or neutralizing it before the doctor arrives or before the victim is taken to a medical facility. If the poison has entered the body through the gastrointestinal tract, give the victim several glasses of warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then induce vomiting. Vomiting is caused by irritation back wall pharynx or using a solution of table salt (2 tablespoons per glass of warm water). After vomiting, to bind the poison, the victim should be given half a glass of water with two to three tablespoons of activated charcoal, and then a saline laxative.
In case of salt poisoning heavy metals and acids, it is recommended to lavage the stomach with a solution of magnesium oxide (20...30 g per 1 liter of water). Magnesium oxide forms insoluble compounds with heavy metals and neutralizes acids.
If breathing stops due to poisoning (for example, ether vapor, ammonia), you need to take the victim to fresh air and perform artificial respiration.
Poisoning can be caused by acids and alkalis. At the same time, acids and alkalis, corroding the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, esophagus and stomach, can cause perforation.
In case of acid poisoning, the victim is given a solution to drink baking soda(1-2 spoons per glass of water), milk, water. In case of alkali poisoning, the victim is given water with acetic acid, lemon juice, and milk. If a perforation is suspected (severe pain behind the sternum and in the pit of the stomach), the victim is not given anything to drink and is urgently taken to the hospital.
Poisoning can also be caused by alcohol, methyl alcohol and alcohol substitutes. First aid for the victim in this case is to rinse the stomach, allowing him to drink 2-3 glasses of warm water, and then, pressing on the root of the tongue, induce vomiting.
The listed measures are applied regardless of the type of poison that caused the poisoning. If the type of poison is known, additional measures are taken depending on its chemical composition. As a rule, this is the introduction into the stomach of substances that neutralize the effect of the poison. In some cases, a 0.04% solution of potassium permanganate is used as an antidote.
If breathing weakens or stops, immediately perform artificial respiration.
In all cases of suspected poisoning by alcohol substitutes, technical liquids, perfumes and cosmetics, victims need to be transported to a medical facility.
If the poison gets through the skin, you need to thoroughly wash the drug with a stream of water, preferably with soap, or, without smearing it on the skin or rubbing it, remove it with a piece of gauze (cloth, cotton wool), and then wash it with cold water or a slightly alkaline solution (1 teaspoon of drinking water). soda per glass of water). If poison gets into your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with water or a 2% solution of baking soda.
To protect hands from exposure to chemicals, rubber, and in some cases wool or synthetic gloves, as well as special pastes (ointments) are used.
Galvanotypists, photographers, copiers, etchers, printers, receivers on offset machines and other workers who come into contact with chemical solutions must work in acid- and alkali-resistant seamless rubber gloves or acid-proof cotton gloves with a special coating. To preserve the protective properties of gloves and mittens, do not put them on contaminated hands or allow oil, acid solutions, etc. to get into them.
In workshops where large quantities of acid and alkali are used (plating, pickling departments), rubber boots should be worn.
The respiratory organs are protected from harmful gases, vapors and dust using special filtering and insulating devices.
Filtering devices are divided into gas masks, designed to protect against poisonous gases and vapors, and respirators, which protect the respiratory system from dust and smoke.
Respirators can be with or without valves. Valves serve to separate inhaled and exhaled air. Respirators, designed to protect not only the respiratory system, but also the head, neck, and face from substances that irritate the skin, have the form of a hood or helmet, to which are attached filters made of different materials - felt, cotton wool, special cardboard, paper, etc.
Respiratory protection equipment is selected in accordance with GOST 12.4.034-2001 SSBT “Personal filtering respiratory protection equipment, General technical requirements” depending on the type of harmful substances, their concentration and the required protection factor.
When working with caustic substances, the skin of the face, neck and hands is protected with special ointments and pastes, which are applied to the skin before starting work and then washed off. Pastes and ointments are divided into hydrophilic and hydrophobic. Hydrophilic - easily dissolves in water. They protect the skin from fats, oils, and petroleum products. Hydrophobic pastes do not dissolve in water. They are used to protect the skin from solutions of various acids, alkalis and salts.
There was an accident on the road and people were injured. Passing cars stop. How to properly help victims before the ambulance arrives? An orthopedist-traumatologist told FACTS about this surgical department Consultative and diagnostic center of the Desnyansky district of Kyiv Dmitry Yarovoy.
— Do you receive many patients with injuries?
- Yes. Summer has begun and we are seeing an uptick in injuries. According to statistics, 400 people per ten thousand population suffer from injuries in Ukraine every year. There are especially many patients involved in road accidents, mostly people of working age, as well as children. In terms of the level of child mortality due to road accidents, Ukraine ranks sadly first in Europe, and the overall mortality rate among victims of car accidents is three to four times higher than in European countries.
— How to properly remove a person from a damaged car?
- As carefully and carefully as possible, so as not to hurt him or harm him even more. People involved in an accident often have their chest injured, so the victim should be pulled out and carried under the armpits. It is important that two or three people do this. You should avoid sudden movements, do not twist your arm, do not pull your leg, do not pull your neck. Wrong actions can cause damage spinal cord, and if a bone is broken, then bone fragment may hurt neurovascular bundles. Therefore, you first need to immobilize the victim by fixing the neck and thoracic regions spine, injured arm or leg, and then remove it. It is better for people with skills to do this. You can protect your neck with a special collar if you have one at hand.
— What needs to be done to competently help a person before the ambulance arrives?
- Act in accordance with the rule, which in medicine is denoted by the English abbreviation ABC. The letter A (airway) indicates that the airway needs to be checked. It happens that it turned out there foreign body or tongue stuck. The letter B (breathing) refers to the assessment of breathing, and C (circulation) refers to blood circulation.
— How to understand that an injured person is breathing?
— By tracking the movement of the chest up and down. If it is motionless, a method familiar to many will help: apply a mirror to the victim’s lips and nose. It's foggy, which means there is breathing. You can listen with your ear, tilting it towards your nose to catch the movement of air. When a person is not breathing, mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration must be performed immediately.
- How?
- Having quickly cleaned the victim’s mouth (with a finger or two wrapped in a cloth - a handkerchief, gauze), we tilt the victim’s head back. Kneeling to the side and placing one hand on the forehead and the other under the back of the head, turn the injured person’s head so that the mouth opens. Taking a deep breath and closing the victim's nostrils with a large and index fingers or covering them with your cheek (air leakage will negate all efforts), exhale quickly into your mouth, blowing air into the airways and lungs. You need to take 12-15 breaths within a minute. It is important to periodically empty the victim’s stomach of air by pressing on the epigastric region. For children, air is blown simultaneously through the nose and mouth.
The victim often simultaneously needs indirect massage hearts. It is better if two people help him at once, coordinating their actions. While air is being blown in, you cannot put pressure on the chest. It is correct to alternate movements: four to five pressures (as you exhale), then one inhalation. If the rescuer works independently, then every two breaths, 15 compressions are applied to the chest.
- How long does it take to act?
— Until breathing is restored, a pulse will not appear. If blood circulation has stopped, clinical death occurs. This condition is reversible as long as the brain cells do not die. The human body remains viable for four to six minutes.
— How can you fix an injured arm or leg?
- If the leg is twisted at the joint, then it seems that the victim has a dislocation. And some helpers may try to straighten it. It is forbidden! It could also be a closed fracture. The deformed limb must be fixed without trying to straighten it. It is necessary to capture not only the damaged area, but also adjacent joints located below and above. For example, if you have a broken leg, you need to apply a dry bandage to the wound, and then a splint to ensure immobility of the leg along with the knee and foot. For a splint, you can use any straight and more or less even object: a hard magazine, a stick or two connected with a bandage, even an umbrella. Attach the improvised splint with a bandage or improvised means: a scarf, a scarf, a belt, a tie. The main thing is that the patient moves as little as possible, because the slightest movement causes pain, and this increases the traumatic shock.
— What to do if from an injured arm or leg there's blood coming out?
— Apply a tourniquet. Wasn't it in your car first aid kit? Available means will do: a sleeve torn from a shirt, a scarf, a wide belt. It is important that the tourniquet is wide enough. This will better distribute the load, and soft tissues will be less injured. Place a note under the tourniquet indicating when it was applied. This is important for the ambulance crew. It is permissible to hold the tourniquet for up to 40 minutes. Then you need to loosen it for a while and then tighten it again.
— What mistakes occur when applying a tourniquet?
- If it is applied loosely, the bleeding may not stop, but may intensify. Then the tourniquet must be quickly removed and applied more tightly.
A pressure bandage should be applied to the bleeding wound. The car must have a first aid kit containing sterile wipes and bandages.
— What if a person’s chest or abdomen is damaged?
— For a penetrating wound of the chest cavity, you need to apply a tight bandage (called occlusive), which prevents air from entering the chest. There is negative pressure between the lungs and the wall of the chest cavity, and if there is severe damage, air is sucked in there. This is dangerous due to the occurrence of pneumothorax - accumulation of air in pleural cavity, which can cause the lung to collapse and the person to be unable to breathe.
- How to avoid this?
— You need to put it on the napkin covering the wound. plastic bag or a piece of oilcloth and secure tightly with a bandage. If the abdominal cavity is damaged, a bandage will help: dry, if there is no bleeding, or pressure, if the wound is bleeding.
How to help a victim in an accident
- Determine how badly the person is injured. Most frequent injuries- a combination of injuries to the skull, chest and legs.
- Remove the victim from the car or take him out of the ditch, free him from clothes by unbuttoning, cutting or tearing them.
- Provide first aid in accordance with injuries and according to the ABC algorithm.
- Check to see if anyone around you called an ambulance.
- Move the victim to safe place, sheltering from cold, rain or heat.
- If necessary, help transport the injured person to the hospital.
