Bleeding

A Wound is a crack or break in the skin that allows germs to enter and blood to escape.

Main types of wounds :	C.L.I.P.S.
	C Contused - Bruise, bleeding under the skin.
	L Laceration - a jagged cut caused by barbed wire.
	I  Incised - a straight cut caused by a knife.
	P Puncture - deep wound caused by a nail.
	S Special - e.g. gunshot or graze.

Three categories of bleeding:

Arterial: most serious from arteries. Bright Red and spurting.
Venous: comes from the veins. Dark red and flowing.
Capillary: least serious from capillaries. Mixture of reds and oozing.
 

Treatment:

Apply direct pressure, Raise and support the injured limb, cover wound with a sterile dressing, treat for shock and send to hospital.

Pressure Points:

A place which pressure can be placed to stop blood flowing to the entire limb e.g. arm. This can be used if direct pressure does not work. This is where an artery can be pressed against a bone to stop the blood flow beyond this point. They can be found in your arm and at the top of your leg.

Pulse:

This is a throb of blood that passes along your arteries with each beat of your heart. It can be felt where an artery passes over a bone close to the skin E.g. radial pulse. The pulse rate of an adult is between 60 - 80. The average pulse rate is 72. The average amount of blood an adult has is 8-9 litre's

 

Circulation:

You can check circulation of a casualty by pressing their nail so it turns white. It should return back to red by the time you say capillary refill.

Crush Injuries:

If a casualty is trapped for more than 10 minutes you should leave them trapped as poisons have built up.

If it is release it could cause kidney failure.

Signs & Symptoms of Blood Loss:

Face & Skin: pale cold and clammy.
Pulse: fast and weak (less blood so pulse is weak as harder to find. It is faster to make up for the blood loss)
Breathing: fast and shallow may gasp for air (Air Hunger)
Behaviour: May be restless, thirsty, faint, and dizzy.

Shock:

A serious condition that occurs when the cardiovascular system is unable to supply enough blood flow to the body. It can be caused by a loss of fluids or heart problems.

Fractures

A Fracture is a crack or break in the bone.

CAUSES OF FRACTURES:

 

Direct Force: This is a blow to the body that causes the bone to break at the spot the blow was received.  
 

Indirect Force: This, for example, happens when you fall and land on your hands but a force travels up and breaks your collar bone (Clavicle).
 

 

TYPES OF FRACTURES:

 

Open:           This is where the bone is broken and the skin is also broken. The bone may be sticking out.
Closed:             This is where the bone is broken but the skin is still intact.
Complicated:                      This can occur when either an open or closed fracture causes further injury e.g. broken bone that cuts a blood vessel or punctures the lung.

TREATMENT:

Steady and Support- Try to reduce pain by stopping movement.
Immobilise- Tie the legs together or put the arm in a sling.
Open Fracture- Place a dressing on an open fracture.
Closed Fracture- Place a cold compress on to reduce swelling.
Padding- to prevent limbs grating off each other.
Treat for Shock and send to the Hospital.

TYPE OF JOINTS:

Ball and Socket- shoulder and hip.
Hinge - knee and elbow.
Slightly Moveable- spine and jaw.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Sprain: This is a torn ligament at a joint.

Strain: This is a torn or over stretched muscle.

Voluntary Muscles: Controlled by will e.g. your arm.

Involuntary Muscles: Controlled by central nervous system, e.g. temperature control.

 

Cramp:

It is a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles. To treat it, you should stretch the muscle by straightening it and then massage it.

 

Dislocation:

It is the displacement of a bone at a joint. Treat like a fracture.

 

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Last Update: 23/07/2008 22:18