Chapter 28: Bleeding and Soft Trauma Flashcards
severity of blood loss depends on several variables:
- amount of blood loss
- rate of blood loss
- other injuries/existing conditions
- patient’s existing medical problems
- patient’s age
how much blood loss is considered significant and can lead to shock?
15% of the blood volume or more
arterial bleeding
bright red spurting blood from a wound, can be difficult to control due to higher pressure, can also present as a steady flow, can need constant, hard direct pressure for 20 minutes or more
venous bleeding
dark red blood, flows steadily and briskly from a wound, easier to control with direct pressure
capillary bleeding
slowly oozing blood that is dark/intermediate red, typically easily controlled
protocol from ACSCT (evidence based) to control bleeding
- apply direct pressure to wound
- if not enough resources are available for one person to constantly hold pressure, apply a pressure dressing
- if the direct pressure or pressure dressing is ineffective in stopping the hemorrhage and the wound is to an extemity, apply a tourniquet
- if direct pressure is ineffective in stopping hemorrhage to an area of a body where a tourniquet can’t be applied, apply a hemostatic agent and continue to apply direct pressure
- if it is impractical to apply direct pressure or pressure dressings due to the number of patients at the scene with severe bleeding, go directly yo a tourniquet
steps to apply a tourniquet
- wrap the tourniquet around the extremity at a point just proximal to the bleeding but as distal on the extremity and as close to the injury as possible
- tighten the tourniquet until the hemorrhage ceases and secure the device in place
- write the time of tourniquet application on tape and secure it to the tourniquet
- if bleeding continues, tighten the tourniquet
- notify the receiving medical facility that a tourniquet has be applied
emergency medical care for severe external bleeding
- take necessary standard precautions
- apply direct pressure (pressure dressing if you cannot)
- if direct pressure fails on an extremity, apply a tourniquet
- provide care for shock by administering a high concentration of O2 or via PPV
- keep patient warm, transport immediately
- immobilize injured extremities
possible causes of bleeding from nose, ears, mouth
- skull injury
- facial trauma
- digital trauma (nose picking)
- sinusitis and other upper respiratory tract infections
- hypertension
- clotting disorders
- esophageal disease
epistaxis
nosebleed
emergency care for nosebleed
- have the patient sit straight up and tip head slightly forward
- use thumb and forefinger to firmly pinch soft part of nose shut
3.apply ice pack to nose/cheeks - continue pinching nose for 10 minutes (do not release to check)
- tell patient not to blow nose for at least 12 hours after bleeding has stopped
hematoma
contained collection of blood
emergency medical care for internal bleeding
- take standard precautions
- maintain open airway and adequate breathing
- administer high concentration of oxygen (nonrebreather mask, 15lpm)
- control external bleeding with direct pressure or pressure dressing, tourniquet if needed
- provide immediate transport
- provide care for shock
factors that increase bleeding
- movement
- low body temperature
- medications (anticoagulants, NSAIDs)
- intravenous fluids
- removal of dressings or bandages
hemorrhagic shock
shock due to fluid loss from bleeding
emergency medical care for hemorrhagic shock
- take standard precautions
- maintain an open airway, apply oxygen or PPV
- control any external bleeding
- place the patient in a supine position
- splint suspected bone or joint injuries
- use a blanket to cover any patient suspected of suffering hemorrhagic shock
- transport patient immediately
closed injury
a wound in which there is no break in the continuity if the skin. Contusions, hematomas, crush injuries
contusion
bruise, injury to the tissue and blood vessels contained within the dermis, causes localized pain and swelling at injury site
ecchymosis
black and blue discoloration
hematoma
similar to a contusion, usually involves damage to a larger blood vessel and a larger amount of tissue, a large lump with bluish discoloration caused by blood pooling beneath skin
crush injury
one in which force great enough to cause injury has been applied to the body, severe blunt trauma/crushing force can cause serious damage to underlying soft tissue and cause hemorrhagic shock