Combat Life Saving Flashcards
What is shock?
Result in significant blood loss, heart failure, severe and painful blows to the body, burns, severe wounds that become infected, a severe allergic reaction to drugs or certain foods, certain insect bites, snakebites and dehydration.
Signs and Symptoms of Shock
Sweaty but cool skin Pale skin Restlessness, Nervousness Thirst Loss of Blood Confusion or Loss of Awareness Faster than Normal Breathing Rate Blotchy or Bluish Skin Nausea or Vomiting
Hemorrhagic Shock
Loss of 20% Blood, can Bleed out in 60-120 minurtes
Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
Closed Wounds
Open Wounds
Closed Wounds
A contusion or Bruise
Open Wound
Abrasion
Laceration
Incision
Puncture
Abrasion
Open Wound
a loss of a portion of the epidermis and part of the dermas from its being rubbed or scraped across a hard surface
Laceration
Open Wound
a cut produced by glass, metal, or any other object that may leave a jagged wound on the skin surface and cut through the subcutaneous tissue, the underlying muscles, associated nerves, and blood vessels
Incision
Open Wound
similar to a laceration, except that the wound will be somewhat “cleaner,” having no jagged edges
Puncture
Open Wound
May result from a stab with a knife, nail, ice pick, splinter, or any other pointed object.
Treatment of Open Wounds
Control the bleeding by direct pressure, pressure points, or as a last resort, a tourniquet
Prevent contamination with a sterile dressing
Immobilize and elevate the injured part
Special Wounds
Avulsion
Crushing Wounds
Amputations
Avulsion
Special Wound
an injury in which a whole piece of skin with varying portions of tissue or muscle is either torn loose completely or left hanging as a flap
Crushing Wound
Special Wound
contusions that are more severe, as the underlying skeletal support is also damaged
Amputation
Special Wound
the separation of either digits (fingers, toes, etc.) or limbs from the victim’s body
Open Chest Wound Symptoms
- A hole in the chest wall
- Coughing up of bright red, frothy blood
- Pain at the site of the injury
- Pain that is aggravated by or occurs with breathing, localized around the site of an injury in the chest
- Dyspnea (difficulty or pain with breathing)
- Failure of one or both sides of the chest to expand normally when inhaling
- A rapid, weak pulse and low blood pressure
- Cyanosis (discoloration) of the lips, fingertips, or fingernails
Open Chest Wound Treatment
- Use a field dressing plastic wrapper
- Tear open one end of the plastic wrapper covering the field dressing. Be careful not to destroy the wrapper
- Remove the inner packet (field dressing)
- Tear open the empty plastic wrapper and create a flat surface, using as much of the wrapper as possible
- Place wrapper over wound. Place the inside surface of the plastic wrapper directly over the open chest wound as the casualty exhales and hold in place
- Apply dressing to the wound
- Using the free hand, shake open the field dressing and place the white side of the dressing directly over the plastic wrapper covering the open wound, holding it securely in place to create an airtight dressing
- Place casualty on injured side. Position the casualty on his injured side or in a sitting position, whichever makes breathing easier
- Make the victim warm and evacuate as soon as possible
Tension Pneumothorax
May develop from an open chest wound
2nd leading cause of preventable death on the battlefield
Types of bleeding
Arterial
Venous
Capillary
Arterial Bleeding
Flow of bright red blood that pumps out in distinct spurts. The flow can be alarmingly profuse.
Severe arterial bleeding could cause a victim to bleed to death in one to two minutes
