Module 2 Flashcards
Shock
-Any serious illness or injury has the potential to cause shock
~If not treated early, it can get worse and become life threatening
~Early signs can be difficult to detect
*Person may begin to appear uneasy restless, or worried
~More serious signs can emerge gradually
*Person may become confused
*Skin may become pal, cool, and sweaty
-Inadequate tissue perfusion
~Results when the tissue does not receive adequate blood supply
-Problem can be
~Pump-Heart
~Pipes-Blood Vessels
~Fluid-Blood Volume
~Signal-Nerves
General Causes of Shock
-Decreased Blood Volume ~Bleeding ~Vomiting ~Diarrhea -Heat Failure ~Heart Attack ~Sever heart Disease -Vessel Changes ~Damage to Brain or Spinal Cord ~Allergies and/or Drugs
Shock
-Early recognition, treatment, and activation of EMS are essential for survival
-Help body maintain adequate oxygen
~Ensure open airway, confirm normal breathing, control external bleeding
~If no difficulty breathing, lay person flat on the ground
-Maintain a normal body temperature
~Insulate on top and underneath
~Be careful not to overheat
-Give nothing to eat or drink
-Keep as comfortable and calm as possible
Internal Bleeding
-A significant blow can create injury and bleeding inside the body
~Especially true for blood vessels and organs in chest and abdomen
~Internal bleeding can be difficult to detect
~Suspect it if chest or abdomen was hit hard
~Signs of shock may be earlier indication that internal bleeding is occurring
Control of Bleeding
-Bleeding occurs when blood vessels are damages
~Bleeding
*Arterial
**Bright red and spurts from wound
8vein
**Dark red, flowing steadily
*Can overwhelm clot-forming fibers
*Reduces oxygen delivered to body
*Heavy or uncontrolled, can become life threatening
~Pressure applied directly until bleeding stops is standard method
~Activate EMS immediately for heavy bleeding
~Exposes you to body fluids, use disposable gloves or improvised barrier
Tourniquets
-Utilize simple binding method around limb to stop blood flow
~Commercial tourniquets are easy to use
*Compressing band is placed around limb inches about open injury
*A solid handle is twisted to tighten band evenly around limb until bleeding stops
*Handle is secured in place to maintain constriction
~Improvised tourniquets can be created with materials such as triangular bandages and something solid to twist with
~Tourniquet can be considered primary step to control severe limb bleeding if direct pressure can’t be applied effectively
Hemostatic Dressings
-If injury located where a tourniquet or direct pressure is ineffective
~Impregnated with an agent that speeds up the clotting process
~Packed into an open wound and held in place with direct pressure or pressure bandage
~Pressure maintained until bleeding has stopped
~Training is essential to learn the proper application
Using Commercial Tourniquet
-Always follow manufacture’s directions
~Loop compressing band around injured limb
~If unable to loop over, unfasten band, wrap it around, and refasten
~Place band a few inches above wound site, not over joints
~Hand tighten band firmly around limb
~Twist handle to compress
~Lock handle, using mechanism provided
Using Improvised Tourniquet
-To improvise tourniquet using a triangular bandage
~Fold bandage lengthwise ~2 inches
~Place center a few inches above wound site, not over a joint
~Wrap around limb, bring both ends back to top, make sure bandage remains flat
~Tie half a knot over the top of bandage
~Place stick on top of half-knot and tie full knot over it
~Twist stick to compress band until bleeding stops and secure
Tourniquets
-If using commercial or improvised tourniquets
- Document time and provide to EMS
- Do not loosen or remove tourniquet unless directed by qualified medical personnel
Amputation
-Is the complete detachment of a body part
~If an amputation has occurred, quickly assess for and control any severe bleeding
~Have person sit or lie down, even if it is on the ground
~Activate EMS
-Once person is stable, locate severed part
~Wrap it in a sterile or clean cloth
!Place in tightly sealed plastic bag or waterproof container
~Cool bag or container with ice or cold pack
~Do not soak part in water and do not put directly on ice
~Give to EMS for transport to hospital
-Calm, comfort, and reassure the person
~Reassess regularly until EMS takes over
Impaled Object
-An object that penetrates a body part and remains embedded
~DO NOT remove an impaled object
*Can act like a plug, helping to prevent serious blood loss
~Movement of object or body part could create additional injury
~Cut away clothing to confirm skin penetrated
~Look for any serious bleeding
-Keep affected body part immobilized to prevent movement
~Activate EMS for significant impaled object or if doubt about severity
~Use clean pads to apply direct pressure straight down around base
~DO NOT apply pressure to the object itself
~Place bulkier padding around it for stabilization
~Hold padding in place with your gloved hand or a bandage
Impaled Object
-Impalement on larger, immovable object requires additional care
~Support person’s weight to relieve pressure
~Use padding to stabilize
~Reassure person
~Reassure person and injury until EMS takes over
Impaled object in the Eye
-Is likely caused by a small object being propelled at a high rate of speed
~Activate EMS
~DO NOT allow person to rub the eye
~Never try to remove embedded object
~Stabilized a large object with a clean pad
*Place protective cover over object
*Cover uninjured eye with pad
*Bandage over both eyes
~With smaller objects, loosely cover both eyes with pads and bandage
~Calm, comfort, and reassure
Open Chest Injury
-A penetrating injury through the chest wall can disrupt the chest’s ability to draw air into the lungs
~Expansion of chest during breathing creates suction pulling outside air through airway into lungs
~An open wound on chest wall will allow air to be drawn into chest
*Will get progressively worse and significantly impair breathing
-Condition could deteriorate quickly
-Activate EMS immediately
Open Chest Injury
-Treatment
- Remove clothing to expose injury site
- Check for exit injury, treat more serious injury first
- Do not seal open wound with airtight dressing
- If possible, allow person to assume a comfortable position for breathing
- Regularly assess person and injury until EMS providers assume care
- Be prepared to perform CPR if breathing stops
Open Abdominal Injury
-Injury to abdomen may result in evisceration, in which abdominal organs protrude through an open wound
~Protect organs from further injury activate EMS
~Allow person to assume position of comfort
~Cover protruding organs with a thick , moist dressing
~DO NOT push organs back inside body
~DO NOT apply direct pressure on wound or exposed internal parts
~Regularly asses until EMS arrives
Spinal Injury
-Injury to the spinal cord can result in temporary or permanent paralysis
~Paralysis of chest muscles can result in loss of breathing
~Movement can result in additional injury to spinal cord or surrounding tissue
~Suspect spinal injury when
*Obvious injuries to head, neck, or back
*Numbness, tingling, burning, or a loss of sensation in arms, hands, legs, or feet
~Lack of symptoms or obvious injury doesn’t mean spine is not injured
*Best to assume a spinal injury exists
*Stabilize head with your hands
Spinal Injury
-Establishing airway is a higher priority that protecting suspected spinal injury
-Tilt head and lift chin to maintain open airway or give rescue breaths
-When head, neck, or back injury suspected, best to leave in position found
~If airway threatened, quickly roll person as needed to clear and protect
~Keep head, shoulders, and torso from twisting as best as you can
-If you need to leave person to get help, place in a recovery positions to protect airway before you go
Brain Injury
-Significant swelling or bleeding inside the skull can result in increased pressure that damages delicate brain tissue
~Suspect brain injury when blow to head results in diminished level of responsiveness
~Activate EMS
~Stabilize head with your hands
~DO NOT attempt to stop flow of blood or fluid from ears or nose
