Wounds & Injuries

Each of the body's lungs are surrounded by an airtight area in the chest. If this area is punctured and air is allowed to enter, the lung begins to collapse. This is referred to as a "open" or...

The Hoyer lift is a portable hydraulic mechanism used often for patients who cannot carry their weight because of amputation or physical limitations. It elevates the patient with a sling and...

A tracheostomy is a procedure in which an incision is made in the trachea. The objective of a tracheostomy is usually to allow the patient to breathe through the resulting opening, also known as a...

A spinal cord injury can be a very serious condition that requires around-the-clock care for the patient. As a nurse, it's your job not only to make sure the patient is receiving any treatments,...

An Ambu bag is a valve mask that is used to help a person breathe who is not breathing or is breathing inadequately on his own. Ambu bags are hand-held tools used to ventilate a person's lungs....

A skin graft is a type of medical procedure in which skin is transplanted. It can be used to treat very large wounds or extensive burns. It can also be used to treat areas that have been...

After suffering a severe trauma or even a terrible mental strain, many patients will go into shock. Shock is state of being that is difficult to completely define but that is largely...

When blood loss from an injury is severe, the risk of the patient going into shock increases. Since the body depends upon the circulation of blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to the brain, when...

Changing a wound dressing at home requires organization and a sanitary location in which to perform the dressing change. Since dressing changes may be painful with a lot of discomfort for some...

When someone is hit in the head hard enough to break the skull or expose the brain, it can be hard to decide what to do for them. But the public can help people with an open head injury before...

Sports injuries are common and often not very serious. However it is important to assess (evaluate) an injury to determine what, if any, treatment is needed. It is also good to know what to do so...

Abdominal injuries can be serious--even life threatening. An abdominal injury can be complicated because of the internal organs that are within the abdominal cavity. Here's how to assess the...

If someone falls and hurts their neck, you may want to rush in and help them. But that impulse can cause more harm than good, if you do it the wrong way. This article will teach you how to...

Here's how to manage severe bleeding in an emergency situation

If you are caring for an individual who is bedridden, the chances of them developing a bed sore at some point are entirely probable, and without taking added precautions, they are relatively...

Since no two brain injuries are exactly alike, there is no one way to retrain the brain following a severe concussion, if the victim is exhibiting symptoms of brain damage. The exact course of the...

It is very important to observe an individual after they suffer a concussion to see if any lasting symptoms develop. Since many of the more serious effects of a concussion do not become apparent...

Bronchitis is a disease that affects your respiratory system. There are two types of bronchitis—acute and chronic. You may observe common indications in both the types though in chronic...