Things You'll Need:
- Latex-free gloves
- Face mask
- Safety goggles
- First Aid kit including ice packs, triangle bandages and splinting materials.
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Step 1
When assessing an injury, as in any emergency situation, you need to make sure you are protected. Always survey the scene of an injury for hazards. Then put on your gloves, face mask and safety goggles. This will protect you from blood-borne pathogens (hepatitis and HIV viruses).
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Step 2
Check by the alphabet, or ABC's. Does your patient have an airway (A)? Is he breathing adequately on his own, or will he need rescue breaths (B)? Is there severe bleeding (the C is for circulation)? Stop the bleeding with direct pressure (using a gloved hand) and bandage.Once you assess her ABC's, check the patient for shock. If she is not entirely conscious or is confused, is pale or nauseaus, treat her for shock by raising her legs above the level of her heart (providing she doesn't have a pelvic, leg or foot injury) and cover with a blanket. Try to keep her calm.Call 911 or your local emergency number.
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Step 3
If the head, neck or back was injured try to keep the patient's head and neck in line with her spinal column. Look at him for a change in level of consciousness, loss of sensation, or impaired breathing.Other signs of a serious head/neck/back injury include: fluid in the ears or nose, bruising around the ears, severe bleeding or swelling around the head. Seizures, vomiting and nausea are also symptoms to watch for.This is a true emergency and warrants a 911 call.
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Step 4
Look at the injured area for deformity (something that doesn't look like it should), swelling, bruising, a bone protruding through the skin or inability to use the injured part.Feel for warmth and sensation--if an injured part is cold or numb, the injury may be serious.Consider how he was injured...did he fall, was he hit by something, or did he collide with an object or a person? How much force or speed was involved?
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Step 5
Is it a sprain, a strain, or a break? It doesn't matter--we treat all injuries to muscle, joints and bones the same. It will be up to the orthopedist or ER doctor to diagnose the exact type of injury.
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Step 6
Use RICE on a sports injury.Rest: encourage the patient to not use the injured part.Immobilize: splint or wrap if necessary for transport. If an ambulance is on the way you can leave the injured part as you found it.Cold: apply ice wrapped in a cloth, or use a sports cold pack. Frozen peas work well also.Elevate: the injured part if possible.
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Step 7
Only splint if necessary. Before applying a splint check the patient's circulation below the area you are going to splint. If he has injured his elbow, and you are going to use a triangle bandage, check his hand and fingers for feeling, warmth and sensation.Splint an injured joint on the bone above, and at the bone below that joint.If she has injured a bone, splint the joints above and below her injury.After you have applied the splint, check again for feeling, warmth and sensation.Don't splint too tightly.
