Everyone can get into an emergency. And in this case, knowledge of the rules of first aid can save a life. The main thing is to maintain clarity of thinking and not try to perform manipulations that require special training.
PMP rules
The task of the person who provides first aid is not to make the victim worse than he is now. It should relieve pain and provide rest to the damaged area. This is the main task of first aid (PMP) for fractures.
First of all, it is necessary to assess the severity of the condition of the victim and find the place of injury. Then, if necessary, stop the bleeding. Prior to the arrival of qualified help, it is not recommended to move a person, especially if he has a fracture of the spine or there is damage to internal organs. In some emergency situations, evacuation from the scene is vital. In this case, use a rigid stretcher or shields.
Isolated injury requires a slightly different approach. It is necessary to immobilize a damaged limb with a splint, giving it the most physiological position. Be sure to fix the joint before and after the fracture. If there are no other complaints, then the victim is transported to a medical institution.
Open or closed fracture?
PMF for fractures depends on the shape, type and severity of the damage. During the examination of the victim, it is necessary to determine the type of fracture, since depending on this, first aid will be slightly different. Making any diagnosis is based on certain criteria. In the event of a fracture, there are relative and absolute signs indicating the presence of injury.
Relative signs:
- Pain. When tapping, trying to change the position of a damaged limb, discomfort occurs.
- Edema. It hides the picture of the fracture, is part of the inflammatory response to damage, compresses soft tissues and can move bone fragments.
- Hematoma. Indicates that the integrity of the vasculature was compromised at the site of the injury.
- Impaired function. It manifests itself in a restriction of mobility or inability to withstand the usual load.
Absolute signs:
- Strange, unnatural position of the bone, its deformation.
- The presence of mobility where it has never been.
- The presence of crepitus (air bubbles) under the skin.
- With an open fracture, skin lesions and bone fragments are visible with the naked eye.
So without the use of sophisticated technology, you can determine the presence and type of fracture.
Fracture of the bones of the upper limb
PMP for fractures of the forearm consists in giving the limb the correct position and fixing it to the trunk. To do this, bend your arm at the elbow so that you get a right angle, and press your palm to the victim’s chest. To apply the tire, choose a material that is longer than the forearm with the brush. It is fixed on the limbs in the presented position, then a hand is hung on a bandage, which is a piece of fabric connected by a ring and thrown over the neck to exclude a possible load.
Fracture of the shoulder requires a slightly different tactic. The position of the limb is also attached at an angle of ninety degrees, but two tires are applied:
- outside the shoulder so that it falls below the elbow;
- on the inner surface of the arm from the armpit to the elbow.
Tires are first individually bandaged and then secured together. The hand also needs to be hung on a belt, scarf or any piece of material that is at hand. The victim must be transported to the hospital only while sitting.
Bone fracture of the lower limb
In order to provide PHC in case of leg fractures, you need to stock up with a large number of long and wide tires (boards, shtaketin, etc.). Immobilizing the limb during a hip fracture, the first tire should go outside, with the upper end resting against the armpit, and the other - reaching the foot. The second tire goes from the crotch to the foot, speaking slightly for her. Each of them is bandaged separately, and then together.
If there are no materials for the tire, then the affected limb can be bandaged to an intact leg.
Shin fracture requires the same fixation as a hip fracture. The victim is delivered to the hospital exclusively lying down.
Fractures of the ribs and jaw
Since there is nothing to fix them in case of a fracture of the ribs, a tight bandage is applied to the chest. The victim is recommended to breathe exclusively with the help of the abdominal muscles, without loading the chest. If there are not enough bandages, you can use pieces of fabric or scarves. It is important that a person does not lie down in any case, since sharp fragments of the ribs can damage the lungs, heart, pierce the diaphragm.
A jaw fracture is most often the result of a fight or a fall. Therefore, it is quite reasonable to assume that the victim also has a concussion. First aid in this case is to cover the person’s mouth, give him analgesics and fix the jaw with a bandage, tying its ends at the crown. The main thing is to monitor the position of the tongue so that it does not block the airways. If the victim is unconscious, then it is necessary to lay him on his side or face down. Transport immobilization for fractures of the head should be horizontal. This will help to avoid stress on damaged bones and prevent asphyxiation.
First aid for open fracture
PMF with an open fracture should be provided as soon as possible. In such a situation, the risk of developing complications such as pain shock, collapse, massive bleeding increases significantly.
Therefore, the algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Inspect the victim and assess his condition.
- Give him a pain reliever to prevent traumatic shock.
- Treat the skin around the wound with a solution of peroxide, iodine or any other antiseptic.
- Using a sterile gauze, gently dry the bottom and edges of the wound.
- Put the sterile bandage folded several times on the wound, but do not press it.
- Immobilize from improvised means.
- In no case do not set fragments!
- Call an ambulance crew.
PMF with a closed fracture will have similar stages, with the exception of those points that refer to the treatment of wounds.
Immobilization
Immobilization is the immobilization of a damaged part of the body. It is necessarily performed in case of fractures of bones and joints, rupture of nerve and muscle fibers, burns. Due to pain, the patient can make sudden movements that can aggravate his injuries.
Transport immobilization consists in giving the victim immobility while he is being transported to a medical institution. Since some shaking is inevitable during movement, good fixation of the patient avoids aggravation of the situation.
There are rules under which applying the tire will be the least painful for the victim.
- The splint should be large enough to fix the joint above and below the fracture site. And if the hips are damaged, the entire leg is immobilized.
- A tire is formed either on the healthy limb of the victim, or on himself, so as not to cause additional inconvenience to the patient.
- Tire overlay is made on top of clothing to avoid infection of the wound.
- To avoid pressure sores in places where the bone is close to the skin, soft material is placed under the tire.
- The tire is not fixed on the side where the broken bone protrudes, because it is strictly forbidden to set it before arriving at the hospital.
Types of medical tires
A medical tire can be of several modifications, depending on the purpose of its use. There are splint prostheses that hold the affected area in one position and replace the missing area of the bone.
The following types of immobilization tires are distinguished:
- The Cramer Tire is a thin wire grate that is coated on top with several layers of bandage or soft cloth. The frame can be given any shape that is necessary in a particular case, this makes it universal.
- Diterichs tire - consists of two wooden boards with holes drilled in them through which straps or fabric are stretched. Another set includes a small flat sleeve, which is inserted into the hole, fixing the tire at the desired level.
- A medical pneumatic tire is a sealed chamber into which an injured limb is placed. Then, air is pumped between its walls, and part of the body is firmly fixed.
- The Shantsa splint is a fixative collar used for diseases of the spine, as well as for the prevention of cervical vertebrae displacement during back injuries.
PMF for bleeding
Bleeding is a consequence of a violation of the integrity of the vessel wall. It can be external or internal, arterial, venous or capillary. The ability to stop blood is necessary for human survival.
PMF for bleeding implies compliance with certain rules.
- Rinse a bleeding wound only if caustic or toxic substances get into it. In case of other contaminants (sand, metal, earth), it is impossible to wash the damaged area with water.
- Never grease a wound. This inhibits healing.
- The skin around the wound is mechanically cleaned and treated with an antiseptic solution.
- Do not touch the open wound with your hands or remove blood clots, as these blood clots inhibit bleeding.
- Only a doctor can remove foreign bodies from the wound!
- After applying the tourniquet, you must immediately call an ambulance.
Dressing
The dressing is applied directly to the wound. To do this, use a sterile bandage or clean cloth. If you doubt the sterility of the material, it is better to drip iodine on it so that the stain turns out to be more of a wound. A roll of bandage or cotton wool is placed on top of the fabric and bandaged tightly. With proper dressing, the bleeding stops, and it does not get wet.
- Attention: with an open fracture and a protruding bone, it is forbidden to tightly bandage and set the bone! Just put on a bandage!
Tightening or twisting
A hemostatic tourniquet can be either a help in the fight against bleeding, or aggravate the severity of the condition of the victim. This manipulation is resorted to only in case of very severe bleeding, which cannot be stopped by other methods.
If you don’t have a medical rubber cord at hand , then an ordinary thin hose will do. In order not to pinch the skin, you can put a twist on the clothes (sleeve or leg) or put a piece of any dense fabric. A limb with a tourniquet is wrapped several times, so that the turns do not overlap each other, but there are no gaps between them either. The first is the weakest, and with each subsequent it is necessary to tighten more. The styptic tourniquet can be tied when the blood stops flowing. Be sure to record the time of applying the tourniquet and fix it in a conspicuous place. In the warm season, you can keep it for up to two hours, and in the cold - only an hour.