Every person has experienced injuries in life. They arise in a variety of situations and for a variety of reasons. It is about these problems that I want to talk now. So injuries. What is it? When and how they arise, what are and what help should be provided in the first place - read more about this below.
Terminology
Initially, you need to understand the terminology that will be used in this article. Injuries are violations not only of integrity, but also of the functionality of organs and tissues that occur as a result of exposure to environmental factors. In parallel, it is also necessary to understand what injuries are. So, this is a certain number of injuries (their combination), which are repeated under certain circumstances in the same population groups over the same period of time. It is worth noting that it is injuries that are a statistical indicator that makes it possible to get a complete picture regarding a particular type of damage in certain population groups. I must say that these indicators are very important. After all, they provide an opportunity to analyze the epidemiology of various types of injuries, as well as choose the right ways of prevention.
Mechanical injuries
Having figured out that injuries are problems that arise as a result of the action of environmental factors, it is also worth considering their various classification. Initially, we will focus on mechanical injuries. In this case, a mechanical force acts on human tissue , as a result of which certain damage occurs. If we were talking about animals, a mechanical injury would be a wound from a harness, a batog, a chain (on which dogs are kept). In humans, such injuries are divided into several subspecies:
- Operating injury . That is, obtained as a result of surgical intervention.
- Random . It can occur due to a person’s fault (for example, trauma from stepping on a rake), and independently of it (a brick falling on his head).
- Generic , i.e. obtained during the process of the baby being born.
- Military trauma. That is, the one that was obtained during the military (combat) operations.
However, this is not the only classification of mechanical injuries. They are also divided into:
- direct (occur in a certain place as a result of the application of traumatic mechanical force) and indirect (appear near the place of application of the traumatic force (for example, dislocation of the shoulder joint as a result of a jump from a height);
- multiple and single;
- closed (the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes in this case is not violated; it can be bruises, sprains, tears) and open (as a result of which the mucous membranes, as well as the integrity of the body’s tissues, are violated; most often these are dislocations and open fractures).
Damage resulting from mechanical injury
If a person is injured, you must definitely figure out which one it is. So, as a result of mechanical injuries, the following damage may occur:
- Abrasions . In this case, the integrity of the epidermis is impaired (the vascular or superficial layer suffers, lymphatic or blood vessels are damaged). It is also worth noting that the surface of the abrasion is always first wet, then it becomes covered with a crust from coagulated blood and plasma. This coarsening disappears with time, and in the place of abrasion for some time a special pigmentation of the skin may remain (the color will be slightly lighter than normal skin). Abrasions completely heal in about a week or two after receiving them.
- Bruising . They form at the site of mechanical damage as a result of rupture of blood vessels. So, blood is visible through the upper layer of the skin, so the color of such an injury is visible in blue and red tones. Over time, the color palette of the bruising will change, which will indicate that it will disappear soon (from crimson-blue to green-yellow). The time of full recovery depends on many reasons and varies among different people (factors that affect the speed of recovery: depth, magnitude and location of damage).
- Dislocations . This is a different kind of bone displacement in the joints (the so-called joint injuries). They occur mainly in the upper limbs, extremely rarely in the lower limbs. May be accompanied by tissue breaks. Eliminated by experienced doctors.
- Bone fractures. This is a violation of the integrity of the bones of the entire human skeleton. Often accompanied by damage to nearby tissues, ruptures of blood vessels and muscles, as well as various kinds of hemorrhages. Fractures are closed (occur inside the soft tissues) and open (there is a rupture of the skin, as a result of which a broken bone communicates with the external environment).
- Wounds .
More about wounds
In this case, the integrity of the tissue, mucous membrane is damaged. Wounds often penetrate deep tissue. It is important to note that it is such a trauma that can be dangerous for a person for the following reasons: bleeding may occur; infection may seep through tears of the tissue; there is a risk of violation not only of the integrity, but also of the functionality of the internal organs.
There is a classification of wounds, which are divided according to the conditions of occurrence:
- Cut . They arise as a result of exposure to a sharp moving object (most often a knife).
- Chopped . Applied by an object that has a small cross section.
- Chipped-cut.
- Torn . They arise due to overstretching of tissues.
- Bitten , which arise as a result of exposure to human tissues.
- Chopped . They are applied with a heavy sharp object (most often it is an ax).
- Crushed . In this case, not only rupture occurs, but also tissue crushing.
- Bruised . Appear as a result of a blow by a blunt object (or from a blow on a blunt object).
- Gunshot . They arise as a result of the operation of firearms or injuries by fragments of explosive ordnance.
- Scalp wounds are those that result in the separation of a skin site.
- Poisoned . They occur if poison enters the wound as a result of an injury or a bite.
Other types of injuries
So, injuries are damage to body tissues, as well as individual organs. In addition to mechanical, the following types are also distinguished:
- Thermal injuries. They arise due to the action on the body of high or low temperature. Damage that can occur as a result of thermal injury: burns (caused by exposure to too high temperatures) and frostbite (in this case, low temperatures affect the body). It is worth noting that it is the second type of injury - frostbite - that poses a great danger. And all because they have the so-called "hidden period" when the body's signals about problems are too weak and even almost invisible.
- Electrical injury. In this case, lightning or a technical electric current passes through the human body. As a result of this, thermal energy arises , which causes damage, most often it is burns.
- Chemical injuries can result from exposure to acids, alkalis, salts of heavy metals, etc. It is important to note that certain chemicals can cause local injuries, while others penetrate deep into the body, causing more serious harm.
- Radiation injury. It arises as a result of the action of ionizing radiation on the body , or, more simply, radiation.
- Various infections, viruses, bacteria, as well as poisons, toxins and allergens can cause biological trauma .
- Mental trauma. This is a special kind of problem. And all because classifying such an injury is extremely difficult. It usually occurs as a result of heavy experiences. It leads to various painful reactions from the autonomic and mental spheres (these can be both simple neuroses and depressive states).
Classification of injuries by severity
Various types of medical injuries are also distinguished by severity. According to this criterion, there are:
- Severe injuries. In this case, the deterioration of health is sharp, significant. Disability is violated for a period of a month or more.
- Injuries of moderate severity. The changes in the body are pronounced. A person is considered to be disabled from 10 to 30 days.
- Light injuries. Disturbances occurring in the body are considered minor. Loss of performance does not occur.
- Acute injury. They arise as a result of the action of one or another traumatic factor.
- Chronic injuries. They arise as a result of exposure to the same place on the body of the same traumatic factor.
- Microtrauma . In this case, tissue cells are injured.
Classification according to environmental factors
Injuries are also distinguished depending on environmental factors. In this case, it is customary to talk about the following types:
- Industrial injuries. That is, those that arise in factories.
- Military trauma - may be obtained as a result of hostilities.
- Agricultural injuries are received in fields, livestock yards, etc.
- Household injuries can be obtained in a domestic environment.
- Transport injuries are caused by vehicles.
- Sports injuries are received as a result of playing sports (both professional and ordinary).
- Child injuries can occur in a person who has not yet reached the age of 14.
First aid
Immediately after such an event as getting injured, the victim should be given all possible assistance in the very near future. She, of course, will vary depending on various factors. However, it should be noted that in most cases, after any trauma, it is best to seek medical help: go to the nearest medical institution. Or, if necessary, call an ambulance. After all, only a qualified specialist can cope with problems of varying severity.
What to do in a particular case
As mentioned above, assistance with injuries will vary significantly. However, in any case, a person should know what actions he should apply in the first place.
- Sprain. It’s possible to guess that a person has this particular problem by pain. Also, swelling or blueness may occur at the site of damage. On palpation, the stretch area hurts even more. In this case, a bandage should be applied to the injured area to limit movement. On top you need to make ice. The area of ​​injury itself should be placed a little higher than the level of the head (in this case, you can reduce swelling and blueness).
- The unnatural position of the limb “will tell” about the dislocation . And of course, the victim will experience quite strong pain. So, you need to fix the dislocated limb in the most convenient position, apply ice and go to the doctor. Attention: it is strictly forbidden to independently correct the dislocation!
- In case of bruises , only a cold compress can be applied. Rarely, a dressing may be needed.
- Fracture . To understand that a person has a fracture is possible only by viewing an x-ray. So if there is a suspicion of this problem, you need to immediately go to the doctor. First you need to fix the limb, immobilizing it as much as possible. You can also apply ice.
- Wounds . First they must be washed. Warm running water or, better, “hydrogen peroxide” is useful for this. In case of bleeding, it must be stopped. The edges of the wound can be smeared with iodine. After all this, you can apply a clean, dry dressing.
- It is necessary to cope with frostbite with dry heat. It is also worth remembering that you need to touch the skin on damaged areas of the body as little as possible.
- In case of burns, it is necessary to cool the affected part of the body under running cool water. The optimum cooling time is 15-20 minutes. If more than 20% of body parts are affected, wrap the victim in a clean sheet moistened with cool water. Need to give an anesthetic. Next, you must immediately call an ambulance.
- In case of electric shock, first the person must be freed from the action thereof. So, you can turn off the switch or "tear" the victim with a board or stick. In no case should you touch a person who is still affected by the current, because both will suffer, including the lifeguard! After the injury, the victim should be laid down, covered, given a warm drink. If there is no consciousness, you must let the ammonia vapor smell. If there is no heartbeat, you will need a heart massage and mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration.
Treatment
It is important to note that treatment of injuries can also be the most diverse. It will vary depending on the damage itself. In rare cases, you can provide yourself with all possible assistance. In most cases, treatment should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor. For example, a brain injury has been treated for a very long time. At the same time, the costs will be very serious. With ordinary bruises, it is often not even necessary to seek medical help. And to get rid of them, no material costs are required at all.
Effects
What could be the consequences of injuries? There is also no single answer. It all depends on what kind of damage the person received. So, if there was a usual bruise or bruising, after a certain time there will not even be an external reminder about it. If a fracture occurs, there will be consequences. They may not be visible from the outside. But they will definitely remain inside. Moreover, in this case, the broken parts of the body often remind of myself. This is said: "twists" on the weather. The most serious are the effects of radiation injuries.