Need a certification?
We want you to feel confident that you're receiving the best training, so Sports First Aid Level 3 (VTQ) is fully available for preview below. If you're in need of a certificate of completion for work, create your account today to track your progress.
In this video we are going to look at embedded objects. An embedded object is where something goes into the body. Some examples are a knife, glass or a piece of wood. What we are covering in this video is an embedded object that needs to be secured and bleeding controlled. The important thing we do when we treat an embedded object is to never remove it. You may have to tell the patient to leave it where it is as sometimes people want to try and remove the item. If there is a piece of glass in the body and you remove it, you will make it worse. The glass itself is bunging up the hole and also glass cuts when it goes in and if you pull it out again it is likely to make even worse cut on the way out. Another example of this may be someone with a knife wound. If they have a knife in their body, the knife is bunging up the hole. It may be that the knife is close to an artery so when you remove it, you could actually cut the artery again making things worse. There are reports within the medical profession of people who died due to stab wounds and doctors say if the knife had been left in, they would have more of a chance of saving the person. With your gloves on, what you need to do is take two dressings, apply them either side of the item to prevent it from moving and to help control bleeding. We then use another dressing to carefully bandage that in place. Make sure you don't push down on the item making the injury worse. You can cut the bandage to allow the glass to come through the dressing. The two dressings on either side of the piece of glass are used to hold it in place and the dressings are there to support the whole thing. Once you put the bandage on, check the bleeding to make sure you have controlled the bleeding and depending on where the injury is, immobilise it the best you can. In this example you may be able to elevate the hand into an elevation sling, but it's important to make sure that you don't put the sling over the piece of glass which causes it to push in. Make sure that there is nothing going to happen to make the situation worse during transport to the hospital. Depending on where you are and the extent of the injury, call the EMS or transport them to the hospital as soon as possible.
Embedded Object First Aid Guide
Understanding Embedded Objects
In first aid, when an object penetrates the body through the skin, it's referred to as an embedded object.
Handling Small Embedded Objects
Small particles like dirt or grit can be rinsed off under a tap, and objects adhered to the skin can be removed if it's safe:
- Grains of dirt or grit can be washed off.
- Items stuck to the skin can be removed if safe to do so.
Treating Larger Embedded Objects
Larger objects, such as glass or knives, require careful handling:
- Removing the object may worsen the injury and cause serious harm.
- If a knife is lodged in a wound near an artery, removing it could cut the artery during extraction.
- The knife may be preventing further blood loss by plugging the wound.
First Aid Protocol
As a first aider, take the following steps when encountering an embedded object:
- Leave the object in the body.
- Put on gloves.
- Use dressings to reduce bleeding and immobilize the embedded object.
- Ensure dressings or slings don't exert pressure on the object, pushing it further into the wound.
Seek Emergency Medical Care
It's crucial to obtain professional medical assistance as quickly as possible.