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There are several types of injury that can happen to the body. We are now briefly gonna have a look at these. A contusion. This is a bruise or a blunt blow. Different people bruise in different ways. For example, the elderly or young may bruise easily. Applying a cold compress can help reduce the pain and reduce blood flow and therefore reduce swelling. An abrasion. An abrasion is a scrape to the skin. This is a minor injury, and you may just need to rinse the area with clean water or saline solution. It's usually only small capillary cuts and skin removed, so there may not be a need to cover it, as it should stop bleeding quickly. Laceration. A laceration is a rough tear to the skin such as catching your hand on barbed wire. These can be serious and are treated as serious bleeding. An incision. An incision is a clean-cut, such as cutting yourself with a knife. These can be serious and in some cases, life-threatening, as it will depend on where the cut is and what's been damaged on the body. Treat these for serious bleeding. A puncture. A puncture is where an object goes straight through the skin, such as a stab wound. Again, this can be serious as you do not know what damage has been done. Treat as for serious bleeding. If the item is still in the body, leave it there and bandage around it. A velocity. A velocity is where an object goes through the body, such as a gun shot, usually resulting in an entry wound and an exit wound. The exit wound may not exactly be on the other side, as the object may have deflected inside the body. This is serious and treated as serious bleeding. You do not know what damage has been done when the item went through the body so help is needed as quickly as possible. An amputation. An amputation is where a body part has been removed, such as a finger, an arm or a leg. This is a very serious condition, depending on what's been affected. Sometimes there are only partial amputations. Keep the patient calm and treat for shock and treat for serious bleeding. Tell the EMS what's happened and wrap the severed part in plastic film or a plastic bag. Wrap it then in gauze or soft fabric and place it into a container of ice. Do not let the severed part touch the ice directly. Mark the container with the time of the accident and give it to the EMS team. And finally, degloving. Degloving is where all of the skins were moved from a body part, such as when a ring gets caught in a machine and gets pulled down to remove all the skin from the finger. This can be very serious and distressing for the patient and the first-aider.
Types of Injuries and First Aid Procedures
1. Contusion
A contusion, often referred to as a bruise or the result of a blunt blow, can vary in appearance due to individual differences. For instance, the elderly or young individuals may bruise more easily.
First Aid: Applying a cold compress can help alleviate pain, reduce blood flow, and minimize swelling.
2. Abrasion
An abrasion is characterized by a scrape to the skin, usually considered a minor injury. In many cases, rinsing the affected area with clean water or a saline solution may suffice.
First Aid: Since it typically involves small capillary cuts and minimal skin removal, covering the area may not be necessary, as bleeding often stops quickly.
3. Laceration
Lacerations are rough tears in the skin, often occurring in scenarios like catching one's hand on barbed wire. They can be serious and require treatment similar to that for serious bleeding.
4. Incision
An incision refers to a clean cut, which can be caused by, for example, a knife. Depending on the location and depth of the cut, incisions can be serious and even life-threatening.
5. Puncture
Puncture wounds involve objects piercing directly into the skin, such as stab wounds. These can also be serious, and treatment should follow the guidelines for serious bleeding. If the object remains in the body, leave it in place and bandage around it.
6. Velocity
Velocity injuries occur when an object passes through the body, as in gunshot wounds. This type of injury is severe and is treated as a case of serious bleeding. The extent of damage may not be immediately apparent, so prompt medical assistance is crucial.
7. Amputation
Amputation involves the removal of a body part, whether it's a finger, wrist, or leg. The severity of this condition varies depending on the affected body part. First aid includes keeping the patient calm, addressing shock, and treating for serious bleeding. Notify emergency medical services (EMS) and handle the severed body part by wrapping it in cling film or a plastic bag, followed by gauze or soft fabric. Place it in a container of ice, ensuring direct contact with ice is avoided. Label the container with the accident time and provide it to the EMS team.
8. De-gloving
De-gloving occurs when all the skin is removed from a body part, such as when a ring becomes entangled in machinery. This can be a distressing and severe injury.