Gunshot first aid

By doctor Osama YehyaAugust 2015

Gunshot first aid

• Gunshot wounds are unpredictable puncture wounds that cause major tissue damage. Three factors work together to determine the severity of a gunshot wound.

1. Location of the injury2. Size of the projectile3. Speed of the projectile

• It's difficult to assess the extent of damage done by a gunshot wound, and it typically far exceeds what you can reasonably treat with first aid. For this reason, the best option is to get the victim to a hospital ASAP.

Providing Basic First Aid

• 1- Establish that you are in a safe positionA. If the victim was shot unintentionally (e.g., while hunting), make sure that everyone's firearm is pointed away from others, and secured. B. If the victim was shot in a crime, verify that the shooter is no longer on the scene

• 2. Call for help

• 3. Keep the victim in place• Moving the victim could aggravate a spinal

injury. Elevating the wound can limit bleeding, but should not be considered unless you are confident that there is no spinal injury.

• 4- Act quickly. • Time is your enemy in treating the victim.

Victims who reach medical facilities during the "Golden Hour" have a much better likelihood of surviving. Try to keep your movements swift without making them crazy and panicked.

• 5- Apply direct pressure to control bleeding. Take cloth, bandage, or gauze and press directly against the wound using the palm of your hand. Continue for at least ten minutes

• 6- Apply dressing. • If the bleeding subsides, apply cloth or gauze

to the wound. Wrap it around the wound to apply pressure. Do not, however, wrap so tightly that the victim loses circulation or feeling in their extremities

• 7- Be prepared to treat the victim for shock• caused by trauma or loss of blood• Sings:• Decreasing alertness• Nausea/vomiting• Rapid and weak pulse• Lowering blood pressure

• Management of shock:• cover the patient and keep him warm• elevate the legs if not contraindication

• spinal injury• Elevate the legs Do not elevate legs to treat

for shock if the gunshot wound is above the waist (unless the gunshot wound is in the arm). Gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest will bleed more quickly once the legs are elevated

• In general, Someone with internal bleeding is probably not going to survive without rapid transfer to a medical facility.

• 8- Stay with the person. • Continue to reassure and keep the victim

warm

Treating gunshot wound according to loction

• For a Gunshot Wound in the Headcontrol the bleeding with direct pressure as best you can.

• Make sure the blood doesn’t choke the person -conscious person sit up and lean forward

- unconscious person turn to his side “recovery position”.

• For a Gunshot Wound in the Abdomen

If the wound is open and you can see the intestines, find a moist, sterile dressing to place on top of the wound

• For a Gunshot Wound in the Arms or LegsThink about: bones fracture

• Direct pressure, elevation, pressure bandage• if it’s still bleeding, take your fingers and apply

pressure to the brachial artery for the arm or the femoral artery for the leg Indirect pressure

• If all else fails in an extremity, go to a tourniquet

• For a Gunshot Wound in the Chest” sucking chest wound”

• Recognize by:• sucking sound from the chest• coughing up blood.• frothy blood coming from wound.• shortness of breath.

• Determine if there is an exit wound and if so apply procedure to both sides of the victim’s wound.

• Seal the wound on three sides. Take airtight material, plastic is best, and tape it around the wound, covering all sides except for the bottom corner. Oxygen will escape from this hole

• Carefully monitor the patient's breathing

Video

• 1-Stay Safe. • 2- call for help. Surviving a gunshot wound depends

greatly on how quickly a victim gets to a hospital• 3- Do not move the victim unless he safe to.• 4- Follow basic first aid. If the victim is unconscious

but breathing, keep the airway open and clear. If the victim is not breathing, begin CPR

• 5- Control any bleeding. Seal gunshot wounds to the chest with some type of plastic

• 6- Do not elevate legs to treat for shock if the gunshot wound is above the waist

• 7- Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink, including water.

End

References • http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Bullet-Wound• http://www.thesurvivaldoctor.com/2012/07/26/gunshot-wounds/• http://firstaid.about.com/od/softtissueinjuries/ht/07_gunshots.htm• http://www.podiatrytoday.com/treating-gunshot-wounds-lower-extremity• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/17029304816414098/