Injuries, health services and how to act

The trauma are those injuries that are caused by an external force that violently attacks the body: a fall, a contusion, an impact by another moving body, etc.

• In the event of a trauma, the first thing to do is always request help from the health services and once this action has been carried out, we will be able to carry out first aid.
• Then the state of consciousness will be evaluated, making sure that you breathe, that your heart beats and that you are conscious, that you respond to verbal orders and locate the pain.
• You can try to immobilize a fractured area with the help of something solid, but when in doubt, it is best not to move the patient until medical personnel arrive.

In the event of trauma while awaiting medical assistance

There are several injuries that can occur (sprains, muscle tears, fractures) and depending on the severity of the injury, one or the other measures should be taken. As with any potentially serious situation, while waiting for medical assistance, there are a series of measures that anyone can take to help someone who has suffered a trauma.

The first thing that has to be assessed is the patient's state of consciousness, making sure that he breathes, that the heart is beating and that he is conscious, that he responds to verbal orders and that he locates it. In case of doubt, it is essential to contact the emergency services as soon as possible to help the patient.

In case of suspecting a bone fracture (having heard a click, intense pain on movement, deformity, inflammation) a series of measures should be followed:

• Do not mobilize the injured if not absolutely necessary to avoid aggravating the fracture. Do not remove your footwear or any garment because, when trying to do so, unnecessary movements are produced that can cause more damage. Yes, rings, bracelets and watches should be removed to avoid compressions.
• Immobilize the fracture, in the same position in which we find it, including the adjacent joints, always avoiding movements of the affected area or moving it, if necessary, en bloc and under traction.
• In case of open, cover the wound with sterile dressings or handkerchiefs as clean as possible and compress to contain the bleeding. Next, immobilize and, if possible, elevate the affected limb.

If a fractured area has to be immobilized, the patient's own body can be used with the help of bandages or slings, or with rigid splints, something solid that allows the fracture to be aligned. They can be improvised using whatever is at hand: canes, tree branches, clapboards, rolled newspapers or magazines, cardboard, broomsticks, etc., held together with bandages, strips of sheets, ribbons, handkerchiefs, belts, ropes. It is about sharpening the wit with what is at hand. However, if there are doubts, it is best not to move the patient until healthcare personnel arrive to treat him.

Sprain

It is more common than before a trauma There may be a sprain, which is the alteration of the joints due to a strain on the ligaments or even their tear due to forced movement. The joint is swollen, painful and difficult to mobilize. In case of suspected sprain, the following should be done:

• Leave the affected limb at rest
• Put ice or local cold to reduce inflammation
• Immobilize the affected joint

Dislocations

Other injuries that can occur are dislocations, that is, the abnormal displacement of the bones that make up a joint. There will be pain, alteration of the shape of the joint and inability to mobilize it. Waiting to go to a hospital:

• Immobilize the joint in the position it is in.
• Do not try to reduce the dislocation, that is, do not try to put the bone in place.
• The most common injuries when a trauma occurs are minor: muscle strains, muscle tears, muscle strains or calamities. If it occurs, it must: • For physical activity and staying at rest • Local heat in cases of contractures • Replace salts, glucose and water in case of cramps • Rest and immobilization in case of muscle tears or strains

   

  Head trauma

  In the case of a, it is essential to assess the patient's state of consciousness. The first of all will be to alert the health services and then:

• If you are conscious and breathing normally, nothing should be done.
• In the event of unconsciousness, we must ensure that the airway is permeable, that it breathes normally and does not mobilize it when in doubt of possible involvement of the spinal column at the level

• Trauma to the spine

  When spinal involvement is suspected at any level, after alerting the health services it is important to:

• Never mobilize the patient; if it is vital to mobilize it, it will be done in a block, keeping the axis of the head, neck and trunk aligned.
• If you are wearing a motorcycle helmet, do not remove it unless the health services tell us to do so due to respiratory problems.
• Thus, there are several measures we can take in the event of a trauma But the first thing to do is always request help from the health services and once this action is carried out, we will be able to carry out first aid.