Lesson 2: BURNS AND WOUNDS
WOUNDS
There are four main types of wounds:
SCRAPES--Scrapes are the mildest and most common type of wound. A scrape occurs when the outer layer of skin is scraped off. Scrapes can be very painful since nerve ending just below the skin can be exposed.
CUTS--A cut occurs when a sharp or blunt object splits the skin. Cuts range from mild (like a paper cut, although some paper cuts can hurt terribly!) to severe, such as a cut from a large knife. Deep cuts can damage all layers of the skin, fat, muscle, soft tissue, blood vessels, nerves, and even bones.
PUNCTURES--Puncture wounds occur when a sharp object pierces the skin. Again, punctures can be mild, such as a pinprick, to life-threatening, like a gunshot. A stab wound, depending on the use of the knife, can be considered a cut or a puncture. Severe puncture wounds can damage blood vessels and even vital organs, if the puncture is deep enough.
AVULSIONS
An avulsion is a cut serious enough to partially or completely remove a significant amount of skin or soft tissue from the body. Some avulsions can even cause accidental amputation of a body part, such as a finger or toe.
Symptoms of wounds will depend on the wound itself, but mainly involve some degree of bleeding and pain. Very deep wounds can cause internal bleeding and injury, so be sure to pay attention to any complaints the victim may have, even those that don’t seem related to the wound itself.
FIRST AID FOR MILD TO MODERATE WOUNDS:
- Wash the wound with soap and water, and dry thoroughly.
- Apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment, if you have some.
- Apply a bandage, if the wound is still bleeding. If not, leave exposed to the air.
FIRST AID FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE WOUNDS:
- Control bleeding. Cover the wound with a clean cloth or sterile dressing and apply pressure. If the wound is bleeding freely, do not wash.
- Elevate the wound above heart level if broken bones are not present or suspected.
- Wrap and secure a bandage around the covering to keep it in place. Add more layers of covering if blood is soaking through. Do not remove any layers of covering already in place.
- Seek medical attention at once.
