Treatment of broken bone wounds

- Treatment of a broken bone wound (fixation) is known as splint bandaging. Fixation is done by applying two splints comprising of wood lined with thin cloth/sponge. The splints, each two centimeter in length are meant to flank the fracture location, which are then bound with a rope, and tightened to support the broken body part and prevent it from suspending.

- Treating a broken neck is by propping up the neck to prevent any movement, whether left and right, to and fro, as well as turning around.

- A broken back does not need first aid, but needs special aid from competent persons. What should be exercised is to make victim remain in a lying down position, and to make use of a flat and hard palanquin when transferring the victim to a different location.

- When treating a victim with a broken collarbone, no splints are needed, only a shoulder binder to retain its position and prevent the victim from stooping.

- In the case of an open broken bone, first step is to cover the wound, and thereafter conduct a fixation against the broken bone.

Rcognize Wound

'A broken bone wound refers to a wound which occurs on a bone, in the form of cracking, breaking or sticking out of the body. Broken bones are injuries most common during earthquakes.
The cause of a broken bone is for instance being struck by building debris, trampled on, getting squeezed.

Types of broken bone wounds

• Fractured bone: a bone experiences trauma/impact it may cause the bone to crack, but not break apart.
• Closed broken bone: a bone breaks, but is still inside the body.
• Open broken bone: a bone breaks and sticks out through the skin.

Symptoms of broken bone wounds

• Black and blue
• Swollen
• Very painful when touched or moved
• Change in form
• Broken neck bone can be noticed when there are wounds on both head and neck
• Broken backbone can be noticed when there is a difference in the length of the legs
• Broken rib-bone is followed by breathing difficulties

Principles of first aid against broken bone wounds The first aid principle to address a broken bone wound is through the fixation to rest/minimize activity of the two joints that flank the broken bone. This is necessary to prevent friction of the broken bone. Friction of a broken bone can aggravate the wound.

Bleeding wounds

During certain disasters, a bleeding wound may occur, e.g., piercing by flying building material during a cyclone, being struck down by building debris, scratching by a sharp object.

- Treating a broken neck is by propping up the neck to prevent any movement, whether left and right, to and fro, as well as turning around.

- Keep in mind that a bleeding wound can be quite dangerous and should straightaway be treated because of several factors:
• Whenever there is a loss of blood exceeding 20% of the total blood in a human body, this may cause unconsciousness and when no immediate help is given could result in death.
• Blood outflow from a wound. A wound represents a window for viruses or bacteria to enter the body, therefore the wound should be covered immediately to prevent an infection.

Although the body has the ability to stop bleeding, it is necessary to apply first aid against a bleeding wound.

The main way to do this is through:

• exerting pressure on the wound
• placing a bandage on the wound
• exerting pressure and placing a bandage (tourniquet) on the wound • exerting pressure on internal blood center points, for instance by the neck side, underneath the upper arm
• and even when there is no more bleeding, the wound should still be covered to prevent bacteria/germs from entering through the open skin.

Internal Bleeding wounds

Internal bleeding occurs when there is an internal body wound, although no blood has left the body.
Body parts that often experience internal bleeding are the thoracic cavity, the stomach cavity and the head cavity.
Applying aid is through calming the victim, and by taking him/her a clinic or hospital as quickly as possible, because the treatment is limited to those with special competence.

Internal bleeding symptoms:

• Stomach cavity bleeding is indicated by enlarged, hard and stiff stomach
• Thoracic cavity bleeding is indicated by short-windedness.
• Head cavity bleeding by decreasing consciousness and may result in paralysis.

Although the body has the ability to stop bleeding, it is necessary to apply first aid against a bleeding wound.

The main way to do this is through:

• exerting pressure on the wound
• placing a bandage on the wound
• exerting pressure and placing a bandage (tourniquet) on the wound • exerting pressure on internal blood center points, for instance by the neck side, underneath the upper arm
• and even when there is no more bleeding, the wound should still be covered to prevent bacteria/germs from entering through the open skin.