Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

7 Bleeding, Wound Care and Trauma

Puncture injury Punctures can be very dangerous. Although the surface wound may be quite small and have minimal bleeding, there is the possibility of tissue damage and contamination deep inside the wound. Smaller wounds to the extremities need the MOI to be carefully assessed. If the object that created the puncture was dirty or penetrated deeply, the patient should seek medical care. Wounds to the chest and abdomen, depending on the MOI and the length of the object that penetrated the skin, can be very serious emergencies. Great damage can occur to internal organs and severe internal bleeding can result. Always seek medical help for these types of emergencies.

First Aider in Action: Part 5 As you apply the second dressing on top of the first and continue pressure, you ask one of your friends to open a third dressing. As he is doing this, you begin to think about how you need to proceed. The wound is bad enough that it must be seen by a doctor. Although you could activate 911, the bleeding has almost stopped, and now that Anita is lying down she no longer feels faint and is much calmer. You decide to ask Anita what she wants to do, telling her that a trip to the hospital is necessary. She quickly states her preference for being driven and does not want an ambulance. What do you need to consider and prepare if you are transporting Anita?

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