First Aid International

Facial and Minor Wounds

Eye injuries

The eye is very easily injured so it is therefore important that we take care when dealing with injuries to the eyes. Injuries that penetrate the eyeball or cause the eye to be removed from its socket are very serious and can cause blindness. Eye injuries can be caused in a number of ways: fists, objects, chemicals, smoke, dirt, metals. When someone sustains an eye injury, the body tries to rectify the problem itself by creating tears to flood the object from the eye. You may also assist here by flushing the eye with water with the affected eye downwards. Do not persist in attempting to rid the eye of the object if it is stubborn. Sometimes further action needs to be taken.

Management of eye injuries

  1. Call 000

  2. Rest the casualty in a comfortable position

  3. Ask the casualty to close both eyes

  4. Bandage only the affected eye

  5. Never remove an object that is embedded in the eye. Apply padding around the object and keep the casualty still with the good eye closed until help arrives

  6. Reassure the casualty.

Ear wounds

Ear injuries are common and can include either outer injuries such as lacerations or inner injuries. An avulsion of the ear may occur when a pierced earring catches on something and tears away from the ear. To control the bleeding with an outer injury apply direct pressure to the affected area.

Blood or other fluid may be in the ear canal or be draining from the ear if your casualty has sustained a head injury. As discussed earlier, do not attempt to stop this drainage but prevent infection by placing a piece of padding over the affected ear.

The eardrum may be ruptured if the casualty receives a blow to the head, or perhaps an object being forced into the ear canal. Changes in the atmospheric pressure, eg an explosion or a deep dive can also cause injury.

If you can easily see that an insect has lodged in the ear canal you can attempt to remove it by placing a couple of drops of oil into the canal and maybe the bug will float to the top. If unsuccessful, seek medical attention.

The casualty may experience the following:

  1. pain

  2. deafness or impaired hearing

  3. bleeding from the ear

  4. signs related to injury within the skull: watery fluid mixed with blood from the ear, headache or an altered conscious state.

Management

  1. Call 000

  2. Position casualty comfortably, sitting up with the head tilted towards the side of the injury

  3. Cover any external injuries
  4. Treat for shock.

Nose wounds

Nose injuries are usually the result of a blow to the nose and cause it to bleed. Bleeds can also be associated with high blood pressure or changes in the altitude.

Management

Sit the casualty down with the head slightly forward. Ask the casualty to apply finger and thumb pressure to the soft part of the nostril for 10 minutes. Instruct the casualty to breathe through their mouth. After 10 minutes release the nostril. If bleeding has stopped instruct the casualty not to blow or pick their nose. If bleeding is not controlled, finger and thumb pressure can continue for up to 30 minutes. If unsuccessful after the amount of time, seek medical assistance.

Teeth and mouth wounds

If you are attending a casualty who has a tooth knocked out it can be replaced.

  1. place the tooth in the base of the casualty’s mouth and ask them to swish saliva around the tooth to clean it, or alternatively clean the tooth with milk

  2. put the tooth back into the socket and guard the tooth with aluminium foil to ensure it remains in place. Roll up some gauze and have the casualty bite down onto the gauze

  3. take the casualty to the dentist within 1 hour

  4. if the tooth is not to be replaced into the socket, the tooth can be transported in milk and the socket guarded with a piece of gauze.

Crush injuries

A crush injury occurs when a heavy object falls and crushes the casualty. The injuries are particularly serious when there is also damage to internal organs, bone fractures and severe bleeding.

Management

  1. DRABC

  2. Remove the crushing force immediately if safe to do so

  3. if the casualty has not been trapped for longer than 1 hour DO NOT REMOVE the crushing force

  4. Control any bleeding and other injuries

  5. If unable to remove the object or the casualty has been trapped for the extended period, call for immediate help

  6. Reassure the casualty and check vital signs.

Amputations

When a part of the body is cut off or torn off, the first aider must ensure the severed area is cared for and transported to the hospital with the casualty.

Management

  1. DRABC

  2. Apply direct pressure to the affected limb, bandage and elevate

  3. Place the severed part in a plastic bag or other airtight container

  4. Pack the bag / container into ice added to water. The severed part must never come in direct contact with water or ice

  5. Send to the hospital with the casualty.

© First Aid International 2002

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