First Aid Techniques

Wound Care – Part 4 “Impaled Objects”

With our fourth look into Wound Care will mainly focus on Impaled Objects and what we can do to help someone experiencing this type of emergency. If the “Object” that created the injury is stuck within the wound it is called an “Impaled Object“. This can be very painful, lead to blood loss, internal damage / bleeding, infection and many other complications. With an “Embedded or Impaled Object NEVER remove the object” leave the object in place for medical professionals to remove to reduce further injury. For this post lets utilize the information we have gained in previous clips to assess, evaluate and control the hazards and injuries associated with Impaled Objects.

Common Causes:

  • Injuries from pointed objects like nails, glass, pens or needles.
  • Unsafe play habits with long or pointed objects

Prevention:

  • Wear PPE or Personal Protective Equipment when available
  • Stay away from unfamiliar or wild animals
  • Implement safe play habits with children and adults to avoid injuries such as “running with scissors“
  • Wear Proper footwear outdoors at work or at play
  • Nails sticking out from boards should be removed and sweep up broken glass either inside or outside “Animals and Children can easily be exposed to sharp objects hidden in grass“

What it Looks Like:

  • An object sticking out of the body.
  • Bleeding, depending on the size of the object and depth of penetration.
  • Pain
  • Shock

How to Help:

  1. Check the area, once the area is safe, Check the person and ensure the persons ABC’s are present “Airway / Breathing / Circulation” REMEMBER – Wear gloves if available to avoid bodily fluids.
  2. Call 911 if you suspect the injuries could be severe or if there object is large, the person is impaled “Onto” the object, is in the chest, head or neck.
  3. Care for the Impaled Object by:

**LEAVE THE OBJECT IN** it may be acting like a plug and preventing the victim from severe blood loss.

  • Stabilize the object by putting bulky dressings around the object to prop it in its original position “Try not to move the object as much as possible” IF THERE IS AN ENTRANCE THERE MAY BE AN EXIT, check for an exit wound and stabilize like the first.
  • Use long bandages or tape to keep the dressings in place securing the Object & dressings.
  • With an Impaled Object it is important that the person “ALWAYS” seeks further medical attention and avoids removing the object themselves. The object should be removed by properly trained medical personnel.

As you can see the treatments for an Impaled object and a Puncture Wound are very similar.

We never know what can happen, its always good to be prepared and have the knowledge we need to help those who need it.

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Above all else remember to Protect Yourself!!! Call 911!!! Don’t Wast Time!!!

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