Contra Costa County CERT Program Unit 4A Emergency Medical Operations Bandaging and Splinting Released: 10 January 2016 Visual 4A.1 Wound Care Control bleeding Prevent secondary infection Objective of wound care: Treatment of wounds : Clean wounds dont scrub Apply dressing to wound Apply bandage to hold dressing in place No Hydrogen Peroxide Visual 4A.2 Tourniquets Tourniquets are an effective means of arresting life threatening external hemorrhage from limb injury. Their use remains a subject of much debate. Tourniquets are often discouraged in contemporary pre hospital civilian trauma care. The Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T), has been found to safely and effectively occlude blood flow with a low incidence of adverse events. Visual 4A.3 Tourniquets Tourniquets effectively stop blood flow and all tissue beyond the tourniquet should be considered forfeited due to loss of oxygen to the cells. Once applied, write date and time on the skin and leave the tourniquet in place. Israeli Bandage Visual 4A.4 Rules of Dressing In the absence of active bleeding, remove dressing and flush, check wound at least every 4-6 hours, redress as necessary If there is active bleeding, redress over existing dressing and maintain pressure and elevation Visual 4A.5 Treating Amputations Control bleeding and elevate part Treat for shock if present Save tissue parts, wrapped in clean cloth Place in baggy w/ patients name, date, and time Keep tissue cool, not frozen Keep tissue with the victim Duct tape to body, out of victims sight Visual 4A.6 Treating Impaled Objects Immobilize Dont move or remove Control bleeding Clean and dress wound Wrap Visual 4A.7 Guidelines for Splinting Support the injured area Assess color, warmth and sensation Splint injury in the position that you find it Dont try to realign bones Immobilize above and below the injury After splinting, recheck for color, warmth, and sensation below the injury site All fracture & suspected fractures require splinting Visual 4A.8 Treating an Open Fracture DO: Cover wound Splint fracture without disturbing wound Place a moist 4" x 4" dressing over bone end to prevent drying DO NOT: Draw exposed bones back into tissue Irrigate wound Visual 4A.9 Nasal Bleeding Causes: blunt force, skull fracture, non-trauma related conditions Blood loss can lead to shock Victims may become nauseated and vomit if they swallow blood Treating Nasal Bleeding Pinch the nostrils together, lean forward Put pressure on the upper lip just under the nose Use hemorrhagic nasal packing such as Celox Visual 4A.10 Exercise Anyone with an injury to the head, neck, trunk or upper legs are Immediates