Medical professionals: Best advice for bystanders caring for the severely wounded?

[pacalo]

Having seen some horrific pictures from the Boston bombings made me wonder what would be the most vital things a bystander could do to stabilize the severely wounded & to help save their lives. This could happen to any of us without warning & it would be great to know what to do to help.

For instance, what would be the first thing to do for someone with a limb blown off?

We need to know this.

[cynatnite]

1. ABC's...

Airway, Breathing and Circulation.

It's basic first aid.

With a limb missing, stop bleeding. A tourniquet is called for. Use a rope, tie, belt...anything that can stop the bleeding.

[HangOnKids]

3. Next ABC is Always Be Calm

Keep your head is what my paramedic son tells me.

[cynatnite]

7. I remember that from EMT school. n/t

[tblue]

10. Mine is studying to be one.

So proud of him for that. Says he just wants to help people. He goes to school in Boston and was near that site just yesterday. Oy.

[pacalo]

4. Thanks for confirming what I thought about the tourniquet.

I saw two pictures of those with limbs missing & I couldn't see a tourniquet on either one. It could have been the camera angle.

[Tx4obama]

2. Tie a tourniquet tightly above the wound with a belt, or rope, etc.

I'm not a medical professional but that is one thing that I do know.

[pacalo]

6. Thanks, Tx4obama!

[tblue]

5. Let's all take a First Aid class.

I took one a couple years ago but I hear you should take it every few years to stay informed and prepared. Maybe we need a thread on this. Any one of us just might save someone's life or limb someday.

[pacalo]

8. I agree, tblue. I want to be ready when/if it happens.

[rightsideout]

9. Take a First Aid Course

The Red Cross gives First Aid classes. Then you'll be ready.

From what I remember for severe bleeding keep the limb elevated above the heart. If an artery is cut you'll know because the blood will spurt out with each heart beat. Use a tourniquet, like a belt, and treat for shock. Watch the person's face. If red raise the head, if pale raise the tail. If you need to use a T-shirt to stop bleeding, the inside is cleaner then the outside.

Those are pretty much tips I learned from EMTs who taught us First Aid in Scouts.

[jberryhill]

11. Apply pressure to gushing wounds

[DreamGypsy]

12. Unless you have done homework on this in advance (as you are doing now)...

...although I am NOT a medical professional I suggest...pull out your phone and search on "severed limb emergency".

Choose a result, eg. http://www.netplaces.com/first-aid/emergency-events/severed-limb.htm

Severed Limb by Nadine Saubers, R.N.

No matter what the cause, a severed limb is a traumatic event for first-aid providers and for the injured person, so it is vital to remain calm and proceed with a rapid response.

The following steps should be followed for any severed limb:
Call 911 immediately.

Assess for ABCs, start CPR, and manage for shock as needed (see Chapter 2).

Do not apply a tourniquet; instead, control the bleeding by raising the limb and applying direct pressure.

Apply a sterile and secure dressing.

Regardless of the condition of the limb or limb fragments, wrap them in cling film or put them in a plastic bag, wrap the bag with something soft like a towel, and put it into another plastic bag containing crushed ice.

Label the bag with the time of the injury and the injured person's name and give it to emergency responders as soon as possible.

Never attempt to wash a severed limb or apply any antiseptic or disinfectant. Also, do not let the limb or limb fragments come into direct contact with ice. Finally, don't use anything but plastic to wrap the severed limb.

[DreamGypsy]

15. One more bit of advice...do NOT investigate Related Articles or ...

...Read More Emergency Events associated with the immediate situation.

I went back to look at the article linked above and found these 'helpful' additions:

Related Articles

Severed Limb - First Aid
Remove Gum From Hair, Carpets, Shoes, Etc
Running Injuries Treatment - How to Make an Ice Pack for Running Injur...
Lemon & Green Tea Ice Cream Tortes - Recipe for Easy Lemon & Green Tea...
Lemon Raspberry Ice Pops - Organic Cooking for Babies and Toddlers

Read More Emergency Events

Childbirth (Emergency Delivery)
Miscarriage
Tetanus
Rabies
Severed Limb
Sprains
Broken Bones
Fractures of the Pelvis
Dislocations
Smoke Inhalation

Of course, if the victim happens to have gum in her or his hair as well as the limb thing...

[politicat]

13. There's an excellent series at Making Light written by an incident commander.

Trauma and You series
The basics
Shock
Sticks and Stones
The Squishy Bits
Burns
TMI about TBI

Walking Out on a Disaster
Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI): Triage For Fun and Profit

The index to the emergency prep series is here

[pacalo]

14. Thank you, politicat.

[DiverDave]

20. Thanks, I bokmarked the link

Dave

[Ilsa]

16. Take a First Aid Course!!!

It will help you figure out how to prioritize tending to injuries, how to assess, and even in rare situations, when to give up.

The lessons of First Aid can also be applied towards smaller injury/illness events at home, especially Prevention.

[pacalo]

19. I couldn't agree more.

Thanks, Ilsa.

[actslikeacarrot]

17. Stop the bleeding, start the breathing.

When everything you learned has fled your brain due to adrenaline or panic this little rhyme that is taught in some parts of the military is IMO the best. Direct pressure, tourniquets and or pressure dressing for the bleeding, repositioning of the airway and/or CPR for the breathing. A person will die from bleeding out long before dying from not breathing so take care of moderate to massive bleeding first.

[pacalo]

18. Thank you, acts.

Welcome to DU!