First aid: abdominal injury

It is highly recommended by the National Safety Council, that all individuals take a training course on both CPR and basic first aid procedures in preparation for a medical emergency. These life saving courses are available in almost every local community across the United States. It only takes an investment of a few hours of your time, to be trained and certified to administer the proper first aid techniques to a victim in a time of crisis. An act that very well could save the life of someone you love.

Abdominal injuries are one form of injury faced by emergency medical personnel on a daily basis due to accidents or acts of violence. However, for the average citizen, it is rare to come across this type of emergency situation. Most of us are ill prepared to properly assist a victim of an abdominal wound should the need arise.

In all cases of abdominal injury, have someone call for emergency medical assistance while you are attending the victim or call yourself once you have assessed the situation and tended to the victim’s immediate needs.

If you have been trained in first aid take the proper measures to monitor the victim’s vital signs using the A, B, C, and D first aid method.

* A) Make sure the victim's AIRWAY is open.

* B) Monitor their BREATHING.

* C) Check the victim's CIRULATION by monitoring their pulse rate, checking for severe bleeding, and checking the individual's skin color, temperature and moisture.

* D) Check for DISABILITY. Finding out what the victim’s mental and physical status and relaying this information can be a great benefit to attending medical personnel.

Even if you have not received formal first aid training there are several ways to assist the victim of an abdominal wound until trained professionals arrive.

For a blunt wound injury it is best to place the injured person on their side in a comfortable position. Since abdominal wounds prompt vomiting, by placing the person on one side it will allow them to expel the vomit with less likelihood of choking.

Never give the person suffering from a blunt wound anything to eat or drink. If you are far away from a hospital or medical center, you may offer the victim a clean cloth soaked in water to suck on to relieve dry mouth until emergency medical services arrive.

It is best to assume that a penetrating wound to the abdomen has caused damage to the victim’s internal organs and treat them accordingly. If the penetrating object is impaled, do not attempt to remove the object. This action would most likely cause further damage to the injured person.

Instead, stabilize the object and control the bleeding by placing a bulky dressing around the object. By surrounding the embedded object with a protective bandage you may prevent an object from moving or being driven in deeper causing further damage. Dressing the wound will help control bleeding, prevent infection and contamination, as well as absorb blood and drainage from the wound.

A gauze bandage or other form of clean cloth material placed loosely around the object is suggested. Any material that is thick, soft and compressible allowing even pressure to be distributed over the wound would be considered acceptable for use as a dressing. Never remove a blood soaked dressing. Rather add layers of new, clean dressing material over the existing bandage. Again, seek immediate medical attention for the injured party.

In the case that an abdominal wound has resulted in causing protruding organs, do not attempt to reinsert the organs into the victim’s body. This action could possibly damage the intestines or introduce infection in the body.

The best course of action is to cover the protruding organs with a sterile dressing or clean cloth. The dressing needs to be sterile or clean, because this material comes in direct contact with the open wound. Do not cover the organs tightly or cover them with any type of material that clings to the skin or would disintegrate when it becomes wet. Fluffy cotton or cotton balls would be a poor choice for dressing materials, because they contain fibers that can get into the wound causing difficulty upon removal. A clean handkerchief, wash cloth or towel, which is larger than the wound itself, would be acceptable materials to use for dressing a wound.

In order to help preserve the organs you may then pour clean, drinkable water onto the dressing to keep the organs from drying out until emergency medical help arrives.

As you can see, knowing the proper administration of first aid is one of the most valuable gifts you may possess. Sign-up today for a training course in your area.