Okay, so maybe you weren't thinking. I mean, you are 17...for all intents and purposes (except maybe voting), an adult. You should have known better than to try to climb to your bedroom window by shinnying up the drainpipe. But you didn't, and now you're lying on the ground with intense pain radiating from your left leg, a.k.a. your landing site. "I'll bet anything it's broken," you think with a small inner grin, remembering that lucky kid whose crutches and gym pass were the envy of all. A sharp pain quickly dissolves those bittersweet memories, as you remember that there is no such thing as a gym pass in summer and right now you have, no doubt, a couple of painful hours to go before you will be the envy of anyone. Wincing in a unique combination of embarrasment and outright pain, you bite the bullet: "Mommy!" Better hope Mommy's read up...
Your body consists of over 200 bones of all different
shapes and sizes. All of these bones in addition to muscles and the
tendons and ligaments that put them together form the skeleton, which
serves to protect many of the organs your body uses to function
normally. Bones are dense and very strong, and they tend not to break
easily, except in elderly people who have developed osteoperosis, a
gradual weakening of the bones. Bone injuries are often quite
painfull, and they may bleed, as all bones have an ample amount of
blood and nerves. The two types of bone injuries are fractures, which
may be open or closed, and dislocations, which involve muscles and
joints as well. The body has over 600 muscles, which are soft tissue.
Injuries to the brain, the spinal cord or nerves can affect a
person's muscle control, and when a muscle is injured, a nearby
muscle may take over for the injured one. A joint is formed where the
ends of two or more bones come together in one place. The bones are
held together by ligaments, which tear when a joint is forced beyond
its normal range of movement. A sprain is the tearing of ligaments at
a joint. A strain is a stretching and/or tearing of muscles or
tendons.
An open
fracture occurs when an arm or a leg twists in
such a way that the broken bone ends tear through the skin, causing
an open wound. In a closed fracture the skin is not broken; this type
of fracture is much more common than an open fracture. An open
fracture brings with it a chance of infection and also severe
bleeding. Fractures can be life-threatening if they sever an artery,
affect breathing, or occur in very large bones such as the femur in
the thigh. A motor vehicle accident or any fall from a height may
cause a fracture.
A dislocation is typically more
noticeable than a fracture. A dislocation occurs when a bone moves
away from its normal position at a joint. A violent force tears the
ligaments that hold the bone in place at a joint, and the joint will
no longer function. Usually, the displaced bone causes an obviously
abnormal bump, ridge or hollow.
Sprains may swell but
typically heal quickly. Pain may be minimal and the victim may be
active soon, in which case the joint won't heal properly and will
remain weak. It is likely to be reinjured more severely, possibly
involving a fracture or dislocation of the bones at the joint. The
most easily injured joints are at the ankle, knee, wrist and
fingers.
Strains
are frequently caused by lifting a very heavy
object or working a muscle too hard. They usually involve muscles in
the neck, back, thigh or back of the lower leg. Strains tend to
reoccur, especially those located in the neck or back.
An x ray is the best way to assess the extent
of damage to a bone, muscle or joint. However, you may be able to
judge how serious the injury is by its appearance. The area may be
red, bruised, swollen, twisted, or have bumps, ridges or hollows. The
area may be painful to touch as well as to move, or the victim may be
unable to move it. If you compare an injured body part with an
uninjured one, you may be able to locate any abnormalities; this
works well with an arm, a leg, a shoulder, a knee...you get the idea.
Sometimes the victim may have heard a snap, crackle or a pop when the
injury occurred, or he or she may feel bones grating. Also, the
victim's hands and fingers or feet and toes may tingle or feel
numb. (Hey, you oxymorons...how can something
feel numb?)
It does not matter whether
the injury was to a bone, muscle or joint-you don't need to know
specifically what the injury is in order to care for it! The formual
for proper care is rest, ice and elevation. Make the victim as
comfortable as possible, and apply ice to reduce pain and swelling.
Minimize movement of the injured part by supporting it with something
like a pillow.
Do not try to move a patient with a severely
broken bone unless it is absoluely necessary. Calling EMS is the best
couse of action in this case. However, if you must move the patient
you must immobilize the injured body part. One way is to splint it,
but do this only if it can be done without hurting the victim, and
always attempt to splint the part in the position you found it.
Splint the injured area and the joints above and below the injured
area. You may use another body part, like an injured leg to an
uninjured one, or an injured arm to a chest; this is called an
anatomic splint.
Make a soft splint from folded blankets or towels, or use a triangular
bandage to make a sling, another type of soft splint, which is used
to support an injured arm, wrist or hand. Use folded magazines and
newspapers, cardboard or metal strips to support the injured body
part with a rigid splint. Use several folded triangular bandages to secure the
injured body part to the splinting material, tying them securely but
not too tightly.Apply ice and raise the injured part, and prevent the
victim from getting chilled or overheated. Remember to be
reassuring!
If you think the victim may have a head or spine injury, DO NOT move him or her; leave the victim lying flat. EMS will be able to move and treat the patient without causing further injury to the victim.
Beware of signs that indicate head and spine injuries. These include:
changes in consciousness; vision and breathing problems; nausea and vomiting; inability to move a body part; steady headache; tingling or loss of sensation in hands, fingers, feet or toes; blood in the ears or nose; seizures, severe pain, pressure or bleeding in the head, neck or back; bruising of the head; and loss of balance
If you see these signs in a victim, call EMS immediately, and DO NOT attempt to move the victim or you may injure him or her further. Minimize movement of the head and spine, maintain an open airway(use a chin lift but NO head tilt unless you want to paralyze the victim!!!), check consciousness and breathing, control any bleeding, and prevent the victim from getting chilled or overheated.
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