Contents
3.1. Introduction.
3.2. First Aid for Musculoskeletal Injuries.
3.3. First Aid for Injuries to Spinal Column and Pelvic Bones.
3.4. First Aid for Traumatic Brain Injury.
3.5. First Aid for Chest Injuries
3.1. INTRODUCTION
All incidents and particularly different emergencies are accompanied by considerable number of casualties depending on the catastrophe cause. Most of the victims obtain different injuries to the bones, joints and soft tissues. A greater part of the injuries to the soft tissues, especially those without the wound turn to be not too serious, and the victims can be sent to the first-aid station or outpatient facility already after the first aid. That is why qualified first aid appears to be the basic component for prevention of complications. Damage to the bones and joints can be very dangerous even if the victim seems to feel quite well. Professionally provided first aid prevents complications in most of the cases and can help to reduce pain, shock and accelerate the victim's transfer to the medical facility.
3.2. FIRST AID FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES
Musculoskeletal injuries vary by nature of damage: fractures, dislocations, soft tissues contusions (muscles, periosteum), sprains and ruptures (muscles, tendons, ligaments, capsular ligament).
Complicated injury is considered that involving damaged nerves, main arteries and veins, viscera and body cavities. For example, closed (i.e. with no visible wound) ribs fracture with dislocation of the bone fragment and damage to pleural area and the lung or bruise of the soft tissues with capillary fracture.
Fracture - complete or partial loss of bone integrity caused by physical strength or pathological process. The fractures are classified as direct fracture (damage to the bone in the point of mechanical impact) or indirect fracture (points of the force implication and the place of the bone damage differ in location). Indirect fractures happen as a result of bending or twisting of the bones with longitudinally applied force or due to muscle spasm (avulsion fractures). Articular fractures involve damage to the joint surface of a bone.