Dealing with Crush Injuries

Crush injuries result in damage to muscles and bones and it can cause serious disability. Dealing with Crush Injuries immediately is very necessary because it can be a big loss for victims.

Causes of Crush Injuries

1. Handling heavy objects that you can’t do because you have less power.
2. Negligence while working on moving parts of the machine.
3. Hitting by a heavy vehicle in a road accident.

Difficulties and Germs

1. Toxins can also build up around injuries and cause complications.

First Aid Procedure

Note: In case of chest crush injury or spinal injury don’t do CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and AED (Automated External Defibrillator).

1. Be prepared mentally and physically to treat the victim it may shock you.
2. If weight is still on the victim should be removed as soon as possible, provided it is safe to do so.
3. Neutralize all hazards at the spot before attending to the victim.
4. Call local emergency services or ambulance and reassure the victim.
5. Check if the victim has suffered any injuries or bone fractures and treat accordingly.
6. Head Injuries:
   • In case of head injury and a normal wound made on the head. Treat it to stop bleeding and dress it with germs protected bandage.
   • In case of head injury and a serious wound made on the head and external bleeding. Firstly stop bleeding and roll dressing it with germs germs-protected bandage around the head.
   • In case of skull fracture and internal bleeding. Don’t touch the victim’s head and spinal. Because serious head injury may be spinal injury too. Try to control the head movement. Immediately call emergency help and wait for help.
7. Leg or arm Bone Fracture:
   • For a broken foot bone, do not remove the shoe. Tie a pillow or thick padding around the foot over the shoe.
   • In the case of leg bone brocken should bind with the injured leg to the uninjured one with strips of cloth.
   • Bind the legs together gently at several places above and below the painful area.

Transfer of injured person to the hospital

1. If in doubt about how the person has been crushed, seek medical advice before moving it.
2. Monitor the victim, and incident place, and document the incident.

Crush injuries are very common in our work or social life each should be trained in the “dealing with crush injuries” topic.