2. Head, Neck, Face, Eye, and Chest Injuries EMT 100

3. Closed Head Injury

4. Open Head Injury

5. Head Injury Signs & Symptoms Change in LOC Headache Unilateral weakness or paralysis Unequal pupils N & V Seizures Pallor Incontinence Drainage from ears or nose Speech disturbances

6. Head Injury Treatment Maintain ABCs Immobilize head and neck Apply loose dressings to wounds/bleeding Reassure Get follow up medical help, eg activate EMS

7. Head Injury Facial Injury Expect airway problems! Teeth, blood and vomitus Penetrating injury to cheek: only time a penetrating object can be removed

8. Head Injury Injury to the Neck Voice box (larynx) Windpipe (trachea) Spinal cord Apices (tips) of lungs Major vessels Blood loss Air emboli Brain damage

9. Neck Injury Treatment Maintain ABCs Immobilize head and neck Cover wounds with loose dressing Tape in place to secure Reassure Get follow up medical help, eg, activate EMS

10. Eye Injuries Generally, leave the victim’s contact lenses in place

11. Chemical splash in eye Flush injured eye with water Acids about 5-10 minutes Alkalines about 10-20 minutes Until patient feels relief

12. Eye Injury (cont.) Cover BOTH eyes with loose dressing! Seek follow up medical care

13. Burns to the eye and eyelid(s) Cover both eyes with moist, but loose dressing Get immediate medical help

14. Lacerations/Avulsions to the eye Cover both eyes with loose dressings Get immediate medical care

15. Complete eye avulsion Cover uninjured eye Pad avulsed eye with moist dressings Tape protective cup over it Get immediate medical care

16. Object(s) in eye If on surface, try to flush out Seek follow up medical care

17. Object impaled in eye GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL HELP-ACTIVATE EMS

18. Detached Retina Usually seen with head/eye trauma or diabetes Eye pain plus increasing blind spot Immobilize head & neck Cover both eyes Lay patient flat Activate EMS

19. Hyphema – bleeding into or from the iris (colored part of eye) Seen with trauma to eye orbit Blood oozes from iris or into it Immobilize head and neck Cover both eyes Raise head and shoulders Activate EMS

20. Chest Injury May be due to blunt or penetrating injury May cause damage to: Heart Lungs Major Blood Vessels

21. Chest Injury Broken Ribs Pain that gets worse with breathing or any movement Difficulty breathing Discoloration Treat by stabilizing Have patient lay on affected side

22. Chest Injury Penetrating Injury Stabilize any implaed objects – Do NOT Remove! If sucking chest wound, cover with three sided dressing

23. Three Sided Dressing