Gunshot wounds are one of the most traumatic injuries for their victims. The severity of gunshot wounds is difficult to estimate, and is generally too severe to treat with first aid. Thus, the best option is to get the victim to the hospital as soon as possible. However, there are some first aids you can provide before medical help arrives.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Giving First Aid
Step 1. Make sure your position is secure
If the victim is hit by accidental fire, such as while hunting, make sure the gun muzzles are pointed away from each other, the ammunition has been emptied, secured and put away. If the victim has been shot in a criminal act, make sure the shooter is not there, and that you and the victim are safe from harm. Wear special protective equipment such as latex gloves if available.
Step 2. Call for help
Call the emergency telephone numbers 118 or 119 for medical attention. If calling from a cell phone, be sure to provide the recipient of the incident location information. Otherwise, the ambulance will have a hard time finding it.
Step 3. Do not move the victim
Do not move the victim unless absolutely necessary to rescue or provide medical care. Moving the victim risks aggravating the spinal cord injury. Elevating the wound can reduce bleeding, but should not be done unless you are sure there is no spinal injury.
Step 4. Act fast
Time is the main determinant in the treatment of gunshot wounds. Victims who can reach the hospital during the golden hour are more likely to survive. Try to act quickly without making the victim more panicked or frightened.
Step 5. Apply pressure to the wound to control bleeding
Take a washcloth, bandage, or gauze and press it directly on the surface of the wound with the palm of your hand. Press for at least 10 minutes. If the bleeding doesn't stop, reexamine the wound and consider applying pressure from a different direction. Cover the previously used bandage with a new bandage. Do not remove the bandage that has been bleeding.
Step 6. Dress the gunshot wound
If the bleeding subsides, apply a bandage or cloth to the wound. Wrap around the wound to press it down. Just don't wrap it too tightly so that the victim's blood circulation is disrupted or his limbs are numb.
Step 7. Be prepared to provide care when the victim is in shock
Gunshot wounds often cause shock, a condition caused by trauma and heavy blood loss. Watch for signs of shock in the victim and provide the necessary care to stabilize the body temperature. Cover the victim so they don't get cold. Loosen tight clothing and cover the body with a cloth or coat. Usually, the injured body part is elevated when the victim is in shock, but do not do this if the victim may have a spinal cord injury or a gunshot wound above the waist.
Step 8. Calm the victim
Tell him he's fine, and you'll help him. The victim's composure is very important. Invite him to talk to you, and keep him warm.
If possible, ask about the medications he is taking, the illnesses he has (such as diabetes, high blood pressure), and any drug allergies. This information is very important and can distract him from the gunshot wound
Step 9. Accompany the victim
Continue to calm the victim and keep the body warm. Wait for help to arrive. If blood appears to be clotting around the wound, leave it alone, as this clot will stop the bleeding and prevent the blood from flowing out.
Part 2 of 4: Checking the Victim's Condition
Step 1. Remember actions A, B, C, D, E
Consider the condition of the victim before providing further assistance. Use A, B, C, D, E as a reminder of the factors to consider. Check these 5 important factors to find out what help the victim needs.
Step 2. Check the victim's airway
If the victim can speak, it is likely that the airway is not blocked. If the victim is unconscious, make sure the airway is not blocked. If the victim's airway is indeed blocked, and there is no spinal injury, tilt the victim's head.
Press the victim's forehead with one palm of your hand, place the other hand under the chin, and tilt the victim's head
Step 3. Monitor the victim's breathing (breathing)
Can the victim breathe normally? Does the chest appear to be bulging and deflated? If the victim is not breathing, check for obstruction in the mouth, and give rescue breathing immediately.
Step 4. Check the blood circulation (circulation)
Apply pressure to the bleeding area, then check the victim's pulse at the wrist or neck. Can you still feel the pulse? If not, give CPR immediately. Control the heavy bleeding that occurs.
Step 5. Note the inability of the victim to move his body (dissability)
Paralysis indicates an injury to the spine or neck. Check if the victim can move his legs and arms. If not, the spine may be injured. Look for any fractures, cracks, or shifts in the bone that appear abnormal. If the victim appears paralyzed, you should not move the position.
Step 6. Check the gunshot wound (exposure)
Look for the bullet hole. Check for other wounds on the victim's body. Pay special attention to the armpits, buttocks, or other hidden areas. However, do not remove all the victim's clothes before emergency help arrives, because it has the potential to cause shock.
Part 3 of 4: Treating Sores on the Arm or Leg
Step 1. Elevate the injured body part then press down
Examine the victim's wounds carefully to make sure he or she does not have paralysis or other injuries that could indicate a spinal cord injury. If there are no signs of a spinal cord injury, elevate the injured body part above your heart to reduce blood flow. Apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding as described above.
Step 2. Apply indirect pressure
In addition to applying direct pressure, you can also apply indirect pressure to the injured area to reduce blood flow to the wound. You can apply pressure to arteries, or body pressure points. These veins will feel big and hard. Applying pressure to this area will reduce internal bleeding, just make sure to squeeze the arteries leading to the wound.
- To slow blood flow to the arm, press on the brachial artery on the side of the arm, on either side of the elbow.
- Apply pressure to the femoral artery to treat an injury to the groin or upper thigh. These arteries are very large, so you have to apply pressure with your wrist to reduce blood flow.
- Apply pressure to the popliteal artery behind the knee to treat the lower leg injury.
Step 3. Make a tourniquet
You should carefully consider using a tourniquet as it may result in amputation of the injured part. However, consider making a tourniquet if the bleeding is very heavy, and a bandage and cloth can be used.
Wrap the bandage tightly around the injured area as close as possible to the gunshot wound, between the wound and the heart. Wrap it several times and tie it in a knot. Leave some cloth to tie to a stick. Rotate the stick to reduce blood flow
Part 4 of 4: Coping With Open Chest Injuries
Step 1. Recognize an open chest injury
If the bullet penetrates the chest, it is possible that an open chest injury will occur. Air enters through the wound, but cannot escape, causing the lungs to collapse. Signs of an open chest injury include a sucking sound from the chest, coughing up blood, foamy blood coming from the wound, and shortness of breath. When in doubt, treat the wound as an open chest injury.
Step 2. Find the open wound
Look for gunshot wounds. Remove clothing from the wound surface. Cut the fabric stuck to the area if there is one. Determine if there is a bullet discharge wound, if there is apply pressure to both sides of the wound on the victim.
Step 3. Close the wound on all three sides
Use an airtight material, preferably plastic, and tape it around the wound to cover all sides except the bottom corner. Oxygen will come out through the hole.
When closing the wound, ask the victim to exhale and hold his breath. That way, air will come out of the wound before it is closed
Step 4. Apply direct pressure to both sides of the wound
You can do this with 2 dressings on either side of the wound. Press firmly with a bandage.
Step 5. Watch the victim's breathing carefully
You can invite an unconscious victim to talk or watch his chest expand and contract.
- If the victim appears to be in respiratory failure (stop breathing), reduce pressure on the wound and allow the chest to expand and contract.
- Be prepared to provide rescue breathing.
Step 6. Do not remove or unscrew the wound when medical help arrives
They will probably use it or replace it with a better one.
Tips
- Tell the help you provide when medical help arrives.
- Gunshot wounds can cause 3 types of trauma, namely: penetrating wounds (injury to the flesh penetrated by bullets), cavitation (injury due to bullet waves in the body), and fragmentation (caused by bullet fragments).
- Estimating the severity of gunshot wounds is very difficult to do just from the appearance of the victim. Internal injuries that occur may be quite severe even if the gunshot wound is small.
- You don't have to provide a sterile bandage or clean your hands first. The victim's infection can be treated later. Just protect yourself from coming into contact with the blood or other body fluids of the victim. Protect yourself by wearing gloves if possible.
- Gunshot wounds are a common cause of spinal cord injury. If the victim appears to have a spinal cord injury, do not move the body unless absolutely necessary. If the victim must be moved, be sure to keep the head, neck, and back in line.
- Pressure is key. The pressure will stop and block the flow of blood and clot it.
- If an open chest injury occurs, turn the victim over or blood may fill the other lung.
Warning
- Be sure not to touch the victim's blood directly to avoid transmitting the disease.
- Even with proper first aid, gunshot wounds can cause death.
- Do not risk your own life when helping a gunshot wound victim.
