MINOR AND MORE SERIOUS INJURIES |
It is important that you know what you are doing, so that you
don't start a treatment that makes the injury worse.
Sprain
A sprain is an injury where a joint has been stretched too much and then returns
to its normal place. It gives an oedema in the joint, so it swells up and
hurts. It can also be discoloured and reduced mobility. There is a risk of ligament
damage. Use RICE-treatment and if you suspect a ligament damage get in contact with
the casualty department. - especially if the ankle is sprained and it hurts in the
inside of the foot or in the upper side of the thumb in the joint where thumb
and pointing finger splits, if the thumb has been pressed violently against your
underarm and palm of your hand.
Slide of joint
By a slide
of joint the joint is stretched, but instead of returning to its normal place it
remains dislocated. It hurts and the joint is possible locked in an abnormal position
If you suspect a slide of the joint or fracture, you must take care that the surrounding
nerves or veins not also becomes injured.
Therefore:
- Calm the injured person
_ Don't move the injured person and avoid if possible to touch the injured part
of the body. Unless you are a full trained doctor you shall not try to pull the
joint back to place again.
- Support the leg or arm in the finding position (use
a blanket or a shirt)
- Cool down the injured area, but keep the person warn
to prevent chock.
- Call a doctor or an ambulance
Bone fracture
Blows, twisting or falls may be the cause of one or several bone fractures. If a
bone is fractured, it can be established by: Different shape, pain, swelling, discolour,
disturbance in feeling, "loose movement", immobility. By an open fracture there
is bleeding and maybe visible bone. Therefore:
- Calm the injured person
-
Support the fracture in finding position
- If it is an open fracture then cover
the wound with a cloth as clean as possible.
- Call an ambulance
- Prevent
chock by calming and comforting the person. Loose tight clothes and keep the person
warm.
Ligament injures inside the knee
Injuries on the
ligament inside the knee are unfortunately not uncommon in handball. Normally it
is the front ligament which is torn but under special violent circumstances the
rear ligament can also be torn
Signs that the front ligament has been torn: The
lower leg can be sort of lifted above the knee
Signs that the rear ligament
has been torn: The lower leg can be sort of pushed behind the knee.
Besides RICE-treatment
there is only one thing to do - call the ambulance.
Nosebleed
- Make the person sit down
- Squeeze around the nose for about 5-10 minutes
- If the bleeding continues: Place a cloth with ice cubes or a cooling bag over
the nose. You can also try with an ice cube in the mouth.
-If the bleeding still
continues after about 20 minutes or the person gets unwell call a doctor or casualty
department.
Injuries on teeth
- Is the tooth loose? Let
it be.
- Has the tooth dropped out? The tooth or the pieces of same are kept
moist and warm, best in the person's mouth between the lips and tooth row. However
not with children or unconscious persons due to the risk of swallowing. It is possible
to keep the pieces of the teeth in a glass of lukewarm water added a little bit
of salt or in milk.
Teeth or broken of pieces of teeth have a chance. Therefore
they must always be brought to the casualty department and afterwards the dentist
must be consulted.
Bumps
- Put on something
cold as this reduces the swelling and the pain. Avoid that it gets too cold as this
may cause a nasty headache.
- Keep an eye on the person that he/she don't loose
consciousness
- In case of headache, nauseasness, slow pupil reaction and throwing
up there is signs of a concussion. In doubt contact a doctor.
Cuts
- Clean the wound carefully with water, soap, brush or a wound tissue. Cover with
a plaster or a binding.
- If the wound is gaping or is deep, is more that 1-2
cm long, is in the face or close to a join (suspicion of fracture) the treatment
demands help from a doctor or casualty department.
Scrapes
- Wash carefully with water, soap, brush or a wound tissue. Don't cover the scrape
with a plaster as the wound makes a scrab faster.
- If the scrape is in the
face, is big or contains irremovable impurities you must contact a doctor or casualty
department.
Small burns
- Wash the burn with water as
soon as possible. Loose clothes over the burnt area are removed during the washing.
The water must be 15-20 degrees hot and must feel comfortable.
- Continue washing
until the pain disappears - however at least in 30 minutes.
Something
in the eye
- Visible foreign bodies that ere not stuck may be tried
to be removed with a cotton bud or the tip of a handkerchief. It is also possible
to wash the eye from the base of the nose and outwards.
- If the foreign body
sticks, there is a bleeding or pain in the eye, there is double vision or the eye
keeps running, a doctor or the casualty department must be contacted.
Something in the nose or in the ear
- If you are able to
see the foreign body and remove it with a pair of tweezers then do it. You can also
try to make the patient sneeze.
- If it can't be removed, contact a doctor.
- If the foreign body gets into the respiratory passages then lifesaving first aid
must be given and an ambulance must be called for.
Bee or wasp sting
Remove the sting with a needle or a sharp knife - not with a pair of tweezers, as
it will press more venom out of the sting. Pain and swelling can be soothed with
ice. If you have a poison suction device at hand then use it.
- If there is
an intense swelling, rash, uneasiness, problems with breathing or if the person
is allergic to bee sting or if the sting is in the mouth an ambulance is called
for at once.
- You can let the person suck on an ice cube if the person is stung
in the mouth.
And something more seriously:
Generally:
Don't leave the person alone
Heatstroke and sunstroke
Heatstroke occurs
by hard work in moist, warm weather, where the body cannot get rid of the heat.
Sunstroke occurs by direct heat influence on the head.
- Place the person in
the shadow or in a cool room.
- Hands and feet are placed in cool running water
and place a cool pieces of cloth placed on the underarms, under legs and top of
the head.
- Give plenty to drink.
- Give life saving first aid if the person
is unconscious.
Larger bleedings
- Pres the fingers or
the hand directly at the bleeding wound.
- Lie the person down.
- Lift the
pleading place as high as possible.
- Prevent chock by calming and comforting
the person. Loose tight clothes and wrap the person into blankets or similar.
- If you have wound dressing material at hand place a bandage.
- Call the ambulance.
- In case of violent bleedings make a pressure binding with the help of a stone,
a watch or anything other hard. Wrap one turn of the bandage around the wound,
place the stone directly in the wound on top of the bandage and press the stone
down into the wound with the rest of the bandage. If you use an artery press bandaging
then do be careful as it stops the blood transfer completely. If you use it remember
to loosen it time by time.
Spasm
Not to be understood
as normal muscle cramp.
Symptoms: Unconsciousness - the person suddenly drops
down. Spasms, foam at the mouth, blue lips, ears and nose wings.
- Be calm.
The person is not in pain.
- Lie down the person if he/she is not already down.
- Loosen tight clothes.
- Protect the head against bumps due to the spasms.
- Don't try to put anything between the teeth, stop the cramps if possible, "revive"
the person or give the person something to drink (carefully)
- When the spasms
are stopped. Place the person in locked position (sideways)
- Call the ambulance.
Asthma-attack
It is possible to go in for sport even if
you have asthma. The treatment is today so good, that most avoids greater attacks.
Symptoms: Wheezing and troubled exhaling, the persons behaviour is anxiety, restlessness,
speaking difficulty, maybe blue lips, ears and nose wings.
- Calm the person.
- Loosen tight clothes.
- Arrange for fresh air in an area without smoke and
strong smells.
- Help the person the get his/her asthma medicine.
- Call
for help.
If the person's state gets worse give life saving first aid.
BY ALL INJURIES: ARE YOU IN DOUBT - CALL A DOCTOR OR AN AMBULANCE
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