Ice becomes the cause of frequent injuries on the street every winter. Falls often lead to quite serious injuries: bruises, sprains, dislocations and even fractures. Let's talk about precautions that are important to remember when the roads get icy, and about first aid for various types of injuries.

FIRST AID FOR FALL INJURIES. HOW TO PROVIDE HELP FOR SPRAINS, BRUISES AND FRACTURES

How to avoid injury from falling on ice?

There are several basic recommendations for preventing falls on slippery asphalt. First of all, you should be careful and always look at your feet so as not to slip on the snow-covered ice.

It is important to take small steps and not keep your hands in your pockets when moving. For greater safety, you should choose shoes with a raised sole, you can also use special winter pads. It is not recommended to wear shoes with high heels or with an unstable platform.

If there is heavy ice on the street, consider the possibility of traveling by public transport or taxi, even if you are usually used to traveling on foot.

If the fall could not be avoided, it is important to assess the consequences and seek medical help in time. If you have witnessed another person fall, make sure that he is not injured, and provide first aid if necessary.

FIRST AID FOR FALLS. BRUISES

A bruise is a type of injury in which soft tissues and blood vessels of the body are damaged, and as a result, bruises (hematoma) occur due to the accumulation of blood under the skin. Bruises can cause dysfunction of damaged organs. When soft tissues are bruised, pain and movement restriction occur, and bruises of internal organs can be dangerous and require medical supervision.

With hematomas, it is necessary to immobilize the damaged area of the body and give it an elevated position, reduce pain and inflammation by applying a cold compress to the bruise. If there are severe abrasions, rinse the wound under cold water, treat the wound and apply a sterile bandage. In case of serious bruises, you should immediately contact the emergency room.

IT IS USEFUL TO HAVE IN THE FIRST AID KIT

EPLAN is a universal remedy for rapid healing of burns, wounds, any skin damage

FIRST AID FOR FALLS. STRETCHING

Sprains of ligaments occur with sudden or non-physiological movements of the joint, and are characterized by severe pain and impaired joint function.

When stretching, it is recommended to apply ice to the injured area to relieve pain and swelling, apply a tight bandage to the damaged joint, while not pulling it, so as not to disrupt blood circulation and skin sensitivity, and keep the injured limb above the heart level to reduce blood flow and swelling. In case of severe pain or significant swelling, you should consult a doctor.

FIRST AID FOR FALLS. DISLOCATIONS

Dislocation occurs due to the application of excessive mechanical action on the joint. With dislocation, the structure of the movable articulation of the joint is disrupted and its mobility is completely limited.

Symptoms of dislocation include pain in the limb, inability to perform active and passive movements in the joint, unnatural position of the limb.

First aid for dislocation is aimed at reducing pain, for this it is recommended to apply cold to the damaged joint. It is necessary to fix the damaged part of the body – the arm can be suspended or simply loosely tied to the body, but the leg absolutely cannot be moved and moved, it should simply be covered with a soft cloth.

Consult a doctor immediately. It is important to remember that only a specialist should correct the dislocation.

FIRST AID FOR FALLS. FRACTURES

A fracture is an injury to a bone in which its integrity is violated. Fractures can be open or closed. An open fracture is characterized by severe pain, the presence of a wound at the fracture site, bleeding, an unnatural position of the limb, crunching and bone fragments in the wound.

With a closed fracture, the symptoms are the same, except for the presence of an open wound. Instead of a wound, a hematoma appears, and the limb swells.

If you have witnessed a fall, after which a person cannot get up or is in severe pain, help him. Ensure the safety of the victim, determine whether the victim is conscious and assess his breathing rate, inspect the damage. Call an emergency medical service and follow the operator's instructions. If you fall on the street, ask others for help.

If you experience prolonged pain after a fall, contact the emergency room to avoid the possibility of a fracture. Fractures and cracks do not always have obvious symptoms, but they need medical supervision, treatment and rest.

CONCLUSIONS

Falls are one of the most common causes of injury, especially among children and the elderly. Therefore, it is important to know how to provide first aid in such situations. It is important to remember that serious injuries may occur during a fall, such as fractures, bruises, dislocations, in which first aid will be required in accordance with the type of injury received.