Illness and Injuries

UNIT 6: Bleeding and Shock

 Illnesses and Injuries
At work, injuries and illnesses kill more than two
million people in the world each year.
1 Death every 15 seconds; or
6, 000 people a day.
 Illnesses and Injuries

FIRST AID
- an immediate care given to an injured
person or suddenly ill before an efficient
and qualified medical care.
 Illnesses and Injuries

Safe practices and healthy choices at

work, home, and play can prevent many
injuries, illnesses, diseases, and deaths.

However, once injury or sudden

illnesses has occurred, providing effective
first aid can make the difference first aid
between life and death; rapid versus
prolonged recovery; and temporary versus
permanent disability.
BIRDS EYE VIEW OF The Different
Trauma Illnesses and Injuries
 Birds Eye View Of The Different
Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
1. Abdominal Injury 7. Chest Injury
2. Spinal Injury 8. Crush Injuries
3. Head Injury 9. Fracture & Dislocation

4. Eye Injury 10. Soft Tissue Injuries

5. Ear Injury 11. Shock
6. Needle Stick Injury 12. Bleeding
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
1. Abdominal Injury
The abdominal cavity contains solid organs like the liver and
the spleen and hollow organs.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
1. Abdominal Injury

CAUSES »» Blunt trauma e.g. from the

steering wheel in
motor vehicle accidents or from
the handle bars in
motorcycle and bicycle
accidents, falls and assaults
(especially a gun).
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
1. Abdominal Injury

CAUSES »» Penetrating injury such as a

knife injury or impalement.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
1. Abdominal Injury

CAUSES »» Illness and infection –

Abdominal pain could be
a sign of illness such as
appendicitis, infection or
internal bleeding and requires
prompt evaluation and
medical aid.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
2. Spinal Injury
You must consider the possibility of a spinal injury with any
trauma casualty, especially if the casualty has been involved in
any:
• Vehicle accident;
• Accident causing loss of consciousness;
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
2. Spinal Injury

• Dive or jump into shallow

water or water with
obstacles;
• “Dumping” incident in the
surf;
• Fall from greater than
standing height;
• Sporting accident;
• Fall by an elderly casualty.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
3. Head Injury
A head injury can cause skull fractures, concussion,
brain swelling or compression, loss of consciousness and
brain damage. A severe head injury can cause death or
permanent brain damage. You should seek a medical
assessment for any head injury even if the casualty seems to
have recovered as their condition may get worse over time.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
4. Eye Injury

I. Minor eye injuries

- A minor eye irritation can occur when the casualty’s
eye becomes contaminated by things such as an eyelash, dust
or other foreign material. Sore, irritated or itchy eye’s can be
relieved by removing the cause.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
4. Eye Injury
II. Serious eye injuries
- If you suspect a serious eye injury you should seek
medical treatment urgently to minimize the risk of any
permanent damage or loss of sight.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
5. Ear Injury
- An ear injury is when a casualty has damage to the
outer ear, has a foreign object or insect in the ear or damage to
the inner ear or eardrum. They may also have bleeding or
discharge from the ear as a result of a head injury.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
6. Needle Stick Injury
- A needle stick injury
occurs when a used
hypodermic needle accidently
pierces a casualty’s skin. There
are a number of blood-borne
diseases that may be spread
by a needle stick injury and
even though this risk may be
quite low, this type of injury can
be very frightening for the
casualty.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
7. Chest Injury

- The chest is the region of

the body between the neck and
the abdomen. Vital organs such
as the heart, lungs and major
blood vessels in the chest cavity
are mostly protected and
supported by the ribcage. When
trauma involves the chest, the ribs and the organs located
directly underneath, the ribs can also be damaged. Injuries
are difficult to recognise and many injuries can go
unnoticed until they become very serious.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
7. Chest Injury
Types of chest injuries

I. Open chest injuries or penetrating chest wound (sucking

chest wound) – The chest wall has been penetrated (by knife,
bullet, falling onto a sharp object) fractured ribs damage the
soft tissues. Treatment must commence immediately as this
injury may cause the lung to collapse and create significant
breathing difficulties.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
7. Chest Injury
Types of chest injuries

II. Closed chest injuries – Internal bleeding or damage to

organs and bones.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
7. Chest Injury
Types of chest injuries
III. Rib injuries – While a single broken rib can be very
painful for the casualty, a number of broken ribs can lead to
other complications. A casualty with broken ribs may take
very shallow breaths, without even noticing it, as their body
tries to prevent the pain from taking a full breath.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
8. Crush Injury

CAUSES
– A variety of situations such
as vehicle entrapment, falling debris,
industrial accident, mining accidents
and cave-ins or by prolonged
pressure to a part of the body due to
their own body weight in an immobile
casualty.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
9. Fracture & Dislocation
FRACTURE
- fracture is the breaking of a bone or a bend in a bone
which always has associated damage to the soft tissue
around the broken bone.

Causes – The most common sites for bone fractures include

the wrist, ankle and hip. Falls, sporting and motor vehicle
accidents account for the majority of broken bones.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
9. Fracture & Dislocation
DISLOCATION
- A dislocation occurs when a
bone is displaced from its normal
position at a joint. It can be difficult to
tell if an injury involving a body joint is
a dislocation or a fracture. If there is
any doubt you should always treat the
injury as a fracture.
 The Different Trauma Illnesses/Injuries
10. Soft Tissue Injuries
Skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is soft to
allow movement, but tough enough to resist breaking or
tearing. It varies in texture and thickness from one part of the
body to the next.

- commonly referred to as “WOUNDS”.

- injuries to the skin, muscle, nerves and blood vessels.
Proceed to UNIT 6 Illnesses &
Injuries (PART II)