Wound management
Chapter 32. Wound management Definitions Abrasion – Removal of part of the surface of the skin. There is often oozing from the capillaries on the surface of the dermis. Conventionally…
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Blast and gunshot injuries
Chapter 30. Blast and gunshot injuries Injuries to blast and gunshot are becoming increasingly common in modern Western society. Basic rules for blast and bomb incidents • Do not become…
Patient immobilisation and extrication
Chapter 29. Patient immobilisation and extrication It is crucial that decisions about stabilisation, extrication and subsequent evacuation are taken early on in the rescue. The techniques used for stabilisation must…
Cardiac arrest in adults
Chapter 14. Cardiac arrest in adults Advanced life support The chances of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest are 1:100. The paramedic has two challenges: 1. To recognise and…
Abdominal and genitourinary trauma
Chapter 26. Abdominal and genitourinary trauma A high index of suspicion is mandatory in potential abdominal trauma as signs and symptoms may be subtle or evolve slowly. Mechanisms of injury…
Basic life support
Chapter 5. Basic life support The Resuscitation Council (UK) algorithms for basic, advanced, paediatric and neonatal resuscitation can be accessed via their website at: www.resus.org.uk and are based on European…
The emergency services
Chapter 4. The emergency services Box 4.1.The emergency services • Ambulance services • Police services • Fire services • HM Coastguard (part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency) • Air…
Facial injuries
Chapter 24. Facial injuries Most facial injuries will be managed as part of the secondary survey. Severe facial injuries may however compromise the airway through anatomical disruption or by bleeding….
The primary and secondary survey
Chapter 21. The primary and secondary survey The initial assessment of the trauma patient requires a methodology which can be applied consistently and in priority order. Primary survey Primary Survey…
