First Aid For Broken Ribs

Two people rock-climbing in the middle of nowhere. One falls, sustains an open laceration on the forehead, possible broken ribs, dislocated shoulder.

There's no cell phone reception, and there is a third person around somewhere who expects the two back very soon and will come looking pretty much instantly. Should person number two stay with the injured or leave him to go get person number three faster?

Also, what sort of first aid should he administer in the meantime? In detail, please.

Have them sit up to breathe easier and have them hold a folded piece of cloth against the wound and keep a firm steady pressure with their good arm. Tell them to stay calm and then go off to get the third person since they're fairly close by. Tell the third person to call 911 or to run off and get help while you go back to the injured one. That injured person should be quite capable of walking so walk them to a place that's more easily accesable for the emergency responders and safe & comfortable for the injured person.

It's what I would do.
You can put a quick fix on the forehead wound, but you can't really fix fractured ribs and it's too risky to try and move a dislocated shoulder back in place. (You're supposed to leave it as is anyways.)
It's your job to keep them stabilized and out of further danger just like an EMT would. It'll be the hospital's job to patch them up again.

2010-10-23 21:07:34 by chance

Fractured ribs can be painful injuries treated by a doctor and requiring pain management and adjustments in daily activities. Learn how to treat a ...

so i've had this cat about 3 years and she never leaves the porch (she's a good cat). about 2 days ago, my neighbor was walking her dog on the "walking trail" and her dog came into my yard and mangled my cat. i did file a police report, they came over once, but haven't called since. don't understand why, because there's a leash law, and the owner was NOT walking her dog on a leash >:(. i've had my cry, but it's been suppressed by anger now. anyway, she's still alive, and i do NOT believe in euthanization, just because if someone or something is still alive, there IS a chance of a miracle happening, you know? so i do not believe there is internal bleeding or broken ribs, but if someone knows how to check for these, could you tell me?. also, i believe at least 2 of her legs are broken, but their badly cut. should i wait to splint them until her wounds heal, or should i go ahead and do it (I'm too poor to take her to a vet). Her tail still moves, so i'm pretty sure that it's not broken either. I've been giving her pain medicine, but i've had to force feed her, and sometimes have had to make her drink water. at first she would drink but, idk... she can move somewhat, we thought she might have had convulsions, but it really doesn't look like it. She uses two of her legs to move, and uses the crook of her front legs to steer... i really would like some help. and i apologize for this not making any sense, i'm a little shaken to tell you the truth...if anyone can think of anything else i missed, please mention it. i love my cat, and i would like to help her.i don't know much about first aid, so if someone could help me, please do so. sorry this is so long...
she does go to the bathroom. so i know her bowel movements are working and there is no blood in it either. Whenever she does go to the bathroom on herself, she does move out of the way...good sign?
thank you for all the answers, but for those of you who wish for the other owner to pay, i'm with you. but the owner has already said that they cannot pay us, but believe that giving us "apple pie" and "cat food" will help... i doubt they will pay. but i will find someone to help with the fees. appreciate everything :)

Dear Sarah, I am greatly sorry for your cat. I have had the same experience with my cat, only we don't know for sure if it was a neighbor's dog or not. Anyway, I think you should press the dog's owners to pay for the vet bill. Your cat needs medical help. You don't want it getting infections or anything. I know how hard this is for you, so I want to give you a cyber hug! :P You have my up most sympathy and if you want me to I will totally pray for your cat if you want me to.

2008-09-30 08:55:58 by ~*Accidental*~

I'm amazed that the USA still teaches that. It is a very dangerous method and can break ribs. We don't teach that amymore in Australia.

I recently took the class and I'm CPR certified.
Yes, they do teach it, but it's called abdominal thrusts.
They highly recommend that the person who was choking see a doctor as soon as possible because there might be internal injuries.

2008-05-19 01:39:53 by Super Midget IV

There was this incident tonight and I was wondering how do you tell if something is just topical swelling and bruising or when you have fractured or broken ribs? Even if someone's pretty coherent and is okay enough to walk and talk okay is it possible for it to still be a concussion? Going to the hospital is out of the question (hospital phobia) so answers would help...... And are butterfly closure bandages okay for cuts that maybe need stitches?..... Seeing the doctor tomorrow so long as someone goes with. How much pain medicine is okay? And can you mix sleeping pills with it? Or not because it's maybe a concussion? And how do you get wash blood off clothes and cloth seats?

I strongly suggest you see a doctor immediately.

What jumped out at me most was "if someone's pretty coherent." If they're not 100% coherent, there's definitely been head trauma, and it needs immediate medical attention. If they've had a concussion, don't let them fall asleep! Take them to a hospital immediately. It could also have created a epidural or subdural hematoma (bleeding in the skull) which will get worse over time, and could lead to permanent brain damage, coma or death. Even if there wasn't any direct trauma to the head, the brain could have received a coup contrecoup injury (when the brain slams into the inside of the skull), again causing hematomas.

The best way to tell whether the ribs are broken or just swollen is to press on them (not too hard!). If that section moves, and the rest of your ribs don't, they're definitely broken (called a "flail chest"). Probably best to get them x-rayed as soon as possible, but it's not immediately life-threatening.

Butterfly bandages might be sufficient, but it depends on how bad the bleeding it. If they control the bleeding, then it's fine. If the wound continues to bleed, consider stitches. Also, it matters what kind of injury it is. If it's a puncture wound (similar to stepping on a nail), you definitely need to get it looked at by a doctor, because whatever caused the wound could leave material inside. If it's a laceration (a "cut") or avulsion (a flap of skin), it may heal on its own. Consider getting a tetanus booster shot, though, if it was caused by something metal.

As for medication, follow the instructions as listed on the box. I'd avoid aspirin, as it can thin the blood (not a good idea if an open wound is present). I'd also avoid sleeping pills if there's a possible head injury. But then again, your best bet is to visit the emergency room. Just tell them that you're nervous once you arrive, and they will do their best to make you feel more at ease.

Good luck!

2010-09-15 00:10:13 by Caiohme

Again I'm taking a first aid test tomorrow and I'm still confused....
What do you do in the primary survey? You do the ABCs, right? Then do you go right away to the secondary survey where you check the victim's body from head to toe for blood? What would you do if you were checking the ABCs and the person was unconcious and he/she wasn't bleeding? Would you go straightaway to CPR?
And also for unconciousness, you have to first check for breathing, then squeeze the victim's fingers to make sure they're not faking it. When would I do that if I found someone unconcious? Before or after the ABCs? cuz you could be doing CPR on a perfectly fine person just faking it, and you could break a whole lota rib cages... ugh. Please help me. Additional details of severe bleeding and head injuries would be awesome. Thanks! ;)

Actually you have already covered the assessment by doing check AIRWAY--if not breathing git 2 short breaths and establish breathing one way or the other. The next B is blood - where are them bleeding and how much, you need to stop bleeding right after you check airway. number 3 is your C, for cardiac assessment, do they need compressions? Only if they do not have any pulse at all. This of course would require the person to be unconscious. If conscious and talking, they are obviously not needing breathing or chest compressions for the heart so you check for bleeding and ask where the pain is. You may have to stabilize a limb if it broken or possibly broken. Never move an accident victim unless they are in immediate danger for their lives if left where they are. You don't want to cause damage to the spinal chord by moving a patient before EMS arrives and can put a stabilizer on their neck and other areas if needed. By the way, you don't really need to see if they are faking it. You can tell if someone is breathing and check their pulse. If they don't respond to calling out and asking them if they need help and look unconscious, AND are breathing and heart is beating fine You need to check for head injury or other sources of fainting. The pen pushing down on their finger nails will rule out the fakers but never make that as a first assumption. People who have seizures go into a coma like phase called POST ICTAL and simply means they are still unconscious from the seizure and just turning them slightly if they start to look like they will vomit. Also stoke victims can be unconscious or semi conscious and need to get to the hospital for immediate stroke.
sorry for the long answer but true first aid is important. If ofter makes the difference between life and death. Good for you for taking the course!

2010-04-26 22:35:30 by