First Aid - Head & Spine

HEAD WOUNDS & CUTS: THEY BLEED A LOT.
CEREBRAL COMMOTION:
A shock on the brain that can cause headache confusion, lost of memory or fainting. The commotion degree depends of the violence of the shock direct or indirectly done.

BRUISE:
Blood flowing inside the skin often causes a lump, skull fracture is also possible.

FRACTURE:
A) Skull can be caved in under the Cut or Bruise.
B) A fracture can extend in the nose or ear, causing a great danger for infection in the brain. (Meningitis)

FIRST-AID: Keep free respiratory channels avoid suffocating. Assuring constant surveillance of the patient.

GENERAL RULES:
1) In case of haemorrhage, or difficult breathing do as needed.
2) If victim unconscious or hardly conscious, place him in semi-prone position. Head wounds are usually with spinal cord wound. You MUST then keep the head, neck & back well in line.
3) In case of unconsciousness do the general rules.

COMPLICATIONS TO HEAD WOUNDS:
Often persons having suffered from a head injury who made them dizzy or even faint, will promptly recover & insist to go on.
It is impossible to immediately discover after a head injury if a blood cloth has formed itself inside the skull cap between the brain & the skull.
This blood cloth can exercise pressure on the brain & cause death, if not removed. An artery who bleeds will cause symptoms to appear in a few hours but a broken vein will bleed more slowly & the symptoms can only appear after a few days on the accident.
If only but a few victims of head injuries develop a blood cloth inside the brain or skull, those who suffer from it can die the next night in jail or in a hotel room, even in their own bed.
Head injury victim MUST be kept under constant surveillance for 24 hours. Even if the victim refuses.
It is ESSENTIAL that a responsible person keep him under surveillance and observation for this period. A confusion and state of unconsciousness deeper & deeper are EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS & the victim MUST be brought to hospital IMMEDIATELY.

SPINAL CORD INJURIES:
The spinal cord is a sheath for the marrow & the nerves who start from it. It is made of a great number of bones called vertebra, between each vertebra there are strong disks who act as shock
absorbers while runs, walks etc.
If the marrow is cut or torn one NEVER recovers from it, cause the marrow transmit the sensibility messages & muscles movement directions.
A fracture or blow to 1 or many vertebrae can compress or damage the marrow.
Sudden harsh moves while transport especially if the body is bent forward, can cut the spinal cord left undamaged by the accident.
So: We MUST prevent any subsequent damages to the marrow.

GENERAL RULES:
1) Warn the victim not to move.2) Minister all first aid which might be URGENT.
3) The person who complains of pains at the neck or back, of weakness, paralysis, lack of sensitivity to arms or legs MUST be treated & transported with all precautions that are required by a fracture or luxation of spinal cord.