Serious Wounds
BULLET, KNIFE, AND OTHER SERIOUS WOUNDS
Danger of infection: Any deep bullet or knife wound runs a high risk of dangerous infection. For this reason an antibiotic, preferably penicillin or ampicillin should be used at once.
Persons who have not been vaccinated against tetanus should, if possible, be given an injection of an antitoxin for tetanus, and also be vaccinated against tetanus.
If possible, seek medical help.
Bullet Wounds in the Arms or Legs
- If the wound is bleeding a lot, control the bleeding as shown on above.
- If the bleeding is not serious, let the wound bleed for a short while. This will help clean it out.
- Wash the wound with cool, boiled water. In the case of a gunshot wound, wash the surface (outside) only. It is usually better not to poke anything into the hole. After cleaning, apply a clean bandage.
- Give antibiotics.
When the wound is serious, raise the wounded part a little higher than the heart and keep the injured person completely still.
This way the wound will heal faster and is less likely to become infected.
YES
Walking on an injured leg or sitting with the leg hanging down will slow healing and encourage infection.
NO
Make a sling like this to support an arm with a gunshot wound or other serious injury.
Deep Chest Wounds
Chest wounds can be very dangerous. Seek medical help at once.
- If the wound has reached the lungs and air is being sucked through the hole when the person breathes, cover the wound at once so that no more air enters. Spread Vaseline or vegetable fat on a gauze pad or clean bandage and wrap it tightly over the hole like this: (CAUTION: If this tight bandage makes breathing more difficult, try loosening or removing it.)
- Put the injured person in the position in which he feels most comfortable
- If there are signs of shock, give proper treatment (see p. 77).
- Give antibiotics and painkillers.
Bullet Wounds in the Head
- Place the injured person in a half sitting position.
- Cover the wound with a clean bandage.
- Give antibiotics (penicillin).
- Seek medical help.
Deep Wounds in the Abdomen
Any wound that goes into the belly or gut is dangerous. Seek medical help immediately. But in the meantime:
Cover the wound with a clean bandage.
If the guts are partly outside the wound, cover them with a clean cloth soaked in lightly salted, cool, boiled water. Do not try to push the guts back in. Make sure the cloth stays wet.
If the wounded person is in shock, raise his feet higher than his head.
Give absolutely nothing by mouth: no food, no drink, not even water unless it will take more than 2 days to get to a health center. Then give water only, in small sips.
If the wounded person is awake and thirsty, let him suck on a piece of cloth soaked in water.
Never give an enema, even if the stomach swells up or the injured person does not move his bowels for days. If the gut is torn, an enema or purge can kill him.
Inject antibiotics (see below for instructions).
DO NOT WAIT FOR A HEALTH WORKER.
IMMEDIATELY TAKE THE INJURED PERSON TO THE CLOSEST HEALTH CENTER OR HOSPITAL. He will need an operation.
MEDICINE FOR A WOUND THAT GOES INTO THE GUT (Also for appendicitis or peritonitis)
Until you can get medical help, do the following:
Inject ampicillin, 2 gm. (eight 250 mg. ampules) every 6 hours. Also give 500 mg. metronidazole every 6 hours.
If there is no ampicillin:
Inject penicillin (crystalline, if possible), 5 million Units immediately; after that, 1 million units every 4 hours. Also give metronidazole.
OR give 500 mg. of ciprofloxacin every 12 hours. Also give metronidazole.
If you do not have these antibiotics in injectable form, give ampicillin or penicillin or ciprofloxacin by mouth, together with metronidazole and very little water.
