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Wounds first aid

Site: EHC | Egyptian Health Council
Course: Nursing Procedure Guidelines for the Reception and Emergency Department
Book: Wounds first aid
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2026, 11:39 PM

Description

"last update: 24 March 2025"                                                                                    تحميل الدليل    

- Prepared by

Emergency guide

Under supervision

- Prof. Dr. Mohamed Latif, CEO of the Egyptian Health Council

 Dr. Kawthar Mahmoud, Head of the Egyptian Nursing Syndicate - Member of the Senate

Supervised by

Dr. sherif wadie, advisor to the minster of health for emergency and urgent care

Prepared by

Title  

Name

NO.

Dean Of Faculty Nursing, Professor of Medical and Surgical Nursing, Tanta University

Dr Afaf Abdel Aziz Abdel Aziz Basal

1

Professor Of Critical Care Nursing

Prof.Dr/Zeinab Hussain Ali

2

Professor And Head of the Department of Medical Surgical Nursing. Faculty-. Benha University

Prof.Dr Amal Said Taha Refaie

3

Supervisor Of the Education Sector at Port Said University

Prof.Dr Amal Ahmed Khalil Morsy

4

Professor Of Medical Surgical Nursing- Faculty of Nursing- Cairo University

Dr. Hanan Ahmed Al Sebaee

5

Head of central administration on secondment at MOHP

Dr Neveen ab drab al0nabi Mohamed

6

Director Of Primary Health Care Nursing Department at MOHP.

Maysa Hosny Ahmed Tammam

7

Supervisor Of Technical Education- EHA 

Nancy Alaa Eldeen Abd-Elbaset Ali

8

Supervisor Of Nursing Services Development- EHA

Sherien Mohamed Saad

9

Assistant Professor of Maternity and Neonatal Health Nursing - Faculty of Nursing- Ain Shams University

Assist.Perof. Dr./Heba Mahmoud Mohammed

10

General manager of general administration of health institutes affairs

Dr Mai Galal Ibrahim Al-Assal

11

Participants  

Director Of Curative Nursing Department MOHP

Dr. Azza Galal Ahmed Khalil

12

Member of the Nursing administration, EHA, Luxor Branch

Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Al Noubi

 

13

Nursing Specialist at the General Administration of Nursing - Ministry of Health

MS. Angham Hamdy Abdel Khaleq

 

14

Nursing Specialist at the General Administration of Nursing - Ministry of Health

Mr. Ahmed Muhammad Hussein Mubariz

15

Nursing Specialist at the General Administration of Nursing - Ministry of Health

Mr. Abdel-Azim Al-Saeed Abdel-Azim Al-Hanafi

16

Nursing Specialist at the General Administration of Nursing - Ministry of Health

Mr. Shawkat Yusre Hussein

 

17

nursing specialist at the General Administration of Nursing

Mr. Karim Ahmed Sadik

18


- Definition of wounds

Definition: A cut or tear in the soft tissues of the body  (skin - muscles - internal organs)


- Types of wounds


Types of wounds




- Head, neck and spine injuries

It can be scalp injuries, brain injuries  (bleeding in the brain or the membranes surrounding itfractures of the bones of the skull, neck and spine, or concussion

Reasons:

➡️  Car accidents

➡️  Falling from a height

➡️  Severe head impact



- First aid for head and neck injuries

In case of severe injuries:

•  The patient is transferred to the emergency room in the following cases:

-  Blood or fluid coming out of the nose or ear

-  Heavy tongue and speech

-  Severe drowsiness or dizziness, disorientation or loss of consciousness

-  Blurred or double vision

-  Vomit more often

-  Unequal pupils

-  Inability to move a limb


•  Be careful not to move a conscious patient who is complaining of back pain or leg numbness .

•  If the victim is unconscious, make sure the airway is open and that there is breathing and a pulse

•  Begin CPR if necessary

•  In the case of a conscious patient with normal pulse and breathing, stabilize the head and neck in a straight line with the spinal column by placing your hands on both sides of the head.


In simple and moderate cases:

•  Stop the bleeding and try to control it by applying pressure with a clean bandage

•  If the bandage becomes saturated with blood, add another bandage over the first

•  Do not wash a deep wound

•  If you suspect a skull fracture, simply apply a clean bandage to the wound and do not apply pressure or remove any damaged tissue

•  Apply indirect ice packs to the injury for 20-30 minutes every  2-4  hour to reduce swelling

•  If vomiting occurs, turn the victim's head, neck and body onto their side as one unit



- Signs and symptoms of Chest injuries

Chest injuries

Chest injuries are considered serious injuries that can lead to loss of life if not properly treated, as the area contains the respiratory organs, heart, and major blood vessels.

Chest injuries are divided into closed injuries and open injuries.

Signs and symptoms:

-     Severe pain at the site of injury

-     difficulty breathing

-     Change in skin color at the site of injury.

-     Coughing up blood

-     Shock and circulatory collapse.



- First aid for open chest injuries

•   Begin CPR if necessary

•   Leave embedded objects in place and place bandages around them to prevent them from moving

•   Wrap the open area with plastic wrap or whatever is readily available

•   If you see air bubbles in the blood or hear air coming out of the chest cavity, cover the wound with a bandage and secure it with plaster on three sides and leave the fourth side without plaster to prevent air from accumulating inside the chest

•   Apply pressure to the bandage to stop the bleeding, and add more bandages if necessary

•   If possible, have the victim sit or lie on the injured side if there is no sharp object embedded in it


- Abdominal injuries

The danger of abdominal wounds lies in the potential injury to internal organs such as the intestines, liver, and spleen. The patient may experience internal or external bleeding, which can lead to death.




- Signs and symptoms

-  Severe pain

-  Nausea

-  thirst

-  external bleeding

-  Protrusion of organs from the abdomen

-  Pale skin color and moist texture


- First aid for open abdominal wound

·  Have the injured person lie on his back with his knees slightly bent to relieve pain

·  Reassure the injured person

·  Remove any tight clothing around the victim's neck or waist

·  Expose the victim's abdomen

·  Try to stop the bleeding

·  If you see the intestines, do not touch them or try to put them back if they are protruding

·  Cover the open wound with a sterile bandage soaked in warm water to prevent damage to internal organs

·  Ask the patient to apply pressure to the wound to stop the blood flow or do it yourself

·  Cover the injured person to keep him warm

·  Do not allow the injured person to eat or drink

·  Observe the injured person carefully until he is transferred to the operating room



- eye injuries

The eye is a sensitive organ that can be easily affected by any foreign body. In case of scratching the surface of the eye, the injured person may be exposed to ulcers on the surface of the eye that lead to partial or complete loss of vision. Therefore, it is necessary to wear eye protection when possible exposure to foreign bodies or chemical substances

Reasons

▶️ Trauma causes

▶️ Eye injury due to some chemicals, such as exposure to harmful radiation such as ultraviolet rays

▶️ Direct injuries such as gunshots

▶️ Eye injury from any solid object such as wood, metal, glass, or a football thrown at high speed, or from field injuries

Eye injuries range from superficial scratches to a ruptured eyeball with severe negative effects on the optic nerve and retina, which may lead to loss of vision .

Signs and symptoms:

-   Severe pain in or behind the eye

-   Continuous watering of the eyes

-   Redness of the eye

-   Weakness, change, or loss of vision

-   Bleeding in or around the eye


First aid in case objects such as glass fragments, sawdust or iron filings stick to the eye:

•  Ask the patient not to touch the sample

•  It is recommended to wash his eyes under running water

•  Ask the injured person to blink his eyelids several times until the eye waters, which helps to wash it

•  If the impurities persist after the previous attempts, do not continue so as not to scratch the surface of the eye

•  In case of blueness or bleeding in the eye, or a change in vision, or severe pain when moving it, and if the above fails, cover the eye with a clean bandage, but do not put pressure on it, until the patient is shown to an ophthalmologist

Note:

Any injuries around the eye may be accompanied by a head injury

First aid in case of eye exposure to chemicals:

•  Remove contact lenses if present

•  Immediately flush the eye under cool running water for 15 minutes, keeping the eye open

•  Apply cold compresses to the eyes to relieve the burning senation

•  Reassure the injured person

First aid in case of a strong blow to the eye from a ball or other:

•  Apply cold compresses to the eye, but do not press on it

•  If there is bleeding or a blood clot in the eye, cover it with a clean bandage and keep your head elevated to prevent swelling

•  The patient should be referred to an ophthalmologist if the pain persists or vision is affected



- Sports injuries

Sports injuries include: fractures of all types, wounds of all types, muscle spasms and tears of all types, brain injuries and internal organ damage They cause bleeding, injury to various body organs, disability, deformities, damage to the circulatory system and respiratory system and death

Some injuries and first aid methods

Muscle injuries:
Muscle injuries are often suffered by players because muscles are the main tool for implementing physical performance requirements and a major component of the human locomotor system Muscle injuries are divided into two sections :
Bruises:
are the crushing of tissues and various body organs such as skin, muscles, bones and joints as a result of direct injury by an external factor. They are often accompanied by pain, swelling and internal bleeding, followed by the infiltration of blood plasma fluid

Tension and tearing:

It is a strain or tear of muscle fibers or tendons as a result of sudden muscular effort greater than the muscle's ability to bear this effort. Muscle tear is accompanied by pain at the site of the injury and swelling in addition to the inability of the injured muscle to perform its function

Causes of muscle strain and muscle tear:

-   Sudden muscle contraction .

-   Excessive muscle effort or strenuous exercise .

-   Neglecting to warm up before exercise .

-   Lack of balance and coordination in training .

-   When muscle elasticity is less than required .

Places where tension is most common :

-   pectoral muscle

-   Abdominal muscle .

-   Quadriceps femoris muscle .

-   Sartorius muscle .

-   Vastus intermedius muscle .

-     hind leg muscle

-    The gemma muscle .

-    Medial gastrocnemius muscle .

First aid for muscle strain:

·  Give rest to the affected part and relax the affected muscles to reduce muscle tension .

·  Apply cold water or ice cubes immediately after the injury to stop internal bleeding and reduce swelling

·  Then the patient is instructed to do the following:
Bathe with different water temperatures (cold then hot) two to three times a day to stimulate blood circulation .
Use medical ointments designed to relieve pain and swelling .
Use a compression bandage throughout the day and remove it when sleeping .
Use a pillow when sleeping or sitting to raise the injured limb .
Gradually train the injured muscles under the supervision of a physical therapist .

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries of the knee :

·  ACL tear is a common sports injury, accounting for 20% of knee injuries. Sports of all kinds are the main causes of this injury. This injury occurs in varying degrees of severity, either a partial or complete tear. This injury is one of the injuries that forces the player to stay away from the field for a long period of time, which may reach a year in advanced injuries

·  In cases of partial rupture, the player will be forced to stay away from the field for a period of no less than six months .

What is the knee joint?:

–   The knee joint is one of the largest joints in the body and is of great importance in walking and bearing weight. The joint is supported by muscles, ligaments and cartilage that contribute to protecting the joint from damage that may occur during sports and various activities

–   The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the ligaments that support the knee, as it works to stabilize the joint and prevent the shin bone  (tibia) from sliding forward .

Causes of injury  and how it occurs:

  • One of the main causes of injury is sports of various kinds, such as football, basketball, skiing, and others. The injury occurs as a result of a strong, unnatural movement, leading to a lack of resistance in the ligaments, and usually, the ligaments opposite to the direction of movement performed by the player are affected.
  • It can also occur due to a direct external impact or trauma. When the foot is planted firmly on the ground, followed by a strong rotational movement due to a rapid change in body direction, this injury happens, as seen in basketball and football. Football, in particular, is more common due to the physical contact between players.
  • When the injury occurs, the person usually hears a loud popping sound and feels that the knee is unstable and wobbly.

Symptoms :

–  Symptoms usually vary from one person to another. Important symptoms include swelling within a short time after the injury as a result of internal bleeding in the knee, pain, and a feeling of instability in the knee (imbalance) or wobble, especially when trying to change the direction of the body or while climbing stairs .

–  Pain and swelling usually last for 2 to 4 weeks while instability  (dislocation persists, requiring surgical intervention to prevent rheumatism of the knee joint

first aid:

·  The foot is immobilized and the necessary tests are performed. The  swelling  is usually treated by excision and the necessary surgery is performed on the joint.

Swallowing the tongue:

It is a condition in which the tongue is pushed inward, stopping the uvula or epiglottis from working, and the tongue blocks the airway  (trachea )  . It often occurs in those who have a long membrane under the tongue, which helps to cause this condition

first aid:

·  The tongue is pulled out using the hook-finger method  (bring your index and middle fingers together and cross them over the tongue and pull it forward)

·  Bleeding is stopped with available medications and is often treated surgically .

Finally, many injuries occur, such as direct injuries to the lower jaw, such as a violent  hit  or fall, which may lead to sprains and fractures. Such injuries are treated as mentioned above.