First response GSW treatment?
Hello everyone.
Let me first start by saying that this sub forum is way outside of my lane. Like so far out, I need my passport to get near it.
I'm a sales manager, not a doc, medic, EMT, etc....
As of late, I have realized that having some very basic skills that I could possibly apply to myself or someone else who has sustained a bullet wound from a service handgun is likely a very good thing to have.
I don't want to come across as a Mall Ninja here, but I have tried to educate myself on the treatment of extremities and chest wounds by reading, researching, watching YouTube videos and understanding the hardware side of this stuff. types of chest seals and tourniquets for example.
SO, I have 2 scenarios to layout and try to get a few items answered by those of you whom are qualified to do so. My intent is to keep this as simple as possible due to the fact that should I ever be in this unfortunate scenario, I realize that I am going to be dealing with a LOT of things...
Scenario A:
Subject has been shot with clear entry and exit wounds in the upper chest. Appears by visually assessing and listening to the wound area that the chest is sucking air into the chest cavity. From what I have gathered so far the priority is to seal both holes ASAP. My question is, do you try to control the bleeding first or go right to sealing the holes? If you do want to try to control the blood flow first, how do you do that? Seeing as we have holes in the upper chest area and that wound channel is probably reasonably "thin" before we are into the chest cavity I'm not sure we want to be packing that wound with gauze, especially those treated with a hemostat as you may pack it to the point where we start to inadvertently apply pressure to some pretty important stuff like heart/lungs. I'm surely NOT worrying about decompressing the chest with an IV needle. I guess I could try to "burp" it if it appears it was needed but that's way down on my list as I'm not even sure I could diagnose that it would need to be done....
Scenario B1:
Subject has been shot in the leg, just above the knee. This question is going to be about how you assess the first steps in controlling the bleeding.
In this instance, we will assume the subjects artery has been severed. I have read several accounts that you will know when this has happened as the amount of blood shooting out from the wound will be like nothing you could imagine, like out of a horror movie. In this case, TQ immediately high above the wound and tighten the windless until the bleeding stops. Once that is done, do you go into the wound cavity and pack it with a hemostatic gauze apply pressure for 3min, and then top dress it and wrap it OR do you just leave it the hell alone once the bleeding stops and wait for help?
Scenario B2:
Subject has been shot in the leg, just above the knee. This question is going to be about how you assess the first steps in controlling the bleeding.
Obviously the wound is bleeding BUT not like the above situation. The question is do you TQ it first or try to control the bleeding by packing the would with Hemo gauze and applying 3min of pressure only. In other words, how do you assess which should be your first step at controlling the bleed? TQ or Hemo gauze and in what if any order. Maybe it doesn't matter as long as you can get the bleed under control or maybe I'm all twisted up and confused over this....
Again fellas, I'm not trying to play doctor here. I am just trying to put myself in a situation (mentally) where I need to administer aid in the above scenarios in order to just keep someone above water until a professional can take over the situation. I agree 110% that attending a training on this topic is the ideal solution, but for a myriad of reasons I am unable for the foreseeable future and am trying to learn just enough to be of assistance to myself, family member, or stranger.
Long post, lots of questions... I thank you in advance for any feedback you may have.
Drew
I don't know Magsz, but...This is one of the best quotes ever...
"Despite reloading like im punching Nancy Pelosi in the face, i still cant reliably get glocks to auto forward, especially 19's."
Bookmarks