basic Gunshot first aid by doctor Osama Yehya August 2015

1. Gunshot first aid
By doctor Osama Yehya
August 2015

2. Gunshot first aid
• Gunshot wounds are unpredictable puncture
wounds that cause major tissue damage.
Three factors work together to determine the
severity of a gunshot wound.
1. Location of the injury
2. Size of the projectile
3. Speed of the projectile

3. • It's difficult to assess the extent of damage
done by a gunshot wound, and it typically far
exceeds what you can reasonably treat with
first aid. For this reason, the best option is to
get the victim to a hospital ASAP.

4. Providing Basic First Aid
• 1- Establish that you are in a safe position
A. If the victim was shot unintentionally (e.g.,
while hunting), make sure that everyone's
firearm is pointed away from others, and
secured.
B. If the victim was shot in a crime, verify that
the shooter is no longer on the scene

5. • 2. Call for help

6. • 3. Keep the victim in place
• Moving the victim could aggravate a spinal
injury. Elevating the wound can limit bleeding,
but should not be considered unless you are
confident that there is no spinal injury.

7. • 4- Act quickly.
• Time is your enemy in treating the victim.
Victims who reach medical facilities during the
"Golden Hour" have a much better likelihood
of surviving. Try to keep your movements
swift without making them crazy and
panicked.

8. • 5- Apply direct pressure to control bleeding.
Take cloth, bandage, or gauze and press
directly against the wound using the palm of
your hand. Continue for at least ten minutes

9. • 6- Apply dressing.
• If the bleeding subsides, apply cloth or gauze
to the wound. Wrap it around the wound to
apply pressure. Do not, however, wrap so
tightly that the victim loses circulation or
feeling in their extremities

10. • 7- Be prepared to treat the victim for shock
• caused by trauma or loss of blood
• Sings:
• Decreasing alertness
• Nausea/vomiting
• Rapid and weak pulse
• Lowering blood pressure

11. • Management of shock:
• cover the patient and keep him warm
• elevate the legs if not contraindication
• spinal injury
• Elevate the legs Do not elevate legs to treat
for shock if the gunshot wound is above the
waist (unless the gunshot wound is in the arm).
Gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest
will bleed more quickly once the legs are
elevated
• In general, Someone with internal bleeding is probably not going to
survive without rapid transfer to a medical facility.

12. • 8- Stay with the person.
• Continue to reassure and keep the victim
warm

13. Treating gunshot wound according to
loction
• For a Gunshot Wound in the Head
control the bleeding with direct pressure as
best you can.
• Make sure the blood doesn’t choke the person
-conscious person sit up and lean forward
- unconscious person turn to his side “recovery
position”.

14. • For a Gunshot Wound in the Abdomen
If the wound is open and you can see the
intestines, find a moist, sterile dressing to place
on top of the wound

15. • For a Gunshot Wound in the Arms or Legs
Think about: bones fracture
• Direct pressure, elevation, pressure bandage
• if it’s still bleeding, take your fingers and apply
pressure to the brachial artery for the arm or the
femoral artery for the leg Indirect pressure
• If all else fails in an extremity, go to a tourniquet

17. • For a Gunshot Wound in the Chest” sucking
chest wound”
• Recognize by:
• sucking sound from the chest
• coughing up blood.
• frothy blood coming from wound.
• shortness of breath.

18. • Determine if there is an exit wound and if so
apply procedure to both sides of the victim’s
wound.
• Seal the wound on three sides. Take airtight
material, plastic is best, and tape it around the
wound, covering all sides except for the
bottom corner. Oxygen will escape from this
hole
• Carefully monitor the patient's breathing

19. Video

20. • 1-Stay Safe.
• 2- call for help. Surviving a gunshot wound
depends greatly on how quickly a victim gets to a
hospital
• 3- Do not move the victim unless he safe to.
• 4- Follow basic first aid. If the victim is
unconscious but breathing, keep the airway open
and clear. If the victim is not breathing, begin CPR
• 5- Control any bleeding. Seal gunshot wounds to
the chest with some type of plastic
• 6- Do not elevate legs to treat for shock if the
gunshot wound is above the waist
• 7- Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink,
including water.

21. End

22. References
• http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Bullet-Wound
• http://www.thesurvivaldoctor.com/2012/07/26/gunshot-wounds/
• http://firstaid.about.com/od/softtissueinjuries/ht/07_gunshots.htm
• http://www.podiatrytoday.com/treating-gunshot-wounds-lower-extremity
• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/17029304816414098/