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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — There is a wound to the belly area and internal tissue or organs may be visible or protruding.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wound to the belly with fat, bowel, or other tissue visible outside the body.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Severe pain, rigid or distended abdomen, or person going pale and sweaty.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Object still inside the abdomen — do not remove it.
Scene hazards: Violence, Traffic, Infection
Keep the person flat. Minimize movement of the abdomen.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 on speaker immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay the person on their back with knees slightly bent if that reduces pain.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Use clean cloth dampened with clean water or saline to gently cover exposed tissue. If plastic wrap is available, place it over moist cloth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not apply heavy pressure on protruding organs — cover lightly to protect.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep the person warm with a blanket. Reassure them help is coming.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Open abdominal wound — organs may be exposed. Person needs ambulance now."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report whether the person is alert, breathing normally, and whether an object is embedded.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — This injury always requires emergency surgery and cannot be managed at home.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Signs of shock — pale skin, fast pulse, confusion — mean the ambulance cannot wait.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT push organs or tissue back into the abdomen.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give anything by mouth — no water, food, or pain pills.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT remove embedded objects in the abdomen.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT let the person sit up or walk.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should push protruding organs back in to protect them
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pushing organs back causes severe damage and infection. Cover them with a moist clean dressing and wait for surgeons.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Permanent organ damage and fatal infection.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An open abdominal wound can cause rapid internal bleeding and infection. Exposed organs are extremely vulnerable.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shock can develop quickly — cold skin, fast weak pulse, confusion.