Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with crush trapped, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is pinned under a vehicle, wall, machinery, or debris. They may have crush injuries and internal bleeding.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112 and rescue. Do not lift alone. Keep them calm. Note how long trapped.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person pinned under vehicle, rubble, machine, or heavy object.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Crushing for more than 15 minutes increases risk of crush syndrome.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Difficulty breathing, severe pain, numbness, or visible deformity of trapped limb.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Crushed muscle releases toxins into the blood when pressure is released. This can cause fatal heart rhythm problems.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — While trapped, bleeding may be partially controlled by the weight — sudden release can cause shock.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ensure scene safety — turn off machinery, stabilize traffic, watch for collapse.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 and request rescue/fire if heavy lifting is needed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Talk to the person: get their name, injuries, and time trapped. Pass this to dispatch.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If reachable, control visible bleeding with pressure — do not move trapped limbs unnecessarily.
When and how to get professional help.
Any crush entrapment requires professional rescue and emergency medical care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not free a trapped person without trained rescue teams unless immediate life threat like fire requires it.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Person trapped under [object]. Trapped for [minutes]. Conscious/not. Breathing okay/not."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Request heavy rescue if needed.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT lift cars or walls with untrained improvised methods unless fire is imminent — wait for rescue.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT pull a trapped person out quickly without medical guidance.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT tourniquet a trapped limb unless directed — release timing matters.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Free them as fast as possible no matter what
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden release of a long crush can dump toxins and cause cardiac arrest. Trained teams manage release with medical support.
Other scenarios in the same family.
After crush release
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has just been released from a crush injury. They may look okay initially but can deteriorate rapidly.
Amputation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A finger, toe, hand, foot, or larger part of a limb has been partially or completely severed in an accident.
Impaled object
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A knife, rod, glass shard, or other object is embedded in the body and must not be removed by civilians.
Chest wound
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A penetrating or open wound to the chest wall. The person may have trouble breathing or bubbling blood at the wound.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not give food or drink while trapped.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All crush entrapments need coordinated rescue and hospital care — crush syndrome can kill after release.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Even if the person talks normally while trapped, hospital monitoring is required after release.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fatal heart arrhythmia immediately after uncontrolled release.