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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has just been released from a crush injury. They may look okay initially but can deteriorate rapidly.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Trapped more than 15 minutes, especially if a large muscle area was crushed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Swollen, bruised, numb, or painful crushed limb after release.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Dark urine color later, irregular pulse, confusion, or chest pain.
Scene hazards: Structural instability, Delayed collapse
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Confirm 112 has been called with "crush injury, now released."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Have the person lie flat unless vomiting or struggling to breathe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check breathing and responsiveness every minute — be ready to start CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Splint crushed limbs in the position found — do not massage or exercise them.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep warm with blankets. Note exact duration of entrapment for medics.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Update dispatch: "Crush victim freed after [X] minutes. Limb [location] crushed. Now alert/confused."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report any dark urine, irregular pulse, or chest pain developing after release.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hospital care is mandatory — IV fluids and monitoring for crush syndrome cannot be done at home.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 again immediately if the person collapses, stops responding, or breathing becomes abnormal.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give large amounts of water or oral fluids unless EMS says to.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT let them walk away because they feel okay.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT apply ice directly to crushed tissue.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they can stand and talk after being freed, they are fine
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Crush syndrome often causes delayed collapse. All crush victims need hospital monitoring.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person dies from heart arrhythmia hours after walking away from scene.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Crush syndrome can develop after release — damaged muscle floods the blood with potassium and toxins, causing kidney failure and heart arrest.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person may feel fine for a short time then suddenly collapse.