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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A finger, toe, hand, foot, or larger part of a limb has been partially or completely severed in an accident.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Press hard on the wound. Use tourniquet if needed. Save the severed part in a bag on ice.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Partial or complete separation of finger, toe, hand, foot, or limb.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Heavy bleeding from the stump, person pale, weak, or confused.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Crush injury from machinery — scene may still be dangerous.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Major blood loss from an amputation can cause death within minutes without pressure or a tourniquet.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Reattachment may be possible if the severed part is preserved correctly and care is fast — but stopping bleeding comes first.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ensure machinery or danger is off before helping.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Shout for others to find cloth and ice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Press firmly on the stump with thick cloth. If bleeding does not slow, apply a tourniquet 5–8 cm above the wound.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay the person down, elevate legs slightly if no spinal injury suspected, and cover with a blanket.
When and how to get professional help.
All traumatic amputations need emergency care immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Control bleeding and preserve the amputated part. Do not attempt reattachment or wound closure yourself.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Traumatic amputation of [part]. Heavy bleeding. Tourniquet applied: yes/no."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell them the severed part has been recovered and preserved if applicable.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT wash the severed part under running water for a long time.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put the severed part directly on ice or in dry ice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT delay bleeding control to search for the amputated part — send someone else.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You must find the severed part before calling for help
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stopping bleeding on the person is the priority. Someone else can recover the part while you control hemorrhage.
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.
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.
Crush trapped
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is pinned under a vehicle, wall, machinery, or debris. They may have crush injuries and internal bleeding.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wrap the amputated part in moist gauze, place in a sealed bag, then place bag in ice water — never put directly on ice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All amputations require emergency surgery. Time is critical for possible reattachment.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Note tourniquet time and whether the severed part was recovered — medics need this information.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person dies from blood loss while searching for the amputated part.