bleeding from cheek wound

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Rubles

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I was wondering how to stop bleeding from a cheek wound. Generally we could secure the dressing by using a bandage that passes under the chin and over the head. But what if the person is vomiting or unable to breathe through the nose? Wouldnt the above method prevent them from breathing properly (since they wouldn't be able to open their mouth)?
 
Rubles said:
I was wondering how to stop bleeding from a cheek wound. Generally we could secure the dressing by using a bandage that passes under the chin and over the head. But what if the person is vomiting or unable to breathe through the nose? Wouldnt the above method prevent them from breathing properly (since they wouldn't be able to open their mouth)?
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Why go through all that?

You can just have the patient or a provider hold pressure on the wound if it doesn't penetrate through to the oral cavity. Tape it in place.

If it does penetrate and is actively bleeding, you might have to modify the technique a little in order to make sure you are just not redirecting the blood into the oral cavity.

Not suggesting anyone do this without permission from medical control, but I would just dilute some 1:10,000 epi to 1:100,000 and soak a piece of gause with it, and plug the hole being careful not to expand the wound edges so that it cold be nicely sewn by Plastics, OMFS, or whoever was covering face on a given night.
 
Rubles said:
I was wondering how to stop bleeding from a cheek wound. Generally we could secure the dressing by using a bandage that passes under the chin and over the head. But what if the person is vomiting or unable to breathe through the nose? Wouldnt the above method prevent them from breathing properly (since they wouldn't be able to open their mouth)?
Click to expand...

Are there not other ways you can bandage this wound? Remember, EMS requires a touch of creativity at times. How big is this wound? Can you place a 4X4 over it and secure with tape? How long is tx time? Would having the patient hold a 4X4 there do any harm? Etc. Etc.
Just a thought...
 
hmm..I got it. I was trying to come up with all sorts of crazy ways of tying the bandage. Taping seems to be the best solution (it would work even in case of an infant).

Btw would using a scotch tape (if surgical tape is not available) cause any serious harm?
 
Rubles said:
hmm..I got it. I was trying to come up with all sorts of crazy ways of tying the bandage. Taping seems to be the best solution (it would work even in case of an infant).

Btw would using a scotch tape (if surgical tape is not available) cause any serious harm?
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Scotch tape? Umm, don't think it would cause any harm because it likely won't stick and hold. If there's one thing I have plenty of, it's medical tape....
 
We do keep medical tape in the MFR bag, but I was referring to instances when I dont have access to the bag.

So if I am, lets suppose at a friend's house, and only have a tape other than a medical tape or a scotch tape (e.g. the one used to pack luggage cartons), does the possibility of injury/severe allergic reaction outweigh the benefit of using that tape to control the bleeding?
 
^^
Im not referring to a specific type of tape..just some random type, which might be available to me
 
Rubles said:
We do keep medical tape in the MFR bag, but I was referring to instances when I dont have access to the bag.

So if I am, lets suppose at a friend's house, and only have a tape other than a medical tape or a scotch tape (e.g. the one used to pack luggage cartons), does the possibility of injury/severe allergic reaction outweigh the benefit of using that tape to control the bleeding?
Click to expand...

Human skin is generally too greasy for that stuff to stick to. You're better off just holding/having someone hold pressure

EDIT: Use what you have. I can tell you the Medical tape in our trauma bags is dirtier than most of the tape I have at home. But if the tape won't stick, don't even bother, just hold pressure.
 
ok. From wat I've understood, if i have multiple wounds to tend to, i should ''use what i have''. But in general the best method is to apply direct pressure.

Thank you all who replied!
 
Rubles said:
ok. From wat I've understood, if i have multiple wounds to tend to, i should ''use what i have''. But in general the best method is to apply direct pressure.

Thank you all who replied!
Click to expand...

...

Wound -> clean absorbent material (optional) -> hand/foot/face/elbow/whatever surface you're using to apply pressure.

Ideally you'll have some sort of gauze and just put pressure on the wound. Don't be shy with the pressure except in cases of fractures. Once the bleeding slows tape it up. Or if you have multiple issues to attend to tape it up straight away or have someone else apply pressure.
 
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I've seen pressue to cheek wounds done bimanually.

The PA gloved up, put two 4X4 in buccal area inside mouth, held in place with two fingers, and used other hand to hold a couple 4X4's to outside of wound. Sat pt up, leaning head forward a little. It was a through wound from a razor blade, no mandib or maxillary fx, pt was alert oriented. Once bleeding was greatly slowed, replaced the inside pads, reinforced the outside pads, and massively taped them.

WATCH OUT for airway troubles in facial wounds, face trauma is alarming but not the easiest avenue to kill someone...until they inhale a gauze sponge or blood.

The one I could never figure out was the triangular bandage for fx mandib. Good luck breathing, especially if you can't swallow, or ther'e interior bleeding.
 
adamjh3 said:
Human skin is generally too greasy for that stuff to stick to. You're better off just holding/having someone hold pressure

EDIT: Use what you have. I can tell you the Medical tape in our trauma bags is dirtier than most of the tape I have at home. But if the tape won't stick, don't even bother, just hold pressure.
Click to expand...

I was going through the following link:
http://www.sixwise.com/Newsletters/2008/October/1/The-Four-Most-Dangerous-Allergies.htm

It says that latex is found in some adhesive tapes. If I used a duct tape, for example, on a person who is allergic to latex, the person might suffer from anaphylaxis. Considering this, would you still recommend me to use whatever tape is available to stop bleeding if I am alone?

(I hope you dont mind me asking these questions again and again..the thing is, it wudnt be very feasible for me to spend time on the scene thinking abt what to do. so I'd like to prepare for them before they actually happen)
 
It depends on the situation. I wouldn't "use whatever" on duty. Just direct pressure.

If I was out in the woods with my buddy who I know isn't allergic to latex and for some reason all I have is a t-shirt and some duct tape, he'll get that.

When in doubt, forgo tape.
 
Ask them if they are allergic to latex before you use any tape then.
 
No, it's just that most duct tape has latex in cement...right?

....................
 
Veneficus, about the epi...YOUCH!!

I got it sprayed into my eye during a code 3 onboard ALS code, and it wasn't a painless experience, especially since I was the compressor.:o
 
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