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Joint injuries such as sprains and dislocations are just one of many common emergency situations health care professionals come in contact with on a daily basis, but what about the average individual?
Would you know what to do in this type of emergency situation?
The following paragraphs will encompass the benefits of knowledge in the case of a suspected joint injury by offering tips on how to diagnose a possible joint injury and the proper first aid procedures to follow in such an emergency.
The term "dislocation" refers to an injury in which the joint comes apart and stays apart with the end of the bones no longer connecting.
Dislocation takes place most frequently in the shoulder, elbow, finger, hip, knee and ankle joints.
Even if you have not received first aid training there are several ways to assist a person suffering from a joint injury. Collecting medical data and providing it to the attending physician or emergency medical administer, is extremely important.
The signs and symptoms of a dislocated joint are very similar to a fracture. Therefore, the steps to take are very much the same in discovering a diagnosis.
*Check for deformity by comparing the injured counterpart on the opposite side of the victim's body. The dislocated joint will be different in appearance than the comparable uninjured joint. Deformity is the primary sign that a joint has been dislocated.
*Severe pain usually accompanies a dislocated joint. The injured person will most likely be able to point to the area of pain.
*Notice if the injured area is swollen.
*Inability to move the injured joint is also a very common symptom.
Listen to the victim for additional clues by asking appropriate questions. An accident victim may have felt the joint pop out of place while in motion or will be able to describe the activity that proceeded the injury. Being able to provide health care professionals with an account of the accident scenario would be most beneficial in assisting them with an accurate diagnosis.
In the case of a suspected dislocated joint there are a few first aid techniques you can apply to care for the individual until you can transport the victim to a medical facility or emergency medical assistance arrives. Be sure to call for help from the appropriate medical rescue unit.
If you have not yet attended a quick course in first aid training it is highly recommended in cases where prompt and proper emergency attention is needed. You can attend one of these training courses in various places in your community for no cost or a nominal fee. The course is given by trained emergency medical personnel and only requires a small amount of your time.
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