Stop the bleeding If the injury is to a lower limb, lie down and raise the affected area above the level of your heart.
To help reduce swelling and pain in limb injuries, elevation is very important. In fact, it helps drain the excess fluid from the site of your injury, and this may reduce pain and speed up healing. In order to get the best results from elevation, you should raise the limb above the level of your heart.
Elevation of the injured part lowers the pressure in local blood vessels and helps to limit the bleeding. It also increases drainage of the inflammatory exudate through the lymph vessels, reducing and limiting edema and its resultant complications.
Wrap the bandage tightly enough to support the area, without cutting off blood flow. Elevation reduces swelling and bruising by making it more difficult for blood to reach the injury. Experts say it is best to elevate the area for 2–3 hours a day.
Ice – apply ice to the injured area for 20 minutes every two hours for the first 48-72 hours. Compression – apply a firm elastic bandage over the area, extending above and below the painful site. Elevation – raise the injured area above the level of the heart at all times. Referral – as soon as possible, see a doctor.
Elevation. Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and anytime you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also help relieve your pain and swelling.
When lying down, elevate your surgical arm on a pillow to help reduce swelling. You may be advised to elevate your surgical arm above the level of your heart for 45 minutes, twice a day for the first 6 weeks after surgery. Let your surgeon know if you see swelling or feel heaviness in your surgical arm.
Elevating a limb, especially the legs, above the heart allows the blood to circulate back to the heart without fighting gravity. The heart still pumps blood to these extremities, but the stress on the heart is reduced. This helps to mitigate swelling and brings fresh and oxygenated blood to the limbs.
Put ice or a cold pack on the sore joint for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. Wrap the injury in an elastic bandage.
Encourage the person to support the injury with their hand, or use a cushion or items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement. Supporting the injury may help relieve pain and prevent further damage. Support the limb above and below the injury if possible.
Immobilization limits movement in the area and enables the blood to flow more directly to the injury (or the site of surgical repair to an injury). Immobilization reduces pain, swelling, and muscle spasms and helps the healing process begin.
Lastly, using pillows, elevate the injury at heart level or above. Doing so aids circulation by allowing your blood to cycle through the injury area and back towards the heart. Elevation prevents additional swelling and pain.
Elevation is accomplished by positioning the injured area above the level of the heart. Elevation during most of the waking hours, if possible, and positioning the injured limb on extra pillows for sleep is probably most effective in the initial 24 to 48 hours.
Keep the extremity at the level of the heart to prevent hypo-perfusion. Prevent hypotension and provide blood pressure support in patients with hypotension. If ICP is greater than or equal to 30 mmHg or delta pressure is less than or equal to 30 mmHg, fasciotomy should be done.
One of the easiest ways to manage swelling is to elevate (raise) the swollen limb. The goal is to elevate the swollen limb slightly above the level of the heart. This helps the extra fluid move back towards the heart for circulation to the rest of the body.
Arm position
Dependency of the arm below heart level leads to an overestimation of systolic and diastolic pressures and raising the arm above heart level leads to underestimation. The magnitude of this error can be as great as 10 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic pressures.
Compression: Support the injured part with an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days. Elevation: Raise the injured part above heart level to decrease swelling.
Compress the area with an elastic wrap or bandage. Compressive wraps or sleeves made from elastic or neoprene are best. Elevate the injured limb above your heart whenever possible to help prevent or limit swelling.
There are three basic C's to remember—check, call, and care. When it comes to first aid, there are three P's to remember—preserve life, prevent deterioration, and promote recovery.
Take any action required to deal with the immediate risk. Contact the emergency services if necessary. Contact your supervisor and make them aware of the situation. Ensure the incident is properly recorded in accident book.