First aid with bruises

First aid for bruises should be rapid, especially if the child is injured or especially dangerous parts of the body are damaged. Although a minor injury is considered a bruise without damaging the skin, nevertheless bruises can be very strong and violate fairly deep layers of soft tissue. In addition, if the bruise is exposed to the head, stomach or back, this can entail more serious problems than simple swelling and bruising. Therefore, in the first place, it is necessary to differentiate the severity of the injury as much as possible, and then build an action plan.

[1], [2]

How to determine that you need first aid for bruises?

Before determining what should be the first aid for bruises, determine its symptoms: 

• Swelling, swelling in the area of injury; 
• Bruising, which may increase after a few hours; 
• If the bruise is severe, a few days later, a bruise may appear; 
• Severe pain in the first hour after injury, then pain sensations become dulled; 
• If the injury is accompanied by a partial rupture of the muscle tissue, the functioning of the injured part of the body may be impaired.

Signs, symptoms of fracture: 

• Acute pain in case of damage, which does not abate during the day; 
• Extensive hematoma, spreading rapidly; 
• Edema, which increases with every hour; 
• Severe pain with the slightest movement, turning the affected part of the body; 
• Pain when resting on an injured leg; 
• Pain when inhaling, coughing, sneezing, turning the body, if the rib is damaged, the pallor of the skin; 
• Pain when flexing the arm, finger; 
• Atypical protrusions, cones on damaged limbs (fracture with displacement); 
• The visually damaged limb looks unnatural (curved, angled, dangling).

If there is no doctor near you or you can seek medical help to differentiate the injury, you can independently determine the axial load and provide such an event as first aid with bruises. Such a method makes it possible to distinguish a fracture from a strong contusion, since a periosteum is damaged in a fracture, where a large number of receptors of pain are located. The load is carried out in the longitudinal direction, when the damaged bone is forced to the feasible pressure.

Syndrome of axial load: 

• The person is asked to gently lean on the injured limb (arm or leg). Sharp pain, giving up, speaks of a fracture or fracture; 
• The victim is laid in a horizontal position, he hears the heel of the injured leg. The giving pain speaks of a fracture; 
• The victim squeezes the injured hand into a fist, tapping on a fist clenched in a fist, causes severe pain.

In addition, to distinguish a bruise from a fracture can be on the limitation of motor activity. The functioning of the injured part of the body is not broken right away, but after the swelling, bend or unbend limbs, a person can turn, although with difficulty. With rupture of ligaments and fractures, movement disorders, both active and more passive, appear immediately.

The first help with bruises after the differentiation of the injury is as follows: 

• Bandage to the injury site, preferably sterile. Do not tighten the bandage too tight to not interfere with the already broken circulation of blood; 
• If the limb is damaged, put an injured arm or leg higher to create an outflow of blood; 
• Apply a cold compress for a day, periodically changing it to limit the localization of edema and bruising.

In principle, the algorithm for dealing with a bruise is quite simple - peace and cold for a day. Then you can apply local therapy in the form of ointments, gels, containing anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, absorbing substances. After three days, it is possible to apply warming compresses and apply an ointment that improves blood microcirculation. Massage and rubbing should be done after the swelling begins to decrease.

First aid for bruises can be provided by both an outsider, and independently, that is, self-help. As a rule, the symptoms of the injury disappear gradually within ten days. If after the indicated period, the bruise continues to disturb, you should consult a doctor to undergo additional therapy.