10 SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

LESSON
 10 SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
LESSON

• Open wounds (cuts, scrapes, lacerations, avulsions)-bleeding outside the body

• Closed wounds (bruise, internal bleeding)-bleeding inside the body

Preventing Wounds
• Appropriate clothing and equipment should be worn in all practice sessions and competitions.
• Often the causes of wound injuries can be prevented, such as falls caused by a problem with the playing
surface.
• Sport-specific safety practices can prevent wounds caused by personal contact with other athletes or due
to problems with equipment, the playing surface, etc.
See also Part 1 in the Sport Safety Training Handbook for safety practices to prevent injury.

Bruise
• Bleeding under the skin caused by
damage to soft tissues and blood
vessels.
• The area may change from red to
dark red or purple.
• A large or painful bruise may signal
severe damage to deep tissues.

Abrasion
• Skin has been rubbed or scraped
away; the area is usually painful.
• Dirt and other matter can enter the
wound; cleaning the wound is
important to prevent infection.

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Cut
• Deep cuts can damage nerves, large
blood vessels, and other soft tissues.
• Cuts bleed freely, and deep cuts can
bleed severely.

Avulsion
• An avulsion is a cut in which a piece
of soft tissue or even part of the body
such as a finger, is torn loose or is
torn off entirely (i.e., amputation).
• Often deeper tissues are damaged,
causing significant bleeding.

Puncture
• Puncture wounds often do not bleed
a lot and can easily become infected.
• Bleeding can be severe with damage
to major blood vessels or internal
organs.
• An embedded object in the wound
should only be removed by qualified
personnel.

• Most minor bleeding stops by itself in time or by applying simple pressure.

• All bleeding needs to be controlled.

First aid to Control Bleeding

The goals of first aid are to control bleeding, prevent infection and disease transmission and minimize shock.

See the Sport Safety Training Handbook p. 182 for first aid steps to control bleeding.

177
• Internal bleeding can be serious or life threatening.
• An injured athlete with internal bleeding needs medical help immediately.

See the Sport Safety Training Handbook p. 141 for the signals of internal bleeding and first aid steps.

• Shock can result from any serious bleeding, external or internal.

• Shock is a life-threatening condition.

See the Sport Safety Training Handbook p. 158 for the signals of shock and first aid steps.

• SKILL PRACTICE
Use the skill sheet on the following pages to guide your practice of the skill of controlling bleeding.

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 CONTROLLING BLEEDING

CHECK the scene for safety. CHECK the injured athlete, following
standard precautions. CALL 9-1-1 or the local emergency
number if necessary. To CARE for an athlete who is bleeding-

Cover the wound with a dressing and

press firmly against the wound with a
gloved hand.

Elevate the injured area above the level of

the heart if you do not suspect a broken
bone.

Cover dressings with a roller bandage.

Continued on next page. 179

 CONTROLLING BLEEDING

If bleedingdoes not stop-

Apply additional dressings.

Squeeze the artery against the bone.

Note: If bleeding is from the leg, press with

the heel of your hand where the leg bends
at the hip while maintaining pressure
against the wound with the other hand.

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 '4

Burns are caused by-

• Heat.
• Chemicals.
• Electricity.
• Radiation.

• Heat burns can be prevented by following safety practices that prevent fire and by exercising caution
around sources of heat.
• Chemical burns can be prevented by following safety practices around all chemicals and by following
manufacturers' guidelines whenever handling chemicals.
• Electrical burns can be prevented by following safety practices around electrical lines and equipment and
by leaving outdoor areas when lightning could strike.
• Sunburn can be prevented by wearing appropriate clothing and using sunscreen. Sunscreen should have a
sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

See also Part 1 in the Sport Safety Training Handbook for safety practices.

• Burns involving breathing difficulty

• Burns covering more than one body part
• Burns to the head, neck, hands, feet or genitals
• Burns (other than a very minor one) to a child or an elderly person
• Burns resulting from chemicals, explosions or electricity

A critical burn can be life threatening and needs immediate medical attention.

Superficial burn (first degree)

• Involves only the top layer of skin.
• The skin is red and dry, usually
painful, and the area may swell.
• Usually heals within a week without
permanent scarring.

Alan Dimick, M.D., Professor of Surgery

Former Director of UAB Burn Center

I 81

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Partial thickness (second degree)
• Involves the top layers of skin.
• The skin is red; usually painful; has \
blisters that may open and weep clear
fluid, making the skin appear wet;
may appear mottled; and often swells.
• Usually heals in 3 to 4 weeks and
may scar.

Alan Dimick, M.D., Professor of Surgery,

Former Director of UAB Burn Center
Full thickness (third degree)
• May destroy all layers of skin and
some or all of the underlying
structures; fat, muscles, bones, and
nerves.
• The skin may be brown or black
(charred) with the tissues underneath
sometimes appearing white and can
either be extremely painful or relatively
painless (if the burn destroys nerve
endings). Alan Dimick, M.D., Professor of Surgery,
• Healing may require medical assistance; Former Director of UAB Burn Center
scarring is likely.

The goals of first aid are to stop the burn, cool the burn (except electrical burns), prevent infection, and mini-
mize shock.
Heat Burns
See the Sport Safety Training Handbook p. 94 for first aid steps for heat burns.
Chemical Burns
See the Sport Safety Training Handbook p. 98 for first aid steps for chemical burns.
Electrical Burns
See the Sport Safety Training Handbook p. 99 for first aid steps for electrical burns.
Radiation Burns
See the Sport Safety Training Handbook p. 100 for first aid steps for sunburn.
Do's and Don'ts of Burn Care
See the Sport Safety Training Handbook pp. 96-98.

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--~

ACTIVITIES

MATCHING 11. T F Antibiotic ointment should be used on

Match each term with its definition. Write its letter deep burns.
on the line in front of the definition. 12. T F Ice is the preferred method of cooling all
burns.
Terms
a. shock MULTIPLE CHOICE
b. closed wound Circle the answer or answers that correctly com-
c. avulsion plete the following statements.
d. dressing 1. A full thickness (third degree) burn is-
e. bandage a. A burn in which only the top layer of skin is
f. pressure point affected.
b. A burn involving the top layers of skin.
Definitions
c. A burn in which all layers of skin are de-
1. A wound in which the skin is not broken
stroyed.
and bleeding is internal
d. A critical burn.
2. __ A wound in which body tissue is almost
e. The same as a chemical burn.
torn from the body
2. The severity of a burn depends on-
3. __ A site where a major artery can be
a. The location of the burn on the body.
squeezed closed
b. The temperature of what caused the burn.
4. __ Any material used to wrap or cover a body
c. The size of the burn.
part or apply pressure
d. The position the athlete plays on the team.
s. __ A serious condition in which not enough
e. The length of time the athlete was burned.
blood reaches all parts of the body
3. Electrical burns may result in serious medical
6. __ A soft pad put directly on the wound
conditions, such as-
a. Breathing difficulty.
TRUE/FALSE
b. Fractures.
Circle T if the statement is true; circle F if it is false.
c. Spinal injury.
1. T F Internal bleeding is not serious because
d. Unconsciousness.
the blood stays in the body.
e. All of the above.
2. T F Help keep an athlete who may be going
into shock from getting chilled or over- STEPS OF FIRST AID
heated. 1. Put the following first aid steps in correct order
3. T F Hot, flushed skin and slow breathing are for the control of serious external bleeding.
signals of shock. Write 1 in front of the first step to perform, 2 in
4. T F For external bleeding, cover the wound front of the second step to perform, etc.
with a dressing, clean cloth or the ath- Elevate the wound above the level of the
lete's own hand before applying pressure heart.
with your hand. Squeeze the artery against the bone.
s. T F For minor scrapes and cuts, first aid fo- Press firmly against a dressing over the
cuses on preventing infection. wound.
6. T F Use a roller bandage for an arm or leg Cover the dressing with a bandage.
wound by wrapping it very tightly as a Apply more dressings.
tourniquet. 2. Put the following first aid steps in correct order
7. T F Most chemicals continue to burn as long for the control of a deep burn. Write 1 in front
as they are on the skin. of the first step to perform, 2 in front of the sec-
8. T F A sunburn is a type of heat burn. ond step, ete.
9. T F Deep burns can affect an athlete's ability Minimize shock.
to breathe. Prevent infection.
10. T F Clothing reduces the seriousness of hot Stop the burning.
liquid and chemical burns. Cool the burn (except electrical burns).

183
r

SCENARIOS d. You have wrapped the wound with a roller

Imagine yourself as the coach in the following situa- bandage over the dressings, but blood is soak-
tions. You have a first aid kit and your Sport Safety ing through it. What is the next thing you
Training Handbook. Use your Handbook to answer should do? (circle one)
the questions for this scenario, along with informa- 1. Apply more dressings over the bandage.
tion you have learned in this course. 2. Remove the bandage and wrap it more
1. A young skier loses control on the slope and tightly.
strikes a tree. You check the skier and find he is 3. Remove the bandage, add more dressings,
lying on his side with knees bent up, barely con- and wrap the bandage again.
scious, and clutching his abdomen in pain. You e. This athlete has become confused and disori-
do not find any external bleeding. His pulse and ented and is breathing rapidly, though the
breathing are both rapid. Put a Y (for yes) next bleeding is now almost stopped. What addi-
to the correct actions you should take in the fol- tional actions should you take? (Put a "Y"
lowing list and an N (for no) next to actions you [for yes] next to the correct actions you
should not take. should take in the following list; write "N"
Straighten out the athlete to lie flat on his [for no] next to actions you should not take.)
back with the legs elevated. Call EMS personnel.
Send someone to call EMS personnel. Reassure and calm the athlete.
To minimize shock, keep the athlete from Help the athlete walk back to your car.
getting chilled. Cover her with blankets.
Give the athlete lots of fluids to drink. Have her lie down, and elevate her legs.
Try to get the athlete on his feet to walk to Release pressure on the wound as soon
a warmer location. as the bleeding stops.
Reassure and comfort the athlete. Open the bandage and remove the glass
2. On a very hot day, a cross-country runner has from the wound if the athlete says it is
tripped and fallen to the ground. When you hurting her.
reach her, she is conscious and moaning with 3. One of your swimmers tells you that a teammate
pain and her arm is bleeding profusely from a is in the locker room crying in pain and rubbing
wound below the elbow. A large piece of glass her eyes. As you enter the locker room to care for
protrudes from the wound. the swimmer, you smell bleach and notice that a
a. Your immediate goal is (circle one) container of disinfectant has spilled on the floor.
1. Transport her to a hospital. The swimmer appears frightened and in consider-
2. Pull out the glass. able pain. (Put a "Y" [for yes] next to the actions
3. Control the bleeding. you should take in the following list and an "N"
4. Elevate her legs to prevent shock. [for no] next to actions you should not take.)
b. You send another runner to get the first aid Delay care until you have a chance to call
kit that includes dressings and bandages. the Poison Control Center.
While you wait for the first aid kit, you Begin flushing the swimmer's eyes with
should; (circle one) cool water.
1. Use any clean cloth as a dressing on the Send someone to call EMS personnel.
wound. Attempt to find out what the swimmer got
2. Apply pressure on the wound around the in her eyes.
glass. Have the swimmer stay on her feet and
3. Elevate the arm. keep moving.
4. All of the above. Attempt to calm and reassure the swimmer.
5. one of the above. Pour milk on the eyes to soothe the burning.
c. The other runner returns with the first aid kit. 4. After practicing all morning without a shirt, one
Write here what you will do with the glass in of your tennis players complains of sunburn. His
the wound: back and shoulders are hot and extremely red
and painful both to touch and movement. Circle
the correct answers below (more than one an-
swer may be correct-circle all that apply).

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 a. Your first action(s) is (are) to-
1. Call EMS personnel.
2. Get the athlete out of the sun.
3. Cool the burn, preferably with a sunburn
first aid product.
b. Next, you should make sure that the athlete-
1. Waits an hour before returning to the prac-
tice court.
2. Stays out of the sun for at least the remain-
der of the day.
3. Continues to cool the burn until the heat
and pain subside.
4. Drinks plenty of juice.
- In the lodge after practice, a member of the bob-
sledding team suffers a burn while putting a log
on the fire. When you go to treat the burn, you
find that the spark landed on the athlete's syn-
thetic stretch pants, melted the fabric, and left a
painful, deep (second-degree) burn.
a. What is the first action you should take? (cir-
cle one)
1. Send someone to call EMS personnel.
2. Pour cool water on the burn area to ensure
that the burning has stopped and to cool
the burn.
3. Have the athlete remove his stretch pants.
b. The burn has left a blister, but it is not open.
How do you treat it? (circle one)
1. Transport the athlete to a-medical facility.
2. Leave the burn area uncovered.
3. Wash the area with soap and water, apply
an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a
dry, clean dressing.
c. What should you do the following day? (cir-
cle one)
1. Check for signals of infection and cover
the burn with a fresh dressing.
2. Pop the blister, apply an antibiotic oint-
ment, and cover the burn with a dry, clean
dressing.
3. Seek medical attention.

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