Bruise can be obtained in any setting: at home, on vacation, while traveling. Not always conditions allow you to get qualified medical care. Therefore, everyone should know how to behave when receiving such an injury as a bruise. First aid, if properly provided, will save from the development of complications.
What is a bruise?
Such injury is characterized by soft tissue damage. It usually occurs when falling or hitting a blunt object. And although the skin can soften the force of impact, the vessels are not flexible enough to withstand it. As a result of their rupture, hemorrhage occurs.
After about a week, all the consequences of a minor bruise disappear. Proper first aid provided will speed up this process.
Bruising
Outwardly, such an injury is manifested by the appearance of a hematoma, swelling. The affected person feels pain. The size of the bruise is affected by the impact force and the area of the injured area. It will be cyanotic in color, and if the effect is very strong, then black. Within a few days, the bruise brightens, first acquires a greenish, then yellowish tint, and then disappears.
If the damage was significant, then the swelling can increase, there is severe pain in the injured area. There is also the possibility of impaired muscle function.
Degrees of bruises
It is important to determine the degree of injury. Depending on this, the method of first aid and treatment will differ:
- First degree. Slight damage, abrasions and scratches are possible. It does not require special treatment, the pain is very weak. It disappears after about three days.
- Second degree. It is characterized by a muscle break. Accompanied by the appearance of bruising, the affected tissue swells. The person has severe pain, overall health suffers.
- Third degree. Occurs with strong exposure. There is a rupture of muscle tissue and tendon. May be accompanied by dislocation.
- Fourth degree. It is the most severe degree of damage, represents a threat to health, in some cases, and to life. The injured part of the body loses its functions, recovery is very difficult or impossible at all.
With the first and second degree of damage, treatment at home is possible. The third and fourth - require qualified medical care.
First aid for soft tissue injuries
After injuring, apply ice or some cold object to the affected area of the body. It is better to put ice in a bag made of polyethylene and wrap it in a towel. Do not hold too long - there is a risk of provoking hypothermia. As a first aid for tissue injuries, the use of thermal procedures, hot lotions, and massages is prohibited. Such actions are contraindicated for several days after injury. This can lead to increased symptoms.
If there are abrasions or scratches, treat them with alcohol or iodine, apply a bandage. This will protect against contamination and subsequent infection. The resulting hematoma at the site of injury cannot be opened. It will also lead to infection and suppuration.
After two days, physiotherapy is allowed, the use of dry heat. Now you can switch to warming ointments and connect folk remedies.
After the disappearance of pain, you can massage the injured area, it is especially useful if the limb has suffered, which led to the loss of its mobility. Massage treatments will help to establish motor functions.
When to see a doctor
If a bruise is received, first aid was provided out of time or was absent altogether, complications may develop. Sometimes, after the bruise has disappeared, a dense capsule can be found in its place. This condition requires medical advice, as surgical intervention may be required.
Also, specialist assistance is necessary if the bruise is large, for example, as a result of prolonged crushing of any part of the body under the blockage. In this case, the necessary amount of oxygen was not delivered to the affected area due to slowed blood flow, which led to the formation of toxins that poison the body. When the squeezing is eliminated, blood circulation is established, while with the blood stream dangerous substances are carried throughout the body and poison it. If such a bruise is received, first aid should consist primarily in applying a tourniquet to the affected area, only then can a person be freed from the rubble. Further treatment should be carried out by a doctor in a hospital.
Small bruises will pass on their own, without the help of a specialist. Soreness will be felt only at first, the body temperature may rise slightly, swelling may appear.
With severe bruises, bed rest is indicated. Do not rub the affected area, this can provoke a complication such as thrombophlebitis, characterized by the formation of a blood clot in the area of damage. If the correct first aid and medications do not give a result, the condition has not improved in 10 days, you should visit a doctor.
Medicines
To avoid blood clots and reduce inflammation, it is recommended that you take Aspirin twice a day. For these purposes, a soluble agent is better. If severe pain is present, then you can take "Analgin" or other painkillers ("Ibufen", "Diclofenac") in the form of tablets or injections. Locally, it is recommended to treat the affected area with ointments with an anti-inflammatory effect 4 times a day, avoiding the area of abrasions and wounds.
Enhancing resorption of the hematoma is possible with the help of enzyme preparations, for example, Wobenzyme or Phloenzyme. Such drugs have a pronounced anti-inflammatory, decongestant effect, eliminate pain.
How traditional medicine will help
First aid in case of bruises can be provided by folk remedies. Can be used:
- Cabbage. It is necessary to take a juicy sheet, attach it to the place of the bruise for half an hour, fixing it with a bandage. After time, replace the sheet with fresh.
- Bodyagi. This effective remedy will quickly eliminate bruises and swelling. You can use a pharmacy drug based on this plant, or you can prepare the medicine yourself. To do this, you need to add boiling water to the powder to make a slurry. After cooling, apply to cheesecloth and apply to the affected area.
- Potatoes. The absorbable properties of the vegetable will quickly relieve swelling and bruising. A compress is made from grated potatoes.
- Camphor alcohol. Thanks to the warming effect, blood flow is activated, which leads to resorption of the hematoma.
- Apple vinegar. This remedy can eliminate even large hematomas. 500 ml of vinegar is heated using a water bath, add 2 tsp. salt and a few drops of iodine. The resulting liquid is used as wraps.
- Garlic. A mixture based on it is used for rubbing. To cook it, 2 heads of garlic are poured into 0.5 liters of vinegar, insisted for a day, shaking occasionally.
If limbs are affected
What first aid for bruising is needed if there is a suspicion of sprain? This condition, in addition to hematoma, edema and pain, will be manifested by limited mobility of the joint, it is necessary to ensure peace for the affected limb. Cold is applied to the area of damage, a bandage is used to fix the joint.
First aid for bruising with bleeding is that the injured limb is raised as high as possible, a bandage from the bandage is applied and a cold compress is applied to the affected area. This helps stop bleeding and eliminate edema.
If the injury occurred in the head or abdomen
An injured person with a head or face injury is laid on a sofa or seated in a comfortable chair. Apply a cold compress to the injured area.
Particular attention should be given to a bruised head, possibly a concussion. Therefore, if the patient has a sharp pain in the head, dizziness, he is sick, then you need to urgently consult a doctor. Prior to consulting a specialist, the victim should not be given water, food and medications, which can affect the diagnostic results and prevent the detection of hidden damage.
With an abdominal injury, cold is also used. A tight bandage in this case is not applied, lead lotions will help to avoid the spread of hematoma. With severe abdominal bruises, a rupture of the spleen may occur, which will lead to large blood loss. Dangerous symptoms:
- the victim suddenly turned pale;
- irresistible thirst arose;
- pressure is reduced;
- a man is lethargic and exhausted.
First aid for severe injuries in this case consists in immediately contacting a doctor. Having noticed such symptoms, immediately call an ambulance. There is no way to do without surgical intervention.
In short, first aid for bruises in most cases should end with a visit to a doctor. Bruises are different, with some it is enough to apply cold to the site of injury, others require careful treatment. We are not always able to assess the seriousness of the situation, therefore it is worth entrusting this to a specialist.