Keep These Tips in Mind for Amputation First Aid

Workplace amputation accidents produce traumatic injuries, but clear thinking and sensible first aid can minimize the damage and perhaps even save the detached body part.

Amputation injuries are not as rare as many people might think. About 30,000 traumatic amputations occur every year, almost two-thirds of which affect an upper limb. Predictably, most of the victims are males between the ages of 15 and 40 working in industries such as construction, manufacturing and farming.

Here are some first aid tips to keep in mind should an amputation injury occur in your workplace:

• Quickly apply first aid to minimize blood loss. Use direct pressure and elevate the injured area. Tourniquets are seldom necessary. The exception is loss of a hand, arm, foot or leg. In these cases, the bleeding must be controlled.
• Use only water (preferably saline) to gently cleanse the amputated part. Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine or other antiseptics on the wound or amputated part.
• Never submerge the amputated body part. Instead, cover it in a gauze wrap (if it is a small part) and put it in a watertight bag. Place the bag on ice, taking care not to put the amputated part directly on ice, as this causes additional tissue damage.
• Take note of the time of the accident and icing of the amputated part. The medical team will need that information for later care.
• Note any additional injuries to determine the best transport option.
• Call 911 and alert the dispatcher about the injury if the worker will need transport. If you plan to self-transport, call ahead to the hospital and let medical personnel know you are coming with an amputation injury. It will give the emergency room team an opportunity to gather the necessary resources.

For more information on workplace safety, call Saint Francis Medical Center’s Services to Business at 573-331-5825.