INJURIES
Being able to identify and care for minor injuries properly is a must! Firefighters can and will get hurt in the line of duty, and often times immediate and proper care will prevent a problem from developing down the road. This page is designed to offer basic advice on identifying and treating sprains, strains, pulled muscles, torn muscles, and fractures.
These suggestions are for injuries that are minor. Consider consulting a physician if you are truly concerned about your injury.
Sprain
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| Symptoms: Swelling, bruising, redness, pain while at rest, increased pain during movement |
| Primary Cause: Strenuous exercise coupled with poor flexibility or lack of stretching before the workout. Cold weather decreases a muscle's ability to stretch |
| Treatment: Try to keep the affected area immobile. If the injury is recent and there is swelling, use ice liberally. Do not use ice before exercise. Braces or compression bandages are good at keeping the body part still, which will reduce the pain and allow it to heal unperturbed. If swelling persists, elevate the injured area |
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Strain / Pulled Muscle
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| Symptoms: Rapid onset of pain. Muscle is limited in its movement, and may feel rigid. Acute, jabbing pain may occur, especially if pressure is applied to the affected area. If treated properly, will subside within a few days |
| Primary Cause: Overstretching a muscle, lack of a proper warm up, or a sudden and uncoordinated movement |
| Treatment: A good warm-up and an adequate supply of electrolytes considerably decrease the risk of getting a pulled muscle. To treat an already pulled muscle, allow the area to rest as much as possible. Use ice treatment for swelling. Use gentle stretching of the area, and take an anti-inflammatory medication |
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Burn (1st degree)
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Symptoms: Redness of skin, minor pain, increased pain by touch
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Primary Cause: Sunburn, fire
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Treatment: Cold pads (not ice), lotion, acetaminophen (tylenol) or ibuprofen
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Burn (2nd degree)
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| Symptoms: Very red and blistered skin, intense pain. With larger burns, the patient may begin to show signs of shock |
| Primary Cause: Contact with flames, hot liquids, chemicals, very severe sunburns. Can be either a chemical burn, scald, or a thermal burn |
| Treatment: A 2nd degree burn is grounds for a visit to the Emergency Room. If this isn't an option, expose the burned area. Stop the burning process with cold water (do not use ice). If the burn is caused by a dry chemical, remove it as quickly as possible (brush it away, do not use the cold water) and check the MSDS on the chemical for treatment information. Apply dry, sterile gauze to the area (no adhesives on the bandaging). Do not apply ointment or oils, allow the area to breath |
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Fracture
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| Symptoms: Pain, swelling, deformity of the area |
| Primary Cause: Outside forces applied directly to a bone |
| Treatment: Again, this is grounds for a trip to the Emergency Room. If it's a bone fracture, immobilize the joints above and below with a splint. If the injury is to a joint such as the elbow, immobilize the bones above and below the affected area. Further treatment should be administered by a docto |
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