Chapter 6

Head and Facial Injuries

Lesson Objectives (1 of 2)

• Recognize and manage injuries of the scalp and face.

• Recognize and manage eye problems.• Recognize and manage ear problems.• Recognize and manage nose injuries.

Lesson Objectives (2 of 2)

• Know how to manage a throat obstruction.• Identify and mange jaw injuries.• Manage cuts on the lips and tongue.• Identify and manage basic dental

problems.

Injuries of the Scalp and Face (1 of 5)

• Scalp wounds: What to look for– Profuse bleeding– Signs of neck or brain injury– Exposed bone

Injuries of the Scalp and Face (2 of 5)

• Scalp wounds: What to do– Evaluate for head and spinal injury.– Control bleeding.– Clean wound.– Cover with sterile dressing.– Monitor for brain injury using the AVPU scale.

Injuries of the Scalp and Face (3 of 5)

• Facial wounds: What to look for– Look for extensive bleeding.

• Facial wounds: What to do– Clean wound.– Restore skin flaps.– Apply dressing.– Evacuate all but trivial injuries.

Injuries of the Scalp and Face (4 of 5)

• Facial fracture: What to look for– Protruding eyeball– Double vision or abnormal eye movements– Tender, flattened cheek– Pain on chewing or opening mouth

Injuries of the Scalp and Face (5 of 5)

• Facial fracture: – What to do

• Patch one eye to correct double vision.

• Evacuate to a surgeon.

Eye Problems (1 of 4)

• What to look for– Obvious foreign bodies, redness,

blood, puss, or unequal pupils.– Vision problems.

• What to do– Seek medical care.– Evacuate.

Eye Problems (2 of 4)

• Contact lenses• Dry eye• Infection• Nonpenetrating injury• Foreign body• Scratch

Eye Problems (3 of 4)

• Ultraviolet burn (snow blindness)

Eye Problems (4 of 4)

• Chemical burn• Bruising• Frozen eyelashes• Open injury (penetrating)• Impaled object• Eyelid injury• Lost eyeglasses

Ear Problems

• Foreign body in the ear: What to do– Lubricate the inside of the ear with vegetable

or mineral oil.– Have the victim shake head vigorously to

dislodge.– Flush ear with clean, warm water.– Remove visible objects carefully with tweezers.

Nose Injuries (1 of 2)

• Nosebleed: What to do– Have victim lean forward.– Squeeze nostrils together and press on

victim’s face.– If bleeding continues, have victim blow nose.– Place cold pack across bridge of nose.

Nose Injuries (2 of 2)

• Broken nose– What to look for

• Swollen, tender, possibly misshapen nose• Bleeding and difficulty breathing through

nostrils

• Black eyes– What to do

• Apply cold pack to reduce swelling and bleeding.

Throat Obstruction

• What to look for– Victim with meat or food stuck in esophagus who

can breathe and speak.– Victim who has object stuck in throat who cannot

eat or speak.

• What to do– Use abdominal thrusts for obstructed breathing.– Have victim try and wash down or regurgitate

stuck food.

Jaw Injuries (1 of 2)

• Fracture

Jaw Injuries (2 of 2)

• Dislocation

Injuries of the Lips and Tongue

• Cuts: What to do– Control bleeding.– Apply a cold pack.– Soak gauze with nasal decongestant spray or

drops and apply to wound.– Have the victim rinse well after eating.

Dental Problems

• Toothache• Cavities• Abscess• Avulsed tooth