4. Tend to the injury
Now that you’ve assessed the injury and have called for help, you need to tend to the injury. This is the next step on how to remove an impaled object.
Try to clean the wound as much as you can. You can do this by using any disinfectant such as alcohol, or iodine. If you have water, that can also be used to clean the wound. Be very careful when doing this, as you don’t want to remove an impaled object.
If you have any gauze or bandages, you can try to dress the wound, which should help stop any bleeding and protect the injury3. This can also be used to stabilize the impaled object and prevent it from moving around or being knocked loose. However, be sure to avoid anchoring the bandage directly on the impaled object.
In some cases, there might be continuous bleeding. What you can do in this case would be to place padding on the injury, and apply indirect pressure to the wound. The pressure should help stem the bleeding until help arrives.
If you know how to use and make a tourniquet, that could also work if you’re having a hard time stopping the bleeding4.
5. Stay with the patient until help arrives
When it comes to how to remove an impaled object, after tending to the injury, be sure to stay with the person until help arrives. Try to talk to them and keep them calm, and reassure them that help is on the way.
If they are able to move, you can also assist them so that they can be in a more comfortable position. This way, you can keep tabs on their condition, and are able to do something in case their condition suddenly gets worse.
Key Takeaways
When it comes to impalement injuries, the important thing to remember is to not remove the object. Only medical professionals such as doctors know how to remove an impaled object, so it’s best to leave it up to them.
Learn other First Aid here.
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