Crush Injury

CRUSH injuries are usually sustained as a result of a serious car accident, or entanglement/entrapment in large industrial machines, or by a falling object. A crush injury is extremely distressing for the patient and, as a result, he or she will suffer shock.

Treatment for crush injury

1 Release the patient as fast as possible.

2 Control any bleeding.

3 Manage any fracture.

4 Reassure the patient.

5 Treat for shock.

6 Call an ambulance.

NOTE: where a victim is crushed for more than 15 minutes DO NOT RELEASE THE VICTIM.

IT IS important not to free the victim, where they have been crushed for more than 15 minutes, as toxic substances will have built up in the damaged muscles. Once released, these toxic substances will move into the circulation and may cause kidney failure. This extremely serious process is termed ‘Crush Syndrome’, and it may be fatal. In this situation call for an ambulance, reassure the patient, monitor vital signs and wait for help to arrive.