How to Help Someone Impaled by Objects

Accidents can happen almost suddenly, meaning that you or someone you love can be unexpectedly hurled into a life threatening situation. Although the majority of people will panic whether they're the victim, loved one of the victim or a bystander, it helps to at least have some knowledge of what should and should not be done while waiting on the arrival of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics.

Avoid the Dangerous Mistake of Removing Impaled Objects

The first thing you can do to help people who have been impaled by objects is to avoid the desire to remove them or to help a victim to remove them. Why? Because you don't know if the object is acting as a plug that prevents profuse bleeding, perhaps from a major artery. Also, any movement of the object could cause further damage to soft tissues such as adjacent blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and organs. This rule applies regardless of the size of impaled objects. If you know how to control bleeding through techniques such as direct pressure and pressure points, you can do this; however, you'll want to be sure of two things. First, you don't want to move or bump impaled objects as you control bleeding, and you do want to protect yourself from exposure to the patient's blood; you can wear protective gloves. Some impaled objects are so large that they must be cut in order to transport the patient, but this should be done by medics who will probably be assisted by firefighters or other trained rescuers.

You might be surprised to learn that not even medics trained at the highest level of prehospital care remove impaled objects as a rule because of the damage that can be done. The only time they will remove one is when it is impaled in a patient's cheek and both ends of the object can be clearly seen. Cases like these can greatly jeopardize a patient's airway which is why they are handled a little differently by medics in most emergency medical systems (EMSs).

What Will the Medics Do When They Arrive to Help Someone Impaled by Objects?

The interventions of EMTs and paramedics will, of course, include the administration of the drug oxygen, the recording of vital signs, contact with medical direction, and other operations. However, they will also do what you as a layperson could perhaps do before their arrival--attempt to achieve complete stabilization of the object to prevent further injury until the patient can go to surgery. Generally, the following steps are taken to ensure the safest transport of the victim to the hospital.

1. Exposure of the wound site. Clothing should be cut away; don't attempt to remove them by lifting garments over the head of pulling them downward which can cause the object to move. Stabilization by hand might have to be done very carefully during exposure.

2. If the victim is bleeding profusely, you'll need to control the bleeding if you know how to. This is extremely important to help give him the best chances of survival by helping to prevent the onset of hypoperfusion, commonly known as shock. Again, be careful to protect yourself from exposure to blood and to protect the patient and yourself from injury from objects that have a cutting edge such as knives or large pieces of glass.

3. Stabilization can be maintained by applying universal dressings which are bulky dressings employed to cover large wounds, help to control profuse bleeding, and stabilization of impaled objects. It's always preferable to use sterile dressings, but prehosptial medical intervention doesn't always allow for such "luxuries." Examples of make-shift universal dressings include sanitary napkins, folded towels, pillows, and even blankets if necessary. These dressings are slowly layered on both sides of the object until it is stable. Cravats, or triangular bandages folded into strips, should be used as ties on top of the final dressing layer, above and below the object.

4. Try to keep yourself and the patient as calm as possible while waiting for help.

These interventions are carried out even when someone is impaled by objects in the eye. However, a paper cup is sometimes used to cover any portion of the object that is still visible and then carefully secured down by gauze which might or might not be self-adhesive. The cup should never touch the object. Medical emergencies in which quick and appropriate action is taken tend to have the best outcome for everyone involved.
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Source:

My EMT training and experience (NREMT certification and state licensed)