First Aid for Diver - Musculo

1. Injury to Muscles, Bones and Joints

2. Contents • Anatomy • Sprains and strains • Fractures and dislocations

3. Bones and muscles • Skeleton • bones • ligaments • support, protection, movement • Muscles • muscle • tendons • movement, vital functions

4. Sprains & strains • Sprain • stretching or tearing tissues at a joint • pain at joint • swelling • bruising and discolouration (later) • pain on movement • inability to move joint • Strain • overstretching of a muscle • sudden sharp pain at site of injury • swelling in limb muscle

5. Treatment • Rest - support in most comfortable position • Ice bag or cold water compress • Compression with cotton wool and bandage • Elevation of injured area • Evacuate to medical aid RICE

6. Fracture causes • Break or crack in bone • Direct force • Indirect force • Violent muscular contraction

7. Fracture features • Types • open • closed • Complications • associated injuries • organs • blood vessels • tissues • nerves • spine • missed injuries • shock

8. Dislocation • Displacement of one or more bones at a joint • Treat the same as a fracture • hard to distinguish anyway • do not attempt to reset Dislocated Normal

9. Signs & symptoms • Sound • Visible bone ends • Pain • Deformity • Crepitus • Tenderness • Swelling/bruising • Loss of power • Shock

10. Treatment • Immobilise where lying • Steady limb until splinted • Support in most comfortable position • Dress open fracture before splinting • Transport slowly and deliberately • Don’t miss other less obvious conditions • Treat for shock • Nil by mouth • Evacuate to medical facility

11. Practicalities • Uninjured limbs make good splints • Splints need length & rigidity • Padding • Natural hollows • Knots away from injury • Don’t bind too tightly • Raise injury if possible

12. Summary • Anatomy • Sprains and strains • Fractures and dislocations