Lesson no. 27
Earthquakes and Crush Injuries
An earthquake is a natural phenomenon in which the earth suddenly releases a burst of energy stored in its crust. This phenomenon, however, has extremely destructive potential and can cause a wide array of life-threatening conditions. In this lesson, we will discuss the potential injuries that can be caused by an earthquake, how to identify them, and the first aid treatment necessary.
Feeling an earthquake depends on your distance from the earthquake and its severity. An earthquake will begin with a jolt that will increase as it progresses, eventually causing the earth and floor to shake beneath you. The objects and furniture around you might start moving and shaking, too.
Furthermore, you may experience difficulty in standing still and upholding physical stability. If you suspect you are indeed experiencing an earthquake, there is a series of measures you should take.
Your first step during an earthquake depends on where you are. If you’re in a car, pull over carefully away from buildings and lampposts and stay in your car. If you are indoors, take cover and then vacate to a safe place.
There is a priority list as to where you should vacate to.
Once you’ve vacated to the safest and closest place, the next thing you should look out for is falling objects. Furthermore, and only if possible, turn off the gas faucet to avoid a leakage that may occur during an earthquake, as well as the main circuit breaker.
Though earthquakes rarely cause direct damages, most injuries related to earthquakes are caused by:
While broken glass can cause cuts and bruises that should be addressed according to the treatments in the appropriate lesson, collapsing objects can cause crush injuries.
A crush injury is caused by pressure that is forcefully put on an organ. The pressure crushes the skin tissue and then harms the structure and function of the body cells. This can occur if the body is squeezed between two objects.
The severity of the injury depends on the pressure applied to the bodily tissues, or in other words, it has to do with:
If not treated in time, the crush injury could lead to a number of other severe conditions.
If the pressure of the crushing objects is increased, the organ could potentially suffer from insufficient blood supply. These usually occur with arms and legs but can also affect other enclosed bodily compartments. Early signs of this condition are severe pain and numbness in the affected area.
When Compartment Syndrome isn’t properly and efficiently treated it could lead to a series of other conditions:
If increased pressure is applied to the muscle it may hinder its structure and lead to cell destruction. This could in turn release toxins, especially if treating the area is delayed. These toxic substances could potentially lead to multi-system trauma.
The main danger, however, occurs when the object is removed. The toxins are then released into the circulatory system and may cause life-threatening conditions, such as:
If, after the earthquake has occurred, you do encounter a person whose organ is squeezed or crushed by an object, you should treat them for Crush Syndrome, even if you aren’t certain that is indeed what they suffer from. The reason for this is that the results of Crush Syndrome are irreversible, so always better safe than sorry.
These are the steps that you should take:
If a person is unresponsive after you’ve checked their vital signs, you should begin CPR immediately.
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