Continuing Professional Development: Assessment and management of stab injuries in a pre-hospital setting

Abstract

OverviewThis CPD module will focus on the pre-hospital assessment and management of patients with penetrating traumatic injuries. Whilst the predominant focus is on wounds sustained in knife attacks, the same principles are readily transferrable to the management of all penetrating injuries, intentional or otherwise. For instance, the management of a stab victim with the knife left in situ will bear many similarities to the management of a patient impaled in an industrial accident or road traffic collision. For this reason alone, it is an important area for paramedics and pre-hospital care providers to understand.Learning OutcomesAfter completing this module the paramedic will be: aware of the incidence of knife crime and the chances of encountering it in their professional practice able to understand the different mechanisms by which sharp implements can cause injury, including incision and puncture wounds to the chest and abdomen able to describe the steps involved in the safe pre-hospital assessment and initial management of such injuries