When you’re involved in a car crash and suffer serious lacerations, there are a few different risks you face. The first is the risk of bleeding out before you reach the hospital. The second is needing surgery to repair muscles, joints, ligaments or other affected tissues. Third, there is a risk of serious infection if the laceration is not cleaned out well or closed up appropriately.
While most people think of cuts as injuries that just require stitches, they can be much more than that. A serious laceration could be life-threatening, depending on where it is and how much blood is leaking into or out of the body. Internal lacerations are some of the most dangerous, because they may be difficult to see. External lacerations could be bad enough to cut through bone or even amputate a body part.
What should you do if you suffer an acute laceration in a crash?
If you suffer an acute laceration, the likelihood is that there will be significant bleeding. There may be organ involvement or damage to your arteries or veins.
The first step following this kind of accident is to call 911 because the medical team needs to know that you’ll potentially need blood. The emergency team can come with bags of blood prepared, so you can have an infusion if needed. Once you’ve let the 911 operator know, you or someone else should attempt to put pressure on the wound. If the wound is bleeding badly, a tourniquet may need to be used.
Anyone who is bleeding should be laid down on the ground if possible. The injured body part should be raised above the heart when possible to slow the bleeding. This kind of injury could be life-threatening, but with quick thinking, there will be a better chance of recovery.
If you’re seriously injured in a wreck or your loved one is hurt, find out more about your right to compensation for your losses.
