How to Treat a Crushing Injury
- 1). Clean the area of a minor crush injury with antibacterial soap and warm water. If the skin broke during the compression, apply pressure with a clean cloth until the bleeding stops. Apply an antibiotic healing ointment or antiseptic spray to the broken skin.
- 2). Put an ice pack on the crushed area immediately. Elevate the area so that it rests above your heart. Put your foot or hand on a stack of pillows. This helps prevent major swelling and bruising. When the injured area returns to normal, resume normal function of that body part.
- 3). Call for emergency medical attention for severe crushing injuries. A severe injury is any injury with bleeding, broken bones, major swelling and bruising, or an injury where you can’t breathe.
- 4). Stay calm or help keep a loved one calm during a severe crushing injury. If the injury caused a broken bone or severe swelling, apply ice until medical help arrives. Wrap any compound fractures gently with a towel to stop the bleeding.
- 5). Go to the emergency room if you experience a crushing injury that doesn’t need immediate medical attention. A doctor will take x-rays and possibly give you medication to prevent infection.
- 6). See a doctor if the area of a crushing injury swells severely or seems to have blood pooling underneath the surface of the skin. This condition is compartment syndrome, and it requires minor surgery to release the pressure building underneath the skin.