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Basic First-Aid for The Martial Artist: Cuts & Bruises

by Rudy Rogers


Posted: May 30th, 2012

In the practice of any physical exercise or sport there are bound to be injuries. The practice of the martial arts is no different. Martial artists can suffer the gamut of injuries, Bumps, bruises, sprains, strains, dislocations, concussions, and of course scrapes and cuts.

Being a practitioner of the Filipino Martial Arts, which are weapons-based arts I can appreciate the importance of knowing how to heal what I hurt. In other words I think it is very important to know how to patch someone up after you have broken them, especially if that person is yourself. Since FMA emphasizes the use of the stick and the blade there are a few injuries that may occur in the course of practicing these and other arts, or that may occur while defending yourself or others.

Those injuries would be (but not exclusively limited to):

Let's look at lacerations or cuts, which can be categorized into two types of injuries or soft tissue wounds, Closed Wounds and Open Wounds

Closed Wounds
Closed Wounds occur beneath the surface of the skin, the most simplest is a bruise or contusion. Bruises result when the body is subjected to a blunt force, such as when you bump your leg on a table or chair. Bruises are broken blood vessels beneath the skin, that may result in skin surface discoloration.

Open Wounds
Open Wounds are injuries that break the skin these can be minor scrapes or severe deep penetration.

There are four types of open wounds:
  1. Abrasions
    Skin that has been rubbed or scraped away.
  2. Lacerations
    cut resulting from a sharp object that may be either jagged or smooth.
  3. Avulsions
    Is when A portion of the skin is partially or completely torn away. Sometimes avulsions are so sever that a body part, such as a finger may be severed.
  4. Punctures
    Results when the skin is pierced with a pointed object, such as a nail, a piece of glass, a splinter, or knife. A bullet wound is also a puncture wound.
Punctures also have a separate category called embedded object wounds. This is where and object passes through the skin and either goes all the way through or is protruding from the skin surface.

Causes
Soft tissue wounds can occur from falls, rubbing against a sharp object or surface, impacts of many kinds especially in the practice of the weapon arts, the threat of soft tissue wounds is very present.

Signs & Symptoms
Close wounds such as bruises swelling and discoloration of affected area are evident

Open wounds may have areas of redness, swelling, and bleeding. Excessive loss of blood is imminently dangerous and requires medical attention immediately.

Care & Treatment[1]

Open Wounds:
*If there is an object embedded in the wound, such as a knife or large shard of glass, do not attempt to remove the object!
  1. Apply direct pressure to affected area to control bleeding. Use any clean covering such as a towel or handkerchief, or clean gloved hand
  2. Elevate injured part if possible.
  3. Continue to apply direct pressure by applying a pressure bandage
  4. Summon more advanced medical care.
  5. Use a pressure point to control bleeding if necessary. When dealing with body fluids such as blood remember to use gloves and wash hands immediately after completing care
Minor Wounds:
  1. Cleanse the wound with soap and water
  2. Place a sterile or clean dressing over the wound
  3. Apply direct pressure for a few minutes to control any bleeding
  4. Remove dressing and apply any antibiotic
Closed Wounds:
  1. Apply direct pressure to the affected area
  2. Elevate the injured part
  3. Apply cold pack. When applying ice or chemical cold pack, place a gauze pad, towel, or other cloth between the ice and the skin to protect the skin.
Be aware that some bruises are not just a simple bruise but may be evidence of deeper or underlying injuries to organs or bones. If the person complains of severe pain or cannot move a body part without pain or if you think the injury may have serious damage advanced medical personnel should be summoned. Your workplace should have policy and procedures in place for Code-Black scenarios.

For soft tissue wounds a major concern is infection.

Sources:
1). The American National Red Cross (1997) Emergency Response. St.Louis, MO: Mosby Lifeline/Mosby - Year Book Inc.

2). The Red Cross >> http://www.RedCross.org/