Hello air clinicians and steemians 🤓 It is First Aid Friday,Where we learn quick steps to saving lives before they are referred to a health expert.
We talked about Choking last week and we are going to be talking about Bruises this week

Hmmmmmmm Bruises
This is a very common injury and it is most times as a result of domestic accident.
What is a Bruise

A bruise is an injury appearing as an area of discoloured skin on the body, caused by a blow or impact rupturing underlying blood vessels
A bruise can also be called a contuse.

CAUSES OF BRUISES

1.Bleeding disorder

2.Trauma

3.People usually get bruises when they mistakenly hit an object

4.A Bruises can occur in an athlete and it as a result of microscopic tears in blood vessels under the skin due to strenuous excercise.

5.Bruises in elderly people frequently occur because their skin has become thinner with age. The tissues that support the underlying blood vessels have become more fragile.

6.Bruises are also more common in those taking medicine to thin the blood.

7.most times what are thought to be unexplained bruises on the shin or the thigh, for example, actually result from bumps into a bedpost or other object and failing to recall the injury.

Symptoms of a Bruise

Initially, a fresh bruise may actually be reddish.

It will then turn blue or dark purple within a few hours, then yellow or green after a few days as it heals.
A bruise is commonly tender, and sometimes even painful for the first few days, but the pain usually goes away as the color fades. Because the skin is not broken in a bruise, there is no risk of infection.
Sometimes there might be swelling or severe pain.

FIRST AID FOR A BRUISE

The treatment for a bruise is most effective right after the injury, while the bruise is still reddish.

1.A cold compress such as an ice pack should be applied to the affected area for 20-30 minutes in order to speed healing and reduce swelling.

Note : Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap the ice pack in a towel.

2.If the bruise takes up a large area of the leg or foot, the leg should be kept elevated as much as possible during the first 24 hours after the injury.

3.Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen because they slow the blood from clotting and may, in fact, prolong the bleeding.

4.After about 48 hours, heat in the form of a warm washcloth applied to the bruise for 10 minutes or so two to three times a day may increase blood flow to the bruised area, allowing the skin to reabsorb the blood more quickly.

5.closely observe bruise site for 48hours,if no healing process is observed

Seek medical attention from a health expert and avoid self medication!

Join us @air-clinic on discord to learn more on how to stay healthy

https://discord.gg/HMGMHj