First Aid and Precautions at Earthquake Scenes
According to the National Seismic Network: At 10:22 on May 28, a 4.8-magnitude earthquake occurred at the junction of the urban area of Tangshan City and Luan County in Hebei Province (39.7°N, 118.5°E), with a focal depth of 8 kilometers.
Characteristics of Earthquake Disasters
The disasters caused by earthquakes are often sudden and severe. There are usually a large number of casualties, with multiple injuries being common. Injuries from earthquakes are mainly caused by building collapses, resulting in crush injuries and blunt trauma to the human body. The head, chest, abdomen, limbs, and spine can all be injured. Due to the large number of casualties, on-site rescue often requires assistance from the public. Therefore, it is very important to ensure proper on-site command and triage of the injured.
On-Site Command
On-Site Command
Rescue personnel must understand the conditions of the site, including the extent of building collapses and the degree of damage to utilities such as water, electricity, and communication, as well as the possible number and locations of injured people. Rescue teams should quickly establish an on-site command post and organize efforts to evacuate the injured from the hazard zone. Designated safe areas should be used for providing on-site medical care. Rescue workers should also triage patients based on the severity and location of their injuries and changes in vital signs, which helps prioritize treatment and evacuation to hospitals according to the urgency of each case.
How to Administer First Aid at Earthquake Scenes
1. If breathing and heartbeat have stopped, immediately perform CPR. First, clear mud from the mouth and nasal cavity to keep the airway open. Quickly transfer the patient to a hospital.
2. For shock patients, keep them lying flat and minimize movement. Shock caused by earthquakes is often accompanied by chest and abdominal injuries, so prompt hospital transfer is essential.
3. For open wounds, quickly remove mud from around the wound and dress or bandage it with clean materials to stop bleeding. The risk of tetanus and gas gangrene is high in open wounds caused by earthquakes, so patients should be sent to the hospital as soon as possible for thorough debridement and an intramuscular injection of tetanus antitoxin.
4. For limb fractures, use any available means to properly immobilize the injury (see fracture immobilization methods) before quickly transferring the patient to a hospital.
5. Spinal fractures are common in earthquakes. They are not easy to detect at the scene. Therefore, extra care must be taken when moving and transferring patients. For cervical spine fractures, keep the head aligned with the body’s axis during movement. For thoracic and lumbar spine fractures, keep the body straight to prevent spinal cord injury. Even if paralysis is present, follow the above methods to avoid worsening spinal cord damage. For cervical spine fractures, use a cervical collar or similar method for stabilization. All spinal fractures must be transported on a backboard. During transport, secure the patient firmly to the backboard with wide straps to minimize jolting that could cause further spinal cord injury.
First Aid Precautions
First Aid Precautions
1. Stay calm, work efficiently without panic, and effectively manage on-site first aid.
2. Prioritize cases based on severity and provide care and transport accordingly.
3. If a fracture is suspected—especially a spinal fracture—do not let the patient walk, as this may worsen the injury.
4. Patients with spinal fractures must be transported on a wooden board, not a soft stretcher like canvas, to prevent further spinal cord injury.
