PERFORMANCE CHECKLIST
DRESS AN OPEN HEAD WOUND
Situation: A casualty has an open wound on his head. The wound does not appear to be severe, the casualty is conscious, and no other wounds appear to be present. You are not in a hazardous environment.
GO NO GO
Checks casualty's level of consciousness.
Positions casualty (sitting position if casualty is willing, on back with head raised if casualty cannot sit up).
Exposes wound.
Opens field dressing and places white side of field dressing over the wound.
Keeps dressing from moving while securing dressing (holds dressing in place or has casualty to hold dressing.
Secures dressing with bandages.
Forehead: Takes tails around head horizontally, covers edges of dressing with tails, and tie tails in a nonslip knot
on the side of the head.Cheek: Takes tails around head vertically, crosses tails above ear on injured side, and ties tails in a nonslip knot above and in front of the ear on the uninjured side of the head.
Top: Takes tails around head vertically in front of ears, crosses tails above and in front of one ear, and ties tails in a nonslip knot on the other side of the head.
Bandages are tight enough to hold dressing in place without interfering with blood circulation or breathing (any bandage and
under chin remains wide close to front of chin).Eyes and ears are not covered unnecessarily.
Any excess tails are tucked in the bandage.
Question: What would you do if the casualty looses consciousness and you cannot evacuate the casualty for a while?
Answer:
OVERALL EVALUATION GO NO GO
(A no-go on any step gives an overall evaluation of no-go.)