Administering first aid for an impaled object is very difficult and needs a lot of patience to ensure that the person being treated as well as yourself are safe and no further harm comes to the victim. Depending on the location and size of the object and the impalement and if you’re not familiar with First Aid Training you may need to call emergency rescue to handle more serious situations.
The first thing you need to remember is to keep yourself safe. Any object that is sharp enough to be impaled into the victim will be sharp enough to cause harm to you as well. They can cause significant harm to any rescuer and it is also tainted with the victim’s blood. Wear protective gloves, clothing if needed, and protective face masks to avoid any injury and to steer clear of communicable diseases that can be spread through bodily fluids. If the severity of the situation is high, call 911 immediately. You, as an innocent bystander are not qualified to handle situations this severe even if you have taken a First Aid Class impaled objects. Even if the impaled object seems small and the injury does not seem life threatening, it still requires professional medical assistance.
Whatever you do, do not remove the object that has impaled the victim. They create a puncture wound while at the same time creating pressure on the wound which prevents excessive bleeding. The exception to this rule is if the victim needs CPR rescue breathing and the impaled object is in the way or if the object is obstructing the airway of the victim. Removing an impaled object will remove the “clot” which will cause the victim to bleed out. If you absolutely have to remove the object to do rescue breathing or CPR or it is preventing the victim to breathe then you must take the appropriate measures to stop the bleeding.
If an ambulance has not arrived, is not available immediately, or the victim has been moved, it is necessary to cut the object down to as short as possible. The longer the impaled object is outside of the body the more damage it can do to internal organs and body tissue. Once the object has been shortened as much as possible secure the object; by securing the object it will prevent movement which will in turn prevent additional tissue damage and will decrease the chances of excessive bleeding. Once the object is secured, begin administering basic first aid.
Step 1: Keep yourself safe. This should always be the primary concern before administering first aid to any person. Wear gloves, protective clothing, and protective face masks if available.
Step 2: Check to make sure the victim is awake and conscious. If they are not, this is a significant indicator that the impaled object has caused other serious medical conditions. If the victim does not respond to your attempts to wake them call 911 immediately. If the victim is awake although seems confused or disoriented, still call 911; when in doubt, always call 911.
Step 3: Check the victim’s airway to make sure there are no obstructions and that they are still breathing. If the victim is awake, ask them to speak to you. If they can respond to you verbally this is a good indicator that they are breathing. If they are unable to respond then chances are their airway is blocked. If the victim is unconscious you must listen, feel, and watch for breathing. Put your ear to their mouth to listen for breathing. Put your check near their mouth to feel the victim breathing during exhale. Watch the victim’s chest to see if it rises and falls as it would if they were breathing normally. If the victim is not breathing begin administering CPR immediately; if they are breathing place them in the recovery position.
Step 4: Check for appropriate circulation. Once you have determined that the victim is breathing normally check the color of their skin, lips, and nail beds to ensure that their blood is circulating the way it should be.
Following all of the above steps will help you administer first aid for an impaled object.