Amputation of a finger is a very serious injury. The first thing to do to help the victim, however, is to make sure that he does not have more serious injuries; later you will have to take care of stopping the bleeding and saving the finger to be able to reattach it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: First Interventions
Step 1. Check your surroundings for any hazards
Before you help someone, you need to make sure there is nothing that can put you or other people in a dangerous situation, such as an electrical appliance that is still on.
Step 2. Check if the victim is conscious
You need to make sure he is alert enough to be able to talk to you. You can start by asking her if she remembers her name.
If he is unconscious, it could be a sign of some more serious injury or a state of shock
Step 3. Call for help
If you are the only person nearby, call 911 for help. If there are other people, ask them to contact the emergency services.
Step 4. Check for more serious injuries
Blood from the severed finger may be reason enough to distract attention from other parts of the body, but you need to be sure this is the most serious injury before proceeding with treatment. For example, you need to check for other major bleeding cuts.
Step 5. Continue talking to the victim
You need to help her stay calm by talking to her in a quiet tone of voice; don't panic, talk to her slowly, take deep breaths and ask her to do the same.
Part 2 of 3: Give the First Care
Step 1. Put on gloves
If you have a pair that you can put on quickly, put them on before you step in to help the victim. Gloves protect you from any communicable diseases that the injured person may suffer from. Sometimes they are already present in first aid kits.
Step 2. Clean the wound
If you see any dirt, dust, or debris residue on the wound, you should remove it by rinsing the area with clean running water (you can pour it directly from a water bottle, if there is no tap nearby). However, if you see any foreign objects or large fragments stuck in the wound, you need to leave it where it is.
Step 3. Stop the bleeding
Take a clean gauze or cloth and place it on the injured area applying some pressure. Try to stop the blood spill.
Step 4. Lift the affected limb
Make the hand with the amputated finger higher than the heart; this position slows down the bleeding.
Step 5. Have the victim lie down
Help her lie down and place a blanket or rug under her body to keep her warm.
Step 6. Continue applying pressure
Maintain pressure while the wound continues to bleed when you start to get tired, ask someone to replace you. If you feel like you can't stop the bleeding, make sure you've covered the injury carefully.
- If you can't continue applying pressure, put on a snug bandage. However, pay attention! If it is too tight it could cause problems over time. To apply the dressing, wrap the gauze or cloth around the wound and use duct tape to secure it.
- Continue to maintain the pressure until help arrives.
Part 3 of 3: Saving the Finger
Step 1. Wash your finger
Gently rinse it off to get rid of debris and grime, especially if the wound looks particularly dirty.
If you're still applying pressure, have someone else take care of this
Step 2. Remove the jewelry
If possible, gently remove any rings or other jewelry from your finger. If you delay, this may become more difficult later on.
Step 3. Wrap the amputated finger in gauze or a damp paper towel
Very carefully, cover it with a paper towel moistened with a sterile saline solution, if available (you can use the one for contact lenses); alternatively, use tap or bottle water. Squeeze the cloth to get rid of excess water and use it to wrap your finger.
Step 4. Put your finger in a plastic bag
Use an airtight bag, such as a zip-lock bag, and close it carefully.
Step 5. Prepare an ice pack or bucket with ice
Take a container or a large airtight bag, add some ice, water and put your finger inside the bag that is already closed in turn.
Do not put your finger directly in contact with water or ice, otherwise you could cause damage to the skin. Also remember not to use dry ice, as it is too cold
Step 6. Give the amputated finger to medical personnel
Once help arrives, let them take care of it.
Advice
If you have stored your finger in a container with cold water or ice (but make sure you keep it in a sealed bag) it can be reattached within 18 hours. If you can't properly store it in cold temperatures, it can only last 6 hours. If you can't keep it in cold water in any way, at least avoid it being exposed to heat
Warnings
- Saving the person is more important than saving their finger; always take care of the victim first.
- Amputation of a finger is a very serious injury, which requires immediate ambulance intervention.
