How to give first aid to a knee injury

Injuries are inevitable in everyday life, especially in the knee area. Minor injuries to the knee may heal on their own. However, improper first aid can make an injury worse. Here are the basic first aid methods for knee injuries.

External trauma

Knee injuries are the most common injuries in daily life. This external injury can be managed at home. For scratches, wash with clean water and apply antiseptic.

With a wound that bleeds a lot, it is necessary to apply a sterile gauze to keep it moist and avoid bacterial attack and infection. Change gauze 1-2 times per day. If the wound is dirty, red, inflamed, you should see a doctor to be evaluated by a doctor for appropriate antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Knowing how to give first aid to an injury will help prevent unnecessary risks. (Photo: Freepik)

Software injuries

A soft tissue injury is an overactivity that occurs to a muscle, tendon, or ligament. Most soft tissue injuries are the result of a sudden or uncontrolled movement. Dislocations and injuries to ligaments and muscles are common soft-tissue injuries.

When an acute injury occurs, RICE first aid is often very effective. RICE is an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This method should be performed immediately after the injury and should continue for the next 24-48 hours.

1. Rest: the injured person should limit movement for the first 2 days for the wound to recover.
2. Cold: Apply an ice pack or ice gel for 15-20 minutes for the first 24-48 hours after the injury. Ice should be placed on a towel or thin cloth to avoid freezing the skin.
3. Compress and fix the wound: Use an elastic bandage to wrap it lightly and cover the wound. Do not wrap your hands too tightly because it will make it difficult for blood to circulate, causing edema.
4. Support for the wound: With a leg injury, the injured person needs to be placed on a pillow about 10-15 cm high. This makes it easier for blood to flow to the heart.

If the wound is still swollen and the pain is not relieved after 48 hours, the injured person should go to the hospital to be examined, because this may be a chronic injury such as ligament rupture, knee bursitis. ,.

Note when giving first aid to the wound

First aid is very important and helps the injured person to minimize the damage. However, the wrong first aid can bring more health risks to the accident victim. Here are the wrong first aid to avoid:

1. Hot compress: When the heat is applied to the injured area, it will increase bleeding and cause rapid reactions in the body, thereby making the swelling painful and uncomfortable.
2. Rubbing alcohol: applying alcohol to the wound is also a way to heat heat. This method feels like pain relief but is actually due to the heat of the alcohol. Not only does alcohol add to the swelling, but alcohol also carries a risk of infection.
3. Massage: the act of massaging is not the solution for the injured person because it is easy to directly impact the wound, making the pain worse and swelling more.