It's horrible to experience the separation of a limb from a body.The injured person must be taken care of.If you or someone you know has lost a limb, you should call an ambulance.Many factors can make it difficult to reattachment a severed limb.After ensuring the safety of the injured person, you should preserve a severed limb.
Step 1: You can call the emergency services.
If someone has lost a limb, you need to call the emergency services.If an injury has occurred where there is no phone service or emergency services are unable to reach the victim, do everything you can to get them additional help.
Step 2: First, take care of the injured person.
Don't pay attention to a severed limb until the injured person has been tended to.When breathing and circulation are stable, you should stop paying attention to the body part that is missing.The injured person needs to be attended to first.Basic advice on emergency medical services can be found in the rest of this section.If it is only you and the injured person, abandon the limb and focus on the injury.If the limb is retrieved in a way that jeopardizes the safety of the injured person, it should be forgotten.There are injuries that are not as obvious as the amputation.The victim needs to be treated for any airway or breathing issues.Don't try to push the body part back into place.
Step 3: Control bleeding.
Direct pressure should be applied to the wound.Lay the patient down if possible to raise the injured area above the heart.If bleeding continues, apply pressure.If substantial bleeding continues, a tight bandage or tourniquet can be used to close the wound.If it is necessary to prevent persistent bleeding and keep the injured person alive, use a tight bandage or tourniquet.If you apply a direct pressure dressing firmly over the site, it will bleed through.Apply a tourniquet if it does.Within two to four inches of the injury site is where you should apply a tourniquet.As a self-defense mechanism, an amputation limb may not bleed profusely early in the incident.This does not mean that there is no need to apply direct pressure.Bleeding will start and be severe.
Step 4: There are steps that can be taken to prevent shock.
The injured person should be covered with a coat or blanket.Place the injured person on the ground.Circulation and blood flow to vital organs can be maintained by raising the feet.If a head, neck, back, or leg injury is suspected, do not place the person in this position.The injured victim should not be placed in a position that makes them uncomfortable or restricts their breathing.The injured person should be reassured.It can have a significant effect on preventing a person from going into shock.Patients who have suffered a traumatic injury can be susceptible to fast mood swings, anger, and panic.Don't take these things personally.Don't talk to the patient about the situation.You are with them if you make general comments about the fact that they have been called.Try not to say "You're ok" as this can cause more panic.
Step 5: The type of injury can affect the potential for reattachment.
If the injury was caused by heavy machinery or a vehicle, it is very unlikely that the limb can be saved.It will almost certainly not be re-attachable if the limb is damaged or contaminated.If the injury occurred from a guillotine or sharp industrial blade,attachment is more likely.
Step 6: Act cautiously.
Proper preservation is crucial.No body part is too small to be removed.
Step 7: The severed limb should be washed with sterile water or a solution.
Do not scrub.If you don't have clean water or washing the limb is not possible, skip this step.If you want to reattachment a severed limb, do not submerge it in water.
Step 8: The limb should be wrapped in a clean material.
It's best to use sterile gauze moistened with sterile water or sterile saline solution.Wrap the limb in the cleanest absorbent material you can find if you don't have gauze.The second-best option is a clean t-shirt.If you use a blanket, do not use anything that is not clean.It's quite effective to use clean pads or adult diapers for larger amputations.It is better to wrap the limb in a dry material than it is to use a liquid.If you don't have a clean cloth, a paper towel will work.If nothing else is available, a strip of tent material, sleeping bag, or hammock can be used.The goal of this step is to protect the limb from damage from the ice bath you will use to cool it.
Step 9: Wrap the limb again, this time in a waterproof material.
A plastic bag or container is ideal.If you need to compromise, use whatever you have.You can use a plastic bag.Wrap the limb completely and tie the handles of the bag tightly together.Use tape or string to make sure the seal.A tarp can be used.It will be difficult to create a reliable seal while a tarp is waterproof.You will not be able to cool the limb if you wrap it with too many layers of tarp.Tie the tarp around the limb with tape, rope, or something similar to create a seal.You can use plastic wrap.An initial layer of plastic wrap around the cloth is great, but another method of creating a water seal should be used if possible.Wrap the limb in a way that doesn't damage the tissue.The limb should be labeled with the patient's name and the time it was removed from their body.If it costs a lot of time to do so, skip this step.
Step 10: The limb should be kept cold.
The container should be placed in an iced bath.If possible, use a cooler or refrigerator.Don't let the limb come in contact with ice.The limb can be placed in the bath safely if you were able to protect it with a cloth and a watertight material.Do not submerge the limb in ice bath or cold water if the wrap is not watertight.Place the limb on ice in a cooler or other vessel to make sure that there is no direct contact with the ice.Don't use dry ice.In lieu of an ice bath, cold water can be used.Unless you have a watertight seal around the limb, don't use water from a natural source for a cold bath.Keep the part away from heat if a cold source is unavailable.It's important to keep it out of the sun and places that could be hit, such as the trunk of a car.
Step 11: Get to the hospital.
If the injured person is stable, and reattachment is viable, get the limb to the hospital as quickly as possible.In ideal conditions, limbs can be reattachment for four to six hours.