Search and rescue efforts continue in earthquakes that affected the lives of millions of citizens. Correct intervention is of great importance to the people who were pulled out of the rubble. Stating that the first aid to be applied for the earthquake victims who were pulled out of the wreckage and still waiting to be removed, is of vital importance. See. Ümit Yaşar Kamacı said, “Don’t panic, carelessness can paralyze earthquake victims.”
CORRECT COMMUNICATION IS VERY IMPORTANT
Stating that there should be no panic for the earthquake victims who were pulled out from under the rubble, Lecturer. See. Ümit Yaşar Kamacı said, “In order to prevent shock, first of all, it is necessary to prevent heat and fluid loss, and to keep consciousness open by providing verbal communication.”
HOW SHOULD THE FIRST RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS BE?
Explaining how the first aid intervention to be applied to the earthquake victim should be, Kamacı said, “When the environmental safety is ensured, we need to lay the earthquake victim on a hard ground. Afterwards, we need to check the airway patency, breathing and circulation. If there is any object in the mouth by looking into the mouth, it should be removed. We can see that he is breathing by looking at whether his chest is airborne or not. We can understand its circulation by looking at the pulse from the jugular vein with the help of two fingers,” he said.
“ATTENTION TO EARTHQUAKE CAN CRACKED”
Kamacı, who warned that the earthquake victim should be laid on a particularly hard floor after being removed from the wreckage, said, “The reason for lying on a hard floor is to restrict the spine movement of the earthquake victim in spinal injuries. Injury and crushing are very common in natural disasters such as earthquakes. In order to avoid paralysis as a result of these crushing traumas and spinal injuries, the earthquake victim must be laid on a hard surface. Wearing a neck brace is a must. If there is no neck brace, it is necessary to carefully balance the head,” he said.
BALANCE LIQUID AND HEAT LOSS
Kamacı, who said that the first problem seen in the citizens who were under the debris was the loss of fluid and heat, made the following statements about what kind of application should be made:
“The citizens under the rubble did not get food for a long time and the weather is very cold. In order to prevent fluid and heat loss, we should try to balance the fluid and heat loss as much as possible at that moment with the help of water and blankets for earthquake victims that we can reach under the debris. Loss of fluid causes renal dysfunction. Insufficiency of kidney functions may cause problems such as not being able to go to the toilet for a long time after the earthquake (anuria). In this respect, it is very important to prevent heat and fluid losses.”
FIRST AID AGAINST FREEZING
Stating that the heat should be given gradually in order to prevent hypothermic and hypovolemic shock situations, Kamacı said, “It is necessary to balance the body temperature by providing the heat with the blanket. The purpose of keeping the temperature in balance is to prevent damage to the internal organs by ensuring the efficiency of circulation. Continuous communication should be established in order to keep the consciousness of the earthquake victim open. It is necessary to overcome the state of shock and control the consciousness of the patient. We should prevent the shock state of the patient, who was given stimuli by communicating,” he said.
FIRST AID FOR BLEEDING
Kamacı said, “A tampon should be applied to the area where active bleeding occurs, and it is difficult to find and apply suitable materials in earthquake areas, but the blood flow of the bleeding area can be stopped by tying the limb with materials such as belts. The purpose here is first aid and it would be appropriate to make tampons with things that will stop the blood flow in the first place. One of the most common situations in an earthquake is limb ruptures. The severed limbs should be transported by keeping them in clean containers where they can stay cold and motionless.