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How to survive a gunshot wound
The most important part of surviving a gunshot wound is getting the
victim to proper medical attention as soon as possible. Chances of
survival improve the faster you get the victim in front of a doctor.
Only in a worst case scenario where medical help is not available should
you attempt to treat a firearm victim.
[Secure | Immobolize | Breathing | Bleeding | Stabilize]
THE PHYSICS OF A FIREARM WOUND
The impact of a bullet/fragment depends on several factors include the
velocity, emergy transfer, and type of bullet. When a bullet impacts it
instantly decelerates and deforms (a flattening effect known as
"mushrooming". As the bullet decelerates on impact, the energy carried by the bullet is
transferred to the target -- the higher the energy transfer of the
bullet, the greater the damage.
TheMarksman.com
explains that
Hydrostatic shock radiates out from the bullet's path, causing a much
larger "temporary wound cavity" that accounts for a significant amount
of the soft tissue damage, while the bullet itself plows inward,
potentially breaking apart if it strikes bone. The temporary cavity
closes back after the bullet's passage, but significant damage, notably
to major blood vessels, may have been inflicted by the sudden stretching
and tearing involved in the hydrostatic displacement.
Bullets rotate, become defored, fragment, or deflect off bones. Some
bullets are designed to shatter or distintegrate on impact leaving
shrapnel in the body. More on bullet types
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Wound from
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velocity
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energy transfer
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injury characteristics
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Hang guns
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low
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low
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Injury results from direct effects along bullet track.
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Rifle Shot
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High
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High
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Wounds are messy -- bullets tumble [yaw] within the wound casuing greater damage -- see below.
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Munition fragment
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Low
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Low
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Small and numerous wounds, but poor penetration means injuries are limited to fragment track.
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With high energy transfer wounds like those caused by shotguns, indirect effects are more important than direct effects. High energy transfer wounds generate injuries including:
+ cavitation
+ fractures, contusions, and lacerations away from the direct fragment tract
+ can result in small entry and exite wounds but large wound cavity
+ fragmentation of bullet and bones can cause secondary wound paths and further injury
+ negative pressure within cavity can suck in external environmental contaminents.
Next: Stabilization of Victim
[Secure | Immobolize | Breathing | Bleeding | Stabilize]
The information above does not constitute medical advice!! It is simply
an informational resource. Following the procedures laid out below may
result in injury or loss of life. By reading the content below, the
user agrees to:
- to waive the rights to take action against the author;
- to respect the rights of the author in the contents of this site; and,
- to indemnify the author and his agents for any and all claims arising from
viewing this site.
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