How to provide First Aid for a Severed Finger

A severed finger (with part of it missing) is a very serious injury. Upon arriving at the scene, ensure that the injured person has no other severe injuries. Then, your main priority will be to stop the bleeding and preserve the severed finger for possible reattachment.

Survey the surroundings to identify potential hazards. Before helping someone, make sure you don't overlook things that could immediately put you or others in danger, such as active heavy machinery in the area.

Check the level of consciousness. Determine if the injured person is alert enough to communicate with you. You can start by asking their name.

• If the victim is not responsive, this could indicate a more severe injury or shock.

Call for help. If you're the only one at the scene, call 115 for assistance. If there are others around, ask someone to make the call for you.

Check for more serious injuries. While a severed finger may be alarming due to significant blood loss, ensure that it is the most critical injury before proceeding with treatment. For example, check for other severe bleeding wounds.

Keep talking to the victim. Help them stay calm with a soft tone. Try not to let yourself panic. Take deep, slow breaths, and encourage the injured person to do the same.

Wear gloves. If available, put on gloves before assisting the victim. Gloves will protect you from any bloodborne diseases the victim may carry. Emergency medical kits often include gloves as well.

Clean the wound. If you notice any dirt or debris in the wound, gently wash it under running water (you can also pour water from a bottle if a sink is unavailable). However, if you see an object deeply embedded in the wound or large debris, leave it in place.

Stop the bleeding. Use a clean cloth or gauze to apply pressure to the wound. Try to control the bleeding by pressing firmly on the injury.

Elevate the wound. Keep the injured hand raised above the heart level, as elevating it will slow down the bleeding process.

Help the victim lie down. Assist the victim in lying down and place a blanket or mat under their back to keep them warm.

Continue to apply pressure to the wound. If the bleeding persists, press firmly on the wound. If you feel faint, ask someone to assist you. If the bleeding doesn't stop, ensure that the wound is properly bandaged.

• If you are unable to maintain pressure on the wound, you can securely bandage it. However, bandaging the wound tightly for extended periods could cause harm. To do this, wrap a cloth or gauze around the wound and secure it with a bandage.
• Keep the pressure applied until help arrives.

Clean the finger. Gently wash the finger to remove any dirt, especially if the wound is contaminated.

• If you're still holding pressure on the wound, ask someone else to perform this step for you.

Remove any jewelry. If possible, gently remove rings and other jewelry. It will be more difficult to remove them later on.

Wrap the finger in a damp paper towel or gauze. Moisten a clean paper towel with sterile saline solution if available (contact lens solution may also be used), or use tap water or bottled water if saline isn't available. Squeeze out any excess moisture and wrap the finger in the damp towel.

Đặt ngón tay vào túi ni lông. Cho ngón tay được bọc vào túi có khóa kéo. Kéo khóa túi lại.

Tạo một túi đá hoặc xô nước đá. Cho đá hoặc nước vào trong túi ni lông có khóa kéo lớn hơn. Đặt túi có ngón tay vào túi ni lông lớn.

• Không đặt trực tiếp ngón tay vào nước hay đá, vì nó sẽ đông lạnh ngón tay và làm tổn thương da. Đồng thời, không sử dụng đá khô, vì nó quá lạnh.

Giao ngón tay cho nhân viên y tế. Khi hỗ trợ y tế đến nơi, hãy để họ bảo quản ngón tay.

• Ngón tay được đặt trong nước lạnh hoặc đá (ngón tay nên được đặt trong túi ni lông có khóa kéo) có thể nối lại được trong 18 tiếng đồng hồ; nếu không được làm lạnh, nó chỉ có thể nối lại được trong từ bốn đến sáu giờ đồng hồ. Nếu không thể giữ ngón tay trong nước lạnh, ít nhất hãy giữ nó tránh xa các nguồn nhiệt.

• Prioritize saving the victim's life over preserving the finger; always care for the victim first.
• Call emergency services immediately.