Recently, the Caiyu Emergency Station of Beijing 120 Daxing Branch received an urgent mission: a male patient had sustained injuries from a high fall. The emergency team responded quickly and rushed to the scene. En route, the physician provided remote guidance to people at the site, while the nurse prepared trauma emergency supplies.
Upon arrival, the team found the patient conscious. After examination, they applied pressure and bandages to control bleeding. Suspecting fractures in the right shoulder and right hip joints, the rescuers immobilized the injuries with rigid splints to prevent secondary damage, and carefully transferred the patient onto a scoop stretcher for safe transport. The patient also presented with significant chest tenderness and shortness of breath; the team immediately administered oxygen, slightly elevated his upper body to prevent worsening of a possible hemopneumothorax, opened an intravenous line, monitored vital signs, and provided emotional reassurance. The patient was then safely and swiftly transported to the nearest hospital for further treatment.
In this mission, the emergency team worked in close coordination and responded swiftly, demonstrating outstanding emergency response capability and strong teamwork, securing valuable treatment time for the patient.
120 reminder:
1 Why must high-fall injuries be taken seriously?
1. Patients with closed injuries may suffer from concussion, cerebral contusion with intracranial hemorrhage, cardiopulmonary trauma, rupture of the liver, spleen, or kidneys causing hemorrhagic shock from acute internal bleeding, or hollow-organ injuries that may lead to acute peritonitis.
2. Patients with open injuries may face risks such as traumatic asphyxia and acute hemorrhagic shock.
3. Spinal injuries may cause paralysis of the limbs.
2 What should we do in case of high-fall injuries?
1. First, ensure the patient’s airway remains unobstructed—loosen the collar, clear oral secretions or foreign objects, and immediately call 120 for help.
2. For open wounds, apply sterile dressings and bandages with pressure to control bleeding, making sure not to obstruct blood circulation in the limb.
3. For suspected basal skull fractures and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, avoid packing or blocking the wound, as this may lead to intracranial infection.