Face and Ear Injuries

Face Injuries

Soft tissue injuries of the face and scalp are common. Abrasions (scrapes) of the skin cause no serious problems. Contusions (injury without a break in the skin) usually cause swelling. A contusion of the scalp looks and feels like a lump. Laceration (cut) and avulsion (torn away tissue) injuries are also common. Avulsions (tearing away of a body part) are frequently caused when a sharp blow separates the scalp from the skull beneath it. Because the face and scalp are richly supplied with blood vessels (arteries and veins), wounds of these areas usually bleed heavily.

Side-of-Head or Cheek Wound

Facial injuries to the side of the head or the cheek may bleed profusely. Prompt action is necessary to ensure that the airway remains open and also to control the bleeding. It may be necessary to apply a dressing.

  1. Place the dressing directly over the wound.
  2. Hold the dressing in place with one hand (the victim may assist if able). Wrap the top tail over the top of the head and bring it down in front of the ear (on the side opposite the wound), under the chin and up over the dressing to a point just above the ear (on the wound side).
  3. When possible, avoid covering the victim's ear with the dressing, as this will decrease his ability to hear.
  4. Bring the second tail under the chin, up in front of the ear (on the side opposite the wound) and over the head to meet the other tail (on the wound side).
  5. Cross the two tails (on the wound side) and bring one end across the forehead (above the eyebrows) to a point just in front of the opposite ear (on the uninjured side).
  6. Wrap the other tail around the back of the head (at the base of the skull), and tie the two ends just in front of the ear on the uninjured side with a non-slip knot.

Ear Injuries

Lacerated (cut) or avulsed (torn) ear tissue may not, in itself, be a serious injury. Bleeding, or the drainage of fl uids from the ear canal may be a sign of a head injury, such as a skull fracture.

DO NOT attempt to stop the fl ow from the inner ear canal nor put anything into the ear canal to block it. Instead, you should cover the ear lightly with a dressing.