This document discusses first aid for injuries to the face, eyes, and throat. It provides guidance on assessing and treating different types of eye injuries, including foreign objects, burns, and damage to the eyeball or socket. It also outlines care for facial injuries, noting the need to check for potential spinal injuries. Proper treatment of throat injuries focuses on maintaining an open airway and controlling bleeding. Throughout, it emphasizes the importance of seeking immediate medical attention for serious injuries.

1. Book Title
Edition
Chapter 1 Lecture
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 8
Injuries to the Face,
Eye, and Throat
Slide Presentation prepared by
Randall Benner, M.Ed., NREMT-P

2. Learning Objectives
• Describe the assessment and first aid care for a
range of eye injuries including foreign or impaled
objects, chemical burns, and eyeball, eyelid and
eye socket injuries.
• Describe the first aid care for injuries to the face,
mouth, jaw, nose, and throat, including dental
injuries.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

3. Injuries to the Eye
• True ocular emergencies tend to be urgent.
• Other common, and less serious, eye injuries
occur more frequently.
• Can involve underlying bone and soft tissues.
• Because of the potential for permanent damage,
never assume an eye injury is minor until
confirmed.
• All eye injuries should receive immediate
medical attention.
• Almost half of all serious eye injuries occur in the
home.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

4. Occurrence of Eye Injuries
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

5. Assessment for Eye Injuries
• Check eye sockets, lids, and eyeballs for
bruising, swelling, laceration, or tenderness.
• Check for redness, pus, and foreign objects.
• Check pupils for size, shape, evenness, and
reaction to light.
• Check eye movements in all directions; look for
abnormal or paralyzed gaze, or pain with
movement.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

6. Basic First Aid Care for Eye Injuries
• Never put direct pressure on the eyeball.
• Don’t irrigate except for chemical burns or
foreign objects.
• Don’t put salves (ointments) or medicine in the
eye.
• Don’t remove blood or blood clots.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

7. Basic First Aid Care for Eye Injuries
• Don’t try to force the eyelid open except to
irrigate.
• Have the victim lie down and stay still.
• Limit use of the uninjured eye.
• Give the victim nothing by mouth.
• Get a physician’s evaluation.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

8. Foreign Objects in the Eye
• If not removed, can cause significant damage.
• Pain is often severe.
• Light may cause further irritation.
• Never let a victim rub the affected eye.
• Ask the victim to blink or cry to help remove
objects.
• Attempt to remove only objects that are not on or
in the cornea.
• Notify EMS.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

9. Removing Particles From White of the Eye
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

10. Eye Socket Injuries
• Be aware that Facial injury may also cause
damage to skull bones.
• When an eye socket has been fractured, always
assume there is also head injury.
• Signs and symptoms include
– Double vision
– Decreased vision
– Loss of feeling
– Nasal discharge
– Paralysis of upward gaze
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

11. Eyelid Injuries
• Include black eyes, burns, and lacerations
• Due to the profusion of blood vessels, eyelid
lacerations can cause profuse bleeding.
• Always also check for eyeball injury.
• Control bleeding and protect injured tissue and
underlying structures.
• Activate the EMS system.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

12. Eyeball Injuries
• Include bruising, cuts, foreign object damage,
and abrasions
• Deep lacerations can cut the cornea; if so,
eyeball contents may spill out.
• Severe blunt trauma can rupture the eyeball.
• Signs and symptoms include an irregularly-
shaped eyeball, and blood in the front chamber
of the eye.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

13. Chemical Burns of the Eye
• Eye burns represent a dire emergency
• Permanent damage can occur within seconds
• The first ten minutes after a chemical burn injury
can determine the final outcome
• Burning and tissue damage continue while any
substance remains in the eye
• Signs and symptoms include irritation and
swelling; redness; blurred vision; extreme pain;
irritated skin around the eye
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

14. Light Burns of the Eye
• Results from looking at ultraviolet light sources,
tanning lamps, arc welders, etc.
• Extreme pain follows one to six hours after
exposure.
• Victim should see an ophthalmologist.
• Move the victim from light sources; keep in dark
rooms.
• Cover both eyes with moist gauze pads.
• Discourage the victim from rubbing their eyes.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

15. Impaled Objects or Extruded Eyeball
• Should be removed only by a physician
• Stabilize the object to prevent movement.
• If serious, the eyeball may be forced out of its
socket; if so, do not attempt to replace.
• Activate the EMS immediately.
• Treat the victim for shock.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

16. Injuries to the Face
• Always suspect additional spinal injuries of the
neck and back.
• Establish an airway if needed; inspect the mouth
and remove fragments.
• Immobilize the neck.
• Control bleeding.
• Cover injured nerves, tendons or blood vessels
with moist, sterile dressing.
• Inspect inside and outside of the cheeks and
teeth.
• Do not use force to stop bleeding; apply gentle
pressure or just enough to stop bleeding.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

17. Face and Jaw Fractures
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

18. Injuries to the Cheek and Nose
• The only time to remove an impaled facial object
is when it is in the cheek, has penetrated
through, and is loose; this presents an airway
obstruction danger.
• Nose injuries are usually caused by blunt
trauma; follow the same treatment guidelines as
for other soft-tissue injuries.
• Be careful to maintain an open airway; don’t
allow blood to drain into the throat.
• Best position for nose injury victims is usually
sitting, leaning slightly forward.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

19. Injuries to the Ear
• Common, but rarely life-threatening
• Sections may become severed
• If so, treat the same as other soft-tissue injuries.
• Generally, don’t probe the ear.
• Never pack the ear to prevent canal bleeding;
place a loose, clean dressing across ear
opening; don’t apply pressure.
• If you can see an embedded object, gently
remove with tweezers.
• Never irrigate to remove a foreign object; this will
cause swelling and make removal harder.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

20. Throat Injuries
• Can be caused by blows, constriction, falls, cuts
• If cut, major artery bleeding is a serious concern
• Maintaining an open airway is critical.
• Have the victim lie down to reduce the chance of
air entering blood vessels.
• Position the victim on her left side, and tilt her
body downward at a 15 degree angle (head
lower than legs).
• Control bleeding.
• Treat for shock.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

21. Dental Emergencies
• Rarely life threatening but can be very painful
• Rapid first aid care can dramatically improve
outcomes
• In emergencies, the victim should see a dentist
or oral surgeon promptly.
• Check for and control bleeding.
• Common problems include
– Loose tooth
– Broken tooth
– Knocked-out tooth
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

22. Summary
• Never try to remove a foreign object lodged in
the cornea or main part of the eye.
• For eyelid injuries, control bleeding but don’t
apply pressure.
• Irrigate chemical burns in eyes and seek
immediate medical help.
• With facial injuries, always suspect the
possibility of additional spinal injury.
• Top priority in treating victims of facial or jaw
injury is to maintain an open airway.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.