Prompt medical attention often prevents a gunshot wound from becoming deadly.
If you don’t have a professional version, focus on strong pressure.
Really lean into it.
Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health
Never give a person who’s been shot anything to eat or drink, including water.
It might also make it harder for the person to breathe.
Treatment by Wound Location
Gunshot wounds arepuncture wounds.
Don’t expect to be able to tell the difference between entrance and exit wounds.
It’s a myth that one jot down is significantly worse than the other.
There’s no reliable way to tell and it actually doesn’t matter.
Someone with a gunshot wound might have substantial internal injuries.
That can lead to breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, and heart issues.Begin CPRif they’re not breathing.
It helps to have some information about wounds in specific areas.
Do bullet wounds need stitches?
Uncomplicated gunshot wounds are often left open since this leaves them less susceptible to infection.
Some gunshot wounds may be closed at a later time.
This could be deadly.
Some gunshot wounds to the chest aresucking chest wounds.
These allow air to enter the chest.
If shortness of breath gets worse after you seal the wound, remove the seal.
A wound that punctures the stomach or intestines can lead to an infection.
That’s due to gastrointestinal fluid or feces leaking into the abdominal cavity.
You might notice rapid swelling of the abdomen.
That can happen even with a relatively small puncture wound.
Emergency surgery is generally necessary with abdominal bullet wounds.
In general, avoid moving a limb that has been shot.
Prevent blood loss by holding pressure until medical help arrives.
Neck Injuries
A gunshot wound to the spine can cause paralysis.
A wound to the front of the neck can damage the carotid artery.
That may prevent blood from reaching the brain.
Don’t move someone who’s been shot in the neck or back.
Movement could damage the spinal cord and cause permanent paralysis.
If someone’s shot in the front of the neck, hold pressure to prevent bleeding.
Understanding Bullet Wounds
Gunshot wounds are not straightforward.
They can cause injuries beyond the visible puncture site.
Bullets can also bounce around inside your body.
A bullet can remain in the body, or it can exit after doing substantial damage.
The physical damage sparked by a gunshot injury depends on several key factors:
All of these are important.
But bullet speed is the most significant factor when it comes to the amount of damage.
Rifles, for example, produce significantly faster-velocity projectiles than handguns.
Thus, they tend to cause more severe injuries.
“Squared” means the velocity is multiplied times itself.
Since the speed is squared, doubling the speed quadruples the energy.
Some bullets contain materials that can degrade inside the body.
Surgical removal is often urgent.
But it must be done carefully to avoid further damage.
If these are severe or persistent, contact your healthcare provider.
Summary
If someone is shot:
For sucking chest wounds,seal the hole.
Avoid moving wounded limbs.
Never move someone with gunshot wounds to the neck or back.
Faster bullet speed means significantly more damage.
Some materials may degrade, making surgical removal necessary.
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