Eye, Ear, and Nose Injuries
Lesson 4: Treat Lacerations, Contusions, and Extrusions of the Eye
4-3
4-3. POSITION THE PATIENT
a. If the patient is conscious, place him in a sitting position.
b. If the patient is unconscious, place him on his back (supine position) with head slightly higher than the rest of the body.
NOTE: Ensure the patient's airway is clear.
c. Examine the patient's eyes. Look for signs and symptoms of eye injuries.
d. Identify signs and symptoms of eye injuries using the following procedures:
(1) Check for foreign object protruding from globe.
(2) Check for swollen or lacerated globe.
(3) Check for bloodshot sclera (bleeding inside eyeball).
(4) Check for bleeding surrounding the eye, inside eyeball, and coming from eyeball.
e. Determine the category of eye injury.
(1) Injury to tissue surrounding eye--lacerations and contusions.
(2) Injury to eyeball.
(3) Injury to eye in which a protruding object is present.
(4) Avulsed, enucleated, or extruded eyeball.
