6-13. MONITOR AND EVACUATE THE CASUALTY
Continue to perform your evaluation and treat other injuries. Evacuate the
casualty, if needed. Some considerations are given below.
a. Administer Oxygen, if Needed and Available. If the casualty has signs
and symptoms of inhalation injury or carbon monoxide poisoning, administer
humidified oxygen at a high flow rate if it is available. Be very aggressive in monitoring
the casualty for deterioration of the airway. Be prepared to administer artificial
ventilations and manage the airway, if needed.
b. Adjust IV Flow, if Needed. If an intravenous infusion has been started and
you are able to measure urine output, adjust the IV fluid flow to maintain an average
urine output between 30 and 60 milliliters per hour. Urine output is a reliable guide to
assess circulating blood volume. As long as renal artery pressure remains above 90
mm Hg (millimeters of mercury), urinary output should remain adequate.
c. Monitor Pulse Sites in Extremities. Check the casualty's circulation by
checking the distal pulse site in each arm and leg.
d. Allow Casualty to Drink, if Appropriate. If the casualty is not in shock and
is not nauseated, you can give him small sips of cool water to drink. Stop
administering the water if the casualty feels as though he may vomit or if signs or
symptoms of shock develop.
e. Evacuate the Casualty. A casualty with inhalation injury or carbon
monoxide poisoning needs to be evacuated as soon as possible. Burns of the throat
can swell and impair breathing. Swelling in a burned extremity can have a tourniquet-
like effect on blood circulation in the extremity.
Section III. TREATING ELECTRICAL BURNS
6-14. IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF AN ELECTRICAL BURN
Electrical burns are caused by an electrical current passing through the body.
They can be caused by coming into contact with a charged ("live") electrical wire,
lightning, or other source of electrical energy.
6-15. SEPARATE THE CASUALTY FROM THE ELECTRICAL SOURCE
If the casualty is still in contact with the source of the electrical current, such as
lying on a "live" electrical wire, separate the casualty from the source of the current.
Assume that any electrical wire is alive (carrying electrical current) and is a danger to
you as well as to the casualty.
MD0554
6-13