Question

Upon arriving at the scene of an accident, you find a victim who has bowel loops protruding through an abdominal laceration. You should cover the loops _______.

1) And apply direct pressure
2) As you would an impaled object
3) With a dry sterile absorbent dressing
4) With a moist sterile dressing

Answer 1

The correct response for treating protruding bowel loops in an accident victim is to cover them with a moist sterile dressing, avoiding direct pressure to prevent further injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

Upon arriving at the scene of an accident and finding a victim with bowel loops protruding through an abdominal laceration, the correct course of action is to cover the loops with a moist sterile dressing. It is essential not to apply direct pressure as this could cause further injury. Instead, the exposed bowel should be covered with a dressing that has been moistened with sterile saline to prevent the tissue from drying out and to provide a protective barrier against infection until the victim can receive surgical intervention.