Question

You are providing care for a 19-year-old male who has been stabbed in the right upper quadrant. The knife is still in place where the victim is in a great deal of pain. Your priority should be to stabilize the object with bulky dressings and place him on his left side with his knees tucked up. True or False?

Answer 1

True, for a stab wound in the right upper quadrant with the knife in situ, first aid includes object stabilization with bulky dressings and positioning the patient on their left side in the recovery position.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is True. When providing care for a 19-year-old male who has been stabbed in the right upper quadrant with the knife still in place, your priority should be to stabilize the object with bulky dressings to prevent further movement and potential damage to internal organs. Then, placing the patient on his left side with his knees tucked up, a position known as the recovery position can help maintain an open airway and limit the risk of aspiration should the patient vomit. This position is beneficial in trauma care as it stabilizes the patient and could potentially alleviate pressure on the abdominal organs.

Proper stabilization also prevents further injury during transport to a medical facility where surgeons can safely remove the knife and address any internal damage that has occurred. It is crucial, however, that this first aid measure is followed up with immediate professional medical treatment.