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HELP!!!! please???
My husband was recently injured while working offshore, by being sucked to a high powered suction line underwater. He now has an open half dollar sized wound that reaches down to the fascia (like a cookie cutter cut a piece out of his thigh. Due to maritime laws and such, his company does not provide workman's comp. So now my question is, what can he do for himself with anything he may have on hand? He is in the middle of the ocean on a very small boat w/ limited supplies. I told him to soak the wound in sterilized warm salt water, and to keep the ocean water (mud, silt, etc) out by covering the wound with a sterile 4x4 and duct tape over that. He has no vaseline or neosporin to make a sort of occlusive dressing for it. I also told him if he could, to get some garlic (raw) and eat that) I'm completely lost here, and he's stuck out there. My aunt, who is an RN, said he needs to see a doctor immediately for specialized wound care, but I'm afraid he won't be able to do that. She viewed photos of the wound and said it looks clean, but these are just photos after all. He cleaned the dead (rotten smelling) tissue out of the wound since it was necrotic from the force of the suction. It caused everything to almost instantly die within a couple of days. He is an offshore, commercial diver, and is in the water everyday. It's not that simple for him to just come back to land. Any helpful advice would be extremely appreciated. Thank you so much for your time.
Brittainy K.
Answer:
HELP!!!! please???
My goodness, what kind of people is he working for that would not provide medical care when injured on the job. I agree with your aunt. Deep wounds require daily sterile dressings at least QD, often packed with medications to help healing process and new tissue to fill in. With a wound so deep chances for infection too are really a concern esp. to the bone. I'm not a Dr. but I think flushing with sterile saline solution, then a sterile drsg. to protect it. Any fever or smell from this wound is trouble as too any visable redness around the wound. Really he should insist on leaving for treatment asap.
Best wishes,
Purple98Lady:smile:
Answer:
HELP!!!! please???
thats terrible! they should turn that boat right around and get that guy some medical help!or at least provide some kind of medical kit on board!
Answer:
HELP!!!! please???
Thank you all for your comments. I have recieved word just now that they are sending him home to go to an ER. He was stubborn and didn't want to be sent home d/t bills and such, but they have discovered him. I'd rather lose our house than him to a serious infection. Thanks again I appreciate it!