The throat is considered as one of the body parts that are prone to sports injuries. Any blunt force trauma to the throat area is the most common cause that can be due to a direct blow from a kick, compression of the area, struck by a ball or damaged due to a fall. Even in workplaces that involves the use of heavy equipment and machinery as well as handling chemicals can put an individual at risk for throat injuries.
Always remember that any injury to the throat area would require immediate attention since any damage can affect the airway, thus cause problems with breathing.
Symptoms of an injured throat
- Hoarseness or loss of voice
- Breathing difficulties
- Inflammation
- Bleeding
- Deformities around the neck area
- Difficult swallowing
Once there is an injury to the throat, it is important to seek immediate treatment in order to avoid further damage.
Management of throat injuries
- Once an individual is badly injured in the throat area, you will know because he/she holds on to the throat similar to choking. It is important to attend to the individual immediately.
- Instruct bystanders to clear the area where the individual is and request someone to call for emergency assistance while you perform the initial first aid treatment.
- Lay the individual carefully in a comfortable position. It must be in supine position and slightly angled to the left side.
- Tilt the head back in a gentle manner in order to open up the airway.
- If the individual stops breathing, you can start to perform rescue breathing.
- In case there is external bleeding present, you have to apply direct pressure on the area to control the bleeding as well as prevent it from blocking the airway.
- The breathing of the individual must be observed by monitoring the breaths per minute.
- Reduce the swelling by applying ice on the sides of the neck.
- Make sure that the affected area must be immobilized since it might be linked with a neck injury.
- If there is excessive loss of blood and signs of shock are present, you have to elevate the legs of the individual and keep him/her warm.
- Once the individual vomits, roll him/her on one side and sweep the vomit from his/her mouth so that there are no obstructions on the airway that can impede the breathing. Always remember not to provide an individual with an injured throat with anything to drink. By allowing him/her to swallow something, it will only block the airway passage and cause more damage.
- Continue to monitor the condition of the individual until the medical team arrives and takes over.
Any injury to the throat must be taken care of as soon as possible since it can involve the neck or even caused a blockage on the airway.