Soft Tissue Injuries

Injuries to soft tissues, which include muscles, tendons, cartilages, ligaments and skin, are usually the result of a direct blow, a twisting, or a lengthening or stretching of the tissues. In any tissue injury, there will be an inflammation of the injured area. There will be:

1.  Swelling, which may be immediate of may progressive develop over time
2.  Heat, the local temperature (injured area) increases.
3.  Altered or restricted movement
4.  Redness
5.  Pain

You must view pain as a warning sign of soft tissue injury and of the need for rest. It is best to refer the injured person experiencing pain to a medical personnel.
Minor Soft Tissue Conditions
Some minor soft-tissue injuries occur fairly frequently in activitites, it is important that you are able to deal with the most common conditions such as nosebleeds, blisters, scrapes, and scratches, and cuts.
(a) Nosebleeds
Causes - direct injury, allergies, humidity, altitude, and spontaneous rupture. The amount of bleeding does not always indicate the severity of the injury - the head and face have an abundant blood supply, even a minor cut to the eyebrow results in considerable nosebleeds.
Care of Nose Vleeds
- Primarily to stop bleeding. Sit quietly and pinch the nose bridge between thumb and forefinger, gently bow the head forward and hold this position for about 5 minutes.

- If bleeding continues, repeat the pinching of the nose for another five minute period. If this second pinching does not stop the bleeding, refer to medical personnel.
NOTE:

•  Do not pack any materials into the nosetrils
• Applying ice over the nose helps reduce bleeding and swelling
• Once bleeding is under control avoid movement for about an hour

(b) Blisters:
Causes friction over the underlying skin area causes blisters. Rubbing and heating of the area may cause the skin layers to loosen and be filled with fluid.
- Preventing blisters
The best treatment is prevention. Make sure equipment fits properly. Avoid wearing new equipment for long periods until it has been broken in. Reduce friction whenever possible (lubricate feet with lotion to protect hands and fingers with gloves, tape, etc.)
Scrapes, Scratches, and Cuts
Minor scrapes, scratches and cuts require little more than applying direct pressure over the wound to stop the bleeding. You may advice the participants to practice good hygiene. This can prevent minor scrapes from becoming major medical problems. All scrapes, abrasions and small cuts should be thoroughly cleaned with soap, water and an antiseptic. Do not try to remove severely embedded particles (stones, glass, etc.) and refer such cases to a medical personnel. Once cleaned, the area should be dried and covered with non-stick, sterile bandage. Keep the area dry, clean daily, change the dressing daily too.