Posted by The paper will define crush injuries and explain the sudden release of toxic chemicals that lead to a high level of the electrolyte potassium in the blood, therefore disrupting the body’s pH and making it more acidic. Treatment of crush injuries is also discussed. The document will directly correlate Unit 1 Chemistry, specifically, “Know the differences between Acids and Bases” and, “Explain how energy is invested, stored, and released via chemical reactions, particularly those reactions that are critical to life”.
Detailing the events that occur during a crush injury, Kyle Kaufenberg presents an exemplary event when this disaster would occur. A crush injury occurs when a part of the body is squished between two forces which causes the bones, muscles, veins, and nerves extreme damage. These accidents typically occur when operating heavy machineries such as farm or factory equipment. The affected area will experience a fast imbalance of pH (acids and bases). As blood is probably exiting the body, water gathers in the injured area to bring nutrients and to substitute for the missing blood. This imbalance causes hypoperfusion which most people know as being in shock. Once the item is removed (no longer crushing the appendage) there is an influx of toxins reaching the kidneys to be filtered out of the remaining blood. These toxins would hopefully be flushed out through urine, though typically the amount that is presented is too much. Cases of too many toxic chemicals in the kidneys will lead to organ failure. Although these injuries can lead to major issues and possibly death, attention from medical professionals can help reduce the risk of uncontrollable problems. The first step taken would be administering pain medication to help the patient. This would be followed by ‘aggressive fluid resuscitation’ to revive the liquid balance. Fluid restoration would help lower the chance of organ failure. Patients would be expected to remain in the hospital until the bone and muscles were mending and the body was showing normal pH balance.
The image that is presented shows a possible situation as to when this injury would occur, such as a car accident. He implies that the victim is experiencing a crush injury while being shoved against the ground by the flipped car. This gives us the two forces against one body part (can be interpreted as the arm or whole body being affected).