For abdominal injuries, which first aid care is correct?

• A. Apply direct pressure to protruding organs
• B. Cover with a dry cloth and press firmly
• C. Do not apply direct pressure; cover with moist dressings and wrap the abdomen
• D. Push protruding organs back in

Answer: (C)

When there are abdominal injuries with tissue protruding, the priority is to protect the exposed tissue without forcing or pressing on it. Cover the protruding organs with moist, sterile dressings to keep them from drying out and to reduce contamination, then wrap a bulky dressing around the abdomen to hold everything in place without applying pressure to the organs. This approach minimizes further damage and helps keep the patient stable while emergency care is on the way. Do not push the organs back in, and avoid using a dry cloth or applying direct pressure, as both can cause further harm. If moist dressings aren’t available, use clean cloth moistened with clean water and proceed with the same gentle, non-pressuring technique.