Fully expose the wound area so you can see the full extent of the injury.

Tear, cut, push, and/or lift the casualty’s clothing from the area. Loosen any clothing or equipment that binds the casualty. Some special considerations are given in the following paragraphs.

a. Chemical Environment.

If you are in a chemical environment, do not expose the wound as this would increase the casualty’s exposure to the chemical agents. Dress the wound without further exposing the wound.

b. Stuck Material.

If clothing or other material is stuck to the wound area, cut or tear around the stuck material. Do not remove the stuck material since removing the material might cause additional damage to the wound. Apply the envelope and dressing over the stuck material.

c. Debris in Wound.

Do not try to clean the wound or remove objects or debris from the wound.

d. Protruding Object.

If an object is protruding from the wound, do not remove the object. The impaled object is stabilized with bulky dressings after the dressing is applied to the wound.

e. Protruding Organ (Evisceration).

Sometimes, part of an intestine or other organ is forced out through the wound. If an organ is outside the body, do not touch the exposed organ with your hands or try to push the organ back into the body. If the organ is lying outside the wound, use a dressing, T-shirt, or other clean, dry material to gently place the organ on top of the casualty’s abdomen near the wound (not on the wound or in the wound). This is the accepted treatment for open abdominal wounds in combat.

NOTE: Other techniques include placing eviscerated organs back in to the abdominal cavity. These techniques are appropriate, but not thoroughly trained in this course. Once training on advanced techniques is obtained, these procedures may be utilized.