How Do You Preserve A Severed Limb?
• Call an ambulance. If the incident happened where there is no phone service, or another such problem that interferes with you obtaining an ambulance for the victim, you or someone else will have to drive the victim and the limb to the hospital. • Gently wash the severed limb with water. Rinse it, but do not wash or scrub. This is not always possible, but it is good for sanitation reasons. If not possible for the limb to be washed, due to the distance between you and water, or other reasons, skip this. You don’t want to waste time. • Wrap the limb in a moist, clean cloth. • Wrap limb again in a watertight material, such as a plastic bag. • Keep the limb cold. Do not freeze it. Direct contact with ice will destroy the tissue. Use a cooler or a refrigerator if at all possible. If this is not possible, remain calm, and find the coldest thing nearby. Remember, do this quickly. Get to a hospital immediately.