Gunshot and stab wounds are always serious, especially if a bone is broken, or some internal organ in the chest or abdomen happens to be injured.

What to Do: Keep the patient quickly lying on his back. Give him nothing by mouth. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing and bandage it firmly in place. Then transfer him to a hospital as quickly as possible. Always keep him in a lying-down position with a pillow under his knees.

If some abdominal organ is injured, and is visible, or protruding through the wound, cover the area with a sterile dressing and keep it moist. Warm water is the best for his purpose. Carry the patient to hospital in a lying-down position. Control any bleeding.

If the wound is in the chest, cover the hole immediately with your hand and apply a suitable airtight dressing. This will prevent the pleural cavities from filling with air, which would interfere with his normal breathing. If the wound is large, place your hands on both sides of the laceration and gently push the tissues together. Get the victim to hospital as soon as possible. If necessary, give artificial respiration, using the mouth-to-mouth technique