What is Suspension Trauma?

Introduction

Consider the following situation: A construction worker falls off a scaffold, but the safety harness is there to save his life. Hanging above the ground, he is safely waiting to be rescued. And relief fills all as the harness served. However, he begins to experience dizzy and nauseous feelings in a few minutes. His legs start to tingle and become numb. What’s happening? He is suffering a condition known as suspension trauma a potentially life-threatening condition that can take place even when safety equipment is operating in perfect conditions.

Suspension trauma happens to be one of the least considered risks in an industry where workers work at heights. It is a silent killer that may result in a successful safety intervention becoming a medical emergency. This condition may be life or death to the construction, window washing, rope access, rescue operations, and any other line of work that involves the use of fall protection equipment.

Understanding Suspension Trauma

Suspension trauma, or orthostatic intolerance or harness hang syndrome, is a life-threatening syndrome that happens when one is in a harness hanging vertically over an extended duration, sometimes as minimal as 5 to 10 minutes. When you are standing motionless, but in an upright position, the blood is drawn downwards into your legs by gravity. As a rule, when you are standing, the muscles of the legs contract and pump the blood up to the heart.

However, at the moment when you are suspended and can do nothing, this pumping device dies away. Blood will start stagnating in your legs, veins, and less blood is pumped back to the heart. Having less blood to circulate, your heart has less to press to your brain and other vital organs. This may result in unconsciousness, organ failure and death in case it is not taken care of as quickly as possible. The most dangerous part of suspension trauma is the speed of its progress, and even the counterintuitive quality of the rescue operation.

Types and Stages of Suspension Trauma

Suspension trauma normally involves a series of stages:

1. Early Stage: The beginning of the harness session may be rather normal, but anxiety and discomfort due to the harness straps are typical. Blood is starting to fill your legs; however, your body is making up.
2. Gradual Stage: There are warning signs such as dizziness, nausea, sweating, increased heart rate, difficulty in breathing, and a pallor or grey complexion. The legs will begin to swell and tingle. This is when it becomes a critical situation.
3. Critical Stage: It is possible to lose consciousness. Lack of blood to the brain and organs leads to severe complications. The pooled blood in your legs has toxic metabolites. This is a life and death situation that needs to be solved.
4. Post-Rescue Complications: This is arguably the most counterintuitive threat of what occurs after rescue. When a suspended person is laid flat, blood filled up with metabolic waste products and possibly clots is suddenly forced back to the heart and the brain. It may result in cardiac arrest, which is known as rescue death or reflow syndrome.

How Suspension Trauma Affects the Body

Suspension trauma has several impacts that affect several body systems:

1. Cardiovascular System: Blood pooling decreases the cardiac output, leading to low blood pressure and cardiac arrest. With insufficient blood being pumped back, the heart is forced to work hard to push the blood.
2. Neurological System: The impaired blood supply to the brain would lead to dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. In case the lack of oxygen is prolonged, brain damage may take place. Respiratory System: The harness straps have the potential to limit the size of the chest, which may inhibit breathing. Consciousness is also lowered, which also impairs breathing.
3. Metabolic System: Pooled blood lacks oxygen, and it accumulates waste products such as lactic acid. This blood may fail abruptly to get pumped back into circulation and may overload the kidneys, leading to systemic toxicity.
4. Musculoskeletal System: The harness straps may exert extended pressure, leading to nerve damage, compartment syndrome, and tissue damage of the legs.

How to Prevent and Deal with Suspension Trauma

Prevention Strategies

1. Alone at Heights: There must be a rescue plan and a rescue team always.
2. Installation of Suspension Relief Devices: Foot loops or suspension trauma straps enable the suspended individual to sit in their harness, with the suspension being suspended to enable leg muscles to pump blood.
3. Fitting Harnesses: Harnesses must be properly fitted by making sure that they are the right size and that the pressure is evenly distributed.
4. Frequent training: Every employee must be aware of the risks of suspension trauma and their recognition. Prepare rapid rescue operations- every minute matters.
5. As A Temporary Solution to Someone Being Suspended: Make the individual conscious and active: Ideally, you have the victim move his legs, pump his feet or push against an object to use leg muscles.
6. Install Suspension Relief Straps: Assist them in putting their feet into relief loops, in case there are. Start rescue: Do not wait until they are alright, start rescuing now. Communicate every minute: Continue communicating with the individual to check on his or her condition.
7. 7. Critical Rescue Procedures: Do not lay them flat at once. This seems like a contradiction and is a very important point. Sudden refilling of the pooled blood may result in cardiac arrest.
8. Position in Recovery: Initially, place the person in a semi-seated or a crouched position with the knees bent. Keep track of vital signs: Uvula, pulse, and level of consciousness.
9. Call an Ambulance: Although the individual may appear alright, he/she should be checked by a doctor.
10. Slow Repositioning: They should only be gradually repositioned to lying down after 20-30 minutes and only under the care of the medical personnel.
11. Post-Rescue Care: Any person who has undergone suspension trauma needs treatment as soon as possible, even when she/he seems to have gotten better. The problems may cause kidney failure due to myoglobin which is released by broken muscle tissue, blood clots, and delayed heart issues hours later.

Conclusion

Suspension trauma is a critical difference between working safely and working smart. It is one thing to have a harness to catch your fall, but it is also important to know what happens during and after suspension. Such a state proves that in the context of safety, each second matters and appropriate training is more than mere use of equipment.

Suspension trauma ought to be a household name among workers working at heights, just like the dangers associated with falls. The positive side is that through proper education, early intervention, and proper rescue measures, the traumas associated with suspension can be prevented and treated to a great extent.

All the places where fall protection is applied should have their guidelines for preventing suspension trauma, detecting its symptoms, and implementing safe rescues. It is important to remember that the fact that you are caught by your harness is not the end of the crisis, but the beginning of a time limit after which only knowledge and quick reaction can save a life. Ensure that your team is ready, armed and trained to not only the fall but all that follows.

See Also:

Is Overthinking a Trauma Response?