[Visual Calculus]
You kneel and assess the cut: lower right forearm, shallow, uneven, a hand span in length, frayed along the edges. Likely caused by a well-maintained yet serrated, barbarian blade.
[Logic]
Bleeding is steady. Enough to matter – not enough to panic over. Not life threatening, yet. You should treat the wound now rather than later.
[Authority]
You tell him to sit. He does. Good.
[Composure]
You remove your gloves and reach for your equipment. Your movements are steady. Your voice remains even as you explain the process.
[Logic]
Antiseptic wash, clotting agent, pressure, bandage. Simple work. Enough supplies remain for now.
[Interfacing]
Removing debris is essential for proper healing. You lean in and take hold his forearm, firm enough to keep it still. Blood wells up across his arm, metallic against the antiseptic.
[Endurance]
Stimulus registered. Pressure wells in your jaw. Dull aching, distant and unmistakable.
His skin is too warm, distractingly so.
You do not adjust your grip.
You clean the wound more carefully now. The ache in your jaw sharpens when his pulse jumps beneath your fingers.
[Interfacing]
You apply a measure of clotting agent then pressure, hard.
[Logic]
Fear response. Increased heart rate. Predictable variables.
[Endurance]
His breathing stutters, then evens out. The pressure deepens marginally.
[Logic]
Correlation noted.
[Inland Empire]
This is new? It shouldn’t be.
You hesitate.
[Authority]
Now. Focus on the task.
[Logic]
5 minutes of pressure. Not ideal but acceptable. Sutures likely unnecessary.
[Volition]
The wound will clot well-enough soon and the ache will pass. This is only a minor injury. You’ve done this before.
[Composure]
Two. Three. Four… You count under your breath, holding firm pressure. Blood flow slows. As expected.
You hesitate before applying the bandage. Long enough to determine what you already know. The wound has closed as far as it will
[Interfacing]
Quickly. You wrap a clean bandage around the patient’s arm, carefully adjusting tension before tying off neatly and quickly.
[Endurance]
His pulse is muted now through layers of silk and wool. The pressure in your jaw finally recedes as you pull away.
[Inland Empire]
Was it always this way?
[Composure]
You inform the patient of aftercare. Instruct him to visit the medical tent one hour after evening mess for review.
You wash your hands, only now realising that you were holding your breath.
[Shivers]
A cool breeze blows across your face. Somewhere out there on the battlefield a serrated blade lies unceremoniously in the dirt.
Patient: Infantryman (name unknown).
Injury: Laceration to lateral aspect of right forearm.
Cause: Bladed weapon.
Injury Details: Length approx. one hand-span. Depth superficial. Ragged margins typical of serrated blade.
Condition on Arrival:
Patient alert and responsive. Moderate blood loss. Elevated heart rate consistent with pain and situational stress.
Treatment Administered:
Wound irrigated with antiseptic solution. Foreign material removed. Clotting agent applied followed by sustained manual pressure. Wound dressed and bandaged.
Response:
Haemostasis achieved in acceptable timeline. No signs of arterial involvement. Patient tolerated procedure well.
Instruction Given:
Patient advised of wound aftercare. Requested follow-up consultation one hour post evening mess.
Disposition:
Procedure completed without complication.
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