1 Safety information
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BIESSE S.p.A. © - P723K0002.fm251111
First aid:
• apply life-saving techniques if necessary, then deal correctly with the operator's state of
shock
• treat his injuries
• if any body parts have been amputated, pick them up and keep them in a safe and
appropriate manner
After giving first aid, transfer the victim to the nearest hospital immediately. In the meantime,
it is useful (and perhaps fundamental) to telephone Accident and Emergency to inform them
of the situation, so that they will be ready when the patient arrives at the hospital.
The surgeon in particular must be well informed about what exactly has happened, the time
needed to reach the hospital, and the type of injury suffered.
With this aim, it is advisable to send a precise but brief description of the WJ (WaterJet)
technology, including the specific damage it may cause.
The damage that could be caused by the Waterjet includes three types in particular:
cuts:
• high pressure jet, powerful enough to pierce the tissues and partially or totally amputate a
limb (or part of it), but without harming the surrounding areas
• low pressure jet, causing more serious harm due to the return pressure that damages the
area around the injury itself. The contusive and/or destructive effect does not in fact involve
only the skin, but also the anatomical structures below
impact-related injury
risks of infection due to impurities: the water that filters in the skin carries substances that
are alien to the human body
The most misleading aspect is that there may be no surface injury, only a bluish contusion.
In addition, if the jet strikes near vital organs, the impact energy may be transferred to the organ
itself, damaging it. Finally, the effect of the water that filters in the tissues is a dual one: it damages
the cells directly or indirectly causing them to swell; it also diffuses - inside and in every direction -
bacteria, oils, paint, particles of abrasive or other toxic substances that may trigger allergic
reactions or react chemically (generating acid-base imbalances, pH alterations, etc.). As a result, it
is no longer possible to precisely identify the extent of the contamination.
With regards the risk of infection propagation, even a simple “jab” with a high pressure jet must not
be underestimated.
Bibliography
AAVV Acts of the “12th International Conference on WATER JETTING TECHNOLOGY“ C. GEE, 1994
AAVV Acts of the “13th International Conference on WATER JETTING TECHNOLOGY – Application and
opportunities“ Cagliari 29-31 October 1996 C. GEE, 1996
JISHA Safety Guidelines for WaterJet machining JISHA, 1992 Petrolati per Reimpianto di segmenti Riv. It. Chir.
Amadei -Abbiati Plastic Surgery, 1992
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