MEDIA RELEASE
16| 05 | 2023
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Water jetting injury research achieves global reach
A study commissioned by the Water Jetting Association into the management of high pressure fluid injection injuries has become one of the important research papers on the topic in the world.
It has been accessed online more than 10,000 times since it was published in 2019, and has been cited in five specialist medical papers over the same period.
Now, a water jetting injury treatment guide developed from the research, has been extensively redesigned to make it easier to use.
The WJA water jetting injury treatment algorithm givesstep-by-step best practical guidance on the treatment of water jetting injuries from first response through to definitive hospital care.
It has been praised as a game-changer in aiding effective responses to water jetting injuries which, if not treated correctly, can result in life changing, and sometimes fatal, consequences.
The WJA-funded research was led by Dr Sancho Rodriguez-Villar, an intensive care consultant at Kings College Hospital, London, and Dr Robert Charles Kennedy (PhD), the WJA'sclinical research and development advisor.
DrRodriguez-Villar said: "The study is clearly one of the most important sources of expert opinion on high pressure fluid injection injuries in the world. It is a complex multidisciplinary piece of research involving knowledge from industry and three medical specialties.
"It is highly likely that doctors and surgeons around the world are searching for advice on such injuries, finding this research, and using it to guide their treatment.
"It is having the desired and very important effect of educating clinical teams about how to treat these unique and serious injuries. This, in turn, will be greatly improving the treatment outcomes for patients, contributing to their long-term health and wellbeing, and possibly saving lives."
The WJA is the member organisation for the water jetting industry in the UK. Its codes of practice and City & Guilds accredited training courses are respected for setting water jetting standards in the UK and internationally.
Water jetting is used for a huge range of tasks, including pressure washing vehicles and driveways, cleaning tubes and chambers in oil and gas, petrochemicals and energy plants, carrying out hydrodemolition of concrete structures, removing blockages in culverts and sewers, and precision materials cutting.
The study, called the Management of Industrial High Pressure Fluid Injection Injuries (IHPFII): the Water Jetting Association Experience with Water Driven Injuries, is published in the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery.
It is also available via the medical database Researchgate. The WJA funded a publishing agreement to allow it to be free to download, to ensure it is seen and used as widely as possible.
IHPFII injuries can be caused with water pressures as low as 7 bar, or 100 pounds per square inch (PSI) - while water pressures for industrial applications can exceed 1,700 bar, or 24,650 psi.
They are characterised by small entry wounds, caused by fine fluid jets, and no exit wounds. This can mask the extensive internal disruption they can cause. Debris and bacteria can be also carried far into the body, increasing the risk of serious infection.
These factors can lead to delays in patients receiving the appropriate emergency treatment. This can result in complications that, in worst cases, cause life-changing serious injury or death.
The WJA water jetting injury treatment algorithm is designed to help first aiders, paramedics and clinicians optimise treatment, make correct treatment decisions throughout a patient journey,reducing the risk ofdeath, long-term disability or unnecessarily prolonged periods of recovery.
The WJA has now created A4 version which is easier to view, both online and offline. Its sections have also been colour-coded so users can easily follow a patient's journey through a treatment pathway.
Robert Kennedy said: "The evidence shows that, without early and correct intervention, the outcome for those injured is often catastrophic. We strongly advise all parties to observe the WJA's algorithm for the management of high-pressure injection injuries."
The algorithm can be instantly accessed via a red tab on the home page of the WJA website.
Ends
For more information about this release please contact:
Andy Comber
T: 01952 883526
M: 07889 630440
About the Water Jetting Association
The Water Jetting Association (WJA) is a UK-based membership organisation made up of mainly of contractors, manufacturers, equipment suppliers, equipment hire specialists, and training providers.
It is committed to supporting the highest possible safety and technical standards for water jetting, including ultra-high-pressure water jetting, high pressure water jetting, pressure washing, and drain and sewer cleaning.
The WJA has developed two Codes of Practice for water jetting - the ‘Blue Code' for high-pressure and ultra-high-pressure water jetting, and the ‘Red Code' for use of water jetting in drains and sewers.
Both WJA Codes of Practice, developed with the assistance of industry-stakeholders and support from the UK's Health and Safety Executive, are recognised as setting important industry standards in the UK and internationally.
The WJA provides water jetting training, accredited by City & Guilds, and delivered via registered training providers and approved instructors, both in the UK and internationally.
It also contributes to the development of legal and regulatory systems for water jetting governance.
The Water Jetting Association:The Engine House, Veridion Way, Erith, Kent. DA18 4AL. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8320 1090
Email:info@waterjetting.org.uk