Why is it that in a lot of old movies, when somebody’s mortally wounded, his friends will always say “Don’t try to talk”? Is there some kind of scientific explanation or old folk belief for this?
They are really just trying to say “Save your breath, focus on relaxing and staying alive.”
There are a few of obvious reasons that I can think of.
If the patient has a wound to the lungs/ribs/diaphragm the victim will subconsciously modify the breathing patterns to minimise pain and hence presumably damage. Trying talk overrides this with conscious control, inflicting additional pain and possibly damage. Speaking also puts extra pressure on the abdominal and thoracic cavities causing organs to move, possibly increasing bleeding and tearing.
If the patient has an injury that makes talking difficult, the act of trying to speak will bring this to their attention. This can cause a patient to begin to become frustrated,worried stressed or panic stricken. It’s always best to keep a patient calm. Telling them not to talk helps them relax.
Interestingly modern first aid recommends getting patients to speak at least once to inform you of their stae of conciousness (What’s your name?, do you know where you are?)
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