Trauma Flashcards
provider ED safety
standard precautions at all times
-TB = negative pressure room
patient ED safety
ID bands and two identifiers
-maintain skin integrity –> elderly and spinal cord pt
-avoid medication error –> hx, belonging search, med-alert bracelets
triage
sorting of pts into priority levels based on injury or illness severity
emergent
life threatening…
1. respiratory distress
2. chest pain w/ diaphoresis
3. acute / active hemorrhage
4. unstable vitals
5. stroke
urgent
quick but not life threatening…
1. multiple fractures / displacement
2. severe abd pain
3. complex / multiple soft tissue injuries
4. new onset resp infection (pneuomia)
5. renal colic
nonurgent
could wait hours without deterioration….
1. skin rash
2. sprain / strain
3. cold
4. simple fracture
in a mass casualty….
triage the minimum / non-urgent but TREAT the red
mental illness ED safety
- belongings searched
- remove nonessential equipment –> tubes, cords, linens
- call light cords, oxygen tubes, sharps container
- decrease stimulation, reduce noise and harsh light
trauma
disease characterized by injury to the body caused by intentional or unintentional acute exposure to mechanical, thermal, electrical or chemical energy
intentional trauma
assault, homicides, suicide
unintentional trauma
accidents… leading cause of death from those under 35 years
level 1 trauma center
UAB…
-provide leadership and total care for every aspect of injury
-prevention through rehabilitation
-professional and community education, conduct research, participate in system planning
level 2 trauma centers
-provide to bast majority of injured pts
-may not be able to meet resource needs of pts w/ complex injuries
-role in injury management, education and prevention
level 3 trauma centers
-critical link to higher capability trauma centers
-primary focus is injury stabilization and pt transfer
level 4 trauma centers
-advanced life support care in rural or remote settings
-pts stabilized to best degree possible before transfer
trauma system critical elements
- access to care through communication (911)
- availability of prehospital emergency medical care
- rapid transport
- early provision of rehabilitation
- injury prevention, research, education
golden hour
first one hour of emergent care, rapid assessment / resuscitation / treatment of life threatening injuries
first peak of death
seconds to minutes of injury
-only trauma prevention will reduce deaths
ex: high spinal cord injury, exsanguination, apnea from severe head injury
second peak of death
minutes to several hours of injury
-subdural / epidural hematoma, hemopneumothorax, significant blood loss
third peak of death
days to weeks from initial injury
-result of sepsis, ARDS, and MODS
blunt trauma
results from impact forces
-tearing / shearing / compressing anatomic structures
ex: MVC, falls, assault w/ fist, kick, baseball bat, trauma to bones / blood vessel / soft tissue
penetrating trauma
caused by sharp objects / projectiles
-knives / ice picks
-bullets / pellets
-fragments of metal
-gunshots –> torso or stab wound to neck = trauma team
blast injury
blast effect from explosion causing both blunt and penetrating trauma
primary blast injury
shock wave from blast
-tympanic membrane ruptures
-lungs have contusion
-intraocular hemorrhage and intestinal rupture