Trauma Overview Worksheet

What is mechanism of injury? How does it help prehospital care staff?

A mechanism of injury is the object, person, or event that caused an injury. Knowing the
mechanism of injury provides a starting point for care.

Soft Tissue Injury & Burns

Define the following External Bleeds:
Venous- blood flow from a vein, steady, slow flow and dark red color
Capillary- blood flow from a capillary, slow even flow
Arterial- blood flow from an artery, spurting blood, pulsating flow, bright red color

Management of bleeding from least invasive to most invasive:

Direct pressure, bandage, and tourniquet

Special considerations for medications and trauma?

Are blood thinners involved? What is safe to give? What was already taken?

Signs and symptoms of internal bleeding.

shock, bruising, swelling, tightness, extreme thirst

What is CMS? Why is it important?

CMS is circulation, motor, sensory. It's important because it helps us to make sure splints aren’t
too tight.
What is multisystem trauma?
Trauma involves more than one organ system.
Define the following terms:
Open injuries- the skin is damaged and there is obvious bleeding including abrasions,
lacerations, and cuts
Closed injuries- the skin is not broken, usually from the impact of blunt objects
Abrasions- minor open wounds like road rash, and rug rash
Lacerations- the skin is fully penetrated but there is no damage to the tissue underneath
Punctures- tears through skin and damages tissues, usually in a straight line. It can be shallow
or deep and may have an exit wound
Avulsions- tearing loose or tearing off of large flaps of skin
Amputations- cutting or tearing off of a body part

What is the Glascow Coma Scale? Why is it important?

The Glascow coma scale is a clinical scale used to measure level of consciousness. It is
important because it helps to determine if a patient is able to consent and whether or not
they’re comatose.
When can an impaled object be removed?
If it is currently or is at risk to be an airway obstruction.
How do you manage an eye injury? What is a special consideration in the management?
Cover both eyes after using something such as a cup to form a cushion around the impaled
object. Make sure to cover both eyes to prevent eye tracking.
How do you manage a nose bleed?
pinch nose and tilt head forward
Define the following burns:
Superficial burn- involved less that 9% of the patient’s body and is considered minor
Partial-thickness burn- involved both the dermis and the epidermis
Full-thickness burn- extends through all skin layers and may involve subcutaneous layers,
muscle, bones, or organs.
What is the Rule of Nines? How is it used in Prehospital care?
The front of the leg, back of the leg, full arm, full head, chest, stomach, back of shoulders, and
lower back are each 9% of the body. This helps estimate the size and therefore the severity of
burns in the field.
 Caring for Muscle & Bone Injuries
Define the following types of injuries:
Blunt-force Trauma- caused by impact with a blunt object
Fracture- bone that is broken, chipped, cracked, or splintered
Dislocation- the pulling or pushing of a bone end partially or completely out of the joint
Sprain- partial or complete tearing of a ligament or tendon stabilizing a joint
Strain- overstretching or tearing of muscle
Open fracture- Fracture where the bone is visible
Closed fracture- fracture where bone is not visible
Angulated- an extremity is bent where it should e straight
Anatomical position- the body standing up, facing forward, and with the palms out
Splint- a device that maintains the position of a displaced movable part
Sling- used to support and immobilize a part of the body
Swathe- long strip of bandage to protect a wound
Cravat- Triangle shaped cloth bandage

What are signs and symptoms of an extremity injury?

Pain, swelling, discoloration, deformity
When doing a head to toe assessment, what are you looking for (DCAPBTLS)?
deformities, contusions, abrasions, penetrations or perforations, burns, tenderness, lacerations,
and swelling
Why do we splint an injury?
To keep it from shifting