emergency phase

Question 1

How many phases are in trauma care?

Answer 1

Four trauma care phases.

Question 2

What is the focus of the Emergency Care Phase?

Answer 2

Life-threatening treatments.

Question 3

What is done during the initial patient assessment?

Answer 3

Prompt, systematic assessment; first look for obvious injuries of neuro, cardiac, respiratory, GI systems.

Question 4

What is a distracting injury?

Answer 4

An injury so severe (ex: arm cut off) that it diverts attention — treat quickly (tourniquet) and move on.

Question 5

During the Emergency Phase, how are ABCs handled?

Answer 5

Address ABCs while doing assessment at the same time.

Question 6

What determines priority of trauma care?

Answer 6

Presentation, physical assessment, mechanism of injury, and preexisting conditions.

Question 7

What do ABCs stand for?

Answer 7

Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

Question 8

In a mass casualty, what does “green” mean?

Answer 8

Walkie-talkie; injuries can wait hours.

Question 9

In a mass casualty, what does “black” mean?

Answer 9

Dead or would require excessive resources—expectant category.

Question 10

What is the most crucial assessment tool in trauma care?

Answer 10

The primary survey.

Question 11

How long should the primary survey take?

Answer 11

1–2 minutes.

Question 12

What does the primary survey identify?

Answer 12

Life-threatening injuries, priorities, and immediate interventions.

Question 13

What components are included in the primary survey (full ABCDEFG)?

Answer 13

Airway, cervical spine immobilization, breathing/ventilation, circulation with hemorrhage control, disability/neuro status, exposure/environmental control, full set of vitals, get adjuncts.

Question 14

What is the secondary survey?

Answer 14

Methodical head-to-toe evaluation using inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation.

Question 15

What occurs during the secondary survey besides physical exam?

Answer 15

Comfort measures, patient history, inspection of posterior surfaces.

Question 16

Why is the trauma bay kept at 80°F?

Answer 16

Because patients are fully exposed during evaluation to prevent hypothermia.

Question 17

Why should bad news not be delivered during the trauma evaluation?

Answer 17

Emotional shock can worsen physiologic status (ex: worsen spine injuries).

Question 18

Who tends to be poor at comfort measures?

Answer 18

Doctors.

Question 19

What radiologic studies might be performed?

Answer 19

Whole body CT if needed; ultrasound; CTs based on mechanism (ex: fall → head CT; GSW shoulder → shoulder CT).

Question 20

Which factors influence diagnostic procedures?

Answer 20

Level of consciousness, stability, mechanism of injury, identified injuries.

Question 21

What supportive interventions may be needed early?

Answer 21

Splinting, wound care—stabilize so the patient can be moved safely.

Question 22

What is the purpose of the primary survey again?

Answer 22

Identify and treat life-threatening issues fast (1–2 minutes).

Question 23

Example of a primary survey task with GSW?

Answer 23

Roll the patient to locate an exit wound.

Question 24

What does “A” stand for in primary survey?

Answer 24

Airway.

Question 25

What does “B” stand for in primary survey?

Answer 25

Breathing.

Question 26

What does “C” stand for in primary survey?

Answer 26

Circulation.

Question 27

What does “D” stand for in primary survey?

Answer 27

Disability (neuro status—sensation, ability to move legs).

Question 28

What does “E” stand for in primary survey?

Answer 28

Expose patient (use trauma shears, remove clothes).

Question 29

What does “F” stand for in primary survey?

Answer 29

Full set of vitals (including pain rating if conscious).

Question 30

What does “G” stand for in primary survey?

Answer 30

Get resuscitation adjuncts (done after primary survey; may take minutes).

Question 31

What does “H” stand for in the secondary survey?

Answer 31

History + head-to-toe assessment.

Question 32

What does “I” stand for in the secondary survey?

Answer 32

Inspect posterior surfaces.