Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

• Stop bleeding.


• Speak calmingly and comfortingly to those
  involved in the accident.

Unless there is risk for fire or further injury, or
it is necessary to remove the person from the
vehicle to provide lifesaving first aid, it is usually
best to wait for emergency personnel to safely
evacuate or extricate people from their vehicles.
Even injuries that appear mild may involve more
serious damage that incorrectly moving the person
could exacerbate.
Follow-through People who have moderate to
severe injuries need further medical assessment
and care. Medical aid personnel typically perform
minimal treatment at the accident scene to stabi-
lize the injured person’s condition, with the goal
of transporting the person to a hospital or trauma
center within one hour of the accident. People
who have mild injuries may desire to follow-up
with their regular health-care providers.
See also BLEEDING CONTROL; BODY SUBSTANCE ISO-
LATION; CLOSED FRACTURE; MULTIPLE TRAUMA; OPEN
FRACTURE; RESPONDER SAFETY AND PERSONAL PROTEC-
TION; SITE AND SITUATION ASSESSMENT; SYMPTOM ASSESS-
MENT AND CARE TRIAGE.

multiple trauma Numerous significant injuries
such as may occur in MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS,
shooting incidents, falls from high places, and
fires. Multiple trauma is often life threatening
and beyond the ability of the first responder
to take much action beyond comforting the
injured person until emergency medical personnel
arrive.
Site and situation assessment Multiple trauma
situations require rapid assessment of the nature
and extent of the injuries, especially when numer-
ous people are injured. The first person to respond
to the scene of multiple trauma should also deter-
mine what risks are present that threaten respon-
ders and emergency personnel, such as unstable
terrain, traffic, and crime scenes. Other important
details include the number of people involved and
the nature and seriousness of injuries.
Responder personal protection measures Latex
gloves, which the responder should put on before
approaching the scene or the injured person, are
essential for personal protection from bloodborne

pathogens as nearly always there is heavy bleed-

ing with multiple trauma.

First response actionsMultiple trauma is a dif-

ficult circumstance for an individual first respon-

der to handle. After calling 911 to summon

emergency personnel, priorities include checking

the injured person’s BREATHING and HEART beat,

looking for bleeding, and providing basic first aid

for SHOCK. CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)

and BLEEDING CONTROLmay be necessary.

Follow-through A person who has multiple

trauma is often gravely wounded and requires

urgent medical care at a hospital emergency

department or trauma center.

See also ACCIDENTAL INJURIES; BLEEDING CONTROL;

BODY SUBSTANCE ISOLATION; BLUNT TRAUMA; GUNSHOT

WOUNDS; RESPONDER SAFETY AND PERSONAL PROTECTION;

SITE AND SITUATION ASSESSMENT; SYMPTOM ASSESSMENT

AND CARE TRIAGE.

trauma to the eye Penetrating or blunt force

injuries to the EYEor the structures around the

eye, flash BURNS, and chemical burns. Such

injuries can cause partial or complete loss of vision

as well as loss of the eye itself. Do only what is

necessary to minimize movement and prevent

further injury.

Do notremove an object that penetrates

into the EYE, the eyelid, or the tissues

around the eye.

For FIRST RESPONSEfor eye trauma, cover the

injured eye with a small paper cup or similar item

to prevent contact with the eye or any object that

might be penetrating the eye. Cover the uninjured

eye with a bandage or cloth; covering both eyes

prevents movement that could further damage the

injured eye. Talk reassuringly and steadily to the

person; being unable to see is disorienting and

often frightening. Conversation helps the injured

person maintain contact with his or her surround-

ings and know what is going on.

An ophthalmologist (physician who specializes

in care of the eyes) should evaluate most eye

injuries, even those that appear minor. Bacterial

INFECTIONin ABRASIONSand small LACERATIONSon

the surface of the eye can threaten vision. Signifi-

Major Trauma 379