Types of Injuries
What is a Blast Injury?
An injury caused by an explosion; may occur because of the energy released, the debris, or the impact of the person falling against an object or the ground.
What should be your first priority when arriving at the scene?
Upon arrival at an emergency scene, safety should be your first priority. Safety includes both personal safety and the safety of others, including patients and bystanders.
What is a primary assesment used for?
The process used to quickly identify those conditions that represent an immediate threat
to the patient’s life, so that you may properly treat them as they are found.
How should you approach a patient. From the side, front, or back?
What is a penetrating injury?
An injury in which a person is struck by or falls onto an object that penetrates or cuts through the skin, resulting in an open wound or wounds, the severity of which is determined by the path of the object (e.g., a bullet wound).
True or False: You should re-assess the scene
True! Continually reassess the situation for new dangers that may arise.
What are some of the things we do when performing a primary assesment?
An effective primary assessment includes creating a general impression of the patient, checking for responsiveness and checking airway, breathing and circulatory status.
When helping a patients airway, should you leave their dentures in?
What does Mechanism of injury (MOI) refer to?
The physical events that caused the injury. It is important to determine MOI because it can alert responders to possible hidden or more serious injuries
Which isn’t one of the four steps to take when arriving at a scene?
- Take time to evaluate the scene. Doing so will enable you to recognize existing and potential dangers.
- Make sure you tell your family or friends that you are about to attend a scene and help somebody
- Wear appropriate PPE for the situation. Be a constant advocate for the use of appropriate protective equipment.
- Do not attempt to do anything you are not trained to do. Know what resources are available to help.
- Get the help you need by notifying additional personnel. Be prepared to describe the scene and the type of additional help you require.
- Make sure you tell your family or friends that you are about to attend a scene and help somebody
Which should be done first, Primary assessment or Scene size up?
Scene Size up
When evaluating the level of consciousness, we should use the Acronym to as AVPU. What does this stand for?
Alert, verbal, painful, unresponsive
What is blunt trauma?
An injury in which a person is struck by or falls against a blunt object such as a steering wheel or dashboard, resulting in an injury that does not penetrate the body, may not be evident, and may be more widespread and serious than suspected.
Name a time that a scene isn't safe and you should move the individual
What are some questions you should ask yourself for the general imporession section of the primary assessment?
Does the patient look sick or injured?
Is there a noticeable MOI?
Is the patient awake or alert?
Does the patient appear to be breathing? Is the patient bleeding?
What is the patient’s approximate age?
If a patients chest is moving, is that enough to know they are breathing?
No. If the patient is breathing, the chest will rise and fall. However, you must also listen and feel for signs of breathing. Position your ear over the patient’s mouth and nose so you can hear and feel air as it escapes
NO!
Name 2 clues that indicate the presence of HAZMATs.
-Signs (placards) on vehicles, storage facilities or railroad cars identifying the presence of hazardous materials.
-Clouds of vapor. - Spilled liquids or solids. -Unusual odors. -Leaking containers, bottles or gas cylinders.
-Chemical transport tanks or containers.
What is the difference between signs and symptoms in the general impression?
Signs are evidence of injury or illness that you can observe, such as bleeding or unusual skin appearance. Symptoms are what the patient reports experiencing, such as pain, nausea, headache or shortness of breath
True or false: Patients who are unstable should be reassessed at least every 5 minutes, or more often if indicated by the patient’s condition. Reassess stable patients every 15 minutes