The term trauma designates damage to the body due to an external event, such as that of a collision. Injuries are very common, especially in car accident, or falling from a height, and can cause various injuries to both the bones and soft tissue, depending on the type of accident. Trauma can involve the limbs, head, chest and spine.
For example it is very common that a subject will sustain head injuries following that of a road accident, or a domestic accident, a fall, or from an external object such as a thrown ball. These types of trauma are frequent and represent one of the main reasons of access to the emergency room, especially in the case of trauma in children. In fact children are especially susceptible to head injury, from when they are born, these can include them falling from a bed, falling from a table or stroller, and include incidents during games and sport activities.
What are the symptoms associated with trauma?
If a limb is to be involved in an accident, the patient will feel pain, there also may be swelling or bleeding, the limb may have assumed a position that is unnatural or it may be deformed due to the accident.
The trauma can be mild, medium or severe depending on the accident and individual. Mild trauma typically occurs with pain originating in the head, where the subject may have taken a hit and has a feeling of light headedness. If the situation is severely serious the subject may experience, strong headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, pallor, and some sever cases can lead to the loss of consciousness and even coma. In some cases there may be injuries to the head that including bleeding.
If the person is a small child, who can’t explain in words what they are feeling, it is then important to observe their behavior, if following the concussion the child cries, and is then comforted and stops crying, the situation is not alarming. If the child is very pale, has nausea or drowsiness occurs, or they pass out, or start vomiting, the trauma could be serious and they should be taken to medical assistance as soon as possible.
What to do in the case of trauma
If the injury is mild and the situation is not as serious, then apply ice to the affected area in order to reduce the swelling. It is advisable to treat a wound if it is bleeding, or if the victim is unable to move the affected limb, or if the limb appears warped or in an unnatural position, then it is important to call the emergency room and seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
If the victim of a mild head injury is a child and the incident took place before a nap or at night, you should wake them up periodically, that they are sleeping and also reactive.
If as a result of a head injury the situation looks worrying, it is important to call an ambulance or visit the emergency room.
If the trauma involved the spine it is important to understand how the patient feels. If they feel only pain, but are unable to move and get up and walk, you can visit the emergency room calmly as it may not be a serious injury. When the victim is immobilized or unconscious, it is therefore necessary and essential to call an emergency ambulance as promptly as possible.
What not to do in the case of trauma
- Do not consume food, drinks or medicine.
- Do not shake the injured if they seem sleepy or confused.
- Do not try to fix a limb that appears in an unnatural position.
Disclaimer: The information in this article does not in any way replace the intervention or signs associated with this type of emergency, but rather only provides simple tips as how to keep the situation under control while waiting for a medical rescue team to arrive.
