Basic Trauma Life Support • It is the patient’s body temp that is most important, not

he comfort of the health care provider.

1. Definition of Trauma • A term derived from the Greek • Intravenous fluid should be warm.
for “WOUND” • It refers to any bodily injury. • It • Warm environment (room tem) should be maintained.
defined as tissue injury due to direct effects of externally • Early control of hemorrhage.
applied energy. Energy may be mechanical, thermal, 10. Transport If life-threatening conditions are identified
electrical, electromagnatic or nuclear. • An emotional during primary survey, the patient should be rapidly
wound or shock that creates substantial, lasting damage packaged after initiating limited field intervention.
to the psychological development of a person, often Unless extenuating circumstances exist, limit scene time
leading to neurosis. • An event or situation that causes to 10 minutes or less.
great distress and disruption. • Included:burns, 11. Secondary Survey (Focused History and Physical Exam)
drowning, smoke, inhalation, slip & fall. • Excluded: Rapid Trauma Assessment
poisoning/toxic ingestion. • It is a quick method, (60 to 90 seconds), to identify
2. Primary Survey (Initial Assessment) hidden and obvious injuries in a trauma victim. The goal
1. General Impression is to identify and treat immediate threats to life that may
2. Airway with Cervical Spine Stabilization not have been obvious during an initial assessment.
3. Breathing 12. DCAP-BTLS
4. Circulation DCAP B T L S - Deformities Contusions Abrasions
5. Disability or Neurologic Status (Level of Penetrations Burns Tenderness Lacerations Swelling
Consciousness) 13. Focused History Assessment
6. Expose or Environment S - signs and symptoms
3. • General Impression Impression of the patient's A - allergies
condition that is formed on first approach, based on M - medications
patient's environment, chief complaint, and appearance. P - past or pertinent medical history
4. Airway with Cervical Spine Stabilization L - last oral intake
• Protection of the spine & spinal cord is the important E - events
management principle. 14. Closed Soft Tissue Injuries Management (RICE)
• Neurological exam alone does not exclude a cervical R I C E - rest ice compression elevation
spine injury. 15. Bleeding Management
• Always assume a cervical spine injury in any patient D E P T - Direct Pressure Elevation Pressure
with multi-system trauma, especially with an altered Tourniquets
level of consciousness or blunt injury above the clavicle. 16. Bandaging and Splinting
5. Breathing & Ventilation 17. 1. First Aid
• Airway patency does not assure adequate ventilation 18. 2. Reduce Patient Pain/Discomfort Protection of wound
6. 1. Blood Volume & Cardiac Output • Function of Bandaging
a. level of consciousness Circulation • Decrease incidence of wound infection
b. skin color 3. Dressing of open wound Stabilization or compression
c. Pulse of tissues Absorption of Exudates
2. Bleeding • Enhancement of wound healing
• external bleeding is identified & controlled in the • 4. Debridement of Wound
primary survey. 5. Immobilize Body Part
7. Disability or Neurologic Status (Level of • Support or protection of body parts  coaptation 
Consciousness) Simple Mnemonic to describe level of prevent (e.g. splints, casts) weight bearing
consciousness 19. General Principle of Bandaging
A - Alert • Must not be too lose or too tight
V - Responds to Vocal stimuli • Must not restrict circulation
P - Responds to Painful stimuli • Should be absorptive if necessary
U - Unresponsive to all stimuli • Should avoid distortion of tissues
8. Expose or Environment • Never leave foot or toes outside of bandage
9. • Remove the patient’s clothes because exposure of the • Requires serial examination and changing
trauma patient is critical to finding all injuries. Blood 20. Principles of Splinting
can collect in clothing and go undetected. Although it is 1.Reduce inflammation from trauma
important to expose the patient, hypothermia is a serious 2. Control of pain
problem in the prehospital setting. Only what is 3. Prevent further injury
necessary should be exposed to the outside environment. 4. Provision of external support
5. Protection of healing structures