Basic Care of Severe Trauma

The principles of the EMST course form the basis of these guidelines. Adaptations to the local 'environment' are included.
The process of care for trauma call patients is:

Ambulance hand-over
- 45 seconds
- One person talking everyone listening
- Describes: mechanism and time of injury, injuries noted, signs at the scene, interventions and the response to intervention. (M.I.S.T.)

Primary Survey
- ABCDE

Resuscitation
- Immediate therapy for life threatening injuries and physiological abnormalities detected in the Primary Survey

Adjuncts to 1<sup>0
- Monitoring and x-rays, DPL, FAST</sup>

Secondary Survey
- a thorough "top to toe, front to back" examination of the patient. See the 'major trauma form'.

Adjuncts to 2⁰
- NG and IDC. Special investigations including CT or angiography as indicated

Definitive Care
- A formal hand over to the accepting speciality.

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