Trauma Overview - SALA/NERIA

what is compression

the result of an organ or structure being directly squeeze between other organs or structures

what is shear

result of an organ or structure changing speed faster than another organ or structure (tearing force)

what should you assess for MVAs

direction of the impact, external damage to the vehicle, internal damage, location of occupants within the vehicle, restraint devices employed or deployed?

what are the damages of up-and-over frontal impact

driver goes up and over the steering column—> damages torso, chest, abdomen

what are the damages of down-and-under frontal impact

driver goes down and under into dashboard —> damages legs and pelvis

what is coup and contrecoup

brain tissue continuing to move and strikes the skull(coup)

and then rebounds/whiplash causes the brain to hit the opposite side of the skull (contrecoup)

can cause concussion, bruising, crushed, laceration

what are some scene size up considerations for MVAs

leaky gas/fluid (visual or odor)

power lines

active roadway

structural damage to whatever vehicle collided with

turn off the car

what are some questions you can ask about MVAs

speed of car

angle of car crash

seatbelt?

airbags?

crumpled in the front or back?

did the car flip?

which side?

windshield cracked?

additional resources?