The importance of a trauma center in injury treatment

Unfortunately, trauma-related accidents and injuries are quite common. However, access to immediate and appropriate medical attention, especially in a trauma center, can greatly improve a patients chances of survival. In medical terms, a trauma injury refers to any critical bodily injury. Many trauma-related injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents and falls.

Common Trauma-Related Injuries

Neck injuries can occur from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or sudden trauma. Critical neck injuries are often the result of whiplash from a car accident, a fall from a significant height, a blow to the neck or head, sport-related injuries, or external pressure applied to neck. This type of injury may cause severe pain, swelling, dizziness, and numbness. It is important to get immediate emergency care if you suspect a severe neck injury, especially one that could cause damage to the spinal cord.

Head injuries are caused by trauma to the scalp, skull, or brain and can be very dangerous. Concussions are the most common type of head injury and occur when the brain is jarred hard enough to bounce against the skull, often seen in car accidents or falls from a significant height. A concussion can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain and have long-term effects if left untreated. Other traumatic brain injuries include a contusion, which is a bruise on the brain that causes swelling or a hematoma, and skull fractures.

Head injuries that appear to be more serious than a concussion require emergency medical treatment. Warning signs may include:

-Convulsions -Confusion -Loss of consciousness -Distorted facial features -Slurred speech -Severe headache -Vomiting -Inability to move one or more limbs -Low breathing rate -Memory loss -Double or fuzzy vision

Why Are Trauma Centers Important? Trauma centers provide the necessary equipment, specialized resources, and a specially trained trauma team to care for severely injured patients. A trauma center can handle all of the same types of illnesses and injuries that are seen in an Emergency Department, AND provide multi-disciplinary, comprehensive emergency medical services to patients who have traumatic injuries immediately. Examples of traumatic injuries include those sustained in automobile accidents, gunshot wounds, or severe neck and head injuries.

Read the original:
The importance of a trauma center in injury treatment