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Trauma

Trauma is serious physical injury to the body, usually caused by violence,
disaster, or negligent behavior such as driving while under the influence of
alcohol or other drugs.

Note: Wikipedia does not provide medical advice. If you have a medical
problem, you should seek expert help.

Physical trauma

In medicine, a trauma patient has suffered serious and life-threatening
physical injury resulting in secondary complications such as shock,
respiratory failure and death.

Trauma patients require specialized care including surgery and often blood
transfusion within the so-called Golden Hour of emergency medicine, or sixty
minutes. This time frame is not a strict requirement, but it serves to point
out the critical first hours after the injury in which most deaths from
trauma occur. To help ensure that injured people reach appropriate care in a
timely manner, many areas have organized trauma referral systems. Research
has shown that deaths from physical trauma decline in areas where organized
trauma systems are implemented.

In the field, emergency medical technicians, nurses, and paramedics, known
as 'first responders', use stabilization techniques to improve the chances
of a trauma patient surviving the ambulance trip to the hospital.
Professionals begin performing a primary survey, consisting of assessment of
airway, breathing, and circulation. The purpose of the primary survey is to
identify life-threatening problems. Ensuring that the injured person is not
disabled by unnecessary movement of the spine is paramount, so the neck and
back are secured before moving the patient. Unless the victim is in imminent
danger of death, first responders will usually perform a load and go,
transporting the victim immediately to the nearest appropriate
trauma-equipped hospital.

Upon completion of the primary survey, the secondary survey is begun. This
may occur during transport or upon arrival at the hospital. The secondary
survey consists of a systematic assessment of the bowel, bladder (urine),
complete inspection of the body to find all injuries, and neurological exam.
The purpose of the secondary survey is to identify all injuries so that they
may be treated.

The appropriate first aid for a trauma patient is to immediately call for
help using the emergency medical service, then treat for shock. Do not move
the victim unless failure to do so would create a greater risk to their life
(i.e. hazardous chemicals or a spreading fire). Also see wilderness first
aid if immediate emergency help is unavailable.

Psychological trauma

An other type of trauma is psychological trauma. It may accompany physical
trauma, or exist independently. Typical causes of psychological trauma are
abuse, violence, the threat of either, or the witnessing of either,
particularly in childhood. Natural events such as earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions can also cause psychological trauma. Man-made events such as armed
conflict also inflict psychological trauma.

In times of war, psychological trauma has been known as shell shock and
post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a specific syndrome in which the
traumatized individual experiences nightmares, avoidance of certain
situations and places, depression, and other symptoms. Post-traumatic stress
disorder emerged as the label for this condition after the Vietnam War in
which many men returned to the U.S. demoralized, and sometimes, addicted to drugs.

Psychological trauma is treated with therapy and, if indicated, psychotropic medications.

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