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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 serviceEmergency medical service (EMS) is a branch of medicine that is performed in the field (i. the streets, peoples' homes, etc. by paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and certified first responders (CFRs). Although not commonly understood, EMS, 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 aidWilderness first aid is the provision of first aid (q. under conditions where the arrival of emergency responders or the evacuation of an injured person may be delayed due to constraints of terrain, weather, and available equipment. It may be necessary to if immediate emergency help is unavailable.
See also: clearing the cervical spineClearing the cervical spine after blunt multitrauma is an important part of emergency medical care, aiming to avoid preventable quadriplegia due to undiagnosed unstable cervical spine injuries. Excluding an unstable cervical injury requires at least clini - emergency medicineEmergency medicine is a branch of medicine that is practiced in a hospital emergency department, in the field (in a modified form; see EMS), and other locations where initial medical treatment of trauma and illness takes place. Emergency medicine focuses - emergency medical serviceEmergency medical service (EMS) is a branch of medicine that is performed in the field (i. the streets, peoples' homes, etc. by paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and certified first responders (CFRs). Although not commonly understood, EMS - trauma centeremergency medicine A trauma center is a hospital equipped to perform as a casualty receiving station for the emergency medical services by providing the best possible medical care for traumatic injuries on a 24 hour, 7 days per week, 365 days per year bas - paramedicA paramedic is a trained and licensed or certified medical professional. Most commonly, paramedics are those who respond to medical emergencies out in the field for the purpose of stabilizing the victim's condition so s/he can be transported to medical fa - nurse - surgery - fluid replacement - moulage - wound