Revised 08/2018

EMS 137 - Trauma Care (1 CR.)

Course Description

Prepares the student to assess and manage injured patients, developing his/her problem-solving ability in the treatment of trauma involving various body systems. Lecture 1 hour. Total 1 hour per week.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to a variety of common traumatic injuries, including pathophysiology, signs, symptoms and treatments.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Corequisite: EMS 138

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Identify types of chest injuries, assessment and treatment
  • Identify types of abdominal injuries, assessment and treatment
  • Discuss the care of a patient suffering from an amputation
  • Describe the assessment and treatment of a patient with a pelvic fracture
  • Explain the pathophysiology, assessment and treatment of a patient with compartment syndrome
  • Identify types of soft tissue injuries, assessment and treatment
  • Identify types of burns, assessment and treatment
  • Identify types of facial injuries, assessment and treatment
  • Explain the pathophysiology, assessment and treatment of a patient with a laryngotracheal injury
  • Identify types of brain injuries, assessment and treatment
  • Describe the kinetics of trauma and related injury patterns
  • Identify types of environmental injuries, assessment and treatment

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Chest Injuries
    • Traumatic Aortic Disruption
    • Pulmonary Contusion
    • Blunt Cardiac Injury
    • Hemothorax
    • Open Pneumothorax
    • Simple Pneumothorax
    • Tension Pneumothorax
    • Cardiac Tamponade
    • Rib Fractures
    • Flail Chest
    • Commotio Cordis
  • Abdominal Injuries
    • Closed Abdominal Trauma
    • Penetrating/Open Abdominal Trauma
    • Considerations in Abdominal Trauma
  • Amputations
    • Location of amputation
    • Tearing versus cutting amputations
    • Assessment of amputated part
    • Care of the amputated part
    • Use of tourniquets
  • Pelvic Fractures
    • Types of fractures
    • Pelvic instability
    • Specialized pelvic immobilization devices
    • Management of blood loss
  • Compartment Syndrome
    • Pathophysiology of injuries resulting in compartment syndrome
    • Special Assessment Findings
    • Management of patients with compartment syndrome
  • Soft Tissue Injuries
    • Closed soft tissue injury
    • Open soft tissue injury
    • General Assessment
    • General Management
  • Burns
    • Complications of Burns
    • Body Surface Area of Burns
    • General Assessment of Burn Injuries
    • General Management
    • Specific Burn Injury Management Considerations
  • Facial Fractures
    • Types of facial injuries
    • Unstable Facial Fractures
    • Assessment Considerations in Facial and Eye Injuries
    • Management Considerations in Facial and Eye Injuries
  • Laryngeotracheal Injuries
    • Pathophysiology
    • Specific Assessment Considerations
    • Specific Management Considerations
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Pathophysiology
    • Specific Assessment Considerations
    • Special Management Considerations
  • Kinematics of Trauma
    • Definition of kinematics of trauma
    • Multi-System Trauma
    • Blast Injuries
  • Environmental Injuries
    • Submersion incidents
    • Temperature-related illness
    • Special Assessment considerations
    • Special management considerations
    • Bites and Envenomation
    • Electrical injury - Lightning strikes
    • High altitude illness