EMRA EMS Essentials

Ch 18. MVC: Blunt Trauma

At 08:15, paramedics are called to the scene of a construction site on
a major highway, where a 36-year-old male has been crushed against the median by a semi-truck. Access to the site is complicated by block- age of 2 of the highway’s 3 lanes during morning rush hour traffic.

Police have secured the scene, and traffic is stopped. The semi-truck has been moved away from the scene. On arrival, the patient is lying face-up on the asphalt, minimally responsive and surrounded by his concerned, shouting co-workers. His breathing is severely labored, and there is blood coming from his mouth. He is moaning, his face and neck are purple, and he has obvious fractures of both legs. The foreman knows little about the patient’s health other than he’s a smoker and rarely misses work. No one has been able to contact the patient’s wife, but efforts are continuing.

Scene Safety

Local law enforcement, fire, and EMS will be first to the scene of a motor vehicle collision (MVC). Before addressing the victims of the crash, it is essential the scene be assessed for safety. You must also anticipate any potential risks, including:

• Weather
• Flooding Fire/gasoline
• Chemical Spills
• Power lines
• Traffic
• Onlookers

Traffic should be rerouted and the scene blocked off before assessment can begin. EMS should wear appropriate protective and reflective gear that allows for full body movement. Once the scene is secure, triage and stabilization for transport can begin.

Fire will begin extricating victims trapped in vehicles. Be mindful of maintaining C-spine precautions when appropriate.

Remain Alert to Your Surroundings at all Times

Initial Assessment

In an MVC, the speed of the vehicles involved, ejection of pas- sengers, the use of restraints, and need for extrication all can affect severity of injury.¹ Recall Newton’s Laws of Motion. Rapid deceleration, crushing, and ejection all produce significant forces on the body both internally and externally.^2,3 Therefore, not all injuries are obvious.

Assessment of the patient should proceed with mechanism of injury in mind. (Table 1.)

REMEMBER YOUR ABCs

Initial assessment of the patient at the scene is ABC:

A – AIRWAY

Ask a simple question, such as “Can you tell me your name?” If they do not respond, are there signs of obstruc- tion or noisy breathing? Jaw-thrust to open the airway. Try repositioning if needed. If the jaw-thrust doesn’t work, use the head tilt–chin lift method.⁴ Use suction as needed. If the airway is clear, can the patient maintain it on his or her own? If not, insert an airway adjunct. Take care with patients with facial fractures, as the airway may be harder to manage. Maintain spinal precautions where possible. Avoid over-extension of the neck during ventilation and intubation4 and place a C-Collar where indicated.

B – BREATHING

If the patient is responsive but not breath- ing adequately, give high-flow oxygen and be prepared to help ventilate if needed. If the patient is unresponsive and breathing adequately, place the appropriate adjunct or assess for intuba- tion. Give high-flow oxygen. If the patient is unresponsive and not breathing adequately, place an adjunct and provide ventila- tion with a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device using high-flow oxygen. Any signs of inadequate breathing should prompt an immediate examination of the chest.⁴ Flail chest (independently moving segment of chest wall) or lack of breath sounds that suggest pneumothorax require immediate intervention.⁵

C – CIRCULATION

A patient who is responsive and/or breathing adequately will likely have an intact pulse. Check the radial for at least 5 seconds. If you cannot feel a pulse, check the carotid site. If any doubt exists, begin compressions and prioritize transport. If a pulse is present, how is your patient’s overall perfusion? Look for major bleeding and control it. Assess the patient’s skin, noting color and condition. If the patient is a child, use the brachial site to check a pulse. Check capillary refill. It should be less than 2 seconds in adults and children.⁶ Pregnant patients (advanced trimester) may need to be tilted to the left on the backboard to facilitate venous return.⁷

Certain mechanisms of injury indicate a priority patient, no matter how minor the injuries seem to be. Regardless of injury, any patient who has been fully or partially ejected from a vehicle, was in the same vehicle as someone who died, or was in the path of significant intrusion should be considered a priority patient. Pedestrian, bicyclists, and motorcyclists with an impact speed over 20 mph also fall into this category. Also consider age; the very young and very old are unable to compensate and may deteriorate quickly with seemingly minor injuries.⁷ Older adults may have decreased pain perception that can mask the severity of an injury.⁸ With priority patients, a detailed exam can be done en route. If the patient is not a priority, you can proceed with a focused history and physical exam at the scene.