Vehicle Crashes Flashcards
What are the traditional classifications of motor vehicle crashes?
Frontal (head-on), rear-end, lateral (T-bone), rollover, and rotational (spins)
The principal difference among these crash types is the direction of the force of impact.
How many collisions typically occur in a motor vehicle crash?
Three collisions
Understanding these collisions helps in assessing injury patterns.
What is the first collision in a typical motor vehicle crash?
The collision of the car against another car, a tree, or some other object
Damage to the car provides information about the severity of the collision.
What does significant damage to a vehicle suggest about potential injuries?
Increased index of suspicion for life-threatening injuries
A great amount of force is required to cause significant damage.
What is the second collision in a typical motor vehicle crash?
The collision of the passenger against the interior of the car
Common injuries include lower extremity fractures, rib fractures, and head trauma.
What are common injuries resulting from the second collision?
- Lower extremity fractures (knees into the dashboard)
- Rib fractures (rib cage into the steering wheel)
- Head trauma (head into the windshield)
These injuries occur more frequently if the passenger is not restrained.
What is the third collision in a typical motor vehicle crash?
The collision of the passenger’s internal organs against the solid structures of the body
This may lead to life-threatening injuries.
What type of brain injury can occur during the third collision?
Coup-contrecoup brain injury
This occurs when the brain moves forward and strikes the inside of the skull.
What is a potential effect of traumatic aortic transection during a crash?
Rupture of the aorta and fatal bleeding
This is associated with rapid deceleration of the heart and aorta within the thoracic cavity.
Fill in the blank: The greater the damage to the car, the greater the ______ that was involved.
energy
Greater energy increases the potential for injury.
What is the relationship between vehicle damage and passenger injury?
Significant vehicle damage often indicates potential serious injuries to passengers
In high-speed crashes, even if injuries are not readily apparent, serious injuries should be suspected.
What can help direct life-saving care in traumatic injuries?
Initial general impression of the patient and evaluation of the MOI
MOI stands for Mechanism of Injury.
What should be suspected if there is a contusion on the patient’s forehead and the windshield is damaged?
An injury to the brain
Damage to the windshield can indicate severe impact and potential brain injury.
How should medical control be informed about a windshield’s damage?
Inform them about the damage to prepare for a CT scan of the brain
This allows hospital staff to anticipate and respond to possible brain injuries.
What should be suspected with significant impact to the head?
A spinal injury
Cervical spine precautions should be taken if indicated.
What constitutes significant damage in a crash?
Substantial deformity of the vehicle
This can warrant transporting the patient to a trauma center.
What are some findings that suggest significant MOIs?
- Death of an occupant in the vehicle
- Severe deformity of the vehicle or intrusion
- Severe deformities of the frontal part of the vehicle
- Moderate intrusions from a lateral accident
- Severe damage from the rear
- Crashes involving rotation
- Ejection from the vehicle
These findings indicate high severity of the crash.
What should be suspected if one or more passengers are dead?
Other passengers likely sustained serious injuries
Focus should be on treating life-threatening injuries.
What is the purpose of taking digital photos at the crash scene?
To provide valuable information to the trauma center staff
Photos should only be shared with appropriate personnel and not on social media.
What might patient images or identifiable information in photos become?
Part of the medical record
These images may need to be deleted after review by healthcare providers based on privacy policies.
