What is a trauma?
A trauma may result from a knock, a fall or improper movement of the body. Head traumas are particularly serious. All traumas are painful and may cause further complications if they are not treated properly.
A trauma may result from a knock, a fall or improper movement of the body. Head traumas are particularly serious. All traumas are painful and may cause further complications if they are not treated properly.
The victim may be drowsy, have a severe headache; he may vomit repeatedly and have convulsions. He may also complain of vision, hearing, speech or memory problems; he may be abnormally agitated or apathetic and lose his balance. You may also see bruises below the victim's eyes or behind the ears, as well as discharges of blood or colourless liquid (cerebrospinal fluid) through the nose, ears or mouth.
A cranial trauma causes damages to the brain and may bring about brain or neuronal relapses, and occasionnally death. In 60% of the cases, the trauma is caused by a traffic accident, in 25% by a fall.
Do not move the victim; firmly ask him not to move, have the emergency services called and get on your knees behind him and support his head by putting your hands on his temples. You must not move the victim's neck. Supervise the victim while waiting for emergency services to come.
Forbid the victim to move the affected limb and have the emergency services called. Supervise the victim and talk to him regularly to ensure that he stays conscious; protect him from cold and heat while waiting for emergency services to come.
Forbid the victim to move, and support his head with your hands on both sides, in order to avoid any involuntary movement of the vertebral column and maintain the alignment of the head, neck and trunk. If the victim loses consciousness, put him in lateral security position.
