Advanced Trauma Care - EMS 185 at Piedmont Virginia Community College
https://courses.vccs.edu/colleges/pvcc/courses/EMS185-AdvancedTraumaCare
Effective: 2024-01-01
Course Description
Examines the assessment and management of trauma emergencies as outlined by the National Emergency Medical Service Education Standards (NEMSES) within the Advanced EMT curriculum.
Lecture 2 hours. Total 2 hours per week.
2 credits
The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.
General Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and treatments of trauma emergencies.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
Prerequisite: Current Virginia EMT and CPR certification as approved by the Virginia Office of EMS. Co-requisite: EMS 186: Advanced Trauma Care Laboratory
Course Objectives
- Integrate knowledge of causes and pathophysiology, trauma scoring, transport and destination issues, transport mode, and age-related assessment and treatment modifications for pediatric and geriatric patients into the management of traumatic injuries, including:
- Bleeding and fluid resuscitation
- Abdominal and Genitourinary Trauma:
- Blunt versus penetrating mechanisms
- Evisceration
- Impaled object
- Solid and hollow organ injuries
- Injuries to the internal or external genitalia
- Vascular injury
- Retroperitoneal injuries
- Chest Trauma:
- Blunt vs penetrating mechanisms
- Open chest wound
- Impaled object
- Hemothorax
- Cardiac tamponade
- Rib fractures
- Flail chest
- Commotio cordis
- Traumatic aortic disruption
- Pulmonary contusion
- Blunt cardiac injury
- Traumatic asphyxia
- Head, Facial, Neck, and Spine Trauma:
- Life threats
- Spine trauma
- Penetrating neck trauma
- Laryngotracheal injuries
- Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Facial fractures
- Skull fractures
- Foreign body in the eyes
- Globe rupture
- Dental trauma
- Severe epistaxis
- Nervous System Trauma:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Orthopedic Trauma:
- Open fractures
- Closed fractures
- Dislocations
- Amputations/ replantation
- Upper and lower extremity orthopedic trauma
- Sprains/ Strains
- Pelvic fractures
- Pediatric fractures
- Soft Tissue Trauma:
- Wounds (avulsion, bite, laceration, puncture, incision)
- Burns (electrical, chemical, thermal, radiation) and inhalation injury
- Chemicals in the eye and on the skin
- Crush/ compartment syndrome
- High-pressure injection injury
- Multi-System Trauma and Blast Injuries
- Environmental Emergencies:
- Drowning
- Temperature-related illness
- Bites and envenomations
- Lightning injury
- Special Considerations in Trauma:
- Pregnant patient
- Pediatric patient
- Geriatric patient
- Cognitively impaired patient