Lesson 1Exposure and environmental control: complete undressing, warmers, preventing hypothermia, and rapid secondary survey prepThis part discusses fully exposing the patient to find injuries while avoiding hypothermia. It includes safe ways to undress, respect privacy, use warming methods, control the environment, and prepare quickly for a thorough secondary check.
Safe clothing removal and patient dignitySystematic head to toe visual inspectionUse of warm blankets and active warmersRoom temperature and warmed IV fluidsCoordination for rapid secondary surveyLesson 2Breathing assessment: inspection, auscultation, percussion, oxygenation targets, and bedside monitoringThis part looks at fast breathing checks, using inspection, listening with a stethoscope, tapping the chest, and monitoring at the bedside. It stresses oxygen levels, spotting serious chest problems, and acting quickly to fix them.
Inspection for chest rise and deformityAuscultation for breath sound asymmetryPercussion for hyperresonance or dullnessPulse oximetry and waveform evaluationOxygenation and ventilation targetsLesson 3Airway maneuvers and adjuncts: jaw-thrust, oral/nasopharyngeal airways, RSI steps and drug choicesThis part reviews ways to open the airway and tools used in the primary survey. It covers jaw thrust, mouth and nose airways, when and how to do rapid intubation, and choosing drugs for sedation and paralysis in trauma cases.
Jaw thrust and manual airway openingUse of oropharyngeal airwaysUse of nasopharyngeal airwaysPreoxygenation and RSI preparationDrug choices and dosing in RSILesson 4Airway assessment: signs of obstruction, indications for immediate airway control, and rapid intubation criteriaThis part focuses on quick airway checks in trauma. It points out blockage signs, hard airway predictors, reasons for instant control, and when to intubate fast or use temporary tools or surgical options.
Visible obstruction and noisy breathingAssessment of airway burns and edemaPredictors of difficult laryngoscopyIndications for immediate intubationWhen to consider surgical airwayLesson 5C-spine protection: manual inline stabilization, collar types, and indications for immobilization vs. clearanceThis part deals with protecting the neck spine in early trauma care. It includes hand-held stabilization, choosing and fitting collars, when to immobilize, and safe ways to clear it using exams and scans.
Manual inline stabilization techniquesChoosing and sizing cervical collarsProper collar application and pitfallsClinical criteria for C-spine clearanceImaging indications for C-spine injuryLesson 6Resuscitation endpoints and monitoring during primary survey: blood pressure targets, heart rate, urine output, and mental statusThis part explains goals and checks during revival in the primary survey. It covers blood pressure and heart rate aims, urine amount, alertness, lactate levels, and adjusting treatments based on patient changes.
Target blood pressure in trauma shockHeart rate and rhythm trend analysisUrine output as perfusion indicatorMental status and serial GCS checksUse of lactate and base deficitLesson 7Disability brief neuro assessment (GCS) and immediate neurologic stabilization measuresThis part outlines quick brain and nerve checks in the primary survey. It explains fast scoring with GCS, pupil exams, limb checks, and first steps to stabilize suspected head or spine injuries, including airway and blood flow.
Rapid GCS components and scoringPupil size, symmetry, and reactivityMotor and sensory limb assessmentSigns of raised intracranial pressureImmediate neuroprotective measuresLesson 8Circulation assessment: hemorrhage control priorities, signs of shock, focused physical exam for major bleedingThis part explains blood flow checks in the primary survey, aiming to spot deadly bleeding fast, recognize shock, do targeted body exams, and focus on stopping major bleeds right away.
Central and peripheral pulse assessmentSkin color, temperature, and capillary refillBlood pressure trends and shock index useFocused exam for external and internal bleedingEarly IV or IO access and blood samplingLesson 9Immediate interventions for breathing threats: needle decompression, tube thoracostomy, and strategies for tension pneumothoraxThis part details quick fixes for serious breathing issues. It covers needle release, chest tube placement, spotting tension pneumothorax, and ways to prioritize steps in the urgent primary survey.
Recognition of tension pneumothoraxSites and technique for needle decompressionIndications for tube thoracostomyChest tube insertion steps and checksPost procedure monitoring and reassessmentLesson 10Immediate hemorrhage control: direct pressure, tourniquets, pelvic binders, hemostatic dressings, and FAST-guided decisionsThis part focuses on quick bleeding stop methods in the primary survey. It details pressing directly, using tourniquets, pelvic straps, clotting agents, and how ultrasound guides urgent surgery or other choices.
Effective application of direct pressureIndications and placement of tourniquetsPelvic binder sizing and positioningSelection and use of hemostatic dressingsIntegrating FAST results into decisionsLesson 11Structured primary survey (ABCDE) sequence and time goalsThis part describes the ordered ABCDE primary survey steps and time targets. It stresses focusing on life dangers, cutting delays, assigning team roles, and repeated checks for a safe, effective trauma process.
Overview of ABCDE survey prioritiesRecommended time targets for ABCDETeam roles and closed loop communicationManaging simultaneous interventionsReassessment after each ABCDE cycle
