Lesson 1Exposure and environmental control: complete undressing, warmers, preventing hypothermia, and rapid secondary survey prepThis part covers fully exposing the patient to spot injuries while stopping hypothermia. It deals with safe undressing, privacy, warming methods, environmental management, and quick setup for a fast but orderly secondary survey in busy wards.
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 reviews quick breathing checks, including looking, listening, tapping, and bedside monitoring. It stresses oxygen goals, spotting serious chest injuries, and focusing on urgent fixes in resource-limited settings.
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 airway moves and tools used in primary survey. It includes jaw thrust, mouth and nose airways, when and how to do RSI, and picking induction and paralysing drugs for trauma patients in Uganda.
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 highlights blockage signs, tough airway predictors, when to control immediately, and rules for fast intubation versus temporary tools or surgical airway 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 addresses neck spine protection in early trauma care. It covers hand-held stabilisation, collar choices and fitting, when to immobilise, and safe clearance using clinical and scan methods in local hospitals.
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 revival goals and monitoring in primary survey. It covers blood pressure and heart rate aims, urine flow, mental state, lactate changes, and adjusting actions based on patient's ongoing response.
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 primary survey. It explains fast GCS scoring, pupil exams, limb moves, and urgent steps for suspected head or spine injury, including airway and blood flow fixes.
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 primary survey, focusing on quick spotting of deadly bleeding, shock signs, targeted body exam, and prioritising immediate bleeding stops in trauma scenarios.
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 urgent fixes for serious breathing issues. It covers needle decompression, chest tube insertion, spotting tension pneumothorax, and ways to prioritise procedures in the fast primary survey phase.
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 urgent bleeding control methods in primary survey. It details direct pressure, tourniquets, pelvic binders, clotting dressings, and how FAST scans guide quick surgery or intervention 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 organised ABCDE primary survey order and time targets. It stresses prioritising life dangers, cutting delays, team role sharing, and constant checks for safe, efficient trauma work.
Overview of ABCDE survey prioritiesRecommended time targets for ABCDETeam roles and closed loop communicationManaging simultaneous interventionsReassessment after each ABCDE cycle
