Treating trauma takes an active commitment on the part of the rescuer. Things you will see and experience are less than pleasant. Keep in mind the real reason you are helping, roll up your sleeves and jump in. Once you've made that decision to help, your first step is to observe the scene for any potential dangers. Look for things such as leaking fuel, downed power lines, fire or a person brandishing a weapon. Remember, your personal safety is the number one priority. Another important part of controlling the emergency scene is managing the crowd of bystanders that almost always shows up. Stay calm and speak without yelling. Identify tasks for bystanders to help with such as traffic control, calling 91 1 or helping with patient care. Remember, specific commands are usually more effective than general directions.

Your initial priorities when caring for the trauma patient are the same as with any other patient. Always begin with your assessment of the ABCD's (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability). The initial assessment is a quick and orderly check for life-threatening emergencies. Along with airway and breathing problems, the trauma patient may be at risk for life-threatening bleeding and a spinal injury. Keeping this in mind, the initial assessment of the injured patient is as follows: