Injury to the body as a result of external physical force. The accepted practice in trauma is that we cannot treat the seriously wounded in the field, and we cannot always stabilize them either.

• Evaluation of the injury’s mechanism/injury
• Initial treatment of life-threatening causes (at the level of a first aid responder, especially blood loss control!)
• Evacuation to a hospital (As a civilian you call for help)

• Damage to the airway
• Extensive brain damage
• Rupture of primary blood vessels

Secondary (in minutes – hours):

• Hypoxia (general oxygen deficiency in the blood) that is prolonged (chest, head, etc.)
• Controlled bleeding

Afterward (within days to weeks):

• Infections
• Coagulation disorders
• Systems failure

Our main contribution as first aid responders is controlling and stopping bleeding.