A car has been hit head-on by another vehicle at a moderate rate of speed. Seat belts were in place and the air bags deployed. The patient complains of chest pain. Quick observation reveals a bruise to his sternum. The EMT should immediately:

According to EMS.gov, a trauma patient is an injured person who requires immediate diagnosis and treatment from a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the risk of death or permanent disability. A trauma system is an organized effort that provides the full range of care to all injured patients in a defined geographic area. It's integrated with the local public health system and includes the following components: Prevention, Prehospital care, Hospital care, and Rehabilitation.  The first phase of a trauma system activates immediately after an... Show more

According to EMS.gov, a trauma patient is an injured person who requires immediate diagnosis and treatment from a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the risk of death or permanent disability. A trauma system is an organized effort that provides the full range of care to all injured patients in a defined geographic area. It's integrated with the local public health system and includes the following components: Prevention, Prehospital care, Hospital care, and Rehabilitation. 

The first phase of a trauma system activates immediately after an injury and includes:
Calling 911
Coordinating a response among Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Making initial assessments and diagnoses
Stabilizing the patient
Transporting the patient to a local hospital or trauma center
Admitting the patient to an acute medical care facility 

Trauma systems can impact patient outcomes in a number of ways, including: Injury prevention, Bystander intervention, and Emergency medical services. 

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