⚠️ MedDeck is an educational and reference tool for seafarers. It does not replace professional medical advice, TMAS, a company doctor, or emergency services. In an emergency, seek appropriate medical assistance and follow your vessel's procedures.
EM-010
Serious injury / trauma
Major injury requires scene safety, life-threat assessment, and prompt medical assistance.
What should I do first?
- Ensure scene safety
- Obtain help and assess for immediate life threats
- Control major bleeding within your competence
- Assess responsiveness and breathing
- Avoid unnecessary movement where serious spinal injury may be suspected
- Seek appropriate medical assistance
- Monitor for deterioration
What this may look like
- Major wound, deformity, crush, fall, or impact injury
- Heavy bleeding or obvious severe pain
- Reduced responsiveness or breathing difficulty
- Mechanism suggesting possible serious internal or spinal injury
What should I check?
- Responsiveness and breathing
- Major bleeding
- Mechanism of injury
- Need for additional responders or equipment
What should I avoid?
- Moving the person unnecessarily when serious spinal injury may be suspected
- Delaying assistance for non-essential tasks
- Attempting detailed spinal immobilization beyond your training
When should I get medical assistance?
- For serious injury, major bleeding, altered responsiveness, or concerning mechanism
- Contact your vessel's designated medical assistance/TMAS service according to vessel procedures
- Follow your vessel's emergency procedures
What information should I prepare for TMAS / medical assistance?
- Mechanism and time of injury
- Visible injuries and bleeding control measures used
- Responsiveness, breathing, and change over time
- Vessel position and communications details required by procedure
Related symptoms
Related topics
Related equipment
Important safety note
- Detailed spinal immobilization protocols are not covered in this draft pathway
- Follow vessel trauma procedures and trained guidance
⚠️ MedDeck is an educational and reference tool for seafarers. It does not replace professional medical advice, TMAS, a company doctor, or emergency services. In an emergency, seek appropriate medical assistance and follow your vessel's procedures.
MEDDECK
Before you continue
⚠️ MedDeck is an educational and reference tool for seafarers. It does not replace professional medical advice, TMAS, a company doctor, or emergency services. In an emergency, seek appropriate medical assistance and follow your vessel's procedures.