What should be considered in trauma cases?

• A. Only obvious injuries
• B. Do not treat until after transport
• C. Ignore trauma until later
• D. Consider traumatic injury and apply appropriate protocols

Answer: (D)

In trauma cases, the priority is to anticipate and identify injuries even when they aren’t obvious, and to follow established trauma protocols to stabilize the patient quickly. This means a systematic assessment (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure) and addressing life-threatening issues right away, while using spinal precautions if trauma is suspected. Hidden injuries or internal damage can be present despite a normal external exam, so treating according to protocols helps ensure nothing is missed and care is timely. Therefore, the best approach is to consider traumatic injury and apply appropriate protocols. Focusing only on obvious injuries, delaying treatment until after transport, or ignoring trauma until later can miss serious problems and jeopardize the patient.