Breaking the surface: Arm yourself with knowledge about penetrating trauma

Penetrating trauma is a serious emergency that requires prompt prehospital identification, transport, and often, immediate surgical intervention. It's easy to miss some penetrating wounds unless you do a detailed secondary assessment. Remember that penetrating injuries to the head, neck and chest have significant morbidity and mortality. Victims of penetrating trauma have the best outcomes when they're treated in a comprehensive trauma center that allows rapid assessment, necessary imaging and quick access to surgical care in the operating room setting. The role of prehospital personnel is to detect these injuries, provide essential emergency care and ensure that the patient is delivered to the closest appropriate facility.