Overall approach to trauma in the emergency department

Practice Gap: Assessing a child who has sustained a multisystem trauma requires a structured assessment of the airway, breathing, and circulation to promptly identify life-threatening injuries and allow for timely lifesaving interventions. This is followed by a more detailed evaluation of the entire body to evaluate for all injuries. Objectives: After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Identify the steps of the primary and secondary surveys used during evaluation of a child who has sustained trauma. 2. Describe the potential life-threatening injuries that may occur after trauma and their treatment. 3. Understand the evaluation and management of a child who has sustained a significant burn.