Serious Injuries, Wounds & Trauma

Serious injuries, deep wounds, and traumatic accidents can require immediate medical attention to prevent complications and improve recovery. Whether caused by a fall, vehicle accident, sports injury, workplace incident, or other traumatic event, prompt evaluation and treatment are essential.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury, severe wound, or traumatic accident, call 911 immediately or go to the Emergency Room.

Primary symptoms of serious injury or trauma that require an immediate 911 call or ER visit:

Neurological & Head Trauma

• Loss of consciousness: Any period of blacking out, even if brief.
• Confusion: Sudden disorientation or changes in mental state.
• Seizures: New or worsening convulsions following an injury.
• Sudden Weakness: Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body, or being unable to move an arm or leg.
• Signs of Shock: Bleeding accompanied by confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness, or pale, clammy skin.

Bleeding & Physical Wounds

• Uncontrolled Bleeding: Bleeding that will not stop even with direct pressure.
• Internal Bleeding Signs: Coughing or vomiting blood after an impact.
• Serious Burns: Deep burns or those affecting a large portion of the body.
• Possible Broken Bones: Visible deformities, intense pain, or inability to bear weight.

Critical System Distress

• Trouble Breathing: Gasping for air, shortness of breath, or severe swelling that makes swallowing difficult.
• Sudden or Severe Pain: Intense pain that is persistent or follows a traumatic event.
• Chest Discomfort: Chest pain or pressure, which may indicate cardiac distress caused by trauma.

Our ER care team – including Board-Certified Emergency Physicians, General Surgeons, and Orthopaedic Surgeons – uses advanced technology to quickly identify life-threatening injuries:

• Primary Trauma Survey: A rapid physical assessment to check the "ABCs" (Airway, Breathing, and Circulation) and identify immediate threats to life.
• Advanced Imaging: We use high-speed CT scans and X-rays to locate internal bleeding, organ damage, and possible broken bones.
• Point-of-Care Lab Testing: Our bedside lab testing provides critical results in minutes rather than hours, allowing for faster decisions regarding blood transfusions or emergency surgery.
• Detailed Monitoring: Critically ill or injured patients receive detailed monitoring of their vital signs in well-lit rooms designed for constant observation and quick response to any changes.
• Tele-Neuro Consultation: For head trauma or injuries affecting the nervous system, we can provide immediate stroke (tele-neuro) consultations to assess brain function.

Our Emergency Room care team follows a rigorous, synchronized protocol to stabilize patients and prevent further injury. For patients with multiple or complex injuries, our team – led by Board-Certified Emergency Physicians – performs immediate stabilization:

• Airway and Respiratory Support: Ensuring the patient can breathe effectively, using advanced ventilatory support if necessary.
• Hemorrhage Control: Rapidly addressing bleeding that will not stop using advanced pressure dressings, hemostatic agents, or emergency surgical consults.
• Circulatory Support: Administering IV fluids or blood products to maintain blood pressure and treat shock.

Trauma often requires intervention from multiple specialists. At Carolina Pines, we provide 24/7 access to:

• General Surgeons: For internal injuries, abdominal trauma, or emergency soft-tissue repair.
• Orthopaedic Surgeons: For the stabilization and repair of possible broken bones or complex joint injuries.
• Critical Care Monitoring: We provide detailed monitoring of vital signs in specialized rooms designed to let staff assess critical changes instantly.