Trauma and injury care require advanced medical services and techniques. St. Michael’s Elite Hospital emergency room services play a pivotal role in the immediate assessment, stabilization, and treatment of individuals suffering from various forms of physical harm. From injuries to severe traumas, these our specialized medical facility is equipped with the expertise and state-of-the-art tools to address a wide array of emergencies promptly. Whether it’s a car accident victim, a person with a severe burn, or someone with a sports-related injury, St. Michael’s Elite Hospital Board-Certified ER physicians, nurses and technicians work tirelessly around the clock, ensuring that each patient receives optimal care and attention to enhance their chances of recovery and minimize potential complications.
Some of the most common trauma and injuries we treat:
Animal Bites
Animal bites can introduce bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens into the body, resulting in injuries ranging from minor scratches to deep tissue damage. Recognizing when an animal bite requires emergency medical attention is crucial to prevent complications.
Back Pain and Sciatica
Back pain is a common ailment, but certain signs and symptoms can indicate a more severe condition that requires immediate medical attention. Back pain might be considered an emergency if it results from trauma, is severe unrelenting pain, numbness or tingling, or any other symptom that does not respond to prescribed medicine or comes on suddenly.
Burns
Burns can vary in severity from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies. Recognizing the severity and type of burn is essential for determining the appropriate course of action. If someone suffers a burn injury and there is any doubt about its severity or the appropriate care, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly. Immediate and appropriate treatment can be crucial for the outcome, reducing the risk of complications and improving recovery.
Cuts and Lacerations
Cuts and lacerations vary in severity, and while minor ones can often be treated at home with basic first aid, some require immediate medical attention. Cuts and lacerations might be considered medical emergencies if it is large, gaping, deep wound or experiences uncontrolled bleeding. If the cut or laceration exposes deeper structures like tendons, muscles, or bone, this is also a medical emergency.
Falls
Falls can potentially cause a range of injuries from minor bruises to serious fractures or head injuries. Certain falls or the aftermath of a fall may warrant immediate medical attention. Some examples of fall emergencies are falls resulting in head injury, unconsciousness, broken bones, and/or uncontrollable pain.
Foreign Body Removal
Foreign body removal can become a medical emergency in several circumstances. While not exhaustive, the following instances include choking, a child swallowing a battery, eye injury, or inability to retrieve a foreign body with first aid. These instances require emergency medical care.
Fractures and Dislocation Injury
Fractures and dislocations are often a result of traumatic injury like a fall, automobile accident, or sports injury. All require medical intervention, as broken bones and dislocations require a higher level of care in a facility with full x-ray and scanning capabilities.
Head Injuries and Concussions
Head injuries, including concussions, vary in severity. Some might be minor and only require observation, but others can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Loss of consciousness, severe headache, vomiting, slurred speech and neurological deficits are signs of a serious injury requiring emergency care.
Insect Bites and Stings
Insect bites and stings can vary in their reactions, from being minor irritations to causing severe allergic reactions that can be life-threatening. While most bites and stings are not serious and can be treated at home, there are certain situations when they become a medical emergency. If symptoms such as anaphylaxis,
Puncture Wounds
A puncture wound occurs when a sharp or pointed object penetrates the skin. While some puncture wounds can be minor and treated at home, there are certain scenarios where they should be considered a medical emergency or when they warrant medical attention. For example, the wound is deep, it requires foreign object removal, there is concern of tetanus, or the wound is in a place such as the face, neck or abdomen.
Seizures
Seizures can be concerning, and while not all seizures are medical emergencies, there are situations when immediate medical attention is necessary. Seizures resulting in unconsciousness, last longer than 5 minutes, are a result of heat exposure or dehydration, have no known cause, or happen in someone very young or elderly would be considered a medical emergency.
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can range from minor to severe. While many injuries can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (the RICE method), others may require immediate medical attention. Head injuries, fractures, joint dislocations, severe swelling and pain, heat-related illnesses, and uncontrolled bleeding are some sports injuries requiring immediate medical attention.
Sprains
There are certain situations where a sprain might warrant immediate medical attention. Here’s when a sprain can be considered a medical emergency or when you should see a doctor: Presents with severe pain, deformity, inability to move or bear weight, or numbness or tingling.
If you have questions about Trauma and Injury Care, click the contact button below and speak to us for more information.
