Trauma can cause a variety of symptoms across your body. The symptoms you experience depend on the type and severity of your injury.

Emergency Symptoms

While most traumatic injuries need urgent care, the following symptoms are especially serious:

• Bleeding that won’t stop
• Burn covering a large area or that results in missing skin
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of consciousness
• Overwhelming pain
• Shock, which is the result of not having sufficient blood flow

Trauma is often due to accidents and other unplanned events that cause severe injuries.

At UC Davis Medical Center, we perform a rapid assessment to determine the type and extent of your injuries. Trauma surgeons with advanced training guide your care. We use state-of-the-art technology to give you a prompt, accurate diagnosis.

We start by checking your airway and breathing, then perform a head-to-toe evaluation. If we suspect internal injuries, you undergo imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan. We may also perform blood work to check for medical issues, like electrolyte imbalances or liver damage.

Our compassionate doctors and nurses are on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We deliver comprehensive trauma care, including therapies that address your immediate medical needs and services that optimize recovery.

You have timely access to any medical or surgical subspecialty you may need. Our extended team includes experts in anesthesiology, radiology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery, critical care medicine, orthopaedics and more.

Our team maintains exceptional outcomes and low complication rates, giving you the best chances for healing.

It’s not always possible to prevent trauma. Many severe injuries are due to circumstances beyond your control.

But there are steps you can take to lower your likelihood of getting traumatic injuries. These include following the rules of the road, following gun safety practices and avoiding dangerous activities.