Trauma is an event that will deeply disturb your being and leave you in distress. It is an eventuality that claims our sense of control about the outcome of our health and the unraveling of events. Technically, many people associate trauma to overtly distressing events in their lives. They can be physical, emotional, or otherwise. However, those are not the only instances that can traumatize you.
Less pronounced events can equally traumatize you, often something most people ignore. Perhaps the minor traumas you overlook might be the reason you find yourself in 24/7 emergency care.
What Is A Minor Trauma?
It is an eventuality in your life that causes an injury that is rather small and uncompounded. Ideally, most minor traumas will not have you sent straight to an emergency room near you. With proper management, minor trauma can easily be taken care of at an outpatient level.
Still, you must remain open to the possibility of the progression of your trauma. For example, on matters of minor psychological trauma, minor traumas can compound into a significant traumatic outcome. It is why you just address the minor traumas in the early stages as they occur.
Types of Minor Traumas
When considering traumatic events that are not major in magnitude, there are different aspects to address. It is not just the physical effects that are accounted for, but also other forms of injuries. It is why minor emotional trauma must also be considered as a trauma. The types of minor traumas include:
- Allergic reactions – while the reactions can be mild, you need to be close by the nearest ER to you when they happen. Allergic reactions can be fatal if the symptoms progress. Besides, the type of allergy you have can also affect how traumatic your problem will be.
- Animal and insect bites – this ranges from dog bites and cat scratches to bee stings.
- Burn wounds – a burn on any part of your body is a minor injury. However, some burns can be extensive making them major traumatic accidents.
- Bruises and minor fractures – fractures can be complex and compound, which would make them major traumas. However, there are some forms of broken bones, cracks, and bruises that are considered minor traumas. Minor injuries cover breaks and cracks of arms, wrists, legs, ankles, and even knees.
- Lacerations, cuts, scrapes, and open wounds – this happens when your skin breaks during an accident. While bones may still be intact, the open wounds have to be treated. Besides, anything that requires stitches needs to be handled by a specialist.
- Minor head injuries – head injuries can get complicated very quickly. It depends on the symptoms you are exhibiting, and how hard the impact was. Some head injuries, however, are minor and can be alleviated in an emergency room near you with a minor injury unit.
- Sprains, dislocation, and strains – muscles too can be in distress after an accident. While your bones may not be broken, you will need medical assistance for sprains and strains of your ligaments.
When Should You See A Doctor?
Technically, once you have been involved in an accident, your doctor should be the first person you seek assistance from. After accidents, it is not all patients that experience symptoms immediately. For some, you may not even be aware that something is wrong with you. A quick checkup by a doctor is the only way to be certain that you do not need emergency care and hospital admission. However, if you start experiencing any of the following symptoms, be sure to see your doctor:
- Bleeding – it is usually a sign that something has raptured in your body.
- Swelling and tenderness – in any area of your body.
- Pain – whether you think it is bearable or not, pain after an accident should be treated accordingly.
- Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting – they can be a serious sign of trauma, particularly based on the severity thereof.
- Passing out – whether it was for a few seconds or a couple of minutes, you need to get checked after passing out.
