Scenario — Major limb haemorrhage following motocross crash
advanced Trauma · Adult · 35yr · male
Patient Information
| Dispatch | A 35YO male (Jake Morrow) who has come off his motocross bike at high speed during a community moto event at the Perth Motorplex. Bystanders report significant bleeding from the right thigh. |
| Patient | Jake Morrow — 35yr (80kg) |
| Incident History | Pt came off his bike at approximately 60km/h on a corner, impacting a barrier. Bystanders applied direct hand pressure to right thigh wound. Significant blood loss estimated at scene. |
| Emergency Contact | Sarah Morrow (Wife) — 0412 875 341 |
Initial Rapid Assessment
| Response | Voice |
| Airway | Patent. No obstructions. No stridor. |
| Breathing | RR 24/min. Shallow but adequate chest rise bilaterally. No paradoxical movement. No open wounds to chest. SpO2 92% on room air. |
| Circulation | Radial pulse rapid and weak. Skin pale, cool, diaphoretic. Significant active bleeding from large laceration to right mid-thigh with blood-soaked clothing. CRT 4 seconds. No evidence of chest, abdominal, pelvic or long bone injury on rapid survey. |
| Disability | GCS 13/15 (E3V4M6). Oriented to person and place, confused to time. Pupils equal and reactive 4mm bilaterally. |
| Exposure | Large stellate laceration to right mid-thigh with arterial-pattern bleeding soaking through makeshift bystander dressing. Motocross gear partially removed by bystanders. No other obvious injuries identified on rapid exposure. |
Vitals
| Time | SpO2 | Resp Dist | RR | Pulse | BP | CRT | GCS | PERL | Temp | BGL | Pain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | 92% (RA) | Mild | 24 | 128 | 84/50 | 4s | 13 | 4 4 ++ | 36.4 | 6.2 mmol/L | 8 |
| 10 mins | 97% (O2 NRB 15L) | Nil | 18 | 108 | 96/62 | 3s | 14 | 4 4 ++ | 36.4 | 6.2 mmol/L | 5 |
History Taking
| Signs/Symptoms | Active bleeding from right thigh laceration. Dizziness and light-headedness. Generalised weakness. Pale, cool, diaphoretic. Confusion. |
| Allergies | No known drug allergies. |
| Medications | Nil regular medications. |
| Pertinent History | Fit and well. No significant past medical or surgical history. Non-smoker, social drinker. |
| Last Oral Intake | Water approximately 1 hour ago. Light meal 3 hours prior. |
| Events Leading | Competing in a community amateur motocross event at the Perth Motorplex. Lost control on a corner at approximately 60km/h and impacted a concrete barrier with right leg. |
| Treatment Prior | Bystanders applied firm direct hand pressure to wound using a race marshal's jacket approximately 5 minutes prior to EHS arrival. No tourniquet applied. |
| Onset | Acute — approximately 10 minutes prior to EHS arrival following high-speed impact with barrier. |
| Pain | Right thigh — sharp, severe, constant pain at wound site. |
| Quality | Sharp, tearing pain at laceration site. |
| Radiates | Nil radiation. |
| Severity | 8/10 |
Scenario Progression and Treatment Objectives
Diagnosis
This patient is suffering from major limb haemorrhage with early hypovolaemic shock secondary to arterial laceration of the right thigh sustained in a high-speed motocross crash.
Facilitator Triggers — if trainees miss a critical step
- ! (If tourniquet is not applied within the first 3 minutes and direct pressure is not escalated, increase pulse to 140 and drop BP to 74 systolic — patient begins to lose consciousness, GCS drops to 10.)
- ! (If oxygen is not administered within 3 minutes, SpO2 drops to 88% and respiratory distress escalates to moderate.)
- ! (If trainees attempt to splint or perform secondary survey BEFORE arresting haemorrhage, bleed visibly worsens — direct trainees back to haemorrhage control as the immediate priority.)
- ! (If tourniquet is applied but not tightened adequately — bleeding continues and trainees must be prompted: 'The wound is still bleeding actively. The tourniquet does not appear to be controlling the haemorrhage.')
- ! (If trainees do not record time of tourniquet application, prompt: 'At what time was the tourniquet applied? You will need to document this and inform the receiving facility.')
Treatment Objectives
- 1. Ensure scene safety — confirm event safety officer has cleared the track and the patient is accessible safely.
- 2. Don appropriate PPE including gloves and eye protection given significant blood and body fluid exposure risk.
- 3. Perform Primary Survey — identify catastrophic haemorrhage as the immediate priority.
- 4. Apply firm direct pressure to right thigh wound immediately while preparing Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT).
- 5. Apply CAT Tourniquet to right thigh — position at least 5cm above the wound directly on skin, tighten windlass until bleeding is controlled, lock and secure windlass strap.
- 6. Record and document time of tourniquet application on the tourniquet device itself.
- 7. Apply CAT Tourniquet sticker to a visible region on the patient (e.g. shoulder).
- 8. Administer Oxygen via non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min — titrate to target SpO2 94–98%.
- 9. Conduct Vital Sign Survey — assess GCS, SpO2, BP, HR, RR, BGL, temperature.
- 10. Perform secondary survey — assess for concurrent injuries to head, chest, abdomen, pelvis and long bones.
- 11. Assess distal neurovascular observations to right lower limb post tourniquet application: pulse, CRT, colour, warmth, movement, sensation.
- 12. Do NOT remove tourniquet once applied.
- 13. Minimise on-scene time — prepare patient for rapid transport to hospital.
- 14. Notify receiving facility early — Priority 1 transport with pre-notification of receiving Emergency Department regarding major limb haemorrhage and tourniquet application time.
- 15. At 60 minutes from tourniquet application time, plan to contact CSP in SOC to arrange consultation with the State Trauma Unit.
- 16. Monitor and document full observations every 5 minutes given time-critical status.
- 17. Scenario ends on arrival of ambulance and IMISTAMBO handover.
- 18. Attention to hand hygiene will be given throughout the scenario.
Clinical references: Haemorrhage · Hypovolemic Shock · Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) · Primary Survey · Oxygen Delivery
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