Trauma One! shows your victim in the trauma room. You may see clues such as trickling blood, a crooked shin, etc. All interventions (neck collar, IVs, CVP monitor, automated BP monitor, splints, etc) can be seen, providing a realistic feel.

You pick questions to ask the patient (or the paramedics or family) from the menus. You seek specific physical exam information. You order interventions. You order lab tests and x-rays. As you discover diagnoses, you log them in the "Diagnose" menu. When you've stabilized the patient, you transfer him to surgery or to ICU.

Trauma One! is constantly looking for a way to trip you up. It's absolutely ruthless. When you've mastered this program, you'll have a rigorous, conservative, solid approach to multiple-trauma.

This is how Trauma One! thinks:

OK, this guy wants to spend ten minutes trying to find a collapsed vein to start an IV, but he hasn't checked the breathing yet. How does he know this patient doesn't have a pneumothorax? Oh, goody. I can make this patient crash while he's busy! Or, He wants to put in a catheter. Did he check the urethral meatus for blood yet? No! Hey, is this patient allowed to have a pelvic injury? Yes! Oh, boy. I'll just clobber him for this little oversight by creating a pelvic fracture right now!

But Trauma One! also has its "gentle" side. If you select "Teaching" mode, the program will point out your mistake and let you go on.