When you arrive to the trauma room, you may be conscious or unconscious.

You will be placed on the trauma table, and, since you arrive on a backboard with your neck secured with a cervical collar and your head taped to the backboard, you are not able to move your head and neck - until x-rays can be taken and we can rule out a spinal cord injury.

The trauma team, already assembled with gowns, masks, hats, gloves, shoe covers and lead aprons (worn to protect staff during x-rays) will begin to assess you.

Your clothes will be cut off so they can determine the extent of your injuries.

Bright lights will shine, fingers will be poking and prodding your body, tubes will be inserted, needles will be used to draw blood, start I.V.'s, x-ray's taken, lots of noise from machines and the team.

Depending on the severity of your injury, they will probably work on you for about two hours and then take you directly to surgery,

to the Critical Care Unit,

the Neuro Intensive Care Unit,

or, if you are among the unlucky 12 percent of all trauma patients: to the Morgue.