What is a sign of blunt force trauma?

Bruising is indeed a sign of blunt force trauma because it occurs when small blood vessels under the skin break due to a strong impact. This can result in discoloration of the skin, which is a direct indicator of the force applied to that area. Blunt force trauma typically results from impacts that do not penetrate the skin, leading to bruises as the body reacts to the injury internally.

While other choices like open wounds can be associated with various types of trauma, they are more characteristic of penetrating injuries rather than blunt force. Fractures can occur as a result of blunt force trauma, but not all blunt force injuries will lead to fractures. Chest pain could result from many conditions and is not specifically indicative of blunt force trauma alone. Therefore, bruising is the most direct and typical sign of this type of injury.