Patient Assessment - Before you begin Do a scene size-up – Safety. Do a medical size-up – Call for assistance. Start where you stand. If Necessary Perform Triage – If victims not already tagged. When triage completed begin assessment.
Patient Assessment - Before you begin
Do a scene size-up– Safety.
Do a medical size-up– Call for assistance.
Start where you stand. If Necessary Perform
Triage– If victims not already
tagged.
When triage completed begin assessment.
What We’re Looking For . . .
• Mechanism of Injury• To provide immediate
treatment for life threatening injuries
• To make a plan and treat non-life threatening injuries
• Signs & Symptoms – Signs
Bruising WoundsSwellingDisfigurement
– Symptoms PainDizzinessInability to move a
body part.
Make Sure Your Patient has been Triaged
Look, Listen, & FeelRPM
– Respiration– Perfusion– Mental Status
Head
• Sign of InjuryChange in
consciousnessBleeding
• Nose, mouth or earsBruisingSwellingSeizuresParalysis Nausea, Vomiting
Exam of the Head
Use two hands– Bilateral Symmetry
Feel the scalpFeel the faceCheck the mouth for
foreign objects
os lacrimale
Neck
• Feel up back of neck – Find the 7th cervical
vertebrae– Check alignment
• Check structures in front of neck– Trachea– Veins– Arteries
Head, Neck & Spine Injuries• Stabilize the
Head/Neck/Spine– Keep in a straight line– Support the neck
• Neck is the easiest area to injure
• Transport on a rigid surface– Door, plank, etc.
Shoulders
• Compare left and right– Same distance from
ground– Same distance from
head– Not forward,
backward, higher or lower than the other
Chest• Find the sternum
– Find the notch above the sternum
– Find the point on the bottom of the sternum
• Press with the edge of your hand– In the MIDDLE of the
sternum– Depress about 1/2”
• Press in from sides
Abdomen
• Divide the abdomen into 4 quadrants– Find umbilicus
• Divide vertically and horizontally from that point
• Use two hands– Fingertips– Top hand presses
down, Lower hand feels
Pelvis
• Find both iliac crests• Place palms on the
crests– Fingers facing out
• Press down• Then press in from
the sides
Arms & Legs
• Check alignment and appearance
• Rotate shoulder joint• Flex elbow joint• Flex wrist & fingers
Turning Patient - One Rescuer
• The more rescuers the better
– (6 person turn taught in Class-5)
• Support the head/neck if able
• Position arms and legs for turning
• Grasp at shoulder and hip– Keep back inline when
turning
Back
• Keep in alignment• Secondary consideration
– When compared to saving a life