ECC Chapter 4 Flashcards

What is an assessment?

A sequence of actions that helps determine what is wrong

What does a primary assessment determine?

• illness or injury

• altered mental status

• existence of a life threatening condition

Assesment Steps

1. perform a primary assessment

2. obtain the person’s SAMPLE history

3. perform a secondary assessment

4. perform a assessment

characteristics of a scene size up

• look for hazards

• be aware of the potential for violence

• be observant for weapons

• if the scene appears hazardous, do not go in

• reduce exposure

• determine whether the problem is an injury or an illness

7 stages in the primary assessment

1. identify life-threatening conditions so that you can immediately take action to treat the conditions

2. form a general first impression

3. check responsiveness

4. asses breathing

5. check for sever bleeding

6. position the person

7. history taking (SAMPLE)

3 life threatening conditions

• responsiveness

• circulation

• circulation and sever external bleeding

what questions are asked in a general first impression in a primary assessment

• change of exposure to blood/body fluids?

• danger to you, injured or i’ll person, or bystanders?

• injury or illness?

• responsive or unresponsive?

• breathing adequately? talking?

• bleeding?

how to check for responsiveness

• introduce yourself

• ask permission

• evaluate person’s ability to remember

what are abnormal sounds regarding bleeding? What do they mean?

• snoring: airway partially blocked

• gurgling: fluids in throat

• crowing: spasm of the larynx, foreign body

• wheezing: spasm or partial obstruction in bronchi

What to do when someone has severe bleeding?

• check for large amounts of blood around the person and on the person’s clothing

• control bleeding

• wear medical exam gloves

when are you SUPPOSED TO move a person

• unsafe location

• person is face down and needs CPR

• person has difficulty breathing from vomit

• first aid provider must leave to get help

• signs of shock develop

What does SAMPLE mean?

S: signs/symptoms

A: allergies

M: Medications

P: pertinent past medical history

L: last oral intake

E: events leading up to

stages of the secondary assessment (physical exam)

1. complete after SAMPLE history

2. determine whether the cause of injury was significant

3. asses the person’s entire body

4. look for DOTS

What are signs?

conditions you can see, feel, hear, and smell

what are symptoms?

things the person feels and is able to describe (the CHIEF complaint)

what are DOTS?

D: Deformity

O: open wounds

T: tenderness

S: swelling

what do you do if you believe someone has a significant cause of injury?

• perform a head to toe physical examination

• May be responsive or unresponsive

• assume the unresponsive person with an MOI (mechanism of injury) has a spinal injury)

What are the two types of MOIs to look for?

• injuries

• sudden illnesses

  • if a life-threatening condition is found, stop and treat it before continuing on with assessment

What to do during a reassessment

• regularly check the person who has a serious injury or illness

  • after most serious conditions have been cared for, and as frequently as possible

• remain calm

what are some special considerations for assessments?

• exposing an injury (removing clothing)

• avoid contact during physical exams (accusations and diseases)

• look for and ask for DOTS

What are some optional assessments?

• tracking heart rate (HR)

  • adults is between 60-100bpm

  • count for a full minute

• tracking Respiratory rates (RRs)

  • number of breaths taken in 1 minute, adults are usually 12-20 bpm

• Skin conditions

  • temperature, color, moisture

• Eyes

  • pupil testing, PERRLA

• capillary refill test

  • pressing fingernail to see circulation