EMT Primary Assessment and Medical Terminology (12)

A-B-C's

Airway, breathing, circulation

AVPU

Memory aid for level of responsiveness: Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive

Chief complaint

The reason EMS was called, usually in the patient's own words

General impression

First-approach impression of patient's condition based on environment, chief complaint, and appearance

Interventions

Actions taken to correct or manage a patient's problems

Manual stabilization

Using hands to prevent head/neck movement until a cervical collar is applied

Mental status

Level of responsiveness

Primary Assessment

First assessment element to discover and treat life-threatening problems

Six parts of Primary Assessment

General impression, mental status, airway, breathing, circulation, and transport priority

Priority

Decision regarding immediate transport versus further assessment/care at the scene

Spinal motion restriction (SMR)

Procedure for limiting movement of head, neck, and spine when injury is suspected

When does SMR take place?

During the scene size-up

The LOOK test

Feeling from environmental observations combined with first look at patient

Levine's sign

A fist clenched over the chest; the global position of a heart attack

Acronym used when assessing mental status

AVPU

Skin assessment in the circulation stage of ABCs

Good circulation: warm, pink, dry skin. Shock: pale, clammy (cool, moist) skin.

How long to check the pulse

No longer than 10 seconds

Stable patient

A patient with vital signs in normal range or just slightly abnormal

Unstable patient

A patient with any threat to airway, breathing, or circulation