Patient Assessment

1
Patient Assessment

• Emergency Action Steps
• EAS

2
Patient Assessment Process

• Scene size-up
• Initial assessment
• Identify and treat life threats
• Ongoing assessment

• Check
• Call
• Care

3
EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS

• Check the scene, then the victim
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
• Care for the victim

4
APPLYING THE EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS

• CHECK the Scene
• Is the scene safe to approach?
• What happened?
• How many victims are there?
• Are bystanders present to help?

5
APPLYING THE EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS

• CHECK the Victim
• Which victims were checked for life-threatening
  conditions?
• Which victims were checked for non-life
  threatening conditions?
• Why were all victims not checked for non-life
  threatening conditions?

6
WHEN CHECKING A CONSCIOUS VICTIM, ASK

• What happened?
• Do you feel pain anywhere?
• Do you have any allergies?
• Do you have any medical conditions or are you
  taking any medications?
• Have you had anything to eat or drink?

7
APPLYING THE EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS

• CALL 9-1-1
• When did someone call?
• What information should the caller be prepared to
  give?
• What could you do to ensure that 9-1-1 has been
  called? What if you are not sure?
• Where else might the caller find a phone?

8
CONDITIONS THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY LIFE THREATENING

• Unconsciousness
• Not breathing
• No heartbeat (or signs of circulation)
• Severe bleeding

9
APPLYING THE EMERGENCY ACTION STEPS

• CARE
• What care was provided?

10
Body Substance Isolation

• Assumes all body fluids present a possible risk
  for infection
• Protective equipment
• Latex or vinyl gloves should always be worn
• Eye protection
• Mask
• Gown

11
Scene Safety Potential Hazards

• Fire or smoke
• Hazardous materials
• Other dangers at crash or rescue scenes
• Crime scenes

• Oncoming traffic
• Unstable surfaces
• Leaking gasoline
• Downed electrical lines
• Potential for violence

12
Scene Safety

• Park in a safe area
• The safety of you comes first!
• Next concern is the safety of patient(s) and
  bystanders.
• Request additional resources if needed to make
  scene safe.

13
Mechanism of Injury

• What happened?
• Helps determine the possible extent of injuries
  on trauma patients
• Evaluate
• Amount of force applied to body
• Area of the body involved

14
Motor Vehicle Crashes

• Amount of force related to speed
• Injuries can be predicted by
• Position in the car
• Use of seat belts
• How the body shifts during the crash

15
Falls

• Amount of force related to height of fall
• Note surface that patient landed on
• Attempt to determine how patient landed

16
Gunshot and Stab Wounds

• Gunshot wounds
• Force is related to caliber of weapon and
  distance from gun to the patient
• Stab wounds
• Injury can be estimated by looking at the
  entrance and length of the weapon

17
Nature of Illness

• Search for clues to determine the nature of
  illness.
• Often described by the patients chief complaint
• Gather information from the patient and people on
  scene.
• Observe the scene.

18
Number of Patients

• Determine the number of patients and their
  condition.
• Assess what additional resources will be needed.