TRAUMA PATIENT ASSESSMENT

Answer 1

I will take appropriate BSI precautions **

Answer 2

I will determine if the scene is safe to enter ***

Question 3

3.

Answer 3

I will to determine the mechanism of injury by observation.

Question 4

4.

Answer 4

I will determine the number of patients.

Question 5

5.

Answer 5

I will determine the need for additional resources. (ALS, Law enforcement,
HazMat etc.)

Answer 6

I will take/direct appropriate c-spine precautions**

Question 7

7.

Answer 7

I will observe the patient for approximate age, sex & weight. I will observe the
general appearance, noting purposeful movement, obvious injury and skin color.

Answer 8

I will assess for and control severe bleeding (roll patient if appropriate)**

Question 9

9.

Answer 9

“Hello, my name is _________ and I am an EMT. May I help you? What is
your name? How old are you?” Do you know what happened? Do you know
where you are? Do you know what time of day it is?”
I will determine the level of responsiveness of my patient based on the AVPU
scale and state it.

Question 10

10.

Answer 10

Where do you hurt?”

Answer 11

I will assess the airway for patency, noting any gurgling, stridor or silence **

Answer 12

I will provide BLS maneuvers and/or adjuncts as appropriate **

Answer 13

I will determine if respirations are adequate or inadequate. If the patient
appears short of breath, I will auscultate lung sounds (midaxillary x 2). ** (four on back and four on bottom)

Answer 14

I will initiate oxygen therapy if appropriate (specify the device and
appropriate flow rate). ** (SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN)

Answer 15

I will assess for the presence of a pulse (approximate rate, strength, and rhythm) **

Question 16

16.

Answer 16

I am assessing the skin for color (if not noted above), temperature and moisture.

Answer 17

I will position the patient appropriately and cover him with a blanket to
conserve body heat. Assure severe bleeding has been controlled. **

Answer 18

I will determine patient priority low or high (select one) based on GCS. If high,
I will package the patient as appropriate and initiate immediate transport. **

Question 19

19. S

Answer 19

Sign and Symptoms:
I will observe for obvious trauma and question the patient about their complaints. “Tell me
again where you have pain.”

Question 20

20. A

Answer 20

Allergies:

Do you have any allergies to foods or medications?

Question 21

21. M

Answer 21

MEDICATIONS:
Do you take any medications? (prescribed/non-prescribed, vitamins, herbal remedies, birth
control pills, recreational drugs).

Question 22

22. P

Answer 22

PAST MEDICAL HISTORY:
Has this ever happened before? When was the last time you saw a physician? Reason? Do
you have a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac or breathing problems, or seizures?

Question 23

23. L

Answer 23

LAST ORAL INTAKE:

What and when did you last eat or drink?

Question 24

24. E

Answer 24

EVENTS LEADING TO PRESENT INJURY:

What happened today that led you or someone else to call 911?

Question 25

25.

Answer 25

Head: I will examine the head for SIGNS OF TRAUMA.1 FOR WOUNDS

Question 26

26.

Answer 26

Face: | I will examine the face for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, symmetry of facial muscles.

Question 27

27.

Answer 27

EYES: I will examine the eyes for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, pupil size, equality, reactivity to light, pink moist conjunctiva.

Question 28

28.

Answer 28

Nose2: | I will examine the nose for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, drainage, singed nostrils, flaring.

Question 29

29.

Answer 29

MOUTH: I will examine the mouth for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, broken teeth, foreign body, blood, pink moist mucosa.

Question 30

30.

Answer 30

Ears : | I will examine the ears for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, drainage.

Question 31

31.

Answer 31

NECK: I will examine the neck for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, jugular vein distention, tracheal deviation, accessory muscle use, stoma, medical alert jewelry

Question 32

32.

Answer 32

CHEST: I will examine the chest for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, subcutaneous emphysema, paradoxical movement, equal chest rise, lung sounds, scars.

Question 33

33.

Answer 33

ABDOMEN: | I will examine the abdomen for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, distention, rigidity, guarding, scars.

Question 34

34.

Answer 34

PELVIS: | I will examine the pelvis for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, incontinence

Question 35

35.

Answer 35

LEGS: I will examine the legs for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, track marks, medical alert jewelry, distal CSM.

Question 36

36.

Answer 36

ARMS: I will examine the arms for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, track marks, medical alert jewelry, distal CSM.

Question 37

37.

Answer 37

BACK: | I will examine the back for SIGNS OF TRAUMA, paradoxical movement, scars.

Question 38

38.

Answer 38

I will reassess mental status and ABCs.

Question 39

39.

Answer 39

I will record a second set of vital signs and compare with the first set.

Question 40

40.

Answer 40

I will evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and adjust as appropriate.