Future Performance Training
A casualty should never be moved from the scene unless remaining at that location is life threatening. Ideally, EMRS should respond to the scene. If life-threatening factors do exist by remaining at the scene, the FA should take extreme care not to cause further injury to the patient during the move. The spinal cord must be protected from any twisting or unnecessary movement during this effort. It may be necessary to consider life over limb.
Patient Assessment is the gathering of information in a calm and systematic manner to establish whether the patient has:
- Any life-threatening conditions (primary survey) and
- Other injuries (trauma) and/ or medical conditions (secondary survey).
After completing a patient assessment you should have the following information available which will help in the treatment of the patient and with handing the patient over to higher qualified medical help.
S A M P L E - follow these helpful patient assessment steps prior to checking for the obvious problems
S Signs and Symptoms What is the primary complaint? Check vital signs: § Skin Condition - Is skin red, pale, blue or yellow.
Is the skin moist, clammy or dry? Hot, warm, cool or cold? Is the skin moist
or pale? § Check level of consciousness - alert, unresponsive,
confused § Breathing - Is breathing rapid, slow, noisy? § Pulse - Is pulse rapid or slow? Strong or weak? § Eyes - Are the pupils of the eyes dilated
(enlarged), constricted (very small), unequal (one pupil small, one pupil
large) - PEARL?
A Ask patient about allergies
to foods, medications, insects, or other things? Look for medical alert
bracelets, necklace etc... Ask patient if they have
been exposed to an allergen. M Medications Is the patient taking any medication or under the
influence of any drugs? P Pre-Existing Medical History Look for medical alert bracelets, necklace etc... Ask the patient about any medical conditions that
may relate to their current problems. L Last Meal Ask the patient when they ate last and what did they
eat? E Events What events led up to illness or injury? There are 3
injuries that take precedent over the rest and Emergency Services should be called
if:
These require special and careful attention !!!!