Assessing the victim

1. LESSON 4 Assessing the victim 4-1

2. Assess the Victim • Check scene for safety • Initial assessment for life-threatening conditions • Unresponsiveness • Lack of normal breathing • Severe bleeding • Secondary assessment • Monitor the victim for any changes 4-2

3. Initial Assessment continued • Takes less than one minute • Do not move victim unless: • Imminent danger to victim • Cannot give life-saving care because of victim’s location or position • AVPU Scale • Alert • Verbal stimuli (response) • Painful stimuli (response) • Unresponsive to all stimuli 4-3

4. Check for Responsiveness and Normal Breathing • Tap person on shoulder and shout “Are you okay?” - A person who is speaking, coughing or moving is responsive - A person who may be paralyzed may have purposeful eye movements or other signs • Check the person first in the position found. 4-4

5. Unresponsiveness • A sign of a life-threatening problem • Call 9-1-1 immediately • At same time look for normal breathing 4-5

6. Check for Normal Breathing • A victim who can speak or cough is breathing • Gasping is not normal breathing • Check victim first in position found 4-6

7. Breathing Normally? • If victim is breathing normally, continue assessment • If unresponsive victim is not breathing normally, start CPR 4-7

8. Check for Severe Bleeding • Severe bleeding is life-threatening • Control with direct pressure 4-8

9. Recovery Position • Helps keep airway open • Allows fluid to drain from mouth • Prevents aspiration • If possible, put victim onto left side • Continue to monitor breathing 4-9

10. Recovery Position (HAINES-High Arm IN Endangered Spine) 4-10

11. Secondary Assessment • Performed only for victims without life-threatening conditions • Do not interrupt care for serious problem • Can provide additional information • Usually performed on responsive victims • Includes history and physical examination • Focused primarily on injured area 4-11

12. Get the Victim’s History • Talk to a responsive victim • Ask bystanders or family members what happened • Consider the mechanism of injury 4-12

13. SAMPLE HISTORY S Signs and symptoms A Allergies M Medications P Previous problems L Last food or drink E Events 4-13

14. Unresponsive Victim • Ask family or bystanders what happened • Check the scene for clues • Consider effects of environmental extremes • Consider victim’s age 4-14

15. Physical Examination continued • Examine a responsive victim from head to toe for: • Bleeding or other open wounds • Pain, tenderness when victim is touched • Swelling or deformity • Skin color, temperature, condition • Abnormal sensation or movement 4-15

16. DOTS: What to look for D Deformities O Open injuries T Tenderness (pain) S Swelling 4-16

17. Examining a Child or Infant • Use simple questions • Involve parents or guardians • Perform physical examination toe to head • Talk calmly and soothingly 4-17

18. Monitor the Victim • Give first aid for any injury or illness • For unresponsive victim or victim with serious injury: • Make sure condition doesn’t get worse • Repeat breathing assessment at least every five minutes 4-18