First Aid Initial Assessment

First Aid - Initial Assessment

• The initial assessment is a rapid evaluation to identify life-threatening conditions that need immediate attention.
• The acronym D-R-A-B-C is used in the primary assessment: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.
• Danger involves assessing the scene for safety hazards and the number of patients.
• Response checks if the casualty is alert or unconscious. If unconscious, approach from the feet, and note any changes in response.
• Airway assessment ensures the casualty's airway is open. If unconscious, tilt head and lift chin.
• Breathing focuses on checking if the casualty is breathing normally (look, listen, feel).
• Circulation checks for signs of bleeding and pulse.
• If life-threatening conditions are managed, or there are none, move on to the secondary survey.

Primary Assessment

• Primary assessment is a rapid assessment of the patient to determine life-threatening conditions.
• It identifies any immediate danger, checks for the casualty's response, checks airway, breathing, and circulation.
• Work down the patient's body when assessing, for example, starting from the head down to the feet.
• This should take less than one minute.
• This is not just for traumatic injuries, but also for unconscious people.

Airway Assessment

• Evaluate the casualty's airway to ensure it's open.
• For conscious casualties, address choking or suffocation.
• For unconscious casualties, tilt the head and lift the chin to improve airway passage.
• Check the mouth for obstructions and remove them.
• Consider C-spine injuries. Check the back of the neck, jaw, and mouth. Removal of any obstructions is vital.

Breathing Assessment

• Determine if the casualty is breathing normally, observing for chest movement, listening for breaths, and feeling for air.
• For conscious casualties, address difficulties breathing (e.g. asthma).
• If not breathing or having difficulty breathing, call for emergency help.
• For unconscious casualties, check for breathing, and if absent, call emergency assistance immediately.

Circulation Assessment

• Assess pulse rate and skin perfusion (pulse, skin color, moisture, and temperature).
• Check for signs of severe bleeding.
• If bleeding is severe, control the bleeding and call emergency services.
• If no life-threatening conditions exist, proceed to the secondary survey.

Disability Assessment

• Evaluate the casualty's level of responsiveness using the AVPU scale.
• A - Alert
• V - Verbal response
• P - Pain response
• U - Unresponsive

Exposure Assessment

• Ensure the casualty is exposed enough to examine all injuries while protecting them from the environment.
• Look for any injuries that aren't readily apparent.

Secondary Survey

• This occurs after the primary survey.
• Involves a head-to-toe examination of the casualty for other injuries.
• The casualty should remain in the position found until safe relocation to a comfortable position.

History Taking

• Inquiry about past medical history, current medications, allergies, and the events leading to the injury
• Inquire what happened
• Inquire about medications taken, and medical history.
• Assess allergies, and if there is any medical warning bracelet.

Symptoms Assessment

• Obtain a detailed description of the casualty's symptoms, following the OPQRST approach.
• O - Onset
• P - Position
• Q - Quality
• R - Radiation
• S - Severity
• T - Time

Signs Assessment

• Assess the casualty for observable signs through observation and physical examination.
• This includes swelling, bleeding, discoloration, deformities, and smell.

Physical Examination (Head-to-Toe)

• Systematic examination of all body regions from head to toe.
• Includes specific checks for each body part.
• Example: Check the scalp for bleeding, ears for discharge, mouth for foreign objects, chest for deformities, abdomen for tenderness et cetera.