First Medical Aid Assessment of Vital Functions PDF

First Medical Aid Assessment of vital functions 1  ELEMENTS OF THE PATIENT EXAMINATION The patient's examination is divided to: Personal examination - interview Physical examination 2  Patient int...

First Medical Aid Assessment of vital functions 1  ELEMENTS OF THE PATIENT EXAMINATION The patient's examination is divided to: Personal examination - interview Physical examination 2  Patient interview The interview should be collected according to the SAMPLE scheme: S (symptoms) A (allergies) M (medicines) P (past medical history, previous diseases) L (last meal) E (preceding events) 3 Preliminary assessment 4  Elements of preliminary assessment General impression (general appearance of the injured person) Determining the state of consciousness Assessment of vital signs (ABC scheme): A - airway B - breathing C - circulation 5 STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS AVPU scale: A (Alert) – conscious patient V (Verbal) - responds to voice commands P (Pain) - responds to pain U (Unresponsive) - does not respond to any stimulation 6  ASSESSMENT OF AIRWAY If the patient does not speak or is unconscious, the airway should be assessed Open the airway by suctioning the contents from the mouth Perform exercises to open the respiratory tract Failure to maintain a clear airway is a situation in which the initial assessment should be discontinued and advanced airway management techniques should be instituted. 7 Open the airway 8  Open the airway Head tilt and chin thrust method - used for unconscious people at whose we do not suspect damage to the cervical spine ü With your hand on the forehead and your fingerstips under the point of the chin, gently tilt the victim's head backwards, lifting the chin to open the airway 9  Open the airway Due to the risk of damage to the cervical spine in a patient after an injury, the airway should not be opened by tilting the head back. Use a modified jaw thrust – Esmarch maneuver 10  Breathing Look, listen and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds A victim who is barely breathing, or taking infrequent, slow and noisy gasps, is not breathing normally 11  Breathing Normal breathing rate in an adult person: 10-30 / min < 10 per minute is bradypnoe > 30 per minute is tachypnoe 12  BVM ventilation In case of insufficient ventilation (breaths < 10/min or breathing too shallow), the rescuer should immediately provide respiratory support, using knees to immobilize the head and neck Any patient who breathes too quickly should receive high-flow oxygen 13  Circulation The pulse should be examined in the central (carotid, femoral) and peripheral (radial) arteries When looking for a pulse, pay attention to skin color, temperature and capillary refill Any external bleeding should be found and treated 14  Circulation Normal pulse rate in an adult person: 60-100 / min < 60 per minute is bradycardia > 100 per minute is tachycardia 15 RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT 16  RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT AND LOCAL ASSESSMENT Rapid trauma assessment involves assessment injuries by examining the injured person "from head to toe" The choice between rapid trauma assessment and local assessment depends on the mechanism of injury and/or the results of the initial assessment In the event of a generalized injury (e.g. traffic accident, fall from a height) or when the patient is unconscious, a rapid trauma assessment should be performed. In the case of limited-range injuries (e.g. stab wound of the forearm), a local assessment may be performed, limited only to the area of the injury, especially if the initial examination shows no deviations from the norm. 17  RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT Head and neck Are there visible wounds? What is the filling of the jugular veins? Is the trachea in the midline? Is there tenderness or distortion of the neck contours? After examining the neck, a collar should be placed to immobilize the cervical spine 18  RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT Chest Is the chest symmetrical? Are there any paradoxical movements? Are there signs of blunt or penetrating trauma? Are there any open wounds? Is there any pathological mobility, pain or crackling of the ribs? 19  RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT Belly Are there visible wounds? Is the belly soft, hard, with increased circumference? Is it painful? Pelvis Are there any visible wounds or distorted contours? Is there any pathological mobility, pain or crackling? 20  RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT Thighs Are there any visible wounds or distorted contours? Is there any pathological mobility, pain or crackling? Lower legs and upper limbs Are there any visible wounds or distorted contours? Is there any pathological mobility, pain or crackling? Can the patient move his fingers and toes? 21  RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT Back (the examination is performed while transferring the patient to a rigid stretcher) Are there any deformations, contusions, abrasions, penetrating wounds, burns, soreness, cuts, swelling 22  RAPID TRAUMA ASSESSMENT The Transport Decision: Load and Go vs. Stay and Play Load and Go refers to a priory patient, one suffering from injuries where transport to the hospital is needed right away. Stay and Play refers to a patient who will benefit from continued assessment on scene and then transport. 23 Thank you for your attention 24