1. Primary & Secondary Survey
VICTIM ASSESSMENT
Primary & Secondary Survey

2. Beginning First Aid
Do not move the injured or suddenly ill person until you have a clear idea of the injury or illness and have applied first aid
The exception occurs when the victim is exposed to further danger at the accident scene
The first aider must not assume that the obvious injuries are the only ones present because less noticeable ones may have occured

3. Victim Assessment Get the victim’s consent
Gain the victim’s confidence
Identify the problems and determine which requires immediate first aid
Get info. about victim to give to EMS

4. Primary Survey
The primary survey is the first step in assessing a victim.
A - Airway Open?
B - Breathing?
C - Circulation at carotid pulse?
H - Hemorrhage - severe bleeding?

5. Secondary Survey Look for important signs and symptoms of injury
Sign - something the first aider sees, hears, or feels (pale face, no respiration, cool skin)
Symptom - Something the victim tells the first aider (nausea, back pain, no feeling in extremities)

6. Secondary Survey - Part 1
Interview - Identify yourself and get consent
Ask about chief complaint
For unconscious victim, monitor breathing and pulse, and if needed, render rescue breathing or CPR

7. Interview
After finding chief complaint use S-A-M-P-L-E for taking history and P-A-I-N as a way of describing pain
S-ymptoms (chief complaint)
A-llergies (may give a clue to problem
M-edication (may give clue to problem)
P-reexisting illnesses (
L-ast food (in case of surgery or food poisoning)
E-vents prior to injury

8. P-A-I-N P-eriod of pain (how long? What started it? A-rea (Where?)
I-ntensity (How strong?)
N-ullify (What stops it? Such as rest, certain positions)

9. Secondary Survey #2 Interview is #1 part of secondary survey
#2 is Vital Signs
Pulse , note rate, rhythm & volume
Respiration breaths/min. Listen for whistle or wheeze-constricted airway
A crowing sound - constricted airway
A gurgling sound - fluid in airway
A snoring sound - tongue blockage
Temperature - note skin condition - temperature & color capillary refill

10. Secondary Survey #3 Head-to-Toe Exam
Tell victim what is being done
Do not aggravate injuries or contaminate wounds
Do not move the victim in case of neck and spinal injuries
Removing clothing is not usually necessary

11. Head-to-Toe Exam Head & Neck
Check scalp for bleeding or deformity (goose egg or depression)
Do not move head
Check ears and nose for clear fluid or bloody discharge
Mouth for blood or foreign body

12. Head-to-Toe Exam - Eyes
Pupil Size - constricted or dilated
Look for unequal pupils -
Use flashlight to see if pupils are reactive to light
No reaction could mean death, coma, cataracts, or artificial eye

13. Eye - (continued) Look at inner eyelid surface - should be pink
Pale color may indicate anemia or blood loss
PEARL - Pupils equal and reactive to light

14. Head-to-Toe Exam - Chest
Check for cuts, bruises, penetrations, and impaled objects
Warn victim you are going to apply pressure to the sides of the chest
Pain from squeezing or compressing may indicate rib fracture

15. Head-to-Toe Exam - Abdomen
Anything protruding or pentrating
If complaint is abdominal pain - ask victim to point to pain
Feel for abnormal lumps
Do not push too deep
Check for guarding

16. Head-to-Toe Exam- Extremity Assessment
Check arms and legs for injury, deformity, or tenderness
Compare two sides of body
Check circulation - pulse, warmth of part, and capillary refill (greater than 2 seconds is abnormal)

17. Extremity Assessment - (cont)
Check the radial pulse - in the wrist
Check the pedal pulse - on the ankle or top of the foot for circulation

18. Head-to-Toe Exam-Spine and Back Assessment
Help victim to avoid excessive movement
Check sensation and strength in all extremities by having them press their foot against your hand
Spinal injury - may show paraplegia - paralysis in both legs
The stroke victim is likely to have hemiplegia - hemi (half), plegia (paralysis)
Paralysis of an arm or leg on the same side of the body

19. Putting it all Together
The assessment will be influenced by whether the victim is suffering from a medical problem or injury
Whether conscious or unconscious
Whether life-threatening conditions are present

20. Medical Alert Tag May be worn as necklace or bracelet
Attracts attention in an emergency situation
Contain wearer’s medical problem and 24-hour phone # to call in case of emergency
Do not remove

21. CALL EMS Give following info: Victim’s location Your phone #
What has happened
#of persons needing assistance
Condition of victim
What is being done
Always be last to hang up