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 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