CH 12: Primary Assessment

Question 1

A-B-Cs

Answer 1

airway, breathing, and circulation

Question 2

AVPU

Answer 2

a memory aid for classifying a patient’s level of responsiveness or mental status. The letters stand for alert, verbal response, painful response, unresponsive

Question 3

chief complaint

Answer 3

in emergency medicine, the reason EMS was called, usually in the patient’s own words

Question 4

general impression

Answer 4

impression of the patient’s condition that is formed on first approaching the patient, based on the patient’s environment, chief complaint, and appearance

Question 5

interventions

Answer 5

actions taken to correct or manage a patient’s problems

Question 6

manual stabilization

Answer 6

using one’s hands to prevent movement of a patient’s head and neck until a cervical collar can be applied

Question 7

mental status

Answer 7

level of responsiveness

Question 8

primary assessment

Answer 8

the first element in a patient assessment; steps taken for the purpose of discovering and dealing with any life-threatening problems. The six parts of primary assessment are: (1) forming a general impression, (2) assessing mental status, (3) assessing airway, (4) assessing breathing, (5) assessing circulation, and (6) determining the priority of the patient for treatment and transport to the hospital.

Question 9

priority

Answer 9

the decision regarding the need for immediate transport of the patient versus further assessment and care at the scene.

Question 10

spinal motion restriction

Answer 10

a procedure for limiting movement of the head, neck, and spine when spinal injury is possible or likely.