Mnemonics

Question 1

Rapid trauma assessment

Answer 1

DCAP-BTLS:

Deformities 
Contusions
Abrasions
Penetrations
Burns
Tenderness
Lacerations
Swelling

Question 2

Pain

Answer 2

OPQRST:

Onset
Provoked
Quality
Radiates
Severity
Time it started

Question 3

Shortness of breath

Answer 3

PASTE:

Provoked
Associated chest pain
Sputum
Time/talk ability
Exercise tolerance

Question 4

Stroke

Answer 4

GFAST:

Gaze
Facial droop
Arm drift
Speech impairment 
Time seen normal

Question 5

Medical assessment

Answer 5

SAMPLE:

Symptoms
Allergies
Medications (prescribed or recreational)
Past pertinent medical history
Last oral intake
Events leading up to this

Question 6

ALOC

Answer 6

AEIOUTIPS:

Alcohol
Epilepsy 
Insulin
Overdose/underdose
Uremia
Trauma/toxins
Infection/illness
Poison/psych
Stroke

Question 7

S/S of shock

Answer 7

• Cool, clammy, pale
• rapid breathing and pulse
• nausea, vomiting
• Enlarged pupils
• dizziness/fainting

Treatment:
Legs up, blanket, O2

Question 8

Blood glucose levels

Answer 8

Normal: 80-120 ml/dL
Hypoglycemia: <60
Hyperglycemia: >140

Question 9

Pulse rate

Answer 9

Normal: 60-100
Child: 80-120
Infant: >100

Question 10

Respiratory rates

Answer 10

Normal: 12-20
Child: 15-30
Infant: 25-50

Question 11

Scene Size-up

Answer 11

ENAMES:

Environment
Number of patients
ALS intervention
Mechanism of injury/Nature of Illness
Extricate
Spinal precautions

Question 12

A, B, C’s

Answer 12

Airway: open & patent

Breathing: RR 12-20, good depth, good quality, Lung sounds

Circulation: bleeding, color, cap refill, sensory, motor, pulse

Question 13

AVPU

Answer 13

Alert
Verbal
Pain
Unresponsive

Question 14

Drug overdose

Answer 14

DOACRE

Drug
Onset
Amount
Chief complaint
Route
Elicit or illicit

Question 15

Pupil assessment

Answer 15

PERRL

Pupils are
Equal
Round and
Reactive to
Light 

Pinpoint:
Dilated:
Unequal:
Odd shape:

Question 16

Closed soft tissue injuries

Answer 16

RICES

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevate
Splint

Question 17

KED

Answer 17

Seated spinal strap placement:
“My Baby Looks Hot Tonight”

Middle
Bottom
Legs
Head
Top

Question 18

APGAR

Answer 18

Newborn score at 1 and 5 minutes

Appearance: pink (2), pink body/blue extremities(1), blue/pale(0)

Pulse: >100 (2), <100 (1), absent (0)

Grimace: prompt (2), minimal (1), floppy (0)

Activity: active (2), flexed arms/legs (1), absent (0)

Respiration: vigorous cry (2), slow and regular (1), absent (0)

Question 19

6 P’s of extreme injury

Answer 19

Pain 
Pallor
Pulseless-ness
Parenthesis (puns and needles)
Paralysis
Pressure

Question 20

Types of Shock

Answer 20

CHAMPS RN:

Cardiogenic: 
Hypovolemic: hemorrhagic (bleeding) or non-hemorrhagic (vomiting/diarrhea)
Anaphylactic:
Metabolic: 
Psychogenic: 
Septic: 
Respiratory: 
Neurogenic:

Question 21

Stroke mimics

Answer 21

HEMI

Hypo/hyperglycemia
Epilepsy
Multiple sclerosis & hemiplegic migraine
Intracranial Tumors (infections: meningitis, encephalitis, and abscesses)

Question 22

Level of Consciousness Score

Answer 22

Glasgow coma scale (GCS)
>15 normal
<8 severe dysfunction

Eye (4): 
   - spontaneous 
   - verbal 
   - pain
   - none
Verbal (5):
   - oriented conversation
   - confuses conversation
   - inappropriate words
   - incomprehensible 
   - none
Motor (6):
   - obeys commands
   - localized pain
   - withdraws from pain
   - abnormal flexion 
   - abnormal extension
   - none