Patient Assessment

Question 1

Principals of initial care are:-

Answer 1

1. Assess the situation.
2. Do no further harm.
3. Stabilise Airway, Breathing and Circulation.
4. Give treatment within the scope of your skill level
5. Refer to pre-hospital definitive care.

Question 2

What are the roles and responsibilities of a first responder:-

Answer 2

1. Safety of yourself, colleagues, casualties and bystanders.
   2 .Providing basic casualty assessment and care.
2. Supporting the casualties legal rights, privacy and human dignity
3. Liaising with medical experts.
4. Maintaining medical equipment
5. Completing and keeping records and reports.

Question 3

What are the 3 measurements you take with a pulse?

Answer 3

1. Rate
2. Strength
3. Regularity or rhythm.

Question 4

What are the pulse rates across the different age groups?

Answer 4

Adult 60-100
Child 80-100
Infant 100-120
Neonate 120-160

Question 5

What are the 3 measurements you take with breathing?

Answer 5

1. Rate
2. Depth
3. Regularity

Question 6

What are the breathing rates across the different age groups?

Answer 6

Adult 12-20
Child 15-30
Infant 25-50
Neonate 40-60

Question 7

Patient History ESHAMCL

Answer 7

Event What happened or what are they feeling

Signs and symtoms

History of these symptoms, when they started and if they have had them before and outcome

Allergies

Medication, have they taken anything for the present condition and what other medication are they on

Changes to the signs and symptoms, are they getting worse or better.

Last by oral to eat or drink.

Question 8

Pain Questions OPQRSTA

Answer 8

Origin of the pain where is it?

Provocation, does anything make it worse or better

Quality, what type of pain sharp, dull etc

Radiates, does the pain radiate anywhere else

Scoring, on a scale of 1-10

Time, how long have you had it

Associated symptoms

Question 9

History taking

Answer 9

Introduce yourself

Bring yourself to casualties level if possible especially if a child

Ask their name and DOB and establish a name they would like to be called.

Don’t be too informal

Ask open ended questions like “what has been happening with you today”

Try and get the patient to be specific about this occasion

A casualty may have a number of complaints.

Gain consent before before giving any treatment.

Question 10

What is the Primary survey assessment

Answer 10

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Dysfunction,Examination

Question 11

How do you assess the airway?

Answer 11

Look, listen and feel for

Apnoea:- absence of breathing caused by complete blockage.

Look in the mouth for:-
Foreign Objects such as food, loose teeth or bone fragments.
Fluid such as Blood,vomit mucus or excessive saliva
Swelling caused by allergic reaction, infection burns or injury.
Tracheal Tugging, windpipe moving up and down violently.

Listen for:-
Gurgling:- Throaty bubbling noises indicating partial obstruction of the pharynx(upper airway) caused by fluid.
Snoring:- Snorting sound indicating partial obstruction of the pharynx commonly caused by the tongue.
Stridor;- High pitched grunting sound, indicates partial obstruction of the Larynx(lower part of upper airway), commonly caused by swelling, foreign body or injury. Stridor usually occurs on inspiration.
Wheezing:- Rasping or whistling sound, indicates narrowing of the bronchioles(lower airways) commonly caused by swelling inflammation or fluid. Wheezing usually occurs on expiration.