Wilderness Medicine

Question 1

What are the 5 steps of patient assessment?

Answer 1

1. Size up the scene.
2. Assess the patient for immediate threats to life.
3. Complete a focused exam and patient history.
4. Make a problem list and a plan.
5. Monitor the patient’s condition.

Question 2

What are the 7 actions to sizing up an emergency scene?

Answer 2

1. Establish control
2. Survey the scene for hazards
3. Determine the mechanism of injury
4. Isolate body substances
5. Count the number of patients
6. Establish your impression of the patient
7. Establish a relationship

Question 3

What are the steps in assessing the patient for threats of life?

Answer 3

• Establish responsiveness/Control the cervical spine
• A B C D E
  Airway
  Breathing
  Circulation
  Disability/Decision
  Expose/Environment

Question 4

What are the two parts of an initial focused exam?

Answer 4

1. Head-to-toe exam

2. Check vital signs

Question 5

What are the areas to check in a head-to-toe exam (using look, ask, listen, feel, smell)?

Answer 5

• Head and neck
• Face
• Chest and shoulders
• Abdomen
• Pelvis
• Genitals
• Lower extremities
• Upper extremities
• Back and buttocks

Question 6

What are the vital signs to check in a patient?

Answer 6

• level of responsiveness
• heart rate
• respiratory rate
• skin color, temperature, moisture
• blood pressure
• pupils
• temperature