During a primary assessment, which of the following should you check first?

General
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during a primary assessment, which of the following should you check first?

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LectureNotes said during a primary assessment, which of the following should you check first?

Answer:
During a primary assessment, the first thing you should check is the patient’s airway. This is a critical step in ensuring that the patient can breathe, as an obstructed airway can quickly lead to life-threatening situations.

Primary Assessment Steps:

  1. Airway (A): Ensure that the airway is open and clear. Look for any obstructions and listen for any abnormal sounds that might indicate a blockage. If the airway is not clear, take immediate steps to open it, such as performing a head-tilt-chin-lift maneuver or a jaw-thrust maneuver if a spinal injury is suspected.

  2. Breathing (B): Once the airway is confirmed to be open, check for adequate breathing. Look for chest rise and fall, listen for breath sounds, and feel for air movement. If the patient is not breathing or breathing inadequately, provide rescue breaths or use a bag-valve-mask (BVM) if available.

  3. Circulation (C): After ensuring the patient is breathing, assess circulation by checking for a pulse, monitoring skin color, temperature, and condition (e.g., pale, cool, clammy skin can indicate shock). If there is no pulse, begin CPR immediately.

  4. Disability (D): Evaluate the patient’s level of consciousness using the AVPU scale (Alert, responds to Verbal stimuli, responds to Painful stimuli, Unresponsive). This helps determine the extent of any neurological impairment.

  5. Exposure (E): Finally, expose the patient as necessary to check for any hidden injuries or conditions. Ensure to protect the patient from hypothermia by covering them after the assessment.

By following these steps in order, you ensure that you address the most critical life-threatening issues first, improving the patient’s chances of survival and stabilization.

In summary, the first thing you should check during a primary assessment is the airway. This is a fundamental step in emergency medical care and is essential for ensuring the patient’s immediate survival.