Emt General Skills/knowledge

Front 1

What are the steps for a Rapid Assessment (head-to-toe)?

Back 1

1. Assess the head, looking and feeling for DCAP-BTLS and crepitus.

2. Assess the neck. In trauma patients, you should now apply a cervical spinal immobilization device.

3. Assess the chest: DCAP-BTLS, paradoxical motion, and crepitus. Also listen to breath sounds on both sides of the patient's chest.

4. Assess the abdomen. DCAP-BTLS, rigidity (firm or soft), and distention

5. Assess the pelvis. DCAP-BTLS. If there is no pain, gently compress the pelvis downward and inward to look for tenderness and instability.

6. Assess all four extremities. DCAP-BTLS. Assess bilaterally for distal pulses and the motor and sensory function.

7. Assess the back and buttocks. DCAP-BTLS. In all trauma patients you should maintain in-line stabilization of the spine while rolling the patient on his or her side in one motion. Check the back before you log roll the patient and before you place him or her onto a backboard.

Front 2

Examples of High Priority patients are:

Back 2

*Difficulty breathing
*Poor general impression
*Unresponsive with no gag or cough reflex
*Severe chest pain
*Pale skin or other signs of poor perfusion *Complicated childbirth
*Uncontrolled bleeding
*Responsive but unable to follow commands
*Severe pain in any area of the body Inability to move any part of the body

Front 3

What are the steps for a full body scan?

Back 3

1. Look at the face for obvious lacerations, bruises, and deformities.
2. Inspect the area around the eyes and eyelids.
3. Examine the eyes for redness and for contact lenses. Assess the pupils using a penlight.
4. Look behind the patient's ears to assess for bruising (Battle's sign).
5. Use the penlight to look for drainage of spinal fluid or blood in the ears.
6. Look for bruising and lacerations about the head. Palpate for tenderness, depressions of the skull, and deformities.
7. Palpate the zygomas for tenderness or instability.
8. Palpate the maxillae.
9. Check the nose for blood and drainages.
10. Palpate the mandible.
11. Assess the mouth and nose for cyanosis, foreign bodies (including loose teeth or dentures), bleeding, lacerations, and deformities.
12. Check for unusual odors on the patient's breath.
13. Look at the neck for obvious lacerations, bruises, and deformities.Observe for jugular vein distention.

Hint 3

14. Palpate the front and the back of the neck for tenderness and deformity.
15. Look at the chest for obvious signs of injury before you begin
16. Gently palpate over the ribs to elicit tenderness. Avoid pressing over obvious bruises and fractures palpation. Be sure to watch for movement of the chest with respirations.
17. Listen for breath sounds over the midaxillary and midclavicular lines
18. Listen also at the bases and apices of the lungs.
19. Look at the abdomen and pelvis for obvious lacerations, bruises, and deformities. Gently palpate the abdomen for tenderness. If the abdomen is unusually tense, you should describe the abdomen as rigid.
20. Gently compress the pelvis from the sides to assess for tenderness
21. Gently press the iliac crests to elicit instability, tenderness, and/or crepitus.
22. Inspect all four extremities for lacerations, bruises, swelling, deformities, and medical alert anklets or bracelets. Also assess distalpulses and motor and sensory function in all extremities.
23. Assess the back for tenderness and deformities. Remember, if you suspect a spinal cord injury, use spinal precautions as you log roll the patient.