assessing the victim
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© 2011 National Safety Council
ASSESSING THE VICTIMLESSON 4
4-1
© 2011 National Safety Council
Assess the Victim
• Check scene for safety
• Initial assessment for life-threatening conditions
- Unresponsiveness- Lack of normal breathing- Severe bleeding
• Secondary assessment
• Monitor the victim for any changes
4-2
© 2011 National Safety Council
Initial Assessment continued
• Takes less than one minute
• Do not move victim unless:
- Imminent danger to victim- Cannot give life-saving care because of victim’s location or
position
• AVPU Scale
- Alert- Verbal stimuli (response)- Painful stimuli (response)- Unresponsive to all stimuli
4-3
© 2011 National Safety Council
Check for Responsiveness and Normal Breathing
• Tap person on shoulder and shout “Are you okay?”
- A person who is speaking, coughing or moving is responsive
- A person who may be paralyzed may have purposeful eye movements or other signs
• Check the person first in the position found.
4-4
© 2011 National Safety Council
Unresponsiveness
• A sign of a life-threatening problem
• Call 9-1-1 immediately
• At same time look for normal breathing
4-5
© 2011 National Safety Council
Check for Normal Breathing
• A victim who can speak or cough is breathing
• Gasping is not normal breathing
• Check victim first in position found
4-6
© 2011 National Safety Council
Breathing Normally?
• If victim is breathing normally, continue assessment
• If unresponsive victim is not breathing normally, start CPR
4-7
© 2011 National Safety Council
Check for Severe Bleeding
• Severe bleeding is life-threatening
• Control with direct pressure
4-8
© 2011 National Safety Council
Recovery Position
• Helps keep airway open
• Allows fluid to drain from mouth
• Prevents aspiration
• If possible, put victim onto left side
• Continue to monitor breathing
4-9
© 2011 National Safety Council
Recovery Position (HAINES-High Arm IN Endangered Spine)
4-10
© 2011 National Safety Council
Secondary Assessment
• Performed only for victims without life-threatening conditions
• Do not interrupt care for serious problem
• Can provide additional information
• Usually performed on responsive victims
• Includes history and physical examination
• Focused primarily on injured area
4-11
© 2011 National Safety Council
Get the Victim’s History
• Talk to a responsive victim
• Ask bystanders or family members what happened
• Consider the mechanism of injury
4-12
© 2011 National Safety Council
SAMPLE HISTORY
S Signs and symptoms
A Allergies
M Medications
P Previous problems
L Last food or drink
E Events
4-13
© 2011 National Safety Council
Unresponsive Victim
• Ask family or bystanders what happened
• Check the scene for clues
• Consider effects of environmental extremes
• Consider victim’s age
4-14
© 2011 National Safety Council
Physical Examination continued
• Examine a responsive victim from head to toe for:
- Bleeding or other open wounds
- Pain, tenderness when victim is touched
- Swelling or deformity- Skin color, temperature,
condition- Abnormal sensation or
movement
4-15
© 2011 National Safety Council
DOTS: What to look for
D Deformities
O Open injuries
T Tenderness (pain)
S Swelling
4-16
© 2011 National Safety Council
Examining a Child or Infant
• Use simple questions
• Involve parents or guardians
• Perform physical examination toe to head
• Talk calmly and soothingly
4-17
© 2011 National Safety Council
Monitor the Victim
• Give first aid for any injury or illness
• For unresponsive victim or victim with serious injury:
- Make sure condition doesn’t get worse- Repeat breathing assessment at least every five minutes
4-18
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