1. The document provides guidelines for assessing and treating patients at the scene of an emergency. It outlines steps for sizing up the scene, performing an initial assessment and focused exam, determining if spinal precautions are needed, creating a problem list and treatment plan, and implementing and adjusting the plan.
2. The initial assessment involves checking the patient's airway, breathing, circulation, and making a decision about spinal precautions. The focused exam entails a head-to-toe assessment and gathering the patient's vital signs and history.
3. The guidelines provide criteria for determining if spinal precautions can be released or need to continued. If continued, the document notes considerations for long-term stabilization, evacuation
1. The document provides guidelines for assessing and treating patients at the scene of an emergency. It outlines steps for sizing up the scene, performing an initial assessment and focused exam, determining if spinal precautions are needed, creating a problem list and treatment plan, and implementing and adjusting the plan.
2. The initial assessment involves checking the patient's airway, breathing, circulation, and making a decision about spinal precautions. The focused exam entails a head-to-toe assessment and gathering the patient's vital signs and history.
3. The guidelines provide criteria for determining if spinal precautions can be released or need to continued. If continued, the document notes considerations for long-term stabilization, evacuation
•Safety – for you and your partners Assessment •MOI; is there an MOI for spine? •# of patients •Glove up System •Initial Impression
Initial Assessment - Stop & Fix
1. Obtain Consent 2. Airway – if patient is talking you can assume they have an airway 3. Breathing •If talking you know they are breathing, BUT – is breathing labored? Are they gasping? •If not responding – Look, Listen & Feel •If no breathing, start rescue breaths •If breathing is labored consider other conditions –anaphylaxis, asthma, respiratory stress 4. Circulation •Check for a pulse at the wrist •Major bleeding – blood sweep 5. Decision – Should I maintain spinal precautions? •Yes if: did not witness entire incident, unconscious, significant MOI, head injury •No if: suffered minor accident – stumbled, stung by a bee, etc… 6. Environment/Expose: Protect your patient from the environment & expose serious injuries.
Focused Exam & Patient History
Trauma? Complete all steps, regardless of type of Medical/Illness? condition, but use the order outlined here. Start Here: Start Here: Head to Toe Exam Vital Signs SAMPLE History Palpate for DOTS •Time S: Signs & Symptoms (OPQRST) Visually look for bruising & •LOC’s O: Onset (gradual, etc) deformity •Heart Rate (HR) P: Provokes; Palliates Examine Systematically: •Respiration Rate (RR) Q: Quality (sharp, dull) •Head •Pupils R: Radiates; Refer •Neck: trachea, midline •Skin (SCTM) S: Severity (1 - 10) •Chest: clavicles, sternum, ribs T: Time •Abdomen – 4 quadrants A: Allergies • Pelvis M: Medications (OTC’s, •Lumbar region Prescription, Herbal) •Lower extremities (CSM’s) You will give urgent treatment during this step. P: Past Pertinent Medical History •Upper extremities (CSM’s) L: Last Intake/Output •Back – logroll patient if possible spine issue E: Events Leading up to Incident *CSM’s - Circulation, Sensation & Movement Complete? Go to Head to Toe & Vitals Complete? Go to Vitals & SAMPLE
MOI for spine/Currently Holding
Focused Spinal Assessment spinal precautions Problem List •Only if >1 hour from definitive care Anticipate what problems are going to arise during Yes No the time that you are with the patient. •A+0x3 or x4 •No distracting injuries •No alcohol/drugs: recreational, OTC’s, prescription •Normal CSM (unless explainable) in all extremeties Answered •No spinal pain or tenderness “Yes” to All •You must be able to answer “Yes” to all the above Questions. You Plan in order to release spinal precautions. If the patient Plan for: Problems on list; what type of treatment; self- May Release answers yes to all questions, you may then make a evacuation, staying put, rescue. Precautions decision to release or not release spinal precautions. If you need to continue to hold spinal precautions, you will need to think about the following: Answered “No” •long term manual stabilization to One or more Implement Plan •evacuation - will need a rigid litter Questions. Implement the plan you created. Begin non-urgent •prep for a long wait Continue spinal treatment. Continue to reassess your patient. Patient precautions vitals: every 15 min. if stable, every 5 min. for unstable. Continue to monitor, reassess and document (SOAP)!