Patient Evaluation & Emergency Response Flashcards

During the scene size-up, which action should be performed FIRST upon arriving at an outdoor emergency?

Answer: Ensure scene safety for yourself and bystanders

Scene safety must be confirmed before approaching any patient to prevent rescuers from becoming additional victims.

A skier is found unresponsive after a collision. After confirming scene safety, what is the OEC rescuer's next step?

Answer: Establish manual cervical spine stabilization

With a mechanism suggesting spinal injury, manual cervical spine stabilization is applied while assessing responsiveness.

What does the 'E' stand for in the SAMPLE history mnemonic?

Answer: Events leading to the incident

In SAMPLE, 'E' stands for Events leading to the incident, describing what the patient was doing when symptoms began.

A conscious snowboarder reports knee pain after a fall. Which vital sign is LEAST immediately critical to assess in this isolated extremity injury?

Answer: Respiratory rate

Respiratory rate, while important overall, is least specific to assessing neurovascular status in an isolated limb injury.

When using the GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) in the field, which component assesses the patient's best motor response?

Answer: Limb movement to command or pain

The motor response component of the GCS evaluates purposeful movement, withdrawal, flexion, or extension to stimuli.

A patient's skin is described as diaphoretic. What does this mean?

Answer: Cool and sweaty

Diaphoretic refers to skin that is cool and clammy (sweaty), often indicating shock or severe physiologic stress.

During a focused physical exam of a conscious trauma patient, the OEC rescuer should assess extremities for which finding using the mnemonic PMS?

Answer: Pulse, Movement, Sensation

PMS stands for Pulse, Movement, and Sensation — used to assess neurovascular status in extremity injuries.