EMT-Basic/Assessment/Initial

Lesson 3.2: Initial Assessment

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the EMT-Basic should be able to:

1. Summarize the reasons for forming a general impression of the patient.
2. Discuss the methods of assessing altered mental status.
3. Differentiate between assessing the mental status in the adult, child, and infant patient.
4. Discuss methods of assessing the airway in the adult, child, and infant patient.
5. State reasons for management of the cervical spine once the patient has been determined to be a trauma patient.
6. Describe methods used for assessing if a patient is breathing.
7. State what care should be provided to the adult, child, and infant patient with adequate breathing
8. State what care should be provided to the adult, child, and infant patient without adequate breathing
9. Differentiate between a patient with adequate and inadequate breathing.
10. Distinguish between methods of assessing breathing in the adult, child, and infant patient.
11. Compare the methods of providing airway care to the adult, child, and infant patient.
12. Describe the methods used to obtain a pulse.
13. Differentiate between obtaining a pulse in an adult, child, and infant patient.
14. Discuss the need for assessing the patient for external bleeding.
15. Describe normal and abnormal findings when assessing skin color.
16. Describe normal and abnormal findings when assessing skin temperature.
17. Describe normal and abnormal findings when assessing skin condition.
18. Describe normal and abnormal findings when assessing capillary refill in the infant or child patient.
19. Explain the reasoning for prioritizing a patient for care and transport.
20. Explain the importance of forming a general impression of the patient.
21. Explain the value of performing an initial assessment.
22. Demonstrate techniques for assessing mental status.
23. Demonstrate techniques for assessing the airway.
24. Demonstrate techniques for assessing if the patient is breathing.
25. Demonstrate techniques for assessing if the patient has a pulse.
26. Demonstrate techniques for assessing for external bleeding.
27. Demonstrate techniques for assessing the patients skin color, temperature, and condition, or capillary refill for infants and children.
28. Demonstrate the ability to properly prioritize patients.