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EMR
EMT
AEMT
Paramedic
Extended
Adult Primary Assessment
Steps
Performed?
Yes No
1.
Quickly assess level of consciousness using the AVPU Method.
Alert: Eyes Open
Verbal: Responds to vocal stimuli
Pain: Responds only to pain
Unresponsive: No response to verbal or painful stimuli.
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2.
Assess the airway (protect c-spine if uncertain)
Responsive – no intervention needed, proceed to step 3.
Unresponsive – use the appropriate medical or trauma maneuver to open the airway.
If airway remains partially or totally obstructed, continue attempts to clear the airway.
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3.
Assess adequacy of breathing
Observe chest rise and fall, auscultate breath sounds anteriorly, posteriorly, and peripherally.
Observe for signs of distress – use of accessory muscles, cyanosis
Count the respiratory rate and obtain pulse oximeter reading if available
If breathing is adequate – go to step 4
If breathing is inadequate and patient is unresponsive – assist breathing with appropriate
device
If breathing is inadequate and patient is responsive, administer oxygen if available.
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4.
Assess the circulation / perfusion
Assess rate and quality of pulses – peripheral and central pulses
Stop any active bleeding, assess skin color, temperature, and condition.
If there is no palpable pulse or rate is too slow to maintain cerebral blood flow, begin CPR
If bleeding is present – manage bleeding
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5.
Provide care for any compromise in airway, breathing, circulation, or neurological
status per protocol and perform basic life support as per current American Heart
Association Guidelines.
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6.
Identify priority patients and make a transport decision.
Priority patients include those with compromises in airway, level of consciousness,
breathing, or circulation, which are not easily remedied with basic intervention.
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7.
Further Assessments, go to Patient Assessment – Medical or Patient Assessment -
Trauma
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Adult Primary Assessment