Trauma Assessment

Summary

In this trauma assessment simulation, an EMT named Mark evaluates a young female patient, Lily, who has suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. The assessment includes checking for life threats, administering oxygen, and performing a thorough head-to-toe examination. Mark identifies critical injuries, applies appropriate dressings, and monitors vital signs while preparing for transport to a trauma facility. The interaction emphasizes the importance of quick decision-making, teamwork, and continuous reassessment in emergency medical situations, showcasing the EMT's skills and protocols in a high-pressure scenario.

Takeaways

• 😀 The scenario involves assessing and managing a trauma patient who has sustained a gunshot wound.
• 😀 Scene safety is the first priority before approaching the patient.
• 😀 Initial assessment includes forming a general impression of the patient and obtaining a history.
• 😀 The patient exhibits a sucking chest wound, requiring immediate intervention with an occlusive dressing.
• 😀 Rapid, labored breathing is noted, and oxygen is administered via a non-rebreather mask.
• 😀 A physical blood sweep is conducted to identify any additional bleeding.
• 😀 Vital signs are critical for determining the patient's stability, including pulse and skin condition.
• 😀 A head-to-toe assessment is performed, looking for signs of injury or trauma throughout the body.
• 😀 The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess the patient's level of consciousness.
• 😀 Continuous monitoring and reassessment are essential as the patient is transported to a trauma facility.

Q & A

What is the initial situation described in the transcript?

The transcript describes an EMT responding to a report of an adult female patient who was shot in the chest during an altercation.

What precautions are taken before assessing the patient?

The EMT ensures that the scene is safe and has a partner maintain manual inline stabilization of the patient's head and neck.

How does the EMT assess the patient's level of consciousness?

The EMT asks the patient her name, location, and what happened to assess her orientation.

What significant injury is discovered during the assessment?

The EMT finds a sucking chest wound on the right lateral chest of the patient.

What immediate treatment is provided for the sucking chest wound?

The EMT applies pressure to the wound and prepares a three-sided occlusive dressing to seal it.

What were the patient's vital signs during the assessment?

The patient had a blood pressure of 70/40, a heart rate of 118, a respiratory rate of 20, and an oxygen saturation of 92%.

How is the patient's breathing assessed?

The EMT observes rapid, labored, but effective breathing and places the patient on high-flow oxygen via a non-rebreather mask.

What does GCS stand for, and what was the patient's score?

GCS stands for Glasgow Coma Scale, and the patient scored 15, indicating she was fully conscious and responsive.

What are the steps taken during the head-to-toe assessment?

The EMT inspects and palpates various body areas, checking for deformities, tenderness, or other injuries.

How does the EMT ensure patient safety during transport?

The EMT plans to reassess the patient every five minutes for level of consciousness, vital signs, and effectiveness of treatments.