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.