EMERGENCY ACTION PRINCIPLES (BCLS)
DO A SECONDARY SURVEY OF THE VICTIM
The secondary
survey aims to detect and treat ‘everything else’. Therefore the secondary
survey should not be started until the primary survey is complete, repeated,
and the patient as stable as possible. There are three main elements to the
secondary survey:
1.
Assessment of Vital
Signs
Initial set of vital signs should
be taken on every patient. If
it is not taken, a reason should be documented in the patient care report. Repeat at regular intervals (5-15
min.) or when there is a change in the patient’s status. If the patient’s
condition is unstable more frequent assessments are required. Vital sign
assessment must include:
a) Respirations
·
present or absent
·
rate (document as
breaths per minute)
·
rhythm
·
regular or irregular
(note any patterns)
·
quality
·
evidence of dyspnea
should be noted
·
shallow, labored, noisy
(if possible, describe the sound)
·
evidence of accessory
muscle use or diaphragmatic breathing
·
if EMS personnel are
trained to perform chest auscultation this should be done in the primary survey
and repeated in the secondary survey
·
bilateral, comparative
auscultation of the lungs should be done anteriorly and posteriorly
·
note presence or
absence of breath sounds
b) Pulse
·
present or absent
·
rate (document as beats
per minute)
·
rhythm
·
regular or irregular
(note any patterns)
·
quality
·
strong, weak, absent
c) Blood
pressure
·
measure systolic and
diastolic pressures, if possible
·
when assessing a BP
·
ensure the BP cuff size
is correct
·
palpate a pulse distal
to the BP cuff
·
rapidly inflate the BP
cuff to approximately 30 mm Hg beyond the pressure at which the pulse initially
disappears
·
place the stethoscope
diaphragm over the site being utilized for assessment
·
deflate the BP cuff at
a rate of approximately 2 mm Hg per second
·
note the systolic and
diastolic pressures
·
fully deflate the BP
cuff
·
document the pressures
as systolic / diastolic in mm Hg
·
If the assessment was
done by palpation, record the pressure as systolic/diastolic
·
document any
difficulties in obtaining a blood pressure
·
patient’s position when
measured
d) Glasgow
Coma Scale
·
score each component
and record it on the patient care report
·
repeat the assessment
at regular intervals (5-15 mins.) or when there is a change in the patient’s
status
·
the “AVPU” scale can be
used as an alternate method to assess level of consciousness during the primary
survey, but a more formal assessment using the Glasgow Coma Scale is required
for the Secondary Survey
2. Head-To-Toe Survey
Detailed head-to-toe survey includes
assessment of all parts of the body using observation, comparison for bilateral
symmetry, inspection, auscultation (if within scope of practice), and
palpation.
a) Skin
·
check for evidence of
cyanosis, diaphoresis, discoloration, or trauma
·
assess skin color,
temperature and moisture
b) Scalp
and Skull
·
check for trauma or
external bleeding
·
look for evidence of
basilar skull fracture
·
inspect and gently
palpate for depressions and impaled objects
·
assess for tenderness
or pain
c) Face
·
check for trauma or
bleeding
·
check for cyanosis and
diaphoresis
·
assess for tenderness
or pain
·
assess for symmetry and
facial droop
·
assess mouth for
·
foreign bodies
·
broken dentures and
teeth
·
blood or vomitus
·
abnormal smells
·
impaled objects
·
assess lips for
cyanosis or trauma
d) Eyes
·
check for trauma or
bleeding
·
look for glass eye or
contact lenses
·
assess for tenderness
or pain
e) Pupils
·
check for abnormal
shape(s)
·
look for cataracts or
evidence of eye surgery
·
assess pupil size
·
note size in
millimeters for each eye
·
assess the pupillary
reaction to light
·
normal or slow
·
assess eye movement
f) Ears
and Nose
·
check for trauma or
deformity
·
check for discharge or
blood
·
assess for tenderness
or pain
g) Neck
·
check for trauma,
jugular vein distension, or presence of a stoma
·
check for deformities
of the bony spine or soft tissues
·
check for tracheal
deviation
·
look for Medic-Alert
identification
·
palpate for tenderness,
swelling, or abnormalities
·
assess carotid pulse
h) Chest
·
reassess the chest
during the secondary survey
·
look for evidence of
obvious trauma
·
examine for; signs of
respiratory distress, use of accessory muscles, diaphragmatic breathing,
paradoxical respirations, and penetrating injuries
·
palpate the chest for;
symmetry on inspiration and expiration, tenderness and instability,
subcutaneous emphysema
·
assess shape and
symmetry
·
assess chest as far to
the posterior as possible
·
auscultate for equality
of breath sounds through bilateral comparison (if within scope of practice)
·
note any changes from
assessments in the primary survey
·
treat for any flail
segments, penetrating injuries, or impaled objects
i)
Abdomen
·
expose the abdomen
·
inspect the abdomen
prior to a physical assessment for
·
obvious trauma, impaled
objects, or evisceration
·
distension
·
use of accessory
muscles during respirations and for diaphragmatic breathing
·
palpate the abdomen
·
assess each quadrant,
by palpating gently using a flat hand and fingers
·
assess for evidence of
peritoneal irritation
·
pain, guarding, or
rigidity
j) Pelvis
·
check for obvious
trauma, impaled objects, or pain
·
check for symmetry or
deformity
·
note pain or crepitus
when the pelvis and symphysis pubis are palpated
·
assess for priapism and
incontinence of urine or feces
·
check for evidence of
hemorrhage
k) Extremities
·
expose the extremities
·
check for obvious
trauma, impaled objects, or hemorrhage
·
check for symmetry or
deformity
·
check for pain or
crepitus
·
check for color, warmth,
circulation and movement in each extremity
·
pay particular
attention to the hands and feet
·
check for paralysis, or
changes or loss of sensation
·
look for any shortening
or rotation
·
look for any joint
injury
·
assess hand and foot
strength
·
compare bilaterally
·
assess for edema
·
assess for pulses and
adequacy of sensation and movement distal to any injury
·
look for the presence
of Medic-Alert identification
l)
Back
·
if not contraindicated,
the patient should be carefully log rolled to assess the back
·
cervical spine control
should be maintained during assessment of the back
·
if appropriate, a back
board (or equivalent device) should be positioned so that when the patient is
log
·
rolled back it is
directly onto the back board
·
check for obvious
trauma or hemorrhage
·
check for localized
pain or deformity of the spine
·
check for generalized
pain and crepitus
·
check for movement and
sensation distal to any suspected spinal injury
·
look for penetrating
injuries or impaled objects
·
palpate for
subcutaneous emphysema
3. Medical History
A detailed history of a medical
complaint is beyond the scope of this session and handout. However, for most
casualties it’s worth asking the following questions and certainly for anyone
likely to go to A&E:
·
Allergies (especially
to any medication)
·
Medication (over the
counter, prescribed, ‘recreational’)
·
Past Medical History
(health problems, previous surgery)
·
Last food and drink
·
Events leading up to
the situation (“How have you been recently?”)
Much
of this will not affect the first aid management, but can have a huge impact on
later care. Remember that seriously ill and injured people can fall
unconscious, and so others may not have chance to ask these questions.
Ask:
·
His or her name.
·
What happened
(mechanism of injury).
·
If he or she feels pain
anywhere.
·
AMPLE (allergies,
medications, past medical history, last meal, events preceding).
·
About pain-PQRST
(provokes, quality, region/radiates, severity, time).
2.
Check vital signs
Level
of consciousness
Note
whether…
·
Person is alert (A).
·
Responds to verbal
stimuli (V).
·
Responds to painful
stimuli (P).
·
Is unconscious (U).
3. Pulse
·
Locate pulse site.
·
Determine pulse rate.
Note…
·
Pulse rate.
·
If pulse is regular or
irregular.
·
If pulse is hard to
find.
4. Breathing
Determine
breathing rate.
·
Note breathing rate or
whether the person is
·
Gasping for air.
·
Making unusual noises
as he or she breathes.
·
Breathing excessively
fast or slow.
·
Experiencing pain when
breathing.
5. Skin
characteristics
·
Feel person's forehead
with back of your hand.
·
Look at person's face
and lips.
Note if skin is
·
Cold or hot.
·
Unusually
wet or dry.
·
Pale, bluish, or
flushed.
·
Check capillary refill.
·
Blood pressure (Note: Blood pressure skill sheets follow.)
6. Do
head-to-toe examination
·
Look carefully for
bleeding, cuts, bruises, and obvious deformities.
·
Ask if person has pain
or discomfort.
·
Note any abnormalities.
□ Check head
Feel the skull for
blood, lumps, or depressions.
Look for fluid or
blood in the ears, nose, or mouth.
See if pupils
respond to light.
Note any changes in
level of consciousness.
□ Check neck
Feel sides and back
of the neck.
Feel shoulders and
collarbone.
Ask person to shrug
shoulders.
□ Check chest
Feel ribs and
sternum.
Ask person to take
deep breath and blow air out.
□ Check abdomen
Apply slight
pressure to each side of abdomen, high and low.
□
Check hips/pelvis
Push down and in on
both sides of hips with your hands.
□
Check legs
Feel both sides of
each leg and foot, one at a time.
Ask person to try
to; Move toes, foot, ankle; Bend leg.
□
Check back
Gently reach under
person and feel the back.
□
Check arms
Feel both sides of
each arm and hand, one at a time.
Ask person to try
to move fingers, hands, and arms.