EMT

EMT covers the essential skills and knowledge required for emergency medical technicians to provide critical care in emergency situations.

Introduction to Emergency Medical ServicesPatient Assessment and Primary SurveyBasic Life Support (BLS) Skills
Trauma Care and ManagementMedical Emergencies and Special PopulationsPatient Transport and Communication
Scene Safety and Personal ProtectionHands-On BLS and Airway ManagementReal-World Emergency Scenarios
Mastering Multiple-Choice ExamsStaying Calm Under Pressure
Introduction to Emer...Patient Assessment a...Basic Life Support (...Trauma Care and Mana...Medical Emergencies ...Patient Transport an...Scene Safety and Per...Hands-On BLS and Air...Real-World Emergency...Mastering Multiple-C...Staying Calm Under P...
Basic Concepts

Patient Assessment and Primary Survey

The Importance of Patient Assessment

Assessing a patient quickly and accurately is the foundation of EMT work. The primary survey helps EMTs identify life-threatening conditions and prioritize treatments.

The ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation

  • Airway: Is the patient's airway open and clear?
  • Breathing: Is the patient breathing adequately?
  • Circulation: Is blood flowing to vital organs?

EMTs use the ABCs to check for immediate threats to life and act fast.

The Primary Survey Steps

  1. Check Responsiveness: Is the patient awake or unconscious?
  2. Call for Help: Activate EMS if not already done.
  3. Open the Airway: Use head-tilt or jaw-thrust maneuvers.
  4. Assess Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breaths.
  5. Check Circulation: Feel for a pulse and look for bleeding.
  6. Provide Interventions: Begin CPR or control bleeding as needed.

Rapid Interventions

If any problem is found during the primary survey, EMTs provide immediate care before moving on to a more detailed secondary assessment.

Examples

  • Upon finding an unconscious person, an EMT checks for breathing and starts CPR.

  • An EMT opens a child's airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift technique.

In a Nutshell

The primary survey is a fast, systematic check for life-threatening problems using the ABCs.

Key Terms

Primary Survey
A rapid initial assessment to identify and treat life-threatening conditions.
ABC
Airway, Breathing, Circulation—critical steps in emergency assessment.
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Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills