Completing a head-to-toe assessment on an injured person is a necessary first-aid step after an accident of any kind. When headache, confusion, dizziness, and nausea and vomiting are present, especially after a head trauma, it's essential that an available coach, parent or medical professional complete a first-aid head-to-toe assessment to evaluate the need for additional medical treatment.
Instructions
1. Determine if it's safe to approach the injured person. If so, check the breathing, airway and circulation before performing the head-to-toe assessment. If the person can speak, check the person's orientation by asking him to provide simple information such as his name, age and location.
2. Observe the injured person's head and scalp for open wounds, bumps or bleeding. Likewise, check for straw-colored fluid leaking from the nose or ears, or for blue lips, which indicate a lack of oxygen. Listen for signs of abnormal breathing and look for the reaction of pupil dilation.
3. Evaluate the person's speech for slurring. If there's someone available who is familiar with the injured person, have them perform this part of the evaluation, as they will be most able to recognize any abnormalities.
4. Continue with the assessment of the neck by evaluating for signs of open wounds, bumps or bleeding. Palpate the neck for internal injuries by touching gently.
5. Check the trunk and abdomen for obvious signs of injury, including signs of penetration, deformities and difficult in breathing. Look for abdominal distension and tenderness.
6. Look for fractures of the extremities and voluntary movement of fingers and toes.
Tags: injured person, head-to-toe assessment, wounds bumps bleeding, bumps bleeding, open wounds, open wounds bumps
