Bls assessment
Bls assessment is......
Scene assessment
Pt. Access
Pt. Movement
Level of Responsiveness. AVPU
withhold or terminate Resuscitation.
Scene safety and Activation of Emergency Systems
The first concern when presented with an emergency is ensuring the rescuers will not become victims. In mountainous terrain this includes checking personal anchors and the rescuers exposure to the incidents cause. This decision also included determining if the rescuer has a reserve of health and endurance sufficient to both assist the victim and safely move themselves out of the mountainous terrain.
A general rule regarding calling for help is to error on the side of doing so. It is generally better to call for assistance and then self rescue than to activate emergency systems later in the incident.
Patient Assessment for BLS
Determining how to best help requires assessing for the victims primary problem. This is best done following a series of steps that will reveal and/or rule out serious life threats first.
It is also important to understand that there are injuries that make assessment and treatment unnecessary. This is commonly called obvious death. Obvious death signs include but are not limited to decapitation and crushing injuries to the head, significant blood loss, clearly damaged abdominal/chest organs and massive burns.
The decision to not begin care for a human being is difficult and specific to individual circumstances. As a general rule care should be provided unless doing so is completely futile.
Determine responsiveness. This is frequently done by asking the victim if they are OK. If the victim is responsive further assessment would be done using First Aid assessment skills. Determine if they are: Alert- Looking at you and asking/answering questions. Verbally Responsive- Will only interact after the rescue speaks loudly.
Responsive to Pain- Only responds after given a painful stimulus.
Unresponsive- Does not respond to a painful stimulus.
This can be remembered and measured using the AVPU pneumonic. (Pronounced avpoo)
2. Breathing status. Determine if the victims is breathing normally. Abnormal gasping (agonal) breaths do not count and should be disregarded. Look at and feel the victims chest for movement. Listen for sounds coming from the victims mouth. If the victim is breathing additional assessment is required using First Aid skills.
3. Check the victims pulse. Using two fingers feel (palpate) the victims carotid artery located between the windpipe (trachea) and the thick muscle on the side of the neck.
This entire process of BLS assessment should be done in less than 10 seconds. Ideally it becomes a simultaneous process of steps. If there is any doubt begin the appropriate intervention.
A victim who is not breathing and has a pulse is in Respiratory Arrest.
A victim who is not breathing and dose not have a pulse is in Cardiac Arrest.