Primary Assessment

Isolated or infrequent gasping in the absence of normal breathing

• Heart Attack

• Sudden Cardiac Arrest

• Agonal Gasping

• Cardiac Cough

Color: is it pale and ashen or flushed and pink?

Temperature: is it hot or cold?

Moisture: is it moist or dry?

Capillary refill: is it normal or slow?

• Assessing skin conditions

• Signs and symptoms

• general impression

• primary assessment

Normal breathing rates for adults

• 10-18 BPM

• 12-20 BPM

• 15-25 BPM

• 5-15 BPM

patient is sitting/standing, leaning forward, arms on knees for support, attempting to catch a breath.

• two to three word dyspnea

• nasal flaring

• Sniffing

• Tripod positioning

Breathing status

• Can change rapidly

• is determined by the flow of air through the nostrils

• Look, listen and feel for effective breathing with your ear positioned over the patient’s mouth and nose while checking for a pulse for at least 5 seconds, but no more than 10 seconds.

• Varies from person to person

Anyone who is talking or crying

• does not have an airway obstruction

• Does not need immediate medical care

• Could have unforeseen hidden injuries

• May need extra support

responds only to pain such as pinching an earlobe and not to questioning

• A

• V

• P

• U

Able to respond to questions, patients eyes open as you approach and patient appears aware of you.

• A

• V

• P

• U

What happened?

What is your name?

Where are you?

What day of the week is it?

• Questions for establishing responsiveness

• Methods of documentation

• questions for PCR report

• none of the above

is formed to determine the priority of care and is the first part of your primary assessment. 

• Scene size up

• General impression

• vitals

• bleeding control