Vital Signs

1. Level of consciousness-can the casualty open their eyes when asked? Are they alert and talkative? Do they respond to pain?
2. Breathing rhythm, rate and depth-how many breaths per minute do they take? Do they have irregular breathing? Is their breathing shallow\deep?
3. Check their pulse-using the radial or carotid pulse, what is their heartrate?

Head-to-Toe Examination

1. Check the head. Is there any bleeding? Are there any fluids coming from the ears? Are the eyes PERL (Pupils, Equal and Responsive to Light)? Pupils that are dilated can be a sign of head injury while pupils that are extremely tiny are often a sign of drug or alcohol abuse.
2. Check the neck and collarbones. Is the trachea (windpipe) in the middle of the throat?
3. Are hands, arms and shoulders free of deformities? If you are uncertain you can compare with yourself or the uninjured side of the person. Can the person move their fingers easily?
4. Next is the chest. Does it hurt when they breathe? Does the chest expand naturally and freely?
5. Does the abdomen feel hard when you press gently on it? Is there any pain when you press on it? If so, is it worse when you push down or release (can be a sign of appendicitis)?
6. Push in both hips at the same time, does this cause any pain? DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS IF YOU THINK THE PERSON MAY HAVE BROKEN THEIR HIP.
7. Check each leg for deformities, open wounds, etc.
8. Can the casualty move and feel their toes?

Treat any injuries found. If there is more than one injury or casualty treat the most severe, life-threatening problems first.

Remember:
never tell a patient what you think is wrong with them because you aren't a doctor
never make comments on how severe the injury is
let the patient know what you are doing
reassure the casualty often