Figure 1: How to check a radial pulse.
After you have checked the airway, work of breathing, and circulation, think about the person’s mental status. Do they make sense or are they asking the same questions over and over again? Do they follow simple commands? Is there drooping of one side of the face, an inability to talk, or weakness on one side or the other of the body? These are all signs of an abnormal mental status or possibly a stroke. An individual doesn’t have to be unconscious to have brain problems. A low level of consciousness or confusion is a sign that you probably need to call an ambulance.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SURVEY EMTs and paramedics do a primary and secondary survey when encountering a sick or injured person for the first time. This is basically what you should do when deciding if a person is in an emergency situation and is sick or injured. We’ve already covered the primary survey, which involves the heart function, the work of breathing, the airway or breathing tube function, and the level of consciousness. These are considered the most life-threatening issues you must deal with. A problem with any of these
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