Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

2 PREmergency Scene Management

9. Look at the chest and observe breathing motion. Listen for any breath sounds. Gently feel over the ribs. 10. Look at the abdomen. Working around the navel, palpate the abdomen in four places, the top right, bottom right. 11. Continue palpating the abdomen at the top left, and bottom left, checking for tenderness or rigidity. A rigid stomach may indicate internal bleeding. 12. Look at the pelvis. Gently palpate the pelvic bone for any movement. Push down and in on both sides.

You may need to slide your fingers into a patient’s hair to properly feel the skull and check for bleeding. 3. Look and palpate the upper and lower jaw for DOT’s. 4. Have the patient open their mouth for any blood, broken teeth, fluids or any DOT’s to the jaw and face. Check for unusual breath odours. Assess the patient’s nose for any discharge. 5. Check behind the ears for bruising, possibly indicating serious brain injury. Check the ears and nose for drainage of any fluid. 6. Look at the neck. Gently palpate the front and the back of the neck. Observe gloves for any blood. 7. Gently palpate the shoulders for any pain or DOT’s. 8. Feel the collarbone on each side for any pain or DOT’s.

Remember to talk to your patient as you perform the exam. Tell them what you are doing. Even if your patient seems unconscious, they may be able to hear you, even though they cannot respond.

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