Wilderness Medicine has a a nine step plan for,god forbid,handling medical emergencies in the wilderness by covering a plan or checklist for their nine step Patient Assessment System. I participated in Wilderness 1st Aid classes and mock emergencies I where I ‘hurt’ victims by rushing to judgments and offering improper assistance. The checklists force a process that ensures all aspects of the situation get addressed. If you aren’t going to take a Wilderness 1st Aid class or Wilderness 1st Responder,then at least read their full set of posts.
The Patient Assessment System
1. The First Five Minutes
2. Patient Assessment System – Scene Survey
3. Patient Assessment System – Primary Survey
4. Patient Assessment System – Vital Signs
5. Patient Exam:What are their injuries?
6. Patient Assessment System – AMPLE History:What is their past medical history?
A – Allergies
M – Medications
P – Previous Injury or Illness
L – Last Input and Output
E – Events leading up to the crisis
7. Patient Assessment System – SOAP:What is our patient care plan?
Subjective data:age,sex,the mechanism of injury ,and the chief complaint
Objective data:vital signs,the patient exam,and the AMPLE history.
A – Assessment:(problem list)
P – Plan:(plan for each problem on the problem list)
9. Patient Assessment Check List
