things can cause chest pain, but they will all be treated the same way. Always err on the side of safety and assume chest pain means a heart attack. If your patient complains of difficulty breathing, applying oxygen is your next course of action. Utilize additional crew members, if available. If your patient regularly has chest pain and takes nitroglycerin for it, you may assist the patient in taking this vasodilating medication.
If the patient does not normally take nitro, you must wait until given direction from Aircare Access. If trauma has occurred, gently squeeze the patient’s ribcage together with your gloved hands. Ask if pain is present. If trauma has occurred, visually inspect the patient’s chest to look for abnormal rib movement, bleeding or bruising.
ABDOMEN - Visually divide the abdomen into four quadrants with the belly button at the center. The upper right (patient’s right) quadrant contains organs such as the liver, gallbladder and part of the pancreas. The patient’s lower right quadrant contains the appendix, part of the colon and ovary/fallopian tube for women. The lower left quadrant contains parts of the colon and ovary/fallopian tube for women. The upper left quadrant contains the stomach, most of the pancreas, the spleen and left lobe of the liver, amongst others.
With your gloved hands placed one on top of the other, gently press inward in a circular motion into each quadrant. You should only be compressing about an inch. Ask the patient if pain or discomfort are present. If trauma has occurred, you should also visually inspect the abdomen for distention, masses or bruising which could indicate internal bleeding.
EXTREMITIES - Using your gloved hands, gently grasp one leg on either side and press your hands inward towards each other. Palpate the thigh and calf areas separately on each leg. If trauma has occurred, you will need to visually inspect each extremity, noting deformity, pain, bruising or active bleeding. Inspect the ankles for medical alert bracelets.
Place the palms of your hands against the bottom of the patient’s feet and ask him or her to push downward against your hands. Repeat the same maneuver placing your hands on top of the patient’s feet and asking him or her to pull up toward your hands.
Repeat the palpations and visual inspections for both arms, checking both wrists for medical alert bracelets. Take the patient’s hands in each of your own and ask him or her to squeeze your hands.
Note findings. 94 Patient Assessment
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