Paramedic National Registry Practice

In trauma care, what should be your primary focus during assessment?

1. Identifying broken bones

2. Managing airway and breathing

3. Checking for concealed injuries

4. Documenting patient complaints

The correct answer is: Managing airway and breathing

The primary focus during assessment in trauma care should be on managing airway and breathing because these are critical components for sustaining life. In emergency situations, establishing and maintaining a patent airway and ensuring adequate ventilation are essential for the patient’s survival. If the airway is compromised or if the patient is not breathing adequately, they can quickly become hypoxic, leading to irreversible brain injury or death. While identifying broken bones, checking for concealed injuries, and documenting patient complaints are important aspects of trauma assessment, they all take a secondary priority to airway and breathing management. An airway obstruction or inadequate ventilation must be addressed immediately, and any further assessment can only safely occur once these life-threatening issues have been managed. This prioritization aligns with the principles of ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) in emergency medicine, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that the patient’s airway is clear and that they are breathing adequately before moving on to other assessments.