A young female pedestrian was hit by a car and thrown 15 feet, striking her head against a metal guardrail. You start your secondary assessment and note a deep depression to the right parietal area of her head with intact skin overlying the area. You should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A deep depression to the right parietal area of the head indicates a possible skull fracture and significant head injury. The immediate focus should be on assessing and monitoring the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) to ensure they are stable. Note the injury and continue assessing the patient to determine the extent of their injuries and provide appropriate treatment. Applying an ice pack or palpating the depression could potentially exacerbate the patient's condition and hyperventilation is not indicated in this situation.

A Young Female Pedestrian Was Hit by a Car and Thrown