You are dispatched to a local mall and are met by bystanders who state that the patient was talking to a customer representative and "passed out." You find an alert and oriented 55-year-old female lying supine on the tile floor. The patient tells you that the back of her head is hurting. Which one of the following actions should you perform first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Based on the mechanism of injury (loss of consciousness with a reported head injury), spinal stabilization should be the first action taken to prevent potential spinal cord injury. Opening the airway with a jaw-thrust is not necessary as the patient is alert and oriented and speaking to the responder. Obtaining vital signs and assessing the back of the patient's head for injury can be done after spinal stabilization has been completed.

You Are Dispatched to a Local Mall and Are Met