A 40-year-old homeless male is found lying in the street. On physical examination, you notice that the patient has a stab wound to the mid-chest. He is unresponsive and his skin is cool to the touch. His respirations are snoring at 40 per minute and his pulse is 120. Which of the following would the EMT perform first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In this scenario, the patient is unresponsive with compromised airway and breathing, which are the most urgent priorities. Therefore, the EMT should perform a jaw-thrust maneuver to open the patient's airway and assess for any obstruction. Once the airway is open, the EMT should then check for breathing and begin positive pressure ventilations if necessary. The application of a sterile dressing to the wound would be a secondary priority once the patient's airway and breathing are stabilized, and listening to breath sounds would also come after these critical interventions.

A 40-Year-Old Homeless Male Is Found Lying in the Street