An intoxicated teenage male with a diabetic history fell down five stairs and is now responding to a shoulder pinch with garbled speech. Manual stabilization of the cervical spine is being maintained. The primary assessment reveals an open airway, adequate breathing, and strong radial pulse. Vital signs are pulse 122, respirations 18, blood pressure 108/60, and SpO₂ 97%. His skin is warm and dry. Which action would be performed next?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The next step should be to perform a secondary exam to determine the extent of the patient's injuries and to gather more information about his condition. The patient's history of diabetes and the possibility of head injury make it especially important to perform a thorough secondary exam. Obtaining another set of vital signs may be necessary later, but it should not be the immediate next step. Administering oral glucose would only be appropriate if the patient's blood sugar was low, which is not indicated in this case. Starting hyperventilation is not indicated and could be harmful in this situation.

An Intoxicated Teenage Male with a Diabetic History Fell Down