Control major bleeding
Look immediately for severe external hemorrhage. Apply direct pressure, wound packing, or a tourniquet according to protocol.
How → Why → Practice
Find life threats without losing a systematic approach.
Practice a rapid trauma exam, classify findings as normal or not normal, select the immediate priority, and document objective findings.
0 of 3 lessons complete
Lesson 1
HOW: Perform a rapid trauma exam
Address immediate threats first, then examine from head to toe using the same sequence every time.
Assess head and neck
Inspect and palpate for DCAP-BTLS, blood or fluid, facial instability, airway threats, tracheal position, and jugular venous distention when appropriate.
Assess the chest
Expose as needed. Inspect, palpate, and listen for equal rise, tenderness, crepitus, open wounds, paradoxical motion, and unequal breath sounds.
Assess abdomen and pelvis
Check for tenderness, guarding, rigidity, distention, bruising, instability, and signs of internal bleeding. Avoid repeated pelvic compression.
Assess extremities
Inspect and palpate each limb for deformity, wounds, tenderness, swelling, and instability. Check distal pulse, motor function, and sensation.
Assess posterior and reassess
Inspect the back when movement is safe, maintain spinal precautions when indicated, trend vital signs, and repeat the primary assessment.
Use DCAP-BTLS
Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/Penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling.
Objective exam language
- Location and side
- Size and appearance
- Tenderness or instability
- Bleeding amount and control method
- Distal pulse, motor, and sensation
Immediate threats
- Uncontrolled hemorrhage
- Airway or ventilation compromise
- Open or unstable chest injury
- Signs of shock or internal bleeding
- New neurologic or neurovascular deficit
Lesson 2
WHY: Link trauma findings to patient priority
The exam is not a search for every injury before transport. Its purpose is to identify threats that change immediate care and destination decisions.
Mechanism guides—not proves
Mechanism raises suspicion, but treatment should be based on the patient’s actual presentation and assessment findings.
Shock can be hidden
Compensated patients may maintain blood pressure while showing tachycardia, cool skin, anxiety, delayed capillary refill, or narrowing pulse pressure.
Trends matter
Repeated vital signs and mental-status checks may reveal deterioration that was not obvious during the first exam.
PMS protects limbs
Pulse, motor function, and sensation should be documented before and after splinting or movement whenever possible.
FindingPossible concernPriority
Uncontrolled extremity bleedingRapid blood lossImmediate hemorrhage control
Unequal chest riseMajor chest injurySupport breathing and expedite transport
Rigid, distended abdomenInternal bleedingTreat for shock and rapid transport
Absent distal pulseNeurovascular compromiseUrgent reassessment and splinting consideration
Isolated abrasionMinor soft-tissue injuryDocument and continue exam
Knowledge check
Full scenario mode: complete this assessment for the active patient. Teaching sections and patient changes are locked until you leave the scenario.
Lesson 3
PRACTICE: Find, prioritize, and document
Read the mechanism and presentation, perform the head-to-toe exam, and identify the most important finding.
Randomized patient
Trauma encounter
Primary exam finding
Practice feedback