Question

Your patient is a motorcyclist who was ejected from his vehicle due to striking a guard rail. The patient is unresponsive to painful stimuli and is breathing six to eight times per minute. Which of the following should you do first?

1) Administer oxygen
2) Check for a pulse
3) Stabilize the patient's neck
4) Perform a primary survey

Answer 1

The first priority in managing an unresponsive motorcyclist is to perform a primary survey to identify and treat any life-threatening injuries. Administering oxygen, checking for a pulse, and stabilizing the neck should be done after completing the primary survey.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the first priority in the management of the unresponsive motorcyclist is to perform a primary survey. The primary survey is a systematic assessment of the patient's condition and is done to identify and treat any life-threatening injuries immediately. It involves checking the patient's airway, breathing, circulation, and disability (consciousness level).

Administering oxygen is a crucial step, but it should be done after ensuring that the patient's airway is clear and there are no immediate threats to the patient's life. Checking for a pulse is a part of the primary survey and should be done once the airway has been cleared. Stabilizing the patient's neck and spine is essential, but it should be done after completing the primary survey and addressing any immediate life-threatening conditions.