Question

Breathing: To assess breathing expose the chest:

1. Inspect for
a. spontaneous breathing
b. symmetrical rise and fall
c. depth, pattern, and rate of respiration
d. signs of difficulty breathing such as accessory muscle use
e. skin color (normal, pale, flushed, cyanotic)
f. contusions, abrasions, deformities (flail chest)
g. open pneumothoraces (sucking chest wounds)
h. JVD
i. signs of inhalation injury (singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum)

Answer 1

To assess breathing, inspect the chest for various signs such as spontaneous breathing, symmetrical rise and fall, depth/pattern/rate of respiration, signs of difficulty breathing, and other indications.

Step-by-step explanation:

To assess breathing, one should inspect the chest for several signs:

1. Spontaneous Breathing: Check if the person is breathing on their own.
2. Symmetrical Rise and Fall: Observe if the chest rises and falls evenly.
3. Depth, Pattern, and Rate of Respiration: Note the depth, pattern, and rate of breathing.
4. Difficulty Breathing: Look for signs such as use of accessory muscles or skin color changes.
5. Other Indications: Check for signs of inhalation injury, open pneumothoraces, or contusions.

These assessments are important for evaluating the person's respiratory function and identifying any potential issues.