How to Check a Conscious Victim

Video Transcript

CAPT. JOE BRUNI: Hi. I am Capt. Joe Bruni with over three decades of firefighting and emergency medical service experience. I am going to cover the proper procedure to check the level of consciousness in the conscious victim or patient. Most conscious victims or patients who remain conscious may be experiencing some type of medical emergency that would require us as a good Samaritan or rescuer to determine whether their level of consciousness is adequate. The very first thing we would do is ask the patient a few questions such as, "Do you know your name?" "Do you know the day of the week?" "Do you know the year?" "Do you know the president of the United States?" Based on whether or not the person can adequately answer these questions will determine whether we need to actually activate the emergency response system to get needed help en route for someone who is experiencing the true medical emergency and just does not realize that is what is happening to them. So again, we would basically as step one, determine their level of consciousness by asking them simple, basic questions. "Do you know your name? Do you know your birthday? Do you know the year? Do you know the president of the United States?" If the person cannot adequately answer those questions, then in step two we will want to activated the emergency response system and support that person until help arrives to determine the nature of the true medical emergency.