Page 5 Session 3 DRABCD

Secondary Assessment/Survey

Conducted When Child is Breathing

The secondary assessment also known as the top to toe survey is used to establish injuries to the unconscious child/infant.

Remember to consider :

History - Signs - Symptoms

Hidden injuries must always be found,

a child could be losing lots of blood from a hidden Injury. Information can also be passed onto the emergency services with further treatment given to the child on their arrival.

What are you checking for and Why?

Head: Feel gently over the child's scalp for

Indents, blood and object embedded.
Ears and Nose for blood and cerebral fluids. (Fractured Skull)
Face for trauma and injury to cheek bones and jaw.

Neck: Feel and look for swelling and deformity also medical SOS tags.

Shoulder: Feel for dislocations, broken collar bones and open fractures.

Arms & Hands: Feel and look for broken bones, blood loss, objects embedded and amputation of fingers.

Chest:

Check for normal rise and fall.
Possible broken ribs.
Embedded objects.
Sucking chest wounds.
Bright red frothy blood from mouth indicating lung injury.

Abdomen:

Check for trauma
Blood loss
Embedded objects
Dark red blood being vomited indicating internal stomach injury.

Remember your first aid kit

Before touching the Child/Infant the first aid kit should be on the scene. Firstly gloves to protect and prevent infection or cross contamination.

Secondly, should you come across any injuries you will be able to treat them.

The first aid kit should be no more than 30 seconds away within your school or nursery. As a part of the risk assessment the first aid kit should be easily reached while children play outside.

The Bum Bag First Aid kit is always a good Idea when outdoors.

Page 5 Session 3 DRABCD

Secondary Assessment/Survey

What are you checking for and Why?

Watch Slides as it goes through TOP-TOE

Remember your first aid kit