How to assess a trauma patient on scene
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In Making Synapses you practice it on the patient.
This follows the order of the NREMT trauma assessment: life threats first, then a full search for injuries.
Step by step
Scene size-up
Protection, scene safety, mechanism of injury, number of patients, more resources, and manual spine stabilization if needed. [1]
Primary survey
General impression, responsiveness, airway, breathing, circulation with bleeding control. Treat each problem. [1]
Transport decision
Decide early if the patient is a priority for rapid transport to a trauma center. [1]
Rapid head-to-toe
Head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, legs, arms and back, looking for DCAP-BTLS: deformities, contusions, abrasions, punctures, burns, tenderness, lacerations, swelling. [1]
Vital signs
Pulse, breathing, blood pressure, saturation and skin. [1]
SAMPLE history
From the patient or bystanders. [1]
Reassess
Every 5 minutes for an unstable patient, every 15 for a stable one. [2]
Common errors
- Spending time on a minor injury before the primary survey.
- Not checking the back.
- Late transport decision.
Practice it in Making Synapses
In Making Synapses you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
Making Synapses cases that train this skill
- Parkinson disease, home safety
- Hypoglycemia at school
- Tuberculosis, contact with symptoms
- ADHD with weight loss
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Postpartum hemorrhage
102 Making Synapses cases train this skill: open the case library
Sources
Facts and steps follow NREMT psychomotor skill sheets (EMT and Paramedic). Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.