Thierry is a team physician who is performing an initial assessment on an athlete who is injured. He needs to check the athlete’s brain and spinal cord for injury. According to the National Safety Council’s recommendations, what is the first step when assessing the nervous system?
Answer
A
Sweep the athlete’s mouth to make sure it is empty.
B
Pinch the athlete’s arm to see if they react to the pain.
C
See if the athlete can state the date and their location accurately.
D
Gently lift the athlete’s head to determine if they feel movement.
Explanation
Begin by checking the athlete’s level of consciousness and orientation. Asking whether they can state the date and their location helps reveal confusion that could indicate a brain injury; pinching the arm is not the first assessment step, and the head should not be lifted when a spinal injury is possible.
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