New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

What is the primary goal during the primary assessment of a patient?

1. Determine if the patient’s problem is medical or trauma

2. Identify patients that need to go to a trauma center

3. Determine the need for a head-to-toe assessment

4. Identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions

The correct answer is: Identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions

The primary goal during the primary assessment of a patient is to identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions. This initial stage of evaluation is crucial because it allows the emergency medical technician to quickly assess the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation, which are the key components of what is often referred to as the ABCs of patient care. By focusing on life-threatening conditions, the EMT can prioritize interventions that will stabilize the patient, ensuring that the most critical issues are addressed first. This process includes looking for immediate threats to life, such as airway obstructions, inadequate ventilation, and severe hemorrhage, and applying rapid interventions, such as administering oxygen, performing CPR, or controlling bleeding. Other aspects of the assessment can come after, such as determining the nature of the patient's problem (medical versus trauma), deciding if the patient needs to be transported to a specific facility like a trauma center, or conducting a head-to-toe examination for further assessment. However, these are secondary to the urgent requirement of securing the patient's immediate survival through identification and treatment of any critical issues present.