Title: Physical examination
Course: Level 3 - First Aid > Section: Assessment and identification of emergency conditions

The First Responder Physical Examination is designed to locate and begin the initial management of the signs and symptoms of illness or injury. The First Responder should complete a physical exam on all patients following the initial assessment. Inspection and palpation /feeling of body parts/ are the two important methods of physical examination in first aid practice.

Inspect and palpate for DOTS (Deformity, Open wound, Tenderness and Swelling). Do the physical examination in the sequence of: Head --> Neck --> Chest --> Abdomen --> Pelvic --> Extremities (see Figures 9-13, below).

Fig. 9. Assessment of the head.

Fig. 10. Assessment of the neck.

Fig. 11. Assessment of the chest.

Fig. 12. Assessment of the abdomen.

Fig. 13. Assessment of the pelvic.