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Rapid Trauma Exam — Step by Step

Drill the 30-step head-to-toe rapid trauma assessment in order, with the package-patient sub-sequence and the anatomy landmark recall the exam expects.

Rapid Trauma Exam — full 30-step sequence

Head-to-toe rapid trauma assessment as taught in ILT. Drag steps into the correct order.

BSI / Scene Safety
Approach patient, hold forehead, feel pulse, introduce yourself, acquire permission to treat
Assess ABCs (if unconscious: assess LOC, pulse, and breathing using jaw-thrust with C-spine)
Assign C-spine precautions
Assess neck — cervical spinal exam, verbalize JVD and tracheal deviation present or absent
Assess back of head
Assess bones above the eyes
Assess cheek bones (zygomas)
Assess "mustache bone" (maxilla)
Assess jaw (mandible)
Assess collar bones (clavicles)
Assign C-collar sizing and application
Push on rib cage
Push down on sternum with knife hand
Visualize chest by lifting shirt (verbalize)
Palpate the abdomen
Push in on pelvis (iliac crests)
Push down on pelvis
Assess femur on both legs with paradoxical force
Assess lower legs (tib-fib) with paradoxical force
Assess CSM (circulation, sensory, motor) on lower extremities
Assess upper arm (humerus) with paradoxical force
Assess lower arm (radius/ulna) with paradoxical force
Repeat on the other upper extremity
Assess CSM (circulation, sensory, motor) on upper extremities
Listen to breath sounds (four points on the front)
Log roll patient, assess thoracic and lumbar spine (C-spine calls the roll)
Log roll patient onto back board (C-spine calls the roll)
Package patient (in-line, padding, straps, head secured)
Assess CSM (circulation, sensory, motor) on all extremities after packaging

Package patient — 7-step micro-sequence

The seven actions, in order, to package the patient onto the backboard.

Move patient in-line for proper positioning
Consider padding
Cross strap chest
Cross strap pelvis
One strap below knees
Apply head blocks or bed rolls
Secure head

Vocabulary & Definitions

Term	Definition
BSI	Body Substance Isolation — gloves, eye protection, mask as needed before patient contact.
Scene Safety	Confirm the scene is safe to enter before approaching the patient.
ABCs	Airway, Breathing, Circulation — the first physiologic survey on every patient.
LOC	Level of Consciousness — assessed when patient is unconscious before ABCs.
Jaw-thrust maneuver	Airway-opening technique used when C-spine injury is suspected; replaces head-tilt/chin-lift.
C-spine precautions	Manual stabilization of the cervical spine, maintained until the patient is fully packaged on the backboard.
JVD	Jugular Venous Distention — visible bulging of the neck veins; sign of right-heart strain or tension pneumothorax. Verbalize present or absent.
Tracheal deviation	Lateral shift of the trachea from midline; late sign of tension pneumothorax. Verbalize present or absent.
Zygomas	Cheek bones.
Maxilla	Upper jaw bone — the "mustache bone" in the handout mnemonic.
Mandible	Lower jaw bone.
Clavicles	Collar bones.
C-collar	Cervical collar — sized and applied after assessing the neck and head, before moving to the torso.
Knife hand	Flat-hand technique for pressing straight down on the sternum to check chest integrity.
Iliac crests	The upper rims of the hip bones — pressed inward to check pelvic stability.
Paradoxical force	Applying force in opposing directions on a long bone to feel for instability or crepitus.
CSM	Circulation, Sensory, Motor — distal extremity check performed before and after immobilization.
Femur	Thigh bone — assessed with paradoxical force on both legs.
Tib-fib	Tibia and fibula — the two bones of the lower leg.
Humerus	Upper arm bone.
Radius / Ulna	The two bones of the forearm.
Breath sound points (front)	The four anterior auscultation points listened to during the rapid trauma exam.
Log roll	Coordinated turn that keeps the spine aligned; C-spine calls the roll. Done twice — once to assess thoracic/lumbar spine, once onto the backboard.
C-spine calls the roll	The provider holding C-spine stabilization is the one who counts and commands every log roll.
Package patient	Secure the patient to the backboard: in-line, padded, strapped (chest, pelvis, knees), head blocks/bed rolls, head secured.
Head blocks / bed rolls	Padding placed on either side of the head before securing it to the backboard.
Final CSM	Circulation, sensory, motor recheck on all four extremities after packaging — confirms straps did not compromise distal perfusion or nerve function.