Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test

The three components of trauma patient assessment in PHTLS are primary assessment, secondary assessment, and reassessment.

The primary assessment is crucial as it focuses on identifying and addressing immediately life-threatening conditions, such as airway compromise, breathing difficulties, and circulation issues. This step helps ensure that the patient's vital functions are stabilized before further examination.

Following the primary assessment, the secondary assessment is conducted to gather a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition. This involves a thorough head-to-toe examination, taking a detailed medical history, and assessing any injuries that may not have been apparent initially.

Finally, reassessment is an essential component as it involves continuously monitoring the patient's status and reassessing interventions. This ensures that any changes in the patient’s condition are detected promptly, allowing for timely adjustments in treatment.

This systematic approach ensures that all critical aspects of trauma care are covered, leading to better outcomes for the patient. Other options, while relevant to specific components of trauma care, do not encompass the entirety of the assessment process as effectively as the primary, secondary, and reassessment framework do.