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If you have to deal with a patient who is unwell then you can go through a simple mnemonic process called a SAMPLE Assessment. If someone came to you who is unwell depending on their age depends on how you need to treat them. If you are dealing with an adult you can talk to them directly. If you are dealing with a child you can still talk to them but you also might want to hear what the parents or guardian say, to give you a little bit more information and also the way you talk to them needs to change so that children can understand and also that you do not scare them. With the mnemonic SAMPLE S stands for Signs and Symptoms A for Allergies M for Medications P for Pre-existing medical conditions L for Last meal and E for Events. We use the mnemonic SAMPLE as a way of assessing somebody who's unwell. With this information we can decide what action we need to take and it gives us information to tell the EMS or other people like family members. Breaking it down the S stands for Signs and Symptoms. A sign is something you see. A symptom is something the patient tells you. So the sorts of things we're looking for here would be the signs could be a rash maybe uneven pupils it could be sweaty skin or anything you can actually see on the person. The symptoms can be things like a headache stomachache or diarrhoea. These are the things we need to look at and you need to ask people leading questions to find out what's actually wrong with them. A for Allergies will be anything the person is allergic to. So we can ask questions like "Are you allergic to any foodstuff?" Maybe they say they are allergic to peanuts or a chemical or antibiotics and this is going to lead on to extra questions you can ask them. The M is Medications. Are they taking any drugs? This could be as basic as they had paracetamol this morning or it could be they're on normal medications. It might be asthma inhalers it might be insulin for diabetes and things like this. P is Pre-existing medical conditions. This would be a question you can ask them "Do you suffer from anything already?" They may say "Yes, I'm a diabetic," or "I have anaphylaxis," or anything at all a medical condition they have. L is Last meal. The last meal is important because this could give you indications of whether if they're just feeling unwell it could be that you have food poisoning. It could be that they're diabetic and haven't eaten for a while. It also gives you a greater picture of the run-ups to what's actually happened. The E is the Events. This is the events that led up to it. You can talk to them and find out how long ago it started. This could be important with something like diabetes. If it's suddenly they become unwell this could indicate their blood sugar is low. Therefore you can give them sugar. If it's been a length of time it might be their blood sugar levels are high. Therefore we need to get them to emergency treatment. The events will give you a good overall picture of what's happened and what stages there have been and also anything else that they've done or anything they think that may have caused them to be unwell. As far as what you do with the information this information can be used to make your decision or passed on to emergency services or a doctor. It is also a way of trying to help the patient by talking to them while help arrives. Finally, remember if you are dealing with children the SAMPLE questions you need to ask are much more basic.
Guide to Illness Assessment: S.A.M.P.L.E.S. Method
Understanding Illness Assessment
Learn how to assess and gather crucial information about a person's illness.
Defining Illness
Understand the concept of illness as an unhealthy condition of the body.
The S.A.M.P.L.E.S. Mnemonic
Discover the systematic approach to illness assessment using the S.A.M.P.L.E.S. mnemonic.
S - Signs and Symptoms
Identify important signs and symptoms that provide insights into the person's condition:
- Temperature: Check for fever or unusual body temperature.
- Skin Colour: Observe skin tone for abnormalities.
- Pulse Rate: Assess the patient's pulse for rate and irregularities.
- Questioning: Interview the patient to understand their symptoms, including nausea, pain, or discomfort.
A - Allergies
Inquire about allergies that could be relevant to the situation:
- Types of Allergies: Ask about allergies to food, insect stings, or antibiotics.
M - Medication
Explore the patient's medication history:
- Current Medication: Determine if the patient is taking any medications, including those taken today.
P - Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Assess the presence of pre-existing medical conditions:
- Medical Conditions: Ask if the patient has conditions such as diabetes, asthma, angina, or anaphylaxis.
L - Last Meal
Obtain information about the patient's recent food intake:
- Timing of Last Meal: Ask when the patient last ate and what they consumed, which can provide insights into their condition.
E - Events
Investigate the events leading up to the patient's illness:
- Precipitating Events: Determine circumstances that may have triggered the illness, such as a sudden onset or gradual development.
Assessing Pulse and Respiration
Learn how to evaluate a person's pulse and respiration for a comprehensive assessment.
Checking Pulse
Find the person's pulse and assess its characteristics:
- Radial Pulse: Locate and count the radial pulse using three fingers for accuracy.
- Pulse Characteristics: Observe pulse rate, strength, and regularity.
Counting Respiration
Monitor the person's breathing rate:
- Breath Count: Count the number of breaths in 30 seconds to determine the respiration rate.
- Technique: Leave your fingers in place to discreetly count breaths without the patient's awareness.
Normal Ranges
Understand the typical heart rate and respiration rate for adults:
- Heart Rate: Adult heart rate ranges from sixty to ninety beats per minute.
- Respiration Rate: Adult respiration rate typically falls between 12 and 20 breaths per minute.