What does AVPU stand for?

Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive Description: The AVPU scale (Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive) is a system, which is taught to healthcare professionals and first aiders on how to measure and record the patient's level of consciousness.

firstresponse.org.uk - Levels of Response AVPU

What is the best canned food for survival?

Canned vegetables, like carrots, green beans, and peas, are a great option for survival situations. They're healthy and can provide you with...

Last updated Nov 20, 2019

What food can be stored for 5 years?

Low-Acid Canned Goods According to the FSIS, canned foods with a low acid content, like meat, beans, peas, soups, or vegetables (or our favorite,...

Last updated May 9, 2020

Promotion

Levels of Response AVPU:

Description:

The AVPU scale (Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive) is a system, which is taught to healthcare professionals and first aiders on how to measure and record the patient's level of consciousness. It is a simplification of the GCS Scale (Glasgow Coma) which assesses a patient's response using Eyes, Voice and Motor skills as measures.

The AVPU has only one of four possible outcomes:

1. Alert

Patient is fully awake (though not necessarily orientated), will have spontaneously open eyes, and will respond to voice (thought may be confused). They will have bodily motor function.

2. Voice

The patient makes some sort of response when you talk to them. This could be through the eyes, which open when you speak to them, or by voice which may only be as little as a grunt. Or, it could be by moving a limb when prompted to do so by the rescuer.

3. Pain

A patient may respond by using any of the three components when pain stimulus is used on them (Eyes, Voice, Movement). Recognised methods for causing pain are pinching the ear or pressing into the bed of a fingernail. A fully conscious patient will locate the pain and push it away, whereas a patient who is not alert and not responded to voice may only manifest involuntary flexion or extension of a limb. Performing pain stimulus should be used with caution as in extreme circumstances this could be considered assault.

4. Unresponsive

This outcome is noted if the patient does not give any Eye, Voice or Motor response to voice or pain. In first aid, an AVPU score less than A is a good indication of the need to get further help.

Treatment:

If patient conscious level is below 'A' seek medical help.

Monitor patient's level of response until medical help arrives.

An unconscious patient is serious and the priority here is the patient's airway.

Place in recovery position.

Dial 999.

Treat any bleeding or cover open fractures.

If first aiders have oxygen therapy, place pulse oximeter on patients finger and take reading, if below 94% place patient on oxygen therapy. We hope you find this article useful. This is one in an alphabetical series of articles addressing various symptoms and their first aid treatments. If you would like more information on related resuscitation and first aid training, please get in touch. You might also be interested in our blog. In this particular post, Sheila Mithard explains why being a paramedic is like being a detective inspector.

You can also sign-up to our newsletter here

First Response. Training for life. Training to save a life.

What is the strongest tameable thing in ARK?

Rex is the most powerful of any dinosaur in Ark: Survival Evolved and is certainly worth the daunting task of taming it. Rex has a ridiculous...

Last updated Dec 12, 2021

What is the most important strength for survival?

Survival Skills: 5 Attributes You Need for a Survivor's Mindset Positive Attitude. ... Mental Toughness. ... Motivation. ... Work Ethic. ......

Last updated Jun 5, 2021

Promotion

What does CPR stand for?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency life-saving procedure that is done when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. This may happen after a medical emergency, such as an electric shock, heart attack, or drowning. CPR combines rescue breathing and chest compressions.

medlineplus.gov - CPR: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

CPR combines rescue breathing and chest compressions.

Rescue breathing provides oxygen to the person's lungs.

Chest compressions keep oxygen-rich blood flowing until the heartbeat and breathing can be restored. Permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes if blood flow stops. Therefore, it is very important that blood flow and breathing be continued until trained medical help arrives. Emergency operators at 911 or the local emergency number can guide you through the process. CPR techniques vary slightly depending on the age or size of the person, including different techniques for adults and children who have reached puberty, children 1 year old until the onset of puberty, and infants (babies less than 1 year of age).