Patient assessment is the foundation of effective trauma care. A systematic approach allows providers to rapidly identify life-threatening injuries, prioritize treatment, and make informed transport decisions.

In trauma patients, critical conditions may be present with few obvious signs, making a thorough and organized assessment essential. This module reviews the PHTLS XABCDE assessment process, including the primary survey, rapid trauma assessment, identification of life threats, and treatment priorities.

The goal is simple: find life-threatening problems, fix them, and continue the assessment. Students will learn how to recognize immediate threats to life, perform focused assessments, and determine the most appropriate interventions based on patient condition.

By the end of this module, students should be able to apply a structured trauma assessment process, identify life-threatening injuries, and prioritize treatment decisions that improve patient outcomes. Remember, effective trauma care begins with a systematic approach: find it, fix it, and move on to the next priority.