British Columbia CORE Hunting Practice Exam

What is a secondary survey in first aid?

1. A documentation of life-threatening injuries

2. A check for non-life threatening conditions

3. Only for injuries seen during a primary check

4. A measurement of vital signs

The correct answer is: A check for non-life threatening conditions

A secondary survey in first aid is designed to identify non-life threatening conditions after an initial assessment has been performed. After ensuring the person's immediate safety and addressing any critical life-threatening injuries during the primary survey, the secondary survey focuses on a thorough head-to-toe examination. This assessment helps to discover other injuries or medical issues that may not be immediately apparent but require attention. This process includes checking for signs and symptoms, questioning the individual about their condition, and looking for potential injuries that may not have been noticeable during the primary assessment. By doing this, first aid providers can ensure that they do not overlook any important health concerns that could affect the person's recovery or require intervention. The other choices refer to specific aspects of medical assessment: documentation of life-threatening injuries relates more to record-keeping than to the assessment process itself, while focusing solely on injuries seen during a primary check disregards the importance of evaluating other potential issues. Lastly, vital signs measurement is a critical component of patient assessment, but it is more specific and not comprehensive in the context of what the secondary survey aims to achieve.