List of Contributors xiii Preface xv Acknowledgments xvii Contributors xix Chapter 1 The principles of paramedic patient assessment 1 Justin Honey-Jones, Jonathan Todd, and Sharmila Francis Introduction 1 Consent 2 Primary survey 4 Red flags 27 Conclusion 28 Glossary 28 References 29 Further reading 30 Chapter 2 Critical thinking and clinical decision-making 33 Dawn Ball and James Wilkinson Introduction 34 Application of critical thinking to patient assessment 34 Theoretical models of critical thinking 34 Using evidence-based practice to enhance critical thinking 35 Evaluating and improving critical thinking and decision-making skills 37 Human factors and barriers to clinical decision-making 38 Conclusion 40 Multiple choice questions 41 References 42 Further reading 42 Chapter 3 Respiratory assessment 43 Christine Findlay and Kylie Kendrick Introduction 43 Anatomy and physiology 44 Patient assessment 50 Respiratory assessment 50 Family/social history 54 Medications 54 Palpation 55 Percussion 55 Auscultation 56 Clinical decision-making tools 57 Conclusion 63 Multiple choice questions 63 Glossary 64 References 64 Further reading 65 Chapter 4 Respiratory conditions 67 Kylie Kendrick and Christine Findlay Introduction 67 Common respiratory conditions 68 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 70 Acute pulmonary oedema 73 Pulmonary embolism 75 Foreign body airway obstruction 78 Spontaneous Pneumothorax 79 Conclusion 81 Multiple choice questions 81 Glossary 82 References 83 Further reading 84 Chapter 5 Cardiovascular assessment 85 Samantha Sweet Introduction 85 Conclusion 96 Multiple choice questions 96 Glossary 97 References 97 Further reading 98 Chapter 6 Cardiovascular conditions 99 Samantha Sweet Introduction 99 Specific conditions 100 Conclusion 107 Multiple choice questions 107 Glossary 108 References 108 Further reading 109 Chapter 7 Gastrointestinal/genitourinary conditions 111 Anthony Kitchener Introduction 111 Acute cholecystitis 113 Acute pancreatitis 114 Appendicitis 115 Constipation 116 Diverticular disease 117 Gastritis 117 Hepatitis 118 Inflammatory bowel disease 119 Ischaemic bowel and intestinal obstruction 120 Torsion (Testes or ovaries) 121 Renal or ureteric colic 122 Multiple choice questions 123 Glossary 124 References 124 Further reading 125 Chapter 8 The gastrointestinal assessment 127 Andrew Preece Introduction 127 Patient assessment 128 Case studies 139 Conclusion 140 Multiple choice questions 140 Glossary 141 References 141 Further reading 142 Chapter 9 The neurological assessment 143 James Wilkinson and Samantha Dalton Introduction 143 Patient assessment 146 History taking for the neurological system 150 Discharge on scene advice 156 Conclusion 157 Multiple choice questions 158 Glossary 158 References 159 Further reading 159 Chapter 10 Neurological conditions 161 Barry Murphy -Jones Introduction 161 Stroke 162 Epidemiology 162 Pathophysiology 163 Epidemiology 166 Pathophysiology 166 Pathophysiology 167 Treatment 168 Headaches 168 Epidemiology 168 Pathophysiology 168 Pathophysiology 169 Acute Behavioural Disturbances 170 Pathophysiology 170 Learning events 171 Conclusion 172 Multiple choice questions 172 Glossary 173 References 173 Further reading 174 Chapter 11 Musculoskeletal assessment 175 Patrick Moloney Introduction 175 Patient assessment 176 History 178 Conclusion 186 Multiple choice questions 186 Glossary 187 References 187 Further reading 188 Chapter 12 Musculoskeletal conditions 189 Patrick Moloney Introduction 189 Specific conditions 192 Management 195 Colles'' fracture 195 Septic arthritis 196 Lumbar radiculopathy (lower back nerve pain) 199 Conclusion 201 Multiple choice questions 202 Glossary 203 References 203 Further reading 204 Chapter 13 Trauma assessment 205 Joseph Steer Introduction 205 Patient assessment 207 Primary survey 210 Catastrophic haemorrhage 212 Conclusion 223 Multiple choice questions 223 Glossary 224 References 224 Further reading 225 Chapter 14 Traumatic injuries and conditions 227 Thomas Strudwick Introduction 227 Head trauma 228 Spinal injury 230 Thoracic trauma 234 Abdominal trauma 237 Pelvic trauma 240 Limb trauma 241 Traumatic cardiac arrest 246 Conclusion 249 Multiple choice questions 249 Glossary 250 References 250 Further reading 253 Chapter 15 The paediatric assessment 255 Will Broughton Introduction 255 Paediatric specific primary survey (DRCABCDE) 256 Summary 257 Summary 260 Summary and plan 264 Conclusion 268 Multiple choice questions 268 Glossary 269 References 269 Further reading 269 Multiple choice questions 268 Glossary 269 References 269 Further reading 269 Chapter 16 Paediatric conditions 271 Keith Bromwich Introduction 271 Ears and throat 272 Sore throat 273 Cough (General) 277 Management additional specific 283 Conclusion 285 Multiple choice questions 285 Glossary 286 References 286 Chapter 17 Obstetric assessment 289 Fiona Scarlett Introduction 289 Physiological changes in pregnancy 290 The structured approach to patient assessment 291 Position 292 Fundus 295 Clinical decision-making tools 298 Case studies 301 Conclusion 304 Multiple choice questions 305 Glossary 305 References 306 Further reading 307 Chapter 18 Maternal conditions 309 Helen McAdam Introduction 309 Maternal conditions (including obstetric emergencies) 310 Placental abruption 315 Placental praevia 317 General management of pregnancy loss 321 Conclusion 324 Multiple choice questions 324 Glossary 325 References 326 Further reading 326 Chapter 19 Newborn assessment 327 Helen McAdam Introduction 327 Neonatal assessment 328 Pre-hospital newborn assessment 330 Newborn pathophysiology 331 Clinical decision-making tools 337 Conclusion 340 Multiple choice questions 340 Glossary 341 References 341 Further reading 342 Chapter 20 The older person assessment 343 Kieran Robinson Introduction 343 Primary survey 343 History taking 345 Advanced care planning 347 Conclusion 352 Multiple choice questions 353 Glossary 354 References 355 Further reading 356 Chapter 21 Older Person Conditions 357 Cole Tideswell Introduction 357 Multiple choice questions 374 References 375 Chapter 22 End of Life Care and Palliative Assessment 377 Graham Turner and Caroline Phillips Introduction 378 The pill box 382 Clinical decision-making tools 383 The Sepsis Screening Tool 383 Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) 383 Conclusion 384 Multiple choice questions 384 Glossary 385 References 386 Further reading 386 Chapter 23 Palliative Emergencies and Conditions 387 Andrew Hichisson and James Roberts Introduction 387 Specific conditions 388 Spinal cord compression 389 Gastrointestinal complaints 392 Pain 393 Agitation 396 Haemorrhage 397 End of life 398 Family/Carer distress 399 Conclusion 399 Multiple choice questions 399 Glossary 400 References 401 Further reading 402 Chapter 24 Assessment of mental health in paramedic practice 403 Katie Pavoni Introduction 404 Take note 415 Conclusion 415 Glossary 417 Multiple choice questions 417 References 418 Further reading 419 Chapter 25 Mental health and neurodivergent conditions 421 Justin Honey-Jones Introduction 422 Neurodivergent conditions 423 Mental health conditions 424 Anxiety disorders 424 Depression 427 Bipolar disorder 428 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 429.