At the scene of a car accident, if a woman involved says she is okay, the EMT should:

• A. Have her get up and walk around to determine injuries.
• B. Immediately transport without evaluation.
• C. Reassess and perform a proper physical examination.
• D. Rely solely on patient statement.

Answer: (C)

In trauma care, a patient’s claim of being okay can be misleading, so you must base decisions on objective assessment. The EMT should reassess and perform a thorough physical examination to identify injuries the patient may not notice or cannot feel due to shock, adrenaline, or altered consciousness. Start with a quick primary survey to ensure airway, breathing, and circulation, then proceed to a careful secondary assessment from head to toe, checking for tenderness, deformities, signs of bleeding, neurological status, and vitals, and keep reassessing as the situation evolves. This approach catches hidden injuries and guides appropriate transport and management. Relying on the patient’s statement alone or letting them walk around or delaying evaluation could miss serious problems and worsen outcomes.