A 14-year-old male fell 10 feet from a retaining wall and hit his head on a metal post. He is responsive to verbal stimuli with incomprehensible speech. The secondary assessment indicates blood and fluid coming from inside the patient's left ear. Given these assessment findings, the EMT should:

Here are some first aid steps you can take for head trauma while waiting for emergency medical help: Keep the person still: Have the injured person lie down with their head and shoulders slightly elevated. Don't move the person unless necessary, and avoid moving their neck. Stop any bleeding: Use sterile gauze or a clean cloth to apply firm pressure to the wound. If you suspect a skull fracture, don't apply direct pressure to the wound. Monitor breathing and alertness: If the person shows no signs of circulation, begin CPR. Keep the head in line with the spine: If the injury is serious,... Show more

Here are some first aid steps you can take for head trauma while waiting for emergency medical help:
Keep the person still: Have the injured person lie down with their head and shoulders slightly elevated. Don't move the person unless necessary, and avoid moving their neck.
Stop any bleeding: Use sterile gauze or a clean cloth to apply firm pressure to the wound. If you suspect a skull fracture, don't apply direct pressure to the wound.
Monitor breathing and alertness: If the person shows no signs of circulation, begin CPR.
Keep the head in line with the spine: If the injury is serious, be careful not to move the person's head.
Hold something cold against the injury: This can reduce swelling. 

Show less