Principle Four: Conducting a Secondary Review

After you have called an ambulance, and only when you are absolutely sure that the victim is in a condition that does not threaten his life and does not require continuous assistance,
You can move on to the secondary review.
During a secondary examination, other problems are identified in the victim, indicating the need for first aid. Interview the victim and those gathered again about what happened. If the victim is a child, contact his parents or adults at the scene. After this, check the victim for signs of life and conduct a general survey. Signs of life include heart rate, breathing rate and level of consciousness. The importance of a secondary review is to identify problems that do not directly pose a threat to the life of the victim, but can have serious consequences if left unattended and without first aid.
After completing the secondary examination of the victim after first aid, continue to monitor for signs of life until the ambulance arrives. A person's condition may deteriorate slowly and suddenly become seriously life-threatening (for example, respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest). Don't reassure yourself that the victim is safe just because there appears to be no serious problem. Help the person remain calm and comfortable while they wait.
Section 8 details the sequence for conducting a secondary review, and as you progress through the course you will learn how to provide first aid to problems identified during a secondary review. Determine whether the victim is conscious.