Which assessment is a detailed head-to-toe exam?

• A. DCAP-BTLS
• B. Focused Assessment
• C. Secondary Assessment
• D. Load and Go

Answer: (C)

The detailed head-to-toe exam is the secondary assessment. After you’ve addressed life threats in the primary survey, you perform a thorough, systematic evaluation from head to toe to identify all injuries that may not be immediately obvious. This approach is comprehensive and time-consuming by design, aiming to uncover problems you might miss with a quicker check.

An important part of this exam is DCAP-BTLS, a reminder of what to look for as you inspect and palpate: Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/Penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling. DCAP-BTLS guides you through the examination, but it’s a framework used within the secondary survey to ensure a complete head-to-toe assessment, not the exam itself.

In contrast, a focused assessment is narrower and used when time or the patient’s condition limits you to evaluating a specific injury or system, and Load and Go emphasizes rapid transport with minimal on-scene evaluation for the most critically injured.