Which acronym helps assess a trauma patient’s circulation?

The acronym that helps assess a trauma patient's circulation is DCAP-BTLS. This acronym stands for Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Penetrations - Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, and Swelling. It is specifically designed to aid EMTs in conducting a thorough physical assessment of trauma patients.

In this context, the focus is on identifying any signs of injury that could affect circulation, such as severe bleeding (indicated by lacerations and abrasions) or the presence of contusions that may signal deeper damage to blood vessels. Recognizing these signs is essential for establishing the patient's hemodynamic stability and necessary interventions to maintain effective circulation.

The other options—ABCD, MOI, and HOPES—focus on different aspects of patient assessment. ABCD generally refers to the Airway, Breathing, Circulation, and Disability framework, while MOI (Mechanism of Injury) emphasizes understanding the cause of injury, and HOPES (History, Other past medical history, Patient assessment, Events leading up to injury, and Symptoms) focuses on obtaining a comprehensive patient history. While all these frameworks are valuable, DCAP-BTLS is directly aimed at assessing the patient's circulation and identifying potential circulatory