Which step is part of the secondary survey?

• A. Obtain a detailed head-to-toe examination
• B. Administer oxygen
• C. Reassess level of consciousness
• D. Apply direct pressure to a wound

Answer: (A)

Secondary survey is a thorough head-to-toe examination conducted after life-threatening conditions have been addressed. The best choice reflects this by focusing on a detailed, systematic check of the patient from head to toe to uncover injuries that aren’t immediately obvious and to establish a baseline for ongoing care. This step helps ensure nothing is missed and guides further treatment.

Interventions like administering oxygen are actions taken during the initial assessment to secure breathing, not a part of the systematic exam that defines the secondary survey. Reassessing level of consciousness is part of ongoing monitoring and the disability/neurological check during the primary evaluation, rather than the comprehensive head-to-toe examination that characterizes the secondary survey. Applying direct pressure to a wound is a bleeding-control maneuver typically performed during the primary assessment or as an urgent intervention, not a defined component of the secondary examination.