What are the key components of the respiratory assessment?

The key components of a respiratory assessment include inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, which are essential techniques for evaluating the respiratory system.

Inspection involves visually examining the patient for signs of respiratory distress, such as abnormal breathing patterns, use of accessory muscles, or any visible abnormalities in the chest wall. Palpation allows the paramedic to feel the chest for symmetry, fremitus, and any abnormalities in the structure of the lungs or thoracic cage. Percussion is used to assess the underlying lung structure by tapping on the chest wall and evaluating the sounds produced, which can indicate the presence of fluid or air in the pleural space. Lastly, auscultation involves listening to the lung sounds using a stethoscope, which provides critical information regarding airway patency, presence of wheezes, crackles, or absence of breath sounds, contributing significantly to diagnosing respiratory conditions.

While other options contain important aspects of patient assessment, they do not encompass the full procedural framework for directly assessing respiratory function as the first choice does. Heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation are related parameters but do not provide a comprehensive evaluation of the respiratory system itself. History taking and symptom assessment are fundamental but are part of the broader clinical evaluation process.