How to Assess Level of Consciousness During First Aid

Changes in the level of consciousness, or LOC, of a person who may have sustained an injury to the head are an important indicator of the way the brain is functioning. The scale used to measure this is commonly called "AVPU" for "alert," "verbal," responsive to "pain," or "unresponsive."

Things You'll Need

• Pens
• White Paper
• White paper

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Instructions

Alert and Oriented?

• 1

  Speak or yell to the injured person loudly and repeatedly, and note whether he or she responds verbally.

• 2

  Ask the injured person his or her name.

• 3

  Ask the injured person where he or she is.

• 4

  Ask the injured person what day and time it is.

• 5

  Ask the injured person what happened.

• 6

  Write down the time and the number of these questions the injured person is able to answer. If the person answers at least one of the questions, he or she is an "A" on the AVPU scale.

Responsive to Verbal Stimuli?

• 7

  Speak or yell to the injured person and see if he or she opens his or her eyes, moves, mumbles, or groans. If the injured person responds, he or she is a "V" on the AVPU scale.

• 8

  Write down the time and a "V" for level of consciousness.

Responsive to Painful Stimuli?

• 9

  Rub the injured person's breastbone with your knuckles and watch his or her face for movement.

• 10

  Note the level of responsiveness. If he or she shows any movement or makes any sounds, he or she is a "P" on the AVPU scale.