What does SAMPLE stand for when assessing a patient's history?

The acronym SAMPLE is used to help first responders conduct a thorough assessment of a patient's medical history and current condition. It stands for Signs, Symptoms, Last food/drink, Medications, and Events leading up to the incident.

In this context, "Signs" refer to the observable indicators of a condition, such as rash or swelling. "Symptoms" are what the patient reports experiencing, such as pain or dizziness. "Last food/drink" helps determine if the patient has had anything to eat or drink before the incident, which can be critical information in medical emergencies, particularly regarding treatments like surgery or medication administration. "Medications" provides insight into any ongoing treatments that could affect the patient's current status, and "Events leading up" allows responders to gather relevant circumstances or actions that might offer clues to the cause of the emergency.

This framework is essential for quickly developing an understanding of the patient's situation and determining the best course of action. Other options either substitute terms that don't accurately reflect the critical elements of SAMPLE or introduce concepts, such as "Priority" or "Assessments," that are not part of the acronym and do not fulfill its intended purpose in a patient history assessment.