Following the initial assessment and control of any immediate life threats, you will begin a more thorough assessment of your patient. Two essential elements of this assessment will be measuring vital signs and  obtaining a medical history.

Vital signs are measurable life signs. The term “vital signs” usually refers to the patient’s temperature, pulse, breathing, and blood pressure. Because they reflect the patient’s condition, you must take them early and repeat them often.

The medical history includes information about the present medical problem and facts about the patient that existed before the patient required emergency medical response. This information can affect the treatment you give.

It is called a SAMPLE history because the letters in the word SAMPLE stand for elements of the history.