The SAMPLE acronym is a structured memory aid used by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and other prehospital care providers to rapidly collect a patient’s historical data during an emergency assessment. This framework ensures that providers systematically gather relevant information that may influence the patient’s current condition or guide immediate treatment decisions. Obtaining this history is an important step in forming an initial assessment and providing appropriate care before the patient reaches the hospital.
Decoding the SAMPLE Acronym
The “S” in SAMPLE stands for Signs and Symptoms. Signs are objective observations, such as pale skin, rapid breathing, or visible bleeding, while symptoms are subjective complaints described by the patient, like nausea, dizziness, or pain. EMTs often use additional assessment tools to further analyze the patient’s primary complaint, such as the OPQRST mnemonic for pain assessment.
The “A” represents Allergies, specifically asking about reactions to medications, food, or environmental triggers like pollen or insect stings. Knowing a patient’s allergies is important to avoid prescribing or administering substances that could trigger an allergic reaction. This information is sought early in the assessment because the patient may lose consciousness and be unable to communicate this detail later.
“M” stands for Medications, which includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, vitamins, herbal supplements, and even recreational substances. Understanding what the patient is currently taking helps the provider anticipate potential drug interactions with any treatments they might administer. It also offers clues about the patient’s underlying health conditions.
The “P” refers to Past Pertinent Medical History, which encompasses previous illnesses, surgeries, hospitalizations, and chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease. This history helps determine if the current emergency is related to a long-standing medical issue or a new event.
“L” is for Last Oral Intake, which asks about the last time the patient ate or drank and what it was. This information is relevant because a full stomach can increase the risk of aspiration if the patient becomes unresponsive and requires advanced airway management.
Finally, “E” represents Events Leading Up to the Illness or Injury, which helps the EMT understand the circumstances that precipitated the emergency call. For medical emergencies, this question focuses on the onset of symptoms and what the patient was doing when they began. In trauma cases, this focuses on the mechanism of injury, such as the height of a fall or the speed of a vehicle collision.
Context for Using SAMPLE History
The SAMPLE history is not typically the first action an EMT performs upon arrival at an emergency scene. It is generally integrated into the secondary assessment, which follows the primary assessment where immediate life threats are addressed. Only after the patient’s immediate life-sustaining functions have been evaluated and stabilized does the provider move on to gathering this detailed history.
EMTs gather this information directly from a responsive patient, initiating a conversation about the chief complaint. If the patient is unresponsive, confused, or severely ill, the EMT will attempt to obtain the SAMPLE history from family members, friends, or bystanders present at the scene. In cases of significant trauma, the time spent gathering a full SAMPLE history may be reduced to prioritize rapid transport, as the mechanism of injury often provides more immediate information than past medical history.
Why Systematic History Gathering is Essential
A systematic approach to history gathering, such as using the SAMPLE mnemonic, is foundational to providing effective prehospital care. Knowing about a patient’s conditions and medications can prevent medical errors, such as administering a drug that interacts negatively with a current prescription.
The information collected through the SAMPLE history helps the EMT anticipate potential complications and adjust care accordingly. For instance, a history of asthma or severe allergies alerts the provider to the possibility of a rapidly deteriorating respiratory status. This structured data is then relayed to the receiving hospital staff, allowing the emergency department to prepare for the patient’s arrival and continue care without delay. This transfer of organized, relevant patient information ensures a seamless transition of care and supports better patient outcomes.