A 19-year-old male was shot in the abdomen with a small caliber weapon. When you arrive he is conscious and upset about being shot. He complains of no other injuries. His vital signs are P 104, R 14, BP 108/82. You should first:

• A. Prepare for Transport
• B. Administer Oxygen by NRB Mask
• C. Palpate His Abdomen in All Four Quadrants
• D. Dress and Bandage His Wound

Answer: (A)

In penetrating abdominal trauma, the highest priority when the patient is conscious and hemodynamically stable is rapid transport to definitive care. The body can be losing blood internally even if vitals look acceptable, and internal injuries often require surgical evaluation. So the first action is to get the patient en route to the emergency department or trauma center while you monitor him and manage any obvious life threats. That means ensuring airway and breathing remain adequate, keeping him comfortable, and continuing to reassess vital signs as you prepare for transport.

Providing oxygen right away is reasonable if there are signs of hypoxia or shock, but with normal breathing and stable oxygenation, it does not take precedence over getting to definitive care. A detailed abdominal examination on scene can delay transport and may not change the immediate management, especially when internal injury is a real concern. Dressing the wound is appropriate for active external bleeding, but if there isn’t significant external bleeding, it won’t trump the need for rapid transport.