15 Signed Phrases for Emergency Medical Questions in American Sign Language

A video by viewer request for emergency medical professionals: How to simply sign the essential questions needed to ask patients in emergencies. Note that the first minute and sixteen seconds are sped up to keep the first two disclaimers short. Actual lesson begins at 4:18 Thank you to Chris the Paramedic for these suggested questions/topics, and for taking the time to teach himself and share resources with his team, all to overcome communication barriers in emergencies. DISCLAIMERS: 1. I am not a medical interpreter, I am a teacher. 2. In true medical situations, the medical establishment (hospital, doctor's office) MUST hire a medical interpreter! Legally! You must! (But, today will be for those emergency on-call scenarios where the interpreter is not present yet.) 3. I suggest learning more than just these 15 phrases -- get started with fingerspelling, numbers, and other beginner phrases. PREREQS: Pronouns: Use your index finger to point, to say "you", "me", "he", "She", etc. Facial expression for questions: Eyebrows up for Yes/NO questions, Eyebrows down for WH-word questions. THE SENTENCES: 1. "Are you deaf?" and "Do you understand sign?" "Do you understand ASL?" and "Want to write back and forth?" and "Please fingerspell." 2. "What medicine do you take/use?" 3. "What are you allergic to?" 4. "Do you feel pain?" and "Where?" / "Where is the pain?" 5. "Are you nauseous?" 6. "Do you have heart problems?" 7. "Do you have high blood pressure?" 8. "Do you have diabetes?" 9. "Do you have lung problems?" 10. "Do you experience seizures?" 11. "Are you pregnant?" 12. "Do you use drugs or alcohol?" + "When?" "How often?" and "Which?" 13. "Were you wearing a seatbelt?" 14. "Did you pass out?" or "Were you unconscious?" 15. "Starting when?" eg: "[X] started when?" "When did it begin?" POSSIBLE RESPONSES: 1. YES 2. NO 3. MAYBE 4. SOMETIMES 5. EVERY DAY 6. DON'T-KNOW Learn fingerspelling and numbers (see my other videos - these skills will get you far! Thanks for watching and for making the effort to learn! Disclaimer: Viewers discretion and discernment is advised. ASLMeredith does not take responsibility for decisions or actions taken by the viewer based on the information provided in this video.