In EMS, SAMPLE is a widely used mnemonic acronym that helps EMTs, paramedics, and first responders quickly remember and systematically collect a patient's pertinent medical history during patient assessment. SAMPLE stands for S for Signs and symptoms, meaning what signs you can observe and what symptoms the patient reports, such as pain, nausea, or difficulty breathing. A for Allergies, asking about allergies to medications, foods, latex, bee stings, or environmental factors that could affect treatment. M for Medications, asking what prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbal supplements, or recreational drugs the patient is taking. P for Past medical history, asking about relevant past illnesses, chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, hypertension, and past surgeries. L for Last oral intake, asking when the patient last ate or drank, which is important for potential surgery, nausea, or diabetic issues. E for Events leading up to the illness or injury, asking what happened, what the patient was doing when symptoms started, and the mechanism of injury. SAMPLE is typically taken during secondary assessment and is crucial for hospital handoff.
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