What should a BLS provider do if a patient is responsive but in severe pain?

When a Basic Life Support (BLS) provider encounters a responsive patient in severe pain, assessing the injury and applying first aid as permitted is the appropriate course of action. This response is crucial because it allows the provider to understand the nature and extent of the patient's injury.

By assessing the injury, the provider can determine the necessary first aid interventions or whether further medical assistance is needed. Providing care based on the assessment can help relieve pain, prevent further injury, and stabilize the patient's condition until professional help arrives.

Additionally, offering pain relief medication is typically beyond the scope of practice for a BLS provider, as this requires specific training and authorization. Encouraging the patient to move around could exacerbate the injury and worsen their condition. Ignoring the patient's complaints would not only be unprofessional but could also lead to a lack of trust and further complications for the patient.

Thus, assessing the injury and applying appropriate first aid is fundamental to ensuring the patient's safety and well-being.