Our senses will help us discover signs, i.e. sight, touch, hearing and smell (Also remember to smell a patient's breath). Signs are details of a patient's condition that you can see, feel, hear or smell. Assess the patient's level of response (AVPU). If he is unconscious or unable to speak clearly, you may have to make a diagnosis based on information obtained from people at the scene and the signs you find.

• Signs we may see: sweating, abnormal skin colour, swelling, needle marks, vomit, etc
• Signs we may feel: abnormal body temperature, deformity, tenderness to the touch
• Signs we may hear: noisy or distressed breathing, response to touch, response to speech
• Signs we may smell: Acetone, alcohol, solvents, etc

Symptoms are sensations that the patient experiences and may be able to describe - if he is conscious. For example, is there:

• Pain? If yes, where is it, what type of pain is it and how does movement affect it? How and where did it begin?
• Nausea?
• Giddiness?
• Heat?
• Cold?
• Weakness?
• Thirst?

NB Always remember to ask a conscious patient if he is on any medication.