What is the primary purpose of a secondary assessment?

The primary purpose of a secondary assessment is to identify and manage non-life-threatening conditions. After a primary assessment where the lifeguard checks for life-threatening issues and ensures safety, a secondary assessment allows for a more detailed examination of the victim. This involves checking vital signs, observing for any additional injuries, and gathering information about the individual's medical history or current symptoms.

By focusing on non-life-threatening conditions, lifeguards can address issues that, while not immediately dangerous, may require treatment or monitoring to prevent them from escalating into more serious problems. This step is crucial for ensuring comprehensive care and providing appropriate assistance based on the needs of the victim.

Other options focus on different aspects of assessment and care, such as confirming life-threatening conditions, which is primarily covered in the primary assessment, or reassessing vital signs, which is part of ongoing monitoring rather than the secondary assessment itself. Gathering consent is an important process but does not specifically pertain to the core purpose of a secondary assessment.