What does AVPU stand for in wilderness patient assessment?

• A. A = Alert, V = Responds to Voice, P = Responds to Pain, U = Unresponsive
• B. A = Awake, V = Verbal, P = Pain, U = Unconscious
• C. A = Alert, V = Verbal, P = Physical, U = Unresponsive
• D. A = Alert, V = Vigilant, P = Pain, U = Unresponsive

Answer: (A)

AVPU is a quick, field-friendly way to gauge a wilderness patient’s level of consciousness. The A stands for Alert—the patient is awake, oriented, and following simple commands. The V stands for Responds to Voice—the patient isn’t fully awake but will respond to spoken commands or the examiner’s voice. The P stands for Responds to Pain—if there is no response to voice, you apply a painful stimulus and note any movement or purposeful response. The U stands for Unresponsive—the patient shows no response to voice or pain.

This four-step scale is ideal in austere settings because it’s simple, fast, and repeatable, enabling you to quickly assess brain function and monitor for changes. The phrasing used here matches the standard definitions most wilderness first aid resources teach; other options use terms like Awake, Verbal, Physical, or Vigilant, which aren’t the recognized categories in this scale.