Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological scale used to assess a patient's level of consciousness following a head injury. It measures three components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. The scores range from 3 to 15, with lower scores indicating more severe impairment.

A score of 13-15 corresponds to a mild head injury. This range indicates that the patient is fully alert or at least has a high level of responsiveness. Individuals within this score range typically show minor or no significant neurological deficits, which suggests they may have a concussion or a similar mild traumatic brain injury.

In contrast, a score of 8 or less indicates severe head injury and significant impairment of consciousness. A score of 9-12 falls within the moderate head injury range, showing that the patient has some level of altered consciousness or responsiveness, but not to the extent of severe impairment. A score of 16 or higher is not part of the GCS, as the maximum attainable score is 15.

Understanding these thresholds helps healthcare providers assess the severity of head injuries, guiding appropriate management and intervention.