Table 1.

Riker Sedation/Agitation Scale (SAS).

Score	Term	Descriptor
7	Severely agitated	Remove endotracheal tubes, attempt to remove catheters, climb over bedrail, attack staff, thrash sideways
6	Very agitated	Do not calm down despite frequent verbal reminders of limits, require physical restraints, bite endotracheal tubes
5	Agitated	Display anxiety or mild agitated, attempt to sit up, calm down on verbal instructions
4	Calm, cooperative	Calm, easily arousable, follow verbal instructions
3	Sedated	Difficult to arouse, awaken to verbal stimuli or gentle shaking but drifts off again, follow simple verbal instructions
2	Highly sedated	Arouse to physical stimuli but do not communicate or follow verbal instructions, may move spontaneously
1	Unarousable	Minimal or no response to noxious stimuli, do not communicate or follow verbal instructions