EMT Trauma Practice Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: You arrive on the scene of a patient who fell from a ladder. Which of the following information is NOT an important factor in care of the patient?

Height of the ladder (Correct answer)
Distance the patient fell from
Surface the patient landed on
What part of the body hit first

Correct answer: Height of the ladder

When assessing a patient who fell from a ladder, the critical information for care relates to the mechanism of injury (MOI) and potential impact. The distance the patient fell from, the surface they landed on, and what part of the body hit first are crucial for assessing potential severe internal or spinal injuries. The overall height of the ladder itself is less directly relevant than the actual fall distance.

Question 2: You are at the scene of an MVA, in which there are three patients, all of which have minor visible injuries. Two are refusing treatment and the last is complaining of neck and back pain. How should you proceed?

Treat all three patients, they are visibly injured and need medical attention
Obtain signed refusals from the first two patients then proceed to the third
Treat the third patient, nothing else is needed for the other two
Have your partner obtain refusals from the two patients who refused treatment, while you treat the last patient. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Have your partner obtain refusals from the two patients who refused treatment, while you treat the last patient.

In a multi-patient incident, efficient and simultaneous care is crucial. The patient complaining of neck and back pain requires immediate assessment and stabilization due to potential spinal injuries. While one EMT focuses on this critical patient, the partner can simultaneously address the administrative and legal requirement of obtaining signed refusals from the other two patients who are refusing treatment, ensuring all aspects of care and documentation are handled promptly.

Question 3: Your patient is a 17 year old male found face down in a swimming pool. He is currently being held face up at the surface of the water. He is unconscious but breathing and has a pulse. What is the best course of action for this patient?

Jump into the pool and begin CPR
Remove the patient from the pool, immobilize, and transport.
Apply cervical and spinal immobilization while the patient is still in the pool (Correct answer)
Wait for a trained water rescue team

Correct answer: Apply cervical and spinal immobilization while the patient is still in the pool

A patient found face down in a swimming pool, especially if unconscious, must be treated as having a potential spinal injury until proven otherwise. The safest course of action is to apply cervical and spinal immobilization while the patient is still in the water to prevent further injury during removal. Removing them without immobilization risks exacerbating any spinal trauma.

Question 4: A laceration, spurting brigA laceration, spurting bright red blood, most likely means what type of injury?ht red blood most likely means what type of injury.

Venous
Arterial (Correct answer)
Capillary
Amputation

Correct answer: Arterial

A laceration spurting bright red blood is a classic sign of arterial bleeding. Arteries carry oxygenated blood directly from the heart, resulting in its bright red color and the characteristic spurting due to the high pressure of the heartbeat. Venous blood is typically darker and flows in a steady stream, while capillary bleeding is usually a slow ooze.

Question 5: Your patient has a laceration to the right leg which has intersected the femoral artery. You have applied direct pressure to the wound, but it continues to soak through the bandages. What should you do next?

Apply a tourniquet
Elevate the leg (Correct answer)
Remove the old bandage and apply new ones
Apply pressure to the pressure point just above the injury

Correct answer: Elevate the leg

When direct pressure is insufficient to control arterial bleeding, the next step in hemorrhage control is to elevate the injured limb above the level of the heart. This uses gravity to reduce blood flow to the injury site, helping to decrease bleeding. While a tourniquet is a last resort for uncontrolled life-threatening hemorrhage, elevation is a less invasive and often effective immediate next step after direct pressure fails.

Question 6: Of the two types of energy trWhich type of energy transfer is a motor vehicle crash (MVC) with frontal impact, non-restrained driver with bent steering wheel, and spidered windshield?ansfer, which type would a Motor Vehicle crash (MVC) with frontal impact

High velocity penetrating
Decelerating
Low velocity penetrating
Blunt (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Blunt

A motor vehicle crash with frontal impact, a non-restrained driver, a bent steering wheel, and a spidered windshield describes a classic blunt trauma mechanism of injury. Blunt trauma occurs when the body impacts a surface or is impacted by an object, causing injury without penetrating the skin. The bent steering wheel and spidered windshield indicate significant blunt force applied to the driver's chest and head.

Question 7: Any penetrating missile traveling over 2,000 ft\/sec would be classified as?

Low velocity
Medium velocity
High velocity (Correct answer)
Decelerating

Correct answer: High velocity

Penetrating trauma is classified by the velocity of the missile. Any penetrating missile traveling over 2,000 ft/sec is categorized as high velocity. High-velocity projectiles cause extensive damage due to the large amount of kinetic energy transferred to the tissues, creating a significant temporary cavity and widespread tissue destruction beyond the direct path of the missile.

Question 8: When there is penetrating trauma there is a permanent cavity which is formed by the projectile contacting the tissues. How is a temporary cavity formed?

By the twisting of the projectile
By energy scrubbing off of the projectile (Correct answer)
The wadding entering the body
Unspent gun powder

Correct answer: By energy scrubbing off of the projectile

While a permanent cavity is the direct path of the projectile, a temporary cavity is formed by the rapid transfer of kinetic energy from the projectile to the surrounding tissues. As the projectile moves, this energy causes tissues to stretch and compress outward, creating a pulsating cavity much larger than the projectile itself. This process, where energy is 'scrubbed off,' causes significant damage to tissues beyond the direct wound channel.

Question 9: The way a patient is injured is often referred to as the _______________?

Mechanics of injury
Mechanism of injury (Correct answer)
Injury pattern
Energy transfer

Correct answer: Mechanism of injury

The 'mechanism of injury' (MOI) is the term used to describe the forces and events that caused a patient's injuries. Understanding the MOI is crucial for EMS providers because it helps them anticipate potential injuries, even those not immediately visible, and assess the severity of the trauma. This information guides the subsequent assessment and treatment plan, ensuring comprehensive patient care.

Question 10: When approaching a scene of trauma incident, what is your first order of business?

Airway
C-Spine control
Body substance Isolation
Scene safety (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Scene safety

When approaching any emergency scene, especially a trauma incident, the absolute first priority for EMS providers is scene safety. Ensuring the environment is safe for yourself, your team, and the patient prevents further injuries and allows for effective patient care. Without a safe scene, rescuers themselves could become victims, hindering any attempts to help the patient.

Question 11: A large collection of blood under the skin is known as?

Contusion
Abrasion
Hematoma (Correct answer)
Bruise

Correct answer: Hematoma

A hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside of blood vessels, typically clotted, that forms within tissues or an organ after trauma. Unlike a contusion (bruise), which is a more superficial and diffuse collection of blood, a hematoma is usually larger and can often be felt as a distinct lump. It indicates a more significant rupture of blood vessels.

Question 12: Your trauma patient has her left hand caught between rollers on a conveyor belt... Your trauma patient has her left hand caught between rollers on a conveyor belt. Extrication takes 30 minutes. Evaluation of the injury during extrication showed delayed capillary refill distal to the injury. Post extrication shows rapid capillary refill distal to the injury deformity mid-palm. There are no obvious fractures, no lacerations, and minor swelling. Knowing that crush injuries can cause many other problems, which is NOT considered a crush injury complication?

Compression of tissues
Fractures
No injury at all (Correct answer)
Compartment syndrome

Correct answer: No injury at all

Crush injuries involve severe compression of body tissues, leading to a range of serious complications due to direct force and subsequent physiological responses. These complications commonly include tissue compression, fractures, and compartment syndrome, which can cause extensive damage. Therefore, 'no injury at all' is not a complication of a crush injury, as the very nature of the injury implies damage.

Question 13: Loss of tissue in a traumatic event can be... Loss of tissue in a traumatic event can be: just soft tissue, a portion of an extremity, or an entire extremity. If your patient has lost the distal one-third of a lower extremity, what would that injury be called?

Amplitude
Avulsion
Extremity exodus
Amputation\t (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Amputation\t

Amputation refers to the traumatic or surgical removal of a body part, most commonly an extremity or a portion of an extremity. In this scenario, the loss of the distal one-third of a lower extremity perfectly fits the definition of a traumatic amputation. This type of severe injury requires immediate medical attention for bleeding control and management of the remaining limb.

Question 14: In any traumatic event where there is tissue damage that caused bleeding, the bleeding needs to be controlled. What are the proper steps to bleeding control?

Direct pressure, elevation, tourniquet, digital pressure
Direct pressure, digital pressure, elevation, tourniquet (Correct answer)
Tourniquet, elevation, pressure dressing, direct pressure
Direct pressure, pressure dressing, tourniquet

Correct answer: Direct pressure, digital pressure, elevation, tourniquet

The proper steps for controlling external bleeding begin with direct pressure applied directly to the wound, which is the most effective initial method. If direct pressure is insufficient, digital pressure (applying pressure to a proximal artery) or elevation of the injured limb above the heart can be added. A tourniquet is reserved as a last resort for severe, uncontrolled bleeding that does not respond to other methods, especially in limb injuries.

Question 15: Your 16 year old trauma patient has what appears to be a mid-shaft femur fracture. You notice that there is a laceration directly over the suspected fracture. Bleeding is controlled. What type of fracture would this be?

Greenstick
Comminuted
Closed
Open (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Open

An open fracture, also known as a compound fracture, is characterized by a break in the skin overlying the fractured bone, exposing the bone to the external environment. The presence of a laceration directly over the suspected femur fracture indicates that the bone may have pierced the skin or the skin was broken by the same force. This significantly increases the risk of infection compared to a closed fracture.

EMT Trauma Practice Test

You arrive on the scene of a patient who fell from a ladder.
Which of the following information is NOT an important factor in care of the patient?