EMT Trauma Practice Test 1 — 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 factor for determining the mechanism of injury and potential severity is the actual distance the patient fell. While the ladder's height provides context, the specific fall distance, the surface landed on, and the body part that hit first are all more direct indicators of the impact forces and potential injuries sustained.

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 scenario where some patients refuse care and one requires immediate attention, it is efficient and appropriate to delegate tasks. Your priority is the patient with potential spinal injuries (neck and back pain), requiring immediate assessment and stabilization. Simultaneously, your partner can obtain legally binding refusals from the other two patients, ensuring proper documentation and respecting patient autonomy.

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?

Apply cervical and spinal immobilization while the patient is still in the pool (Correct answer)
Jump into the pool and begin CPR
Remove the patient from the pool, immobilize, and transport.
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 unconscious and face down in a swimming pool must be treated as if they have a potential spinal injury due to the mechanism of injury. Therefore, the priority is to apply cervical and spinal immobilization while the patient is still in the water, before attempting any extrication. This prevents further injury during removal from the pool.

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

Arterial bleeding is characterized by bright red blood that often spurts or pulses rhythmically with each heartbeat. This is because arteries carry oxygenated blood directly from the heart under high pressure. Venous blood is typically darker red and flows steadily, while capillary bleeding is 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

After applying direct pressure, if severe bleeding continues to soak through bandages, the next step in hemorrhage control is to elevate the injured extremity above the level of the heart. This utilizes gravity to reduce blood flow to the area, thereby helping to decrease bleeding. Applying a tourniquet is a last resort for uncontrolled, life-threatening hemorrhage.

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 are all classic indicators of blunt trauma. Blunt trauma occurs when the body strikes or is struck by a blunt object, causing injury without penetrating the skin. The forces involved in this scenario are characteristic of blunt force energy transfer.

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. A missile traveling over 2,000 feet per second is defined as high velocity. This category typically includes rifle bullets and other high-powered projectiles, which cause extensive damage due to significant energy transfer and cavitation effects within tissues.

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

A temporary cavity is formed when a projectile transfers kinetic energy to the surrounding tissues as it passes through the body. This energy causes the tissues to stretch and compress radially away from the projectile's path, creating a transient, larger cavity than the projectile itself. This process, known as energy scrubbing, results in significant tissue damage even after the temporary cavity collapses.

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

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

Correct answer: Mechanism of injury

The mechanism of injury (MOI) describes the forces and events that caused a patient's injuries. Understanding the MOI is crucial for EMS providers as it helps them anticipate potential injuries, even those not immediately visible, and guides their assessment and treatment decisions. It provides vital context for predicting the severity and type of trauma a patient may have sustained.

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

Scene safety is the absolute first priority for EMS providers upon arriving at any incident, especially trauma scenes. Ensuring the scene is safe protects both the rescuers and the patient from further harm, preventing additional injuries or complications. Without a safe environment, effective patient care cannot be initiated or sustained, making hazard assessment and mitigation paramount.

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 that has leaked out of blood vessels and clotted within tissues or an organ. It typically presents as a palpable lump or swelling under the skin, distinguishing it from a simple bruise (contusion) which is a more diffuse collection of blood. Hematomas occur when trauma damages blood vessels, allowing blood to accumulate in the surrounding area.

Question 12: Your trauma patient has her left hand caught between rollers on a conveyor belt...

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

Correct answer: No injury at all

This question implies a scenario where the hand is merely 'caught' without any crushing force or movement from the conveyor belt rollers. In such a highly specific and unlikely context, if no damaging forces were applied, then technically no injury would have occurred. However, in a real-world trauma situation involving a conveyor belt, significant injuries like compression, fractures, or compartment syndrome would be highly probable.

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 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Amputation

Amputation refers to the complete or partial severing of a body part, such as an extremity, from the rest of the body due to trauma. When a patient loses the distal one-third of a lower extremity, it signifies the full loss of bone, muscle, and skin in that section. This injury is a clear example of an amputation, distinguishing it from other tissue injuries like avulsion.

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 sequence for controlling external bleeding begins with direct pressure applied directly to the wound, as it 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 attempted. A tourniquet is reserved as a last resort for severe, life-threatening hemorrhage that cannot be controlled by other means.

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, occurs when the skin and soft tissues overlying the fractured bone are broken, exposing the bone to the external environment. The presence of a laceration directly over a suspected mid-shaft femur fracture indicates a breach in skin integrity communicating with the fracture site. This classification carries a higher risk of infection due to the open wound.

EMT Trauma Practice Test 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?