First Aid Musculoskeletal Injury Management Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following describes the primary principle of splinting a suspected forearm fracture?
- Wrap the bandage as tightly as possible to prevent all blood flow.
- Attempt to straighten the arm into a natural position before splinting.
- Immobilize the joints directly above and below the suspected injury. (Correct answer)
- Place the splint only on the side of the arm that has the visible deformity.
Correct answer: Immobilize the joints directly above and below the suspected injury.
The main goal of splinting is to prevent movement of the broken bone, which could cause more damage. To achieve this, the splint must immobilize the joints on both ends of the injured bone (in this case, the wrist and elbow).
Question 2: A person falls from a significant height and is complaining of severe neck pain and a tingling sensation in their arms. They are conscious. What is your most important immediate action?
- Help the person sit up to a more comfortable position.
- Ask them to gently nod their head to check for pain.
- Place a rolled towel under their neck for support.
- Manually hold their head and neck still in the position found. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Manually hold their head and neck still in the position found.
These signs and symptoms strongly suggest a potential spinal injury. The highest priority is to prevent any movement of the head and neck to avoid further damage to the spinal cord. You should manually stabilize the head and neck until emergency medical services arrive.
Question 3: What does the acronym RICE stand for in the context of treating a sprained ankle?
- Reassure, Inspect, Call, Evacuate
- Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (Correct answer)
- Remove, Immobilize, Cover, Examine
- React, Inquire, Check, Escort
Correct answer: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
RICE is a standard first aid mnemonic for the initial treatment of soft tissue injuries like sprains. It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, which are steps taken to reduce pain and swelling.
Question 4: You are providing first aid for a person with an open fracture on their lower leg, where bone is protruding through the skin. What is a critical step in managing this injury?
- Gently push the exposed bone back beneath the skin.
- Apply direct, firm pressure on top of the exposed bone to stop bleeding.
- Cover the wound and bone with a sterile dressing. (Correct answer)
- Pour antiseptic liquid, like hydrogen peroxide, directly into the wound.
Correct answer: Cover the wound and bone with a sterile dressing.
With an open fracture, the primary concerns are controlling bleeding and preventing infection. You should not push the bone back in. Bleeding should be controlled with pressure around the wound, not directly on the bone. The wound should be covered with a sterile dressing to minimize contamination until medical professionals can properly clean it.
Question 5: During a soccer game, a player's shoulder is struck, and they are now holding their arm away from their body, unable to move it, with an obvious deformity at the shoulder joint. What is the most appropriate first aid for this suspected dislocation?
- Attempt a quick, forceful movement to pop the shoulder back into place.
- Apply a heat pack to the shoulder to relax the muscles.
- Immobilize the arm in the position it was found and apply a cold pack. (Correct answer)
- Encourage the player to slowly try to rotate their arm to restore motion.
Correct answer: Immobilize the arm in the position it was found and apply a cold pack.
For a suspected dislocation, a first aider should never try to force the joint back into place, as this can cause further damage to nerves, blood vessels, and ligaments. The correct action is to immobilize and support the joint in the position found, apply a cold pack to reduce pain and swelling, and seek immediate medical attention.
Question 6: A person experiences a sudden, painful muscle cramp in their calf while exercising. Which of the following is the recommended first aid action?
- Immediately and vigorously massage the cramping muscle.
- Have the person continue exercising at a lower intensity.
- Gently stretch the affected muscle by flexing the foot. (Correct answer)
- Apply a tight compression bandage around the calf.
Correct answer: Gently stretch the affected muscle by flexing the foot.
The standard first aid for a common muscle cramp is to stop the activity and gently stretch the contracted muscle. For a calf cramp, this can be done by straightening the leg and gently pulling the toes toward the shin. Light massage may be helpful after the stretch.
First Aid Musculoskeletal Injury Management Questions and Answers
Which of the following describes the primary principle of splinting a suspected forearm fracture?