Free First Aid Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person falls and their forearm is bent at an unnatural angle and swollen. They are in severe pain. What is the MOST appropriate initial action?
- Encourage the person to move their fingers to check for nerve damage.
- Immobilize the arm in the position it was found and call 911. (Correct answer)
- Apply a heat pack to the area to help with the pain.
- Attempt to gently straighten the arm to restore normal alignment.
Correct answer: Immobilize the arm in the position it was found and call 911.
For a suspected severe fracture with deformity, the priority is to prevent further injury by immobilizing the limb as found. Moving or attempting to straighten the limb can damage nerves, blood vessels, and surrounding tissues. This type of injury requires immediate professional medical attention.
Question 2: Which of the following is a key principle when applying a splint to a suspected fracture of the lower leg?
- The splint should be tied as tightly as possible to prevent all blood flow.
- The splint should only support the area directly over the break.
- The splint should immobilize the joints both above and below the injury. (Correct answer)
- The person's boot or shoe should always be removed immediately.
Correct answer: The splint should immobilize the joints both above and below the injury.
To effectively immobilize a fracture, the splint must prevent movement at the nearest joints. For a lower leg fracture, this means immobilizing both the ankle and the knee. This principle prevents the broken bone ends from moving and causing further damage.
Question 3: Which of the following signs MOST clearly indicates a serious musculoskeletal injury that requires calling emergency medical services (911)?
- Mild swelling and difficulty bearing weight on an ankle.
- Pain in a muscle after strenuous exercise.
- A bone fragment protruding through the skin on the forearm. (Correct answer)
- Bruising and tenderness over a rib after a fall.
Correct answer: A bone fragment protruding through the skin on the forearm.
A bone protruding through the skin is an open (or compound) fracture. This is a severe injury with a high risk of infection and bleeding, and it requires immediate professional medical care. The other options describe injuries that may need medical attention but are generally less critical than an open fracture.
Question 4: A friend twists their ankle playing soccer. It is painful and starting to swell, but there is no obvious deformity or open wound. What is the most appropriate first aid using the RICE method?
- Run cold water over it, Inject it with a pain reliever, Call a doctor, and Examine it.
- Reassure the person, Inquire about the pain, Cover with a blanket, and let them go home.
- Help them walk it off to prevent stiffness and then apply a heat pack later.
- Have them Rest, apply a Cold pack, use a bandage for Compression, and Elevate the ankle. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Have them Rest, apply a Cold pack, use a bandage for Compression, and Elevate the ankle.
RICE is a standard first aid mnemonic for soft tissue injuries like sprains. It stands for Rest, Ice (or a cold pack), Compression, and Elevation. This combination helps to reduce swelling, manage pain, and prevent further injury.
Question 5: When providing first aid for an open fracture with a protruding bone, what is the correct way to manage the wound before help arrives?
- Carefully push the bone back beneath the skin to keep it clean.
- Wash the wound and bone thoroughly with available water.
- Apply a tourniquet directly over the protruding bone to stop all bleeding.
- Cover the area with a loose, dry, sterile dressing and control bleeding by applying pressure around the wound. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Cover the area with a loose, dry, sterile dressing and control bleeding by applying pressure around the wound.
For an open fracture, you should not attempt to push the bone back in or clean the wound, as this can cause further damage and introduce infection. The correct procedure is to control any severe bleeding by applying pressure around the injury (not on the bone itself) and cover the wound with a sterile dressing to minimize contamination.
Question 6: A person has fallen on their outstretched hand and is complaining of severe pain and tenderness in their wrist. There is swelling but no obvious deformity. Which action is most appropriate?
- Tell them it is likely just a sprain and to continue with their day.
- Immobilize the wrist and hand with a splint and suggest they see a healthcare provider. (Correct answer)
- Vigorously massage the wrist to reduce the swelling.
- Apply a heat pack immediately to increase circulation and promote healing.
Correct answer: Immobilize the wrist and hand with a splint and suggest they see a healthcare provider.
It is difficult for a first aider to distinguish between a sprain and a closed fracture without an X-ray. Therefore, if a fracture is suspected, the injury should be treated as such. The appropriate action is to immobilize the limb to prevent further injury and advise the person to seek a medical evaluation.
Free First Aid Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries Questions and Answers
A person falls and their forearm is bent at an unnatural angle and swollen.
They are in severe pain.
What is the MOST appropriate initial action?