Trauma Considerations Unit

In order to prevent supine hypotensive syndrome, it is recommended that a pregnant trauma patient is transported ____.

on her left side

Airway

pregnant women require higher levels of oxygen than non-pregnant patients, so make sure the oxygenation level is at 100%.

Which of the following is true about shock in children?

Children can maintain a normal blood pressure longer during shock.

Shock

Children handle shock differently than adults.

Why are rib fractures less common in children than in adults?

Children have more pliable ribs.

Which of the following most accurately describes the role of an EMT in providing emergency care for the fetus of a pregnant woman with traumatic injuries?

Treat and transport the mother. Fetal care is given at the hospital.

It is often difficult to detect signs of shock in pregnant women.

True

Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to falls.

True

Which of the following is true about opening a small child's airway?

Use the jaw-thrust maneuver only

Ventilation

You will need to artificially ventilate any child who is not breathing adequately.

An infant's head is proportionally larger in relation to the body than an adult's head.

true

Blood pressure readings in very young children are often not accurate.

true

Geriatric patients have an increased risk of falling accidents.

true

In general, pregnant patients require higher levels of oxygen than non-pregnant patients.

true

Memory loss is common in cognitively impaired patients.

true

supine hypotensive syndrome.

venous blood may be prevented from returning to the heart.

gastrointestinal motility

which means that food and liquid may not move through their digestive systems as smoothly as in non-pregnant women.

Management Considerations include:

airway, circulation, transportation

Immobilization

ake special care to completely immobilize the child's spine, especially since pediatric patients are prone to c-spine injuries

Why are cognitively impaired patients prone to traumatic injuries?

all of the above

You respond to a call for an elderly woman who has fallen down the stairs at a retirement community. When you arrive, she is responsive but in pain. She appears to have a broken wrist and possibly a dislocated hip, as well as several areas of swelling and bruising. During your assessment, the patient tells you that she does not remember falling, but she remembers feeling lightheaded earlier in the day. Which of the following might you suspect?

all of the above

When assessing the pulse of an 8-month-old infant, which pulse point should you attempt first?

Brachial

Types of Injuries include:

1) Because of a changed center of gravity, pregnant women are susceptible to falls, which can result in injury to both the mother and the fetus. 2) The fetus can be injured by blunt trauma and penetrating trauma to the mother. 3) Seat belts, which are an important piece of safety equipment, may actually cause damage to the fetus during a motor vehicle collision. 4) Any type of trauma which results in hypoxia, shock, or cardiac arrest in the mother is likely to have effects on the fetus.

Types of Injuries of geriatric patients include:

1) Falls 2) Burns 3) Motor vehicle collisions 4) Pedestrian / vehicle collisions 5) Elder abuse 6) Temperature-related illness, such as hypothermia

Several of these differences will affect the types of injuries and the treatment of injuries in pediatric patients.

1) Head 2) Chest 3) Abdomen

Types of Injuries include:

1) Motor vehicle collisions 2) Pedestrian / vehicle collisions 3) Bicycle / vehicle collisions 4) Drownings 5) Burns 6) Falls 7) Sports injuries 8) Child abuse

Chest

A pediatric patient's chest wall and ribs are more pliable than an adult's

Head

A pediatric patient's head is larger in proportion to the body than an adult's head is.

Management Considerations include:

Airway, Ventilation, Immobilization, Burns, Shock

At what point should you begin treating Irene for shock?

As soon as possible

Burns

Because infants and small children have a larger body surface area in relation to their body mass, burns will have more severe consequences than with adults

If a pregnant woman goes into shock, the fetus will not be affected.

False

Orthopedic Trauma

Fractures and dislocations are common in elderly patients

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is common in elderly patients

Management Considerations include:

Hypothermia, Shock, Immobilization, Orthopedic Trauma, and Head Injuries

transportation

In order to prevent supine hypotensive syndrome, do not transport pregnant trauma patients in the supine position

Head Injuries

It is often difficult to detect head injuries in geriatric patients

Which maneuver is recommended for opening the airway of a geriatric trauma patient?

Jaw-thrust maneuver

You and your partner prepare to transport Irene to the hospital in the ambulance. Which of the following is the most appropriate method of transportation for Irene?

Lying on a stretcher on her left side

Which of the following is recommended during assessment and management of trauma in cognitively impaired patients?

Make sure the primary caregiver is present.

What is the number one cause of blunt trauma in pediatric patients?

Motor vehicle collisions

Why do burns typically have more severe consequences in pediatrics than in adults?

Pediatrics have a larger body surface area in relation to their mass.

What special step should be taken when immobilizing a child on a backboard?

Place padding beneath the child from the shoulders to the heels

Which device can be used to determine the level of oxygen in the blood of geriatric trauma patients?

Pulse oximeter

Circulation

Shock is a frequent cause of death to pregnant trauma patients and fetuses

Why is it important to aggressively treat shock in pregnant trauma patients even if there are no signs of shock?

Shock is often undetected in the mother until it is too late.

Shock

Shock progresses rapidly in elderly patients

Immobilization #2

Spinal damage is common in the elderly patients, especially after falls.

Which of the following conditions is likely to occur if a pregnant woman in her third trimester is placed in the supine position?

Supine hypotensive syndrome

Why might immobilizing a geriatric patient on a backboard be difficult?

The curvature of the upper spine (kyphosis) makes it difficult to immobilize them in the supine position.

Why is it difficult to detect head injuries in geriatric patients?

The decreased size of the brain allows more room for swelling within the skull.

Airway #2

The jaw-thrust maneuver should be used for opening the pediatric patient's airway.

Abdomen

The muscles in a pediatric patient's abdomen are much weaker than an adult's

How might the medications that a geriatric patient takes affect emergency assessment and care that may be given to that patient?

The patient's vital signs may be altered.