NREMT: Trauma
Besides bound to hemoglobin, how is oxygen transported to the cells?
dissolved in plasma
A 38-year-old male is found lying on the ground next to an open electrical panel. His coworker tells you she heard him fall and saw him shaking. As you approach, he appears confused and is unable to sit up. You do not observe any deformities or injuries other than small areas of black burned skin on the tips of his fingers. You should suspect:
electrical burns
A 62-year-old female complains of left calf pain after she stepped into a hole while walking. She tells you she cannot walk or bend her foot down. You observe swelling near her heel. You should:
splint her foot and lower leg
A 17-year-old female has a broken broom handle with a one-inch diameter impaled in her neck, entering at the sternal notch, and exiting below her right ear. She states, "I was outside when the handle blown by the tornado hit me." You should:
stabilize it in the position found
A 7-year-old female has a pencil impaled in her right cheek. She is upset but follows your instructions. You can visualize that the tip of the pencil is impaled in her palate. You should:
stabilize the pencil in place
A 58-year-old male has a degloving injury to his left hand after it was trapped in a piece of machinery. You observe minor bleeding, and his hand is misshapen. You should apply a(n):
sterile dressing
Why should you not remove an impaled object from the chest wall?
it may be occluding life-threatening hemorrhage
What characteristic must an open wound to the parietal pleura have for it to allow air to be drawn into the pleural space through the chest wall?
it must be similar in size to the glottic opening
A 73-year-old female injured her back when she scraped against a sharp piece of metal. She has an irregular cut across her skin that exposes fat and muscle tissue. You should suspect a(n):
laceration
A 21-year-old female was stabbed in her right upper abdominal quadrant with a pencil. She complains of pain to the area. Her abdomen is tender to palpation, and you observe blood trickling from the wound. Her vital signs are P 120, R 18, BP 108/86, and SpO2 is 94% on room air. What organ should you suspect was injured?
liver
A 68-year-old female was shot in her left chest wall. She is lying on the ground, moaning 12/minute. You observe a bubbling half-inch wound on her left anterior chest, third intercostal space on the midclavicular line. You should cover the wound with your gloved hand and next:
look for an exit wound
A 56-year-old female has a full thickness burn to her left anterior forearm from an industrial alkali. Why does she only have pain in the skin surrounding the burn?
nerve cells destroyed in area of burn
An unresponsive 11-year-old female jumped from a second-story window and landed on an uneven surface. Her skin is pale, cool, and you do not observe any bruising. She has a capillary refill of four seconds. Her left leg is shortened. When you compare her femurs, they are the same. Her abdomen is soft to palpation, and you feel crepitus when you assess her pelvis. You should suspect torn blood vessels in her:
pelvis
An unresponsive 2-year-old male fell eight feet from a slide at a city park. You observe a hematoma to his occiput. His skin above his axilla is pale and diaphoretic, and pink and dry below. His left forearm is obviously fractured. His vital signs are P 156, R 48, and his capillary refill is less than two seconds. Prior to transport, you should administer oxygen and:
perform spinal motion restriction
An 11-month-old female was stabbed in the chest with a knife. You open her shirt and observe a half-inch laceration to the right side of her chest that is bubbling. You should immediately:
place your gloved hand over the wound
A 21-year-old female complains of chest pain. She has a gunshot wound to her left chest wall, and she has mild dyspnea. Her skin is pink and dry. You should first:
place your gloved hand over the wound
An unresponsive 70-year-old female was the unrestrained driver involved in a front end car crash. She has a hematoma to her forehead, she is taking rapid, shallow respirations, and you observe paradoxical chest wall movement. You should first:
rapidly extricate her
An 88-year-old male spilled muriatic acid on himself while cleaning metal. He complains of pain to his chest and abdomen. You observe that his clothing is wet where he spilled the acid. You should first:
remove his clothing
A 79-year-old male lost his balance and fell, landing on his back. He complains of pain in his upper back, and you palpate a deformity to T-6. He has a history of CHF and tells you he needs to sit up so he can breathe. He is on home oxygen by nasal cannula, 3 L/minute. He is not able to feel below his xiphoid process or move his legs. You should apply a cervical collar and:
secure him in the semi-Fowler's position on the stretcher.
An unresponsive 37-year-old female was kicked in the head by a donkey. She has snoring respirations, and you observe clear fluid draining from her nose. You should suspect:
skull fracture
A 52-year-old female was cutting a branch when she accidentally cut through the power line to her house. She is standing outside and tells you she has severe pain in her right upper arm and cannot feel anything in her right lower arm. You observe full thickness burns to her right hand and elbow. You should first:
assess her vital signs
A 16-year-old female was bitten in the chest by a dog. She has an avulsed flap of tissue three inches wide by five inches long to her right chest wall. You observe bubbling blood when she breathes. You should:
cover the wound with an occlusive dressing
A 68-year-old male complains of pain after he slammed his right second phalange in a door. You observe bleeding and angulation of the distal tip. He has a capillary refill of two seconds. You should apply a sterile dressing and:
tape his 2nd and 3rd phalanges together
A 51-year-old female complains of chest pain and increasing difficulty breathing. She has a large caliber gunshot wound to her right chest wall, fourth intercostal space on the anterior axillary line. You auscultate absent breath sounds on the right side. Her vital signs are P 112, R 22, BP 104/90, and SpO2 is 91% on room air. You should suspect:
tension pneumothorax
A 60-year-old male tells you that he was sexually assaulted by a staff member where he lives. He denies any bleeding, and you do not see any blood on his undergarments. He appears frightened and tells you he doesn't want to go to the hospital. You should:
encourage him to go to the hospital for evaluation
A 21-year-old female tells you she was stabbed by a piece of metal in her abdomen 15 minutes ago. When you examine the area, you observe minimal bleeding and pink sausage-like tissue protruding from the opening in her left lower abdominal quadrant. You should suspect a(n):
evisceration
A 21-year-old male has a gunshot wound to his penis. You observe that his outer clothing is saturated with blood. You should:
expose the injure and apply direct pressure
A 19-year-old female complains of groin pain. She tells you she lacerated her perineum when she crashed her bicycle. You observe bright red blood running down her leg. You should first:
expose the injury and apply direct pressure
A 75-year-old female complains of burning pain in her arms. She was working in her garden and spilled a dry powder on them. After you remove the powder, you observe circumferential blistered and mottled skin of both her forearms and hands. What percentage of her Total Body Surface Area should you estimate is burned?
9
Which of the following patients involved in a car crash has the most severe findings?
A 28 year old male complains of abdominal pain, he was the restrained driver, his vital signs are P 106, R 18, BP 88/62
An unresponsive 51-year-old female was the driver involved in a car crash. There is 20 inches of intrusion to her door. Her pelvis is unstable when palpated. Her vital signs are P 108, R 18, BP 102/78, and SpO2 is 92% on room air. Which of the following is the most valuable finding to indicate that she is a high priority patient?
LOC
A 36-year-old female was struck by a car and thrown eight feet. She complains of pain in her left hip, and her leg is externally rotated. When you press on her iliac crests, she complains of increased pain, and you feel instability. You should suspect a(n):
Pelvic Fracture
A 50-year-old male was lifting a heavy weight when he felt a tearing sensation in his right bicep. His bicep is tender to palpation, but you do not note any instability of his arm. His distal motor, circulation, and sensation are intact. You should apply a(n):
Sling and cold pack
An unresponsive 62-year-old male was struck in the head with a falling tree branch. He has a five-inch full thickness laceration to his right parietal region. It is bleeding, and you observe bone fragments in the wound. When you stimulate him, his arms twist outward. His vital signs are P 54, R 18 and irregular, BP 220/106, and SpO2 is 96% on room air. You should cover the wound with gauze and:
administer oxygen
During compensated hemorrhagic shock, why can the skin become pale and cool?
blood flow is reduced to the skin
Which of the following describes how the body responds to increased intracranial pressure?
blood pressure increases, pulse rate decreases
A 38-year-old female was struck across her lower abdomen with a baseball bat. Her skin is pale, cool, and diaphoretic. She tells you she has bright red bleeding from her vagina. You should apply a:
bulky dressing to vaginal opening
A 58-year-old female complains of pain after she twisted her ankle while running. Her foot is severely angled, and her sock is bloody. When you remove her sock, you observe an open wound and bone. The skin of her foot is warm and pink. You should:
immobilize her foot in the position found
A confused 52-year-old female has an eight-inch full thickness laceration diagonally across her right thigh. Her skin is pale and diaphoretic, and you observe a steady flow of dark red blood oozing from the wound onto the carpeted floor. The carpet under her leg is saturated. You should suspect:
massive hemorrhage
A 72-year-old female complains of eye pain after she splashed drain cleaner into her eye. You observe that her right eye is red, and both eyes are tearing. You should hold her eyelids open and flush her eye from the:
medial to lateral
An 89-year-old male cut his abdomen on a knife while preparing dinner. You observe several loops of bowel protruding from the wound and minimal bleeding. What type of dressing should you apply to his wound?
moist, sterile
An 8-year-old male was stabbed in the chest with a knife. You observe a half-inch laceration an inch lateral to the sternum at the third intercostal space. You do not see any active bleeding, and his neck veins are distended. His lungs are clear to auscultation. His capillary refill is three seconds, and his skin is pale and cool. You should suspect:
obstructive shock
A 47-year-old female complains of right hip pain. She was the unrestrained driver of a car that crashed into a tree. Her airbag deployed, but there is damage to the dash where her right knee struck it. As you move her onto the long backboard, you observe that her right leg is rotated inward, her hip is flexed, and her knee is bent. You should suspect a(n):
posterior hip dislocation
A 95-year-old male complains of right arm pain. He tells you he fell and landed with his arms outstretched. You observe a midshaft deformity to his forearm. You should suspect a fracture of his:
radius and ulna
Penetrating injury to which of the following organs would cause peritonitis the quickest?
stomach
Why should you irrigate the eye of a patient who was splashed with drain cleaner longer than a patient who was splashed with muriatic acid?
Drain cleaner liquifies tissue and can damage more tissue.
An 80-year-old female was the restrained driver of a car that was struck directly in the driver's side door. There is 10 inches of intrusion, and she complains of upper abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. She has equal chest wall expansion, and you auscultate diminished breath sounds and bowel sounds in the base of her left lung. You should:
administer oxygen
An 87-year-old male complains of difficulty breathing. He tells you he fell four feet from his porch and struck his chest on a brick wall. You observe a segment of his right chest wall moves inward when he inhales. You auscultate clear lung sounds in all fields. You should:
administer oxygen
A 4-year-old male complains of difficulty breathing. He tells you he was struck by a car. You observe contusions and abrasions to his chest and abdomen. You auscultate decreased lung sounds and bowel sounds in his left lower chest. His vital signs are P 112, R 40, BP 100/74, and SpO2 is 92% on room air. You should:
administer oxygen
A 58-year-old male complains of midsternal chest pain after a car crash. He tells you that he was pain-free before the crash. His skin is pale and diaphoretic. His lungs are clear to auscultation, and the pain increases with deep inspiration. His vital signs are P 112, R 18, BP 118/86, and SpO2 is 95% on room air. You should:
administer oxygen
A 70-year-old female who was the unrestrained driver in a car crash complains of difficulty breathing. She has a history of asthma and a pacemaker implanted. You auscultate diminished lung sounds and bowel sounds in her left base. Her vital signs are P 70, R 22, BP 138/74, and SpO2 is 96% on room air. You should:
administer oxygen
A 22-year-old male complains of difficulty breathing after being struck in the chest with a pipe. He has a six-inch bruise over his right axilla. His lung sounds are absent on the right lower chest. His vital signs are P 122, R 20, BP 88/72, and SpO2 is 94% on room air. You should:
administer oxygen and keep him warm
A 27-year-old male complains of pain in his left upper abdominal quadrant and left shoulder. He tells you he was in a bar fight five days ago. You observe yellowing bruises to his face, chest, and upper abdomen. His vital signs are P 116, R 18, BP 116/90, and SpO2 is 95% on room air. You should:
administer oxygen and keep him warm
A 60-year-old female was choking on a piece of steak. She became unresponsive, and bystanders dislodged it after performing chest compressions for 30 seconds. She now complains of pain in her chest. Her lungs are clear to auscultation. You should suspect:
cardiac contusion
A 52-year-old male has bright red blood in his urine. He complains of left flank tenderness and thirst. His skin is pale, cool, and diaphoretic. He tells you that an hour ago he was the restrained driver of a car involved in a crash. He tells you the driver's door was pushed in a foot, but he refused treatment. You should:
administer oxygen and keep him warm
A 9-year-old female was struck by a car while she was riding her bicycle. She complains of pain in her left forearm, right shoulder, and abdomen. Her skin is pale and cool. Her right shoulder appears uninjured. You observe an angulated injury to her forearm, and distal pulses are present. She has an abrasion to her right upper abdominal quadrant, and the pain increases with palpation. You should perform spinal motion restriction,
administer oxygen and transport immediately
A disoriented 19-year-old male was struck in the right temple with a golf club. You observe an expanding hematoma to the area and clear fluid draining from his ear. His vital signs are P 64, R 14, BP 192/102, and SpO2 is 94% on room air. You should:
apply a cervical collar
An 85-year-old male complains of severe pain in his right thigh after he was struck above his knee with a metal pole. He complains of weakness in his leg, and you observe bruising where he was struck. You do not palpate any instability or deformity. You should:
apply a padded board splint
A 51-year-old male has a five-inch partial thickness laceration to his left thigh. You have applied direct pressure and controlled the hemorrhage. His vital signs are P 92, R 16, BP 132/76, and SpO2 is 95% on room air. You should:
apply a sterile dressing
A 35-year-old female complains of arm pain where she was bitten by a male attacker. You observe teeth marks, slight bleeding, and bruising to the area. She tells you she doesn't want to go to the hospital, and she just wants you to look at it. You should:
apply a sterile dressing and explain why she should go to the hospital
An unresponsive 45-year-old female was stabbed in her right chest an inch lateral to her sternum. Her skin is pale and diaphoretic. You observe jugular vein distention and auscultate clear lung sounds bilaterally in all fields. Her vital signs are P 118 and R 18. You should:
apply an occlusive dressing
A 20-year-old male was shot in the neck. You observe life-threatening bleeding from the wound. After you apply direct pressure with your gloved hand, you should:
apply an occlusive dressing
A 92-year-old male tripped and fell onto a ceramic figurine that created a two-inch hole in his right upper chest wall. You observe muscle tissue and bone fragments in the wound and hear bubbling sounds when he breathes. You should:
apply an occlusive dressing
An 81-year-old male complains of abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. He tells you he was stabbed in his abdomen. He has a history of hypertension and high cholesterol. You observe a one-inch laceration just below his xiphoid process. You auscultate diminished lung sounds and bowel sounds in the base of his left lung. His vital signs are P 76, R 20, BP 144/88, and SpO2 is 93% on room air. You should administer oxygen and:
apply an occlusive dressing.
A 6-year-old male fell off his bicycle and cut his upper arm. His mother is holding a blood-soaked towel over the wound. When you examine the wound, you see a five-inch laceration that is spraying blood. You should immediately
apply direct pressure
An unresponsive 78-year-old male fell down a flight of stairs. You hear snoring respirations and see uncontrolled bleeding from a laceration on his head. You should first:
apply direct pressure to the laceration
A 41-year-old female was stabbed in her right thigh with a screwdriver. Her skin is warm, dry, and pink. You observe blood oozing from a two-centimeter wound and feel an expanding hematoma under her skin. You should:
apply direct pressure to the wound
A 60-year-old male complains of shoulder pain. He tells you he tripped and grabbed the door frame as he fell backward. He is holding his right arm against his chest, and he tells you he is unable to move it. You observe a deformity below his clavicle and above his axilla, and he has a good radial pulse. You should:
apply swing and swathe
A 43-year-old female tells you that she was sexually assaulted. She complains of pain in her chest and groin from being kicked. You do not see any signs of bleeding through her outer clothing. You should listen to her lung sounds and:
ask her if she is bleeding
An unresponsive 61-year-old female was run over by a train at low speed. Her skin is pale and cool. She has a below the knee amputation of her left leg. You observe minor bleeding from the injury. While stabilizing her spine, you should:
assess her breathing and circulation
An unresponsive 2-year-old female has burnt skin on her left hand and left knee. Her father tells you he heard a loud noise and found her this way. She has irregular, slow, shallow respirations and a rapid carotid pulse. You should first:
assist her ventilation
An unresponsive 43-year-old female was struck in the chest with a metal pipe during an assault. You observe a portion of her left chest wall moves outward when she exhales. She is taking rapid, shallow breaths. While your partner stabilizes her head, you should next:
assist her ventilation with BVM
A 57-year-old male was stabbed multiple times in his anterior right chest wall with a screwdriver. He tells you he has pain and difficulty breathing. You should apply occlusive dressings and:
auscultate his lung sounds
An 82-year-old female was bitten by a dog. You observe an irregularly shaped flap of skin on her arm. You should suspect a(n):
avulsion
A 23-year-old male complained of chest pain after he was stabbed in the right chest with a knife. You applied an occlusive dressing and continued your treatment. His initial vital signs were P 92, R 18, BP 128/82, and SpO2 was 93% on room air. During transport, he complains of difficulty breathing, and his vital signs are P 114, R 22, BP 104/88, and SpO2 is 91% on oxygen 12 L/minute by non-rebreather mask. You should:
burp the occlusive dressing
An unresponsive 51-year-old male was stabbed in the fourth intercostal space of his left chest an inch lateral to his sternum. His skin is pale, cool, and diaphoretic. His lungs are clear to auscultation, and you observe his neck veins are distended. You should suspect:
cardiac tamponade
A 25-year-old female complains of abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding after she was kicked midline in her lower abdomen by a horse. You should suspect her bleeding is from an injury to her:
cervix.
A 32-year-old female fell while hiking and she complains of extreme left calf pain. You do not observe any abnormal angulation of her leg. The skin on her left calf is pale, swollen, and she tells you she feels a pins and needles sensation. You are unable to palpate a distal pulse. You should suspect:
compartment syndrome
A 5-year-old male complains of pain in his left hand after he spilled liquid drain cleaner on it. His hand is reddened, and you smell a strong chemical odor. You should:
flush his hand with water.
A 43-year-old female who stepped into a campfire complains of pain in her lower leg. The skin on her lower leg is reddened and blistered. The skin on her foot has areas of blackened skin and other areas that are dry, white, and leathery. She denies pain to this area when you cover it with a dressing. What type of burn should you suspect she has to her foot?
full thickness
An unresponsive 21-year-old male was shot in the left upper abdominal quadrant. His skin is pale and diaphoretic. You auscultate clear lung sounds, and his neck veins are flat. His vital signs are P 116, R 20, BP 100/72, and SpO2 is 92% on room air. What type of shock should you suspect?
hemorrhagic
A 24-year-old female complains of chest pain and difficulty breathing. She tells you a horse kicked her in the chest. Her skin is pale and diaphoretic. You observe a contusion to the left side of her anterior chest wall. Breath sounds are absent over her left lower lung. Her vital signs are P 116, R 22, BP 92/80, and SpO2 is 95% on room air. You should suspect:
hemothorax
Why is a 7-year-old female more prone to fracture her spleen in a car crash than an adult?
her ribs do not protect it as well
Why can a fracture to the proximal end of a 3-year-old male's humerus be more serious than a fracture in the same location of a 33-year-old female if it is not treated properly?
his arm may not grow properly
A 60-year-old male was working on an electrical appliance when he shocked himself and became unresponsive. His wife tells you that while he was unresponsive, he was shaking all over. His only past medical history is hypertension. You observe full thickness burns to his right hand and both knees. His vital signs are P 82 and irregular, R 16, BP 168/78, and SpO2 is 94% on room air. Which of the above findings has the potential to be an immediate life threat?
irregular pulse
A 23-year-old female has a five-inch laceration to her left thigh. You were unable to control her hemorrhage, so you applied a tourniquet and stopped the bleeding. During transport, her vital signs are P 104, R 18, BP 88/62, and SpO2 is 97% on oxygen by non-rebreather mask at 12 L/minute. Of the following, which will help to improve her outcome the most?
keep her warm
A 32-year-old female complains of abdominal pain and left leg pain after she was stabbed in her left lower abdominal quadrant. You do not observe any injuries to her legs, but her left leg is cyanotic and cold. Her vital signs are P 108, R 18, BP 98/58, and SpO2 is 91% on room air. You should administer oxygen and:
keep her warm
A 5-year-old female who was only wearing a lap belt when she was involved in a car crash complains of abdominal pain. Her skin is pale and cool. The only injury you observe is a reddened three-inch wide mark across her abdomen at the level of her umbilicus. Her vital signs are P 130, R 34, BP 98/80, and SpO2 is unobtainable. Her capillary refill is three seconds. You should administer oxygen and:
keep her warm
A 25-year-old male complains of severe leg pain. He tells you he went to the urgent care center yesterday and they applied a temporary cast wrapped with an elastic bandage because he broke his left tibia. He tells you the pain has been getting worse and he feels pins and needles in his leg. You should:
loosen the elastic bandage around the temporary cast.
A 34-year-old male fell from a tree and landed on his left arm. He is sitting leaning against the tree holding his arm against his body. He tells you that before he sat up, his arm was angulated. You palpate instability of his left humerus and observe a centimeter laceration with minimal bleeding. What type of fracture should you suspect?
open
A 41-year-old female complains of left-sided chest pain. She tells you she was stabbed in her left breast with a knife. She denies difficulty breathing, and her lungs are clear to auscultation. You observe slight oozing bleeding from the wound. Her vital signs are P 98, R 16, BP 138/78, and SpO2 is 97% on room air. You should suspect a:
simple pneumothorax
A 74-year-old male complains of upper back pain and difficulty breathing after a fall. He has pain and crepitus in the right side of his back below his scapula. He has equal chest wall expansion, and his breath sounds are diminished in the affected area. His vital signs are P 82, R 18, BP 142/92, and SpO2 is 96% on room air. You should suspect a:
simple pneumothorax
An unresponsive 35-year-old female was struck in the head with a softball bat. She has a four-inch laceration, and you palpate an unstable area of the occipital region. Fifteen minutes after the injury, her vital signs are P 48, R 16 and irregular, BP 216/104, and SpO2 is 94% on room air. You should suspect a:
skull fracture
A 77-year-old female complains of pain in her left upper arm. She tells you she tripped on a rug and fell. Her left proximal humerus is unstable, she can move her fingers, feel your touch, and the radial pulse is present. You should apply a(n):
sling and swathe
An unresponsive 28-year-old male's face appears flattened, and you observe clear fluid draining from his nose. He was an unrestrained front seat passenger and struck his face on the dash during a high-speed car crash. He is lying supine on your stretcher, and you hear gurgling when he breathes. You should:
suction his airway
Why should an apparently minor human bite that breaks the skin be evaluated at the hospital?
there is a high risk of infection
A 6-year-old male was thrown 10 feet after he was struck by a car. He complains of neck and back pain. The skin on his face, shoulders, and arms is pale and diaphoretic. He has no feeling below his nipple line, and his skin is warm and pink. You should suspect an injury to his:
thoracic spine above T-5
An unresponsive 20-year-old male was shot in the left upper abdominal quadrant. His skin is pale and diaphoretic. His airway is open, and his lungs are clear to auscultation. You palpate a pulsating mass midline between his xiphoid process and umbilicus. You should immediately:
transport him
A 71-year-old male has partial thickness flash burns to his face. He tells you he was smoking in the bathroom while on oxygen by nasal cannula when it happened. The hair in his nostrils and eyebrows is singed. While he is speaking to you, you notice his voice is becoming more hoarse. He complains that his throat is tightening, and he has trouble breathing. You should:
transport immediately
A 66-year-old male complains of hand pain. Three of his fingers were caught in an industrial sander and pulled off his hand. Bleeding is minor and controlled with a dressing. His coworkers bring you the fingers. You should:
wrap the fingers in sterile gauze, place them in a plastic bag, and place the bag on ice