PHTLS Post-Test Certification Exam Actual Exam
2026/2027 | 50 Questions with Verified Answers |
100% Correct | Pass Guaranteed
SECTION 1: Trauma Assessment & Scene Management (10 Questions)
Q1: You arrive first at a single-vehicle rollover. The car is on its roof, windshield starred,
and one patient is ejected 10 meters away. Your FIRST action after scene safety is
confirmed is to:
A. Immediately begin spinal immobilization on the ejected patient
B. Perform a 360-degree scene survey to identify all patients and hazards
C. Request helicopter transport
D. Start a primary survey on the ejected patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PHTLS Principle - Scene Size-up: Before patient contact, conduct a
360-degree assessment to identify mechanism, number of patients, hazards, and
resource needs. This informs triage and resource allocation.
XABCDE Context: Scene survey occurs before primary survey.
Common Error: Jumping to patient care without complete scene assessment may miss
additional patients or hazards.
Q2: Using START triage, you find a patient who can walk but has significant bleeding
from an arm wound. Your triage tag should be:
A. Immediate (Red)
B. Delayed (Yellow)
C. Minor (Green)
D. Expectant (Black)
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: START Algorithm: Ambulatory patients are initially tagged Green (Minor).
However, significant hemorrhage requires intervention. After controlling bleeding,
reassess - if stable, remains Delayed (Yellow).
Key Point: START allows one lifesaving intervention per patient before moving to next.
Q3: At an MVC, the driver was unrestrained and struck the steering wheel. You note a
deformed steering wheel and windshield starring. Based on mechanism, your index of
suspicion should be highest for:
A. Lower extremity fractures
B. Chest and abdominal injuries
C. Head injury only
D. Cervical spine injury only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PHTLS Mechanism Assessment: Unrestrained driver + steering wheel
deformation = significant force to chest/abdomen. Windshield starring suggests head
impact but steering wheel deformation specifically indicates chest/abdominal trauma.
High Index: Assume multiple injuries based on mechanism.
Q4: During primary survey, you find a patient with snoring respirations and altered
mental status. This represents a problem with:
A. Breathing
B. Airway
C. Circulation
D. Disability
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: XABCDE Sequence: Snoring respirations indicate airway obstruction -
typically tongue in unconscious patient. This is an airway emergency requiring
immediate intervention before assessing breathing.
Q5: In a mass casualty incident, your role as first EMS unit includes all EXCEPT:
, A. Establish command
B. Begin treatment on all red-tagged patients immediately
C. Conduct initial triage
D. Request appropriate resources
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCI Management: Initial units conduct triage, establish command, and
request resources. Treatment begins only after triage is complete and adequate
resources arrive. Treating immediately violates triage principles.
Q6: A patient fell 20 feet onto concrete. Your mechanism assessment should include
consideration of:
A. Axial load injuries
B. Only the landing surface injuries
C. Only the height of fall
D. Patient's age only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Vertical Fall Mechanism: Significant height + hard surface = axial loading
transmitted through spine and lower extremities. Consider spinal, pelvic, and calcaneal
fractures.
Q7: Scene time for a critical trauma patient should ideally be:
A. ≤10 minutes
B. 20-30 minutes
C. As long as needed for stabilization
D. 45-60 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Golden Hour Principle: Minimize scene time to ≤10 minutes for critical
patients. Focus on life-threatening interventions only and rapid transport.
Q8: You arrive at a shooting scene. Police confirm scene is safe. Your first patient has a
gunshot wound to the chest and is in respiratory distress. Your immediate priority is:
A. Search for additional wounds while maintaining spinal precautions
B. Start IV access
2026/2027 | 50 Questions with Verified Answers |
100% Correct | Pass Guaranteed
SECTION 1: Trauma Assessment & Scene Management (10 Questions)
Q1: You arrive first at a single-vehicle rollover. The car is on its roof, windshield starred,
and one patient is ejected 10 meters away. Your FIRST action after scene safety is
confirmed is to:
A. Immediately begin spinal immobilization on the ejected patient
B. Perform a 360-degree scene survey to identify all patients and hazards
C. Request helicopter transport
D. Start a primary survey on the ejected patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PHTLS Principle - Scene Size-up: Before patient contact, conduct a
360-degree assessment to identify mechanism, number of patients, hazards, and
resource needs. This informs triage and resource allocation.
XABCDE Context: Scene survey occurs before primary survey.
Common Error: Jumping to patient care without complete scene assessment may miss
additional patients or hazards.
Q2: Using START triage, you find a patient who can walk but has significant bleeding
from an arm wound. Your triage tag should be:
A. Immediate (Red)
B. Delayed (Yellow)
C. Minor (Green)
D. Expectant (Black)
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: START Algorithm: Ambulatory patients are initially tagged Green (Minor).
However, significant hemorrhage requires intervention. After controlling bleeding,
reassess - if stable, remains Delayed (Yellow).
Key Point: START allows one lifesaving intervention per patient before moving to next.
Q3: At an MVC, the driver was unrestrained and struck the steering wheel. You note a
deformed steering wheel and windshield starring. Based on mechanism, your index of
suspicion should be highest for:
A. Lower extremity fractures
B. Chest and abdominal injuries
C. Head injury only
D. Cervical spine injury only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PHTLS Mechanism Assessment: Unrestrained driver + steering wheel
deformation = significant force to chest/abdomen. Windshield starring suggests head
impact but steering wheel deformation specifically indicates chest/abdominal trauma.
High Index: Assume multiple injuries based on mechanism.
Q4: During primary survey, you find a patient with snoring respirations and altered
mental status. This represents a problem with:
A. Breathing
B. Airway
C. Circulation
D. Disability
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: XABCDE Sequence: Snoring respirations indicate airway obstruction -
typically tongue in unconscious patient. This is an airway emergency requiring
immediate intervention before assessing breathing.
Q5: In a mass casualty incident, your role as first EMS unit includes all EXCEPT:
, A. Establish command
B. Begin treatment on all red-tagged patients immediately
C. Conduct initial triage
D. Request appropriate resources
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCI Management: Initial units conduct triage, establish command, and
request resources. Treatment begins only after triage is complete and adequate
resources arrive. Treating immediately violates triage principles.
Q6: A patient fell 20 feet onto concrete. Your mechanism assessment should include
consideration of:
A. Axial load injuries
B. Only the landing surface injuries
C. Only the height of fall
D. Patient's age only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Vertical Fall Mechanism: Significant height + hard surface = axial loading
transmitted through spine and lower extremities. Consider spinal, pelvic, and calcaneal
fractures.
Q7: Scene time for a critical trauma patient should ideally be:
A. ≤10 minutes
B. 20-30 minutes
C. As long as needed for stabilization
D. 45-60 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Golden Hour Principle: Minimize scene time to ≤10 minutes for critical
patients. Focus on life-threatening interventions only and rapid transport.
Q8: You arrive at a shooting scene. Police confirm scene is safe. Your first patient has a
gunshot wound to the chest and is in respiratory distress. Your immediate priority is:
A. Search for additional wounds while maintaining spinal precautions
B. Start IV access
