TCAR Post-Test (Answers) NEWEST 2025/2026 ACTUAL EXAM
200 Practice Questions with Correct Detailed Answers
1. helmets and automobile airbags work because they:
A) prevent blows to the head
B) reduce acceleration injuries
C) increase deceleration speed
D) add deceleration distance
Answer: B) reduce acceleration injuries
Explanation: Helmets and airbags reduce the rate of deceleration (add deceleration distance) to reduce
the forces applied to the body, thereby preventing injuries from rapid acceleration-deceleration forces.
2. Which of the following statements best describes knife wounds?
A) low velocity; temporary cavity depends on the size of the knife; damage usually extensive
B) low velocity; temporary cavity is insignificant; damage limited to structures directly in the object's
path
C) high velocity; temporary cavity will be small; affects structures at some distance from the wound tract
D) high velocity; temporary cavity may be massive; results in widespread tissue destruction
Answer: B) low velocity; temporary cavity is insignificant; damage limited to structures directly in the
object's path
Explanation: Low-velocity weapons like knives have minimal temporary cavitation, causing damage only
along the tract of the blade.
3. Injury to which body structure is commonly a DELAYED finding in the blast trauma patient?
A) Heart
B) Bladder
,C) Bowel
D) Spleen
Answer: C) Bowel
Explanation: Bowel injury from blast overpressure may present hours to days later due to delayed
perforation or ischemia.
4. Shock occurs when:
A) the sodium-potassium pump fails
B) ATP levels are less than lactic acid levels
C) cellular oxygen demand is greater than supply
D) aerobic metabolism exceeds anaerobic metabolism
Answer: C) cellular oxygen demand is greater than supply
Explanation: Shock is a state of inadequate tissue perfusion where oxygen delivery fails to meet
metabolic demands.
5. What is the single most common cause of preventable death after injury?
A) Airway obstruction
B) Tension pneumothorax
C) Hemorrhage
D) Spinal cord injury
Answer: C) Hemorrhage
Explanation: Uncontrolled hemorrhage remains the leading cause of preventable death in trauma,
making early recognition and control critical.
,6. Which of the following findings suggests a trauma patient is experiencing neurogenic shock?
A) Tachycardia and cool, clammy skin
B) Bradycardia and hypotension with warm, dry skin
C) Narrow pulse pressure and jugular venous distension
D) Tachycardia and hypotension with cool mottled skin
Answer: B) Bradycardia and hypotension with warm, dry skin
Explanation: Neurogenic shock results from loss of sympathetic tone, causing bradycardia, hypotension,
and vasodilation (warm, dry skin).
7. The "lethal triad" of trauma includes:
A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy
B) Bradycardia, hypotension, and hypoxia
C) Hyperthermia, alkalosis, and anemia
D) Hypertension, tachycardia, and dehydration
Answer: A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy
Explanation: These three conditions interact in a vicious cycle that worsens outcomes in trauma
patients.
8. Which finding indicates Cushing's triad?
A) Tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea
B) Bradycardia, hypertension, irregular respirations
C) Bradycardia, hypotension, bradypnea
D) Tachycardia, hypertension, apnea
, Answer: B) Bradycardia, hypertension, irregular respirations
Explanation: Cushing's triad (hypertension, bradycardia, irregular respirations) signals late increased
intracranial pressure.
9. Secondary brain injury results primarily from:
A) Direct trauma
B) Hypoxia and hypotension
C) Skull fracture
D) Cerebral edema
Answer: B) Hypoxia and hypotension
Explanation: After the initial primary insult, secondary injury occurs from oxygen deprivation and low
perfusion worsening neuronal injury.
10. The first step in managing increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is:
A) Administer hypotonic IV fluids
B) Hyperventilate the patient
C) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
D) Restrict oxygen
Answer: C) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
Explanation: Positioning promotes venous drainage from the brain and reduces ICP safely before more
invasive measures.
200 Practice Questions with Correct Detailed Answers
1. helmets and automobile airbags work because they:
A) prevent blows to the head
B) reduce acceleration injuries
C) increase deceleration speed
D) add deceleration distance
Answer: B) reduce acceleration injuries
Explanation: Helmets and airbags reduce the rate of deceleration (add deceleration distance) to reduce
the forces applied to the body, thereby preventing injuries from rapid acceleration-deceleration forces.
2. Which of the following statements best describes knife wounds?
A) low velocity; temporary cavity depends on the size of the knife; damage usually extensive
B) low velocity; temporary cavity is insignificant; damage limited to structures directly in the object's
path
C) high velocity; temporary cavity will be small; affects structures at some distance from the wound tract
D) high velocity; temporary cavity may be massive; results in widespread tissue destruction
Answer: B) low velocity; temporary cavity is insignificant; damage limited to structures directly in the
object's path
Explanation: Low-velocity weapons like knives have minimal temporary cavitation, causing damage only
along the tract of the blade.
3. Injury to which body structure is commonly a DELAYED finding in the blast trauma patient?
A) Heart
B) Bladder
,C) Bowel
D) Spleen
Answer: C) Bowel
Explanation: Bowel injury from blast overpressure may present hours to days later due to delayed
perforation or ischemia.
4. Shock occurs when:
A) the sodium-potassium pump fails
B) ATP levels are less than lactic acid levels
C) cellular oxygen demand is greater than supply
D) aerobic metabolism exceeds anaerobic metabolism
Answer: C) cellular oxygen demand is greater than supply
Explanation: Shock is a state of inadequate tissue perfusion where oxygen delivery fails to meet
metabolic demands.
5. What is the single most common cause of preventable death after injury?
A) Airway obstruction
B) Tension pneumothorax
C) Hemorrhage
D) Spinal cord injury
Answer: C) Hemorrhage
Explanation: Uncontrolled hemorrhage remains the leading cause of preventable death in trauma,
making early recognition and control critical.
,6. Which of the following findings suggests a trauma patient is experiencing neurogenic shock?
A) Tachycardia and cool, clammy skin
B) Bradycardia and hypotension with warm, dry skin
C) Narrow pulse pressure and jugular venous distension
D) Tachycardia and hypotension with cool mottled skin
Answer: B) Bradycardia and hypotension with warm, dry skin
Explanation: Neurogenic shock results from loss of sympathetic tone, causing bradycardia, hypotension,
and vasodilation (warm, dry skin).
7. The "lethal triad" of trauma includes:
A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy
B) Bradycardia, hypotension, and hypoxia
C) Hyperthermia, alkalosis, and anemia
D) Hypertension, tachycardia, and dehydration
Answer: A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy
Explanation: These three conditions interact in a vicious cycle that worsens outcomes in trauma
patients.
8. Which finding indicates Cushing's triad?
A) Tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea
B) Bradycardia, hypertension, irregular respirations
C) Bradycardia, hypotension, bradypnea
D) Tachycardia, hypertension, apnea
, Answer: B) Bradycardia, hypertension, irregular respirations
Explanation: Cushing's triad (hypertension, bradycardia, irregular respirations) signals late increased
intracranial pressure.
9. Secondary brain injury results primarily from:
A) Direct trauma
B) Hypoxia and hypotension
C) Skull fracture
D) Cerebral edema
Answer: B) Hypoxia and hypotension
Explanation: After the initial primary insult, secondary injury occurs from oxygen deprivation and low
perfusion worsening neuronal injury.
10. The first step in managing increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is:
A) Administer hypotonic IV fluids
B) Hyperventilate the patient
C) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
D) Restrict oxygen
Answer: C) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
Explanation: Positioning promotes venous drainage from the brain and reduces ICP safely before more
invasive measures.
