Air Methods Critical Care Review | Pediatrics
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2025–2026 | Comprehensive Pediatric Critical
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Care Transport Study Guide with Practice
d d d d d d
Questions & Verified Answers
d d d d
THIS EXAM CONTAINS: d d
✔ Comprehensive pediatric critical care transport review
d d d d d d
✔ Pediatric assessment and stabilization principles
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✔ Pediatric airway and respiratory emergency management
d d d d d d
✔ Shock, sepsis, and hemodynamic support concepts
d d d d d d
✔ Pediatric cardiac emergency review
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✔ Practice questions with verified answers With explanation
d d d d d d d
✔ Exam-focused review content
d d d
✔ Flight nursing and critical care transport preparation
d d d d d d d
✔ Instant digital download
d d d
,Pediatrics Critical Care d d d
1. You arrive at a small critical access hospital to transport a 10-year-old, 68-
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pound male who fell from a cliff, striking his head, neck, and upper body.
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During the report, the flight nurse reviews the lab results and notes the
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following values: Na 112 mEq/L, serum osmolarity 580 mOsm/kg, and urine
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output of 700 mL in the past hour. The critical care clinician should expect
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to administer which of the following medications?
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• A. Mannitol d
• B. Dopamine d
• C. Lactated Ringer's
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• D. Vasopressin
d
Correct Answer: D - Vasopressin
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Explanation: The patient's diabetes insipidus is likely caused by severe head
d d d d d d d d d d
trauma. Administration of an osmotic diuretic (mannitol) would worsen the
d d d d d d d d d d
condition. Dopamine is not indicated. Lactated Ringer's may assist in
d d d d d d d d d d
replacing fluid loss but will not replace sodium loss or correct diabetes
d d d d d d d d d d d d
insipidus. Vasopressin is a synthetic form of antidiuretic hormone (ADH),
d d d d d d d d d d
and replacement of ADH allows the kidneys to concentrate urine and
d d d d d d d d d d d
decrease electrolyte loss.
d d d
2. You are called to transport a 16-year-old involved in an SUV rollover
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accident after drinking with her friends. Her injuries include a fractured
d d d d d d d d d d d
pelvis, a large laceration to her left lower leg with controlled bleeding, a
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
head injury, a tension pneumothorax, and a left femur fracture. Which injury
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is immediately life-threatening and requires immediate intervention?
d d d d d d d
, • A. Fractured pelvis
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• B. Large laceration to the left lower leg
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• C. Head injury
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• D. Tension pneumothorax
d d
Correct Answer: D - Tension pneumothorax
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Explanation: While a pelvic fracture is a critical injury that may result in
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severe blood loss, and a large laceration may result in bleeding and
d d d d d d d d d d d d
decompensation, the bleeding from the laceration is currently controlled. A
d d d d d d d d d d
tension pneumothorax will rapidly result in death and requires immediate
d d d d d d d d d d
intervention.
d
3. An unrestrained four-year-old was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle
d d d d d d d d d d d d
that struck another vehicle traveling approximately 30 mph. The child was
d d d d d d d d d d d
found on the front seat floorboard and is suspected to have struck the
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
dashboard. Upon arrival at the bedside, the flight clinician reviewed the
d d d d d d d d d d d
chest x-ray identifying an abnormality in the right mainstem bronchus.
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Based on the chest x-ray findings, which injury is suspected?
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• A. Tension pneumothorax
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• B. Flail chest
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• C. Pneumothorax
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• D. Tracheal rupture
d d
Correct Answer: D - Tracheal rupture
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Explanation: While rare, tracheal rupture is life-threatening and most often
d d d d d d d d d
results from blunt force trauma, usually from motor vehicle crashes. The
d d d d d d d d d d d
elasticity of the pediatric thoracic cage protects young children from
d d d d d d d d d d
d d d d d d
2025–2026 | Comprehensive Pediatric Critical
d d d d d
Care Transport Study Guide with Practice
d d d d d d
Questions & Verified Answers
d d d d
THIS EXAM CONTAINS: d d
✔ Comprehensive pediatric critical care transport review
d d d d d d
✔ Pediatric assessment and stabilization principles
d d d d d
✔ Pediatric airway and respiratory emergency management
d d d d d d
✔ Shock, sepsis, and hemodynamic support concepts
d d d d d d
✔ Pediatric cardiac emergency review
d d d d
✔ Practice questions with verified answers With explanation
d d d d d d d
✔ Exam-focused review content
d d d
✔ Flight nursing and critical care transport preparation
d d d d d d d
✔ Instant digital download
d d d
,Pediatrics Critical Care d d d
1. You arrive at a small critical access hospital to transport a 10-year-old, 68-
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
pound male who fell from a cliff, striking his head, neck, and upper body.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
During the report, the flight nurse reviews the lab results and notes the
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
following values: Na 112 mEq/L, serum osmolarity 580 mOsm/kg, and urine
d d d d d d d d d d d
output of 700 mL in the past hour. The critical care clinician should expect
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
to administer which of the following medications?
d d d d d d d
• A. Mannitol d
• B. Dopamine d
• C. Lactated Ringer's
d d
• D. Vasopressin
d
Correct Answer: D - Vasopressin
d d d d
Explanation: The patient's diabetes insipidus is likely caused by severe head
d d d d d d d d d d
trauma. Administration of an osmotic diuretic (mannitol) would worsen the
d d d d d d d d d d
condition. Dopamine is not indicated. Lactated Ringer's may assist in
d d d d d d d d d d
replacing fluid loss but will not replace sodium loss or correct diabetes
d d d d d d d d d d d d
insipidus. Vasopressin is a synthetic form of antidiuretic hormone (ADH),
d d d d d d d d d d
and replacement of ADH allows the kidneys to concentrate urine and
d d d d d d d d d d d
decrease electrolyte loss.
d d d
2. You are called to transport a 16-year-old involved in an SUV rollover
d d d d d d d d d d d d
accident after drinking with her friends. Her injuries include a fractured
d d d d d d d d d d d
pelvis, a large laceration to her left lower leg with controlled bleeding, a
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
head injury, a tension pneumothorax, and a left femur fracture. Which injury
d d d d d d d d d d d d
is immediately life-threatening and requires immediate intervention?
d d d d d d d
, • A. Fractured pelvis
d d
• B. Large laceration to the left lower leg
d d d d d d d
• C. Head injury
d d
• D. Tension pneumothorax
d d
Correct Answer: D - Tension pneumothorax
d d d d d
Explanation: While a pelvic fracture is a critical injury that may result in
d d d d d d d d d d d d
severe blood loss, and a large laceration may result in bleeding and
d d d d d d d d d d d d
decompensation, the bleeding from the laceration is currently controlled. A
d d d d d d d d d d
tension pneumothorax will rapidly result in death and requires immediate
d d d d d d d d d d
intervention.
d
3. An unrestrained four-year-old was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle
d d d d d d d d d d d d
that struck another vehicle traveling approximately 30 mph. The child was
d d d d d d d d d d d
found on the front seat floorboard and is suspected to have struck the
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
dashboard. Upon arrival at the bedside, the flight clinician reviewed the
d d d d d d d d d d d
chest x-ray identifying an abnormality in the right mainstem bronchus.
d d d d d d d d d d
Based on the chest x-ray findings, which injury is suspected?
d d d d d d d d d d
• A. Tension pneumothorax
d d
• B. Flail chest
d d
• C. Pneumothorax
d
• D. Tracheal rupture
d d
Correct Answer: D - Tracheal rupture
d d d d d
Explanation: While rare, tracheal rupture is life-threatening and most often
d d d d d d d d d
results from blunt force trauma, usually from motor vehicle crashes. The
d d d d d d d d d d d
elasticity of the pediatric thoracic cage protects young children from
d d d d d d d d d d
