EMT FISDAP TRAUMA EXAM LATEST EXAM 2026 | ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS | ALREADY GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1
A man has a knife impaled at the fourth intercostal space, left sternal border. He is pulseless and
not breathing. You should:
A) Stabilize the knife with bulky dressings and begin chest compressions
B) Remove the knife from the chest
C) Perform chest compressions around the knife
D) Cut the knife handle off to allow for compressions
E) Pronounce the patient dead on arrival
Correct Answer: B) Remove the knife from the chest
Rationale: Generally, impaled objects should not be removed in the field. However, there
are two major exceptions: when the object obstructs the airway or when the object
interferes with chest compressions in a pulseless patient. Because the knife is at the left
sternal border (directly over the heart), it must be removed to perform effective CPR.
Question 2
An adult was pinned between two vehicles. He is conscious but confused and unable to follow
commands. He has bruising on both sides of his anterior chest. He has a weak carotid pulse, no
peripheral pulses, clear breath sounds in all fields, and distended neck veins. You should suspect:
A) Tension pneumothorax
B) Traumatic asphyxia
C) Hemothorax
D) Pericardial tamponade
E) Flail chest
Correct Answer: D) Pericardial tamponade
Rationale: Pericardial tamponade occurs when blood fills the protective sac around the
heart. The classic signs are known as Beck's Triad: hypotension (weak/absent peripheral
pulses), Jugular Venous Distention (JVD), and muffled heart sounds. Clear breath sounds
distinguish this from a tension pneumothorax, where breath sounds would be absent on the
affected side.
Question 3
A patient received a severe steam burn to his hand and wrist. Which of the following is the most
immediate action to take regarding his accessories?
A) Keep them on to maintain pressure
B) Wait for a doctor to remove them
C) Remove his watch
D) Apply burn cream over the watch
E) Wrap the watch in sterile gauze
Correct Answer: C) Remove his watch
Rationale: Burned tissue swells rapidly. Any restrictive jewelry or watches act as a
, 2
tourniquet as the swelling increases, potentially cutting off distal circulation (compartment
syndrome). All jewelry should be removed from burned extremities early.
Question 4
Proper management for an avulsion of the ear includes:
A) Placing the ear in a container of ice
B) Discarding the tissue if it is not fully attached
C) Bandaging in the correct anatomical position
D) Leaving the wound open to air
E) Applying a tourniquet to the neck
Correct Answer: C) Banding in the correct anatomical position
Rationale: When dealing with an avulsion (a flap of skin torn loose), the goal is to preserve
the tissue for surgical reattachment. You should replace the flap in its original anatomical
position and secure it with a sterile dressing.
Question 5
A patient has a stab wound to the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. Which organ is most likely
to be injured?
A) Liver
B) Spleen
C) Appendix
D) Gallbladder
E) Urinary bladder
Correct Answer: B) Spleen
Rationale: The Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) contains the spleen, stomach, and part of the
pancreas. The spleen is highly vascular and injury often leads to significant internal
bleeding.
Question 6
Your patient has been stabbed in the right upper quadrant. Which organ is the most likely to be
injured?
A) Spleen
B) Sigmoid colon
C) Liver
D) Appendix
E) Left kidney
Correct Answer: C) Liver
Rationale: The Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) is primarily occupied by the liver and the
gallbladder. The liver is the largest solid organ in the abdomen and is a major concern in
penetrating trauma.
, 3
Question 7
An 18-year-old male is holding his right shin after a sports-related injury. There is deformity and
swelling; pedal pulses are present. You should:
A) Apply a traction splint
B) Attempt to realign the leg with a quick pull
C) Apply a board splint in the position found
D) Advise the patient to walk it off
E) Apply an air splint and inflate it to maximum pressure
Correct Answer: C) Apply a board splint in the position found
Rationale: For isolated extremity fractures with intact distal pulses, the standard of care is
to splint the injury in the position found. Traction splints are strictly for mid-shaft femur
fractures.
Question 8
A 42-year-old male has a piece of metal impaled in his lower right leg. He has an obvious open
fracture and no pulse in his right foot. What should you do?
A) Pull the metal out immediately to restore the pulse
B) Stabilize with bulky dressings prior to transport
C) Apply a tourniquet above the knee
D) Use a hammer to drive the metal further in for stability
E) Tell the patient to wiggle his toes
Correct Answer: B) Stabilize with bulky dressings prior to transport
Rationale: Impaled objects in extremities should be stabilized in place using bulky
dressings. While the lack of a pulse is a surgical emergency, removing the object in the field
can cause uncontrollable hemorrhage.
Question 9
A 47-year-old male was shot in the back. He is cool and clammy and has arm weakness. Vital
signs are BP 130/90, P 76, R 24. You should suspect:
A) Tension pneumothorax
B) Hemorrhagic shock
C) Spinal cord injury
D) Pericardial tamponade
E) Myocardial infarction
Correct Answer: C) Spinal cord injury
Rationale: Penetrating trauma to the back combined with neurological deficits (arm
weakness) strongly suggests a spinal cord injury. His blood pressure and pulse are
relatively stable, which points away from immediate hemorrhagic shock at this moment.
Question 10
A 28-year-old male sustained a shallow, 1 cm laceration to his forearm while climbing a rusted
, 4
chain-link fence. He is refusing transportation. What should your primary concern be during the
refusal discussion?
A) Immediate blood loss
B) Arterial spray
C) Infection
D) Compartment syndrome
E) Fracture of the ulna
Correct Answer: C) Infection
Rationale: While the wound is minor, rusted metal carries a high risk of pathogens,
including Clostridium tetani (tetanus). Patients refusing care for dirty wounds must be
warned of the high risk of infection.
Question 11
A 32-year-old male sustained facial trauma after falling from a roof. He has snoring respirations.
What should you do?
A) Perform a head-tilt chin-lift
B) Insert an OPA immediately without a gag reflex check
C) Perform a modified jaw-thrust
D) Place the patient in the recovery position
E) Use a suction catheter to tickle the back of the throat
Correct Answer: C) Perform a modified jaw-thrust
Rationale: Snoring respirations indicate a partial airway obstruction, usually by the tongue.
In the setting of trauma (fall from a roof), you must assume a cervical spine injury and use
the modified jaw-thrust to open the airway without moving the neck.
Question 12
A 50-year-old male has an obviously deformed right lower leg after falling off a roof. As you
approach, you notice a tear in the skin over the deformity. What should you do?
A) Push the bone back into the skin
B) Realign and splint the leg
C) Apply a tourniquet immediately
D) Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressing and splint
E) Ignore the wound and focus on the patient's blood pressure
Correct Answer: D) Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressing and splint
Rationale: This is an open fracture. The wound should be covered with a sterile dressing to
prevent further contamination, and the limb should be immobilized (splinted) to prevent
further soft tissue damage.
Question 13
A 53-year-old female was hit by a car. She is unresponsive with deformity to the left femur and
pelvic instability. She has diminished lung sounds on the left side. You should:
ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS | ALREADY GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1
A man has a knife impaled at the fourth intercostal space, left sternal border. He is pulseless and
not breathing. You should:
A) Stabilize the knife with bulky dressings and begin chest compressions
B) Remove the knife from the chest
C) Perform chest compressions around the knife
D) Cut the knife handle off to allow for compressions
E) Pronounce the patient dead on arrival
Correct Answer: B) Remove the knife from the chest
Rationale: Generally, impaled objects should not be removed in the field. However, there
are two major exceptions: when the object obstructs the airway or when the object
interferes with chest compressions in a pulseless patient. Because the knife is at the left
sternal border (directly over the heart), it must be removed to perform effective CPR.
Question 2
An adult was pinned between two vehicles. He is conscious but confused and unable to follow
commands. He has bruising on both sides of his anterior chest. He has a weak carotid pulse, no
peripheral pulses, clear breath sounds in all fields, and distended neck veins. You should suspect:
A) Tension pneumothorax
B) Traumatic asphyxia
C) Hemothorax
D) Pericardial tamponade
E) Flail chest
Correct Answer: D) Pericardial tamponade
Rationale: Pericardial tamponade occurs when blood fills the protective sac around the
heart. The classic signs are known as Beck's Triad: hypotension (weak/absent peripheral
pulses), Jugular Venous Distention (JVD), and muffled heart sounds. Clear breath sounds
distinguish this from a tension pneumothorax, where breath sounds would be absent on the
affected side.
Question 3
A patient received a severe steam burn to his hand and wrist. Which of the following is the most
immediate action to take regarding his accessories?
A) Keep them on to maintain pressure
B) Wait for a doctor to remove them
C) Remove his watch
D) Apply burn cream over the watch
E) Wrap the watch in sterile gauze
Correct Answer: C) Remove his watch
Rationale: Burned tissue swells rapidly. Any restrictive jewelry or watches act as a
, 2
tourniquet as the swelling increases, potentially cutting off distal circulation (compartment
syndrome). All jewelry should be removed from burned extremities early.
Question 4
Proper management for an avulsion of the ear includes:
A) Placing the ear in a container of ice
B) Discarding the tissue if it is not fully attached
C) Bandaging in the correct anatomical position
D) Leaving the wound open to air
E) Applying a tourniquet to the neck
Correct Answer: C) Banding in the correct anatomical position
Rationale: When dealing with an avulsion (a flap of skin torn loose), the goal is to preserve
the tissue for surgical reattachment. You should replace the flap in its original anatomical
position and secure it with a sterile dressing.
Question 5
A patient has a stab wound to the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. Which organ is most likely
to be injured?
A) Liver
B) Spleen
C) Appendix
D) Gallbladder
E) Urinary bladder
Correct Answer: B) Spleen
Rationale: The Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) contains the spleen, stomach, and part of the
pancreas. The spleen is highly vascular and injury often leads to significant internal
bleeding.
Question 6
Your patient has been stabbed in the right upper quadrant. Which organ is the most likely to be
injured?
A) Spleen
B) Sigmoid colon
C) Liver
D) Appendix
E) Left kidney
Correct Answer: C) Liver
Rationale: The Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) is primarily occupied by the liver and the
gallbladder. The liver is the largest solid organ in the abdomen and is a major concern in
penetrating trauma.
, 3
Question 7
An 18-year-old male is holding his right shin after a sports-related injury. There is deformity and
swelling; pedal pulses are present. You should:
A) Apply a traction splint
B) Attempt to realign the leg with a quick pull
C) Apply a board splint in the position found
D) Advise the patient to walk it off
E) Apply an air splint and inflate it to maximum pressure
Correct Answer: C) Apply a board splint in the position found
Rationale: For isolated extremity fractures with intact distal pulses, the standard of care is
to splint the injury in the position found. Traction splints are strictly for mid-shaft femur
fractures.
Question 8
A 42-year-old male has a piece of metal impaled in his lower right leg. He has an obvious open
fracture and no pulse in his right foot. What should you do?
A) Pull the metal out immediately to restore the pulse
B) Stabilize with bulky dressings prior to transport
C) Apply a tourniquet above the knee
D) Use a hammer to drive the metal further in for stability
E) Tell the patient to wiggle his toes
Correct Answer: B) Stabilize with bulky dressings prior to transport
Rationale: Impaled objects in extremities should be stabilized in place using bulky
dressings. While the lack of a pulse is a surgical emergency, removing the object in the field
can cause uncontrollable hemorrhage.
Question 9
A 47-year-old male was shot in the back. He is cool and clammy and has arm weakness. Vital
signs are BP 130/90, P 76, R 24. You should suspect:
A) Tension pneumothorax
B) Hemorrhagic shock
C) Spinal cord injury
D) Pericardial tamponade
E) Myocardial infarction
Correct Answer: C) Spinal cord injury
Rationale: Penetrating trauma to the back combined with neurological deficits (arm
weakness) strongly suggests a spinal cord injury. His blood pressure and pulse are
relatively stable, which points away from immediate hemorrhagic shock at this moment.
Question 10
A 28-year-old male sustained a shallow, 1 cm laceration to his forearm while climbing a rusted
, 4
chain-link fence. He is refusing transportation. What should your primary concern be during the
refusal discussion?
A) Immediate blood loss
B) Arterial spray
C) Infection
D) Compartment syndrome
E) Fracture of the ulna
Correct Answer: C) Infection
Rationale: While the wound is minor, rusted metal carries a high risk of pathogens,
including Clostridium tetani (tetanus). Patients refusing care for dirty wounds must be
warned of the high risk of infection.
Question 11
A 32-year-old male sustained facial trauma after falling from a roof. He has snoring respirations.
What should you do?
A) Perform a head-tilt chin-lift
B) Insert an OPA immediately without a gag reflex check
C) Perform a modified jaw-thrust
D) Place the patient in the recovery position
E) Use a suction catheter to tickle the back of the throat
Correct Answer: C) Perform a modified jaw-thrust
Rationale: Snoring respirations indicate a partial airway obstruction, usually by the tongue.
In the setting of trauma (fall from a roof), you must assume a cervical spine injury and use
the modified jaw-thrust to open the airway without moving the neck.
Question 12
A 50-year-old male has an obviously deformed right lower leg after falling off a roof. As you
approach, you notice a tear in the skin over the deformity. What should you do?
A) Push the bone back into the skin
B) Realign and splint the leg
C) Apply a tourniquet immediately
D) Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressing and splint
E) Ignore the wound and focus on the patient's blood pressure
Correct Answer: D) Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressing and splint
Rationale: This is an open fracture. The wound should be covered with a sterile dressing to
prevent further contamination, and the limb should be immobilized (splinted) to prevent
further soft tissue damage.
Question 13
A 53-year-old female was hit by a car. She is unresponsive with deformity to the left femur and
pelvic instability. She has diminished lung sounds on the left side. You should:
