PHTLS 10th Edition – Comprehensive Study
Guide & Practice Exam
Course: Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) 10th Edition
Developed by: National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
(NAEMT) in cooperation with American College of Surgeons Committee on
Trauma (ACS-COT)
Focus: Prehospital trauma assessment, hemorrhage control, airway
management, shock, and critical thinking
EXAM OVERVIEW
The PHTLS 10th Edition continues its mission to promote excellence in
trauma patient management by all prehospital care practitioners through
global education . The program promotes critical thinking as the
foundation for providing quality care, recognizing that EMS practitioners
make the best decisions when given a solid knowledge base and key
principles .
SECTION 1: Core Concepts & Critical Thinking (Questions 1-15)
Q1. Which of the following requires you to develop a plan of action,
initiate the plan, reassess the plan as care for the patient moves
forward, and adjust the plan as the patient's condition or
circumstances change?
• A) Principles of PHTLS
• B) The Golden Period
• C) The XABCDE assessment
• D) Critical thinking process
Answer: D – To help achieve the PHTLS goals, you will apply your critical
thinking skills in the field. Critical thinking in medicine is a process in which
the healthcare practitioner assesses the situation, the patient, and the
,resources available and uses the information to decide on and provide the
best care for the patient .
Q2. Which of the following is the basis on which a patient's chance of
survival is maximized?
• A) Preferences
• B) Phases
• C) Principles
• D) Transport
Answer: C – The science of medicine provides the principles of medical
care. Simply stated, principles define the duties required of the prehospital
care practitioner in optimizing patient survival and outcome .
Q3. Which of the following is a goal of the Golden Period?
• A) Provide written documentation from field care to receiving hospital
• B) Expedite the field care and transport of the patient
• C) Use a team approach for optimal patient care
• D) Use the XABCDE approach to patient assessment
Answer: B – One of the most important responsibilities as a prehospital
care practitioner is to spend as little time on the scene as possible and
expedite field care and transport of the patient. Studies show that the time
from injury to arrival at the appropriate site for definitive care is critical to
survival .
Q4. You are called to the scene of a possible mass casualty motor
vehicle collision on the highway. Once you arrive on scene, what is your
first priority?
• A) Immediately begin triaging patients
, • B) Treat the patient with the most visible blood loss
• C) Determine the need for additional resources
• D) Assess the scene and ensure it is safe
Answer: D – The first consideration when approaching any scene is the
safety of all emergency responders. When EMS personnel become victims,
they not only can no longer assist others, but also add to the number of
patients .
Q5. A trauma patient from a highway incident is holding her right arm,
and you note a significant amount of blood steadily flowing from a long
gash. This is an example of what type of hemorrhage?
• A) Capillary bleeding
• B) Venous bleeding
• C) Arterial bleeding
• D) Road rash
Answer: B – Venous bleeding typically results in a steady flow of dark red
blood. Arterial bleeding would be bright red and spurting. Capillary bleeding
is slow and oozing .
Q6. What is the best way to control the bleeding from a venous wound?
• A) Direct pressure
• B) Elevation of the arm above the heart
• C) Tourniquet
• D) Occlusive dressing
Answer: A – With venous bleeds, direct pressure is usually sufficient to
stop the flow. Tourniquets are typically reserved for life-threatening arterial
bleeding from extremities that cannot be controlled with direct pressure .
, Q7. The patient is wearing long sleeves, and you are having trouble
visualizing the wound. What should you do?
• A) Cut the cloth away from the site until the entire wound site is
visible
• B) Leave the clothing in place. Put gauze over the wound
• C) Remove the patient's shirt
• D) Cut through the slash on the sleeve, and use the material as a
makeshift tourniquet
Answer: A – Clothing can be quickly removed by cutting. You cannot treat
what you cannot see .
Q8. When using the XABCDE assessment, which of the following takes
precedence over all other actions?
• A) Controlling severe bleeding from a limb or other compressible site
• B) Airway stabilization and assessing circulatory status
• C) Exposing the body to allow a thorough evaluation
• D) Ensuring adequate breathing
Answer: A – The "X" placed before "ABCDE" in the primary survey refers to
the need to address exsanguinating hemorrhage immediately after
establishing scene safety and before addressing airway. Severe
exsanguinating hemorrhage, particularly arterial bleeding, has the potential
to lead to loss of total or near total blood volume in a relatively short period
of time .
Q9. What is the primary advantage of a supraglottic airway in trauma
patients?
• A) It provides definitive airway protection
• B) It can be inserted independent of the patient's position
Guide & Practice Exam
Course: Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) 10th Edition
Developed by: National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
(NAEMT) in cooperation with American College of Surgeons Committee on
Trauma (ACS-COT)
Focus: Prehospital trauma assessment, hemorrhage control, airway
management, shock, and critical thinking
EXAM OVERVIEW
The PHTLS 10th Edition continues its mission to promote excellence in
trauma patient management by all prehospital care practitioners through
global education . The program promotes critical thinking as the
foundation for providing quality care, recognizing that EMS practitioners
make the best decisions when given a solid knowledge base and key
principles .
SECTION 1: Core Concepts & Critical Thinking (Questions 1-15)
Q1. Which of the following requires you to develop a plan of action,
initiate the plan, reassess the plan as care for the patient moves
forward, and adjust the plan as the patient's condition or
circumstances change?
• A) Principles of PHTLS
• B) The Golden Period
• C) The XABCDE assessment
• D) Critical thinking process
Answer: D – To help achieve the PHTLS goals, you will apply your critical
thinking skills in the field. Critical thinking in medicine is a process in which
the healthcare practitioner assesses the situation, the patient, and the
,resources available and uses the information to decide on and provide the
best care for the patient .
Q2. Which of the following is the basis on which a patient's chance of
survival is maximized?
• A) Preferences
• B) Phases
• C) Principles
• D) Transport
Answer: C – The science of medicine provides the principles of medical
care. Simply stated, principles define the duties required of the prehospital
care practitioner in optimizing patient survival and outcome .
Q3. Which of the following is a goal of the Golden Period?
• A) Provide written documentation from field care to receiving hospital
• B) Expedite the field care and transport of the patient
• C) Use a team approach for optimal patient care
• D) Use the XABCDE approach to patient assessment
Answer: B – One of the most important responsibilities as a prehospital
care practitioner is to spend as little time on the scene as possible and
expedite field care and transport of the patient. Studies show that the time
from injury to arrival at the appropriate site for definitive care is critical to
survival .
Q4. You are called to the scene of a possible mass casualty motor
vehicle collision on the highway. Once you arrive on scene, what is your
first priority?
• A) Immediately begin triaging patients
, • B) Treat the patient with the most visible blood loss
• C) Determine the need for additional resources
• D) Assess the scene and ensure it is safe
Answer: D – The first consideration when approaching any scene is the
safety of all emergency responders. When EMS personnel become victims,
they not only can no longer assist others, but also add to the number of
patients .
Q5. A trauma patient from a highway incident is holding her right arm,
and you note a significant amount of blood steadily flowing from a long
gash. This is an example of what type of hemorrhage?
• A) Capillary bleeding
• B) Venous bleeding
• C) Arterial bleeding
• D) Road rash
Answer: B – Venous bleeding typically results in a steady flow of dark red
blood. Arterial bleeding would be bright red and spurting. Capillary bleeding
is slow and oozing .
Q6. What is the best way to control the bleeding from a venous wound?
• A) Direct pressure
• B) Elevation of the arm above the heart
• C) Tourniquet
• D) Occlusive dressing
Answer: A – With venous bleeds, direct pressure is usually sufficient to
stop the flow. Tourniquets are typically reserved for life-threatening arterial
bleeding from extremities that cannot be controlled with direct pressure .
, Q7. The patient is wearing long sleeves, and you are having trouble
visualizing the wound. What should you do?
• A) Cut the cloth away from the site until the entire wound site is
visible
• B) Leave the clothing in place. Put gauze over the wound
• C) Remove the patient's shirt
• D) Cut through the slash on the sleeve, and use the material as a
makeshift tourniquet
Answer: A – Clothing can be quickly removed by cutting. You cannot treat
what you cannot see .
Q8. When using the XABCDE assessment, which of the following takes
precedence over all other actions?
• A) Controlling severe bleeding from a limb or other compressible site
• B) Airway stabilization and assessing circulatory status
• C) Exposing the body to allow a thorough evaluation
• D) Ensuring adequate breathing
Answer: A – The "X" placed before "ABCDE" in the primary survey refers to
the need to address exsanguinating hemorrhage immediately after
establishing scene safety and before addressing airway. Severe
exsanguinating hemorrhage, particularly arterial bleeding, has the potential
to lead to loss of total or near total blood volume in a relatively short period
of time .
Q9. What is the primary advantage of a supraglottic airway in trauma
patients?
• A) It provides definitive airway protection
• B) It can be inserted independent of the patient's position
