Page 1 of 60
FISDAP - TRAUMA EMT PRACTICE EXAM
(100) QUESTIONS WITH RADICLE
RATIONALES
Emergency Medical Services (Ems) Trauma Care / Patient Assessment & Management
Exam coverage:
I. Section 1 (Q1-25): Mechanism of Injury & Scene
Management – MOI identification, kinematics of trauma,
scene safety, triage principles, and initial trauma
assessment
II. Section 2 (Q26-50): Primary Survey & Life Threats – Airway
management, breathing/ventilation,
circulation/hemorrhage control, shock recognition, and
burn assessment
III. Section 3 (Q51-75): Regional Trauma Injuries – Head/spine,
chest, abdominal, and musculoskeletal trauma
assessment and management
IV. Section 4 (Q76-100): Special Considerations & Protocols –
Burns, blast injuries, pediatric/geriatric trauma, transport
decision-making, and trauma system triage
Question 1
You are responding to a motor vehicle collision where a 34-year-
old male was the unrestrained driver. He is conscious but
confused, with a deformed left thigh and an open wound on his
forehead that is bleeding steadily. His skin is pale and cool.
What is your FIRST priority in managing this patient?
, Page 2 of 60
A. Apply a traction splint to the deformed thigh
B. Control the forehead bleeding with direct pressure
C. Perform a rapid trauma assessment and prepare for rapid
transport
D. Apply a cervical collar and fully immobilize the patient on a
backboard
CORRECT: C. Perform a rapid trauma assessment and
prepare for rapid transport ✔️
RATIONALE: This patient shows signs of potential shock (pale,
cool skin, confusion) with multiple injuries. The priority is rapid
assessment and rapid transport to a trauma center ("scoop and
run"). While bleeding control and spinal immobilization are
important, they should not delay transport for a trauma patient
with signs of shock. (Source: PHTLS Prehospital Trauma Life
Support, 10th ed., 2023)
Question 2
A 22-year-old female falls from a second-story balcony. She is
unresponsive with snoring respirations. You note a deformity to
her right forearm and blood at her ear canal. What is the MOST
appropriate immediate airway management?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway and ventilate with a BVM
B. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver with in-line spinal
stabilization
C. Suction the airway and insert a nasopharyngeal airway
D. Perform a head-tilt/chin-lift to open the airway
CORRECT: B. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver with in-line
spinal stabilization ✔️
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RATIONALE: With mechanism for spinal injury (fall from height)
and blood at the ear (possible basilar skull fracture), jaw-thrust
with in-line stabilization is the preferred method to open the
airway while minimizing spinal movement. NPA is
contraindicated with possible basilar skull fracture. (Source:
PHTLS Prehospital Trauma Life Support, 10th ed., 2023)
Question 3
You are treating a patient with an impaled object in the chest.
The object is a 6-inch metal rod protruding from the right
anterior chest. The patient is in respiratory distress. What is the
CORRECT management of the impaled object?
A. Remove the object immediately to allow for chest seal
application
B. Stabilize the object in place with bulky dressings and
transport
C. Cut the object short to facilitate transport, then stabilize
D. Apply an occlusive dressing over the object and transport
CORRECT: B. Stabilize the object in place with bulky
dressings and transport ✔️
RATIONALE: Impaled objects should generally be stabilized in
place to prevent further injury, control bleeding, and allow
surgical removal in a controlled setting. Removal in the field can
cause uncontrolled hemorrhage or worsen injury. (Source: ITLS
International Trauma Life Support, 9th ed., 2022)
Question 4
A 45-year-old male is struck by a car while riding a bicycle. He is
unconscious with a GCS of 8. He has unequal pupils and
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decerebrate posturing. What is the MOST likely cause of his
neurological findings?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Increased intracranial pressure from traumatic brain injury
C. Spinal shock from cervical spine injury
D. Hypoxia from pulmonary contusion
CORRECT: B. Increased intracranial pressure from traumatic
brain injury ✔️
RATIONALE: Unequal pupils and decerebrate posturing are
classic signs of increased intracranial pressure and brain
herniation from severe TBI. Hypoglycemia does not typically
produce these specific neurological signs. Spinal shock
presents with flaccid paralysis, not posturing. (Source:
Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine, 10th ed., 2023)
Question 5
You are assessing a patient with a gunshot wound to the
abdomen. He is conscious, tachycardic, and hypotensive. His
abdomen is distended and tender. What type of shock is this
patient MOST likely experiencing?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Neurogenic shock
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Septic shock
CORRECT: C. Hypovolemic shock ✔️
RATIONALE: Penetrating abdominal trauma with distension and
tenderness indicates internal bleeding. Tachycardia and
FISDAP - TRAUMA EMT PRACTICE EXAM
(100) QUESTIONS WITH RADICLE
RATIONALES
Emergency Medical Services (Ems) Trauma Care / Patient Assessment & Management
Exam coverage:
I. Section 1 (Q1-25): Mechanism of Injury & Scene
Management – MOI identification, kinematics of trauma,
scene safety, triage principles, and initial trauma
assessment
II. Section 2 (Q26-50): Primary Survey & Life Threats – Airway
management, breathing/ventilation,
circulation/hemorrhage control, shock recognition, and
burn assessment
III. Section 3 (Q51-75): Regional Trauma Injuries – Head/spine,
chest, abdominal, and musculoskeletal trauma
assessment and management
IV. Section 4 (Q76-100): Special Considerations & Protocols –
Burns, blast injuries, pediatric/geriatric trauma, transport
decision-making, and trauma system triage
Question 1
You are responding to a motor vehicle collision where a 34-year-
old male was the unrestrained driver. He is conscious but
confused, with a deformed left thigh and an open wound on his
forehead that is bleeding steadily. His skin is pale and cool.
What is your FIRST priority in managing this patient?
, Page 2 of 60
A. Apply a traction splint to the deformed thigh
B. Control the forehead bleeding with direct pressure
C. Perform a rapid trauma assessment and prepare for rapid
transport
D. Apply a cervical collar and fully immobilize the patient on a
backboard
CORRECT: C. Perform a rapid trauma assessment and
prepare for rapid transport ✔️
RATIONALE: This patient shows signs of potential shock (pale,
cool skin, confusion) with multiple injuries. The priority is rapid
assessment and rapid transport to a trauma center ("scoop and
run"). While bleeding control and spinal immobilization are
important, they should not delay transport for a trauma patient
with signs of shock. (Source: PHTLS Prehospital Trauma Life
Support, 10th ed., 2023)
Question 2
A 22-year-old female falls from a second-story balcony. She is
unresponsive with snoring respirations. You note a deformity to
her right forearm and blood at her ear canal. What is the MOST
appropriate immediate airway management?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway and ventilate with a BVM
B. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver with in-line spinal
stabilization
C. Suction the airway and insert a nasopharyngeal airway
D. Perform a head-tilt/chin-lift to open the airway
CORRECT: B. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver with in-line
spinal stabilization ✔️
, Page 3 of 60
RATIONALE: With mechanism for spinal injury (fall from height)
and blood at the ear (possible basilar skull fracture), jaw-thrust
with in-line stabilization is the preferred method to open the
airway while minimizing spinal movement. NPA is
contraindicated with possible basilar skull fracture. (Source:
PHTLS Prehospital Trauma Life Support, 10th ed., 2023)
Question 3
You are treating a patient with an impaled object in the chest.
The object is a 6-inch metal rod protruding from the right
anterior chest. The patient is in respiratory distress. What is the
CORRECT management of the impaled object?
A. Remove the object immediately to allow for chest seal
application
B. Stabilize the object in place with bulky dressings and
transport
C. Cut the object short to facilitate transport, then stabilize
D. Apply an occlusive dressing over the object and transport
CORRECT: B. Stabilize the object in place with bulky
dressings and transport ✔️
RATIONALE: Impaled objects should generally be stabilized in
place to prevent further injury, control bleeding, and allow
surgical removal in a controlled setting. Removal in the field can
cause uncontrolled hemorrhage or worsen injury. (Source: ITLS
International Trauma Life Support, 9th ed., 2022)
Question 4
A 45-year-old male is struck by a car while riding a bicycle. He is
unconscious with a GCS of 8. He has unequal pupils and
, Page 4 of 60
decerebrate posturing. What is the MOST likely cause of his
neurological findings?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Increased intracranial pressure from traumatic brain injury
C. Spinal shock from cervical spine injury
D. Hypoxia from pulmonary contusion
CORRECT: B. Increased intracranial pressure from traumatic
brain injury ✔️
RATIONALE: Unequal pupils and decerebrate posturing are
classic signs of increased intracranial pressure and brain
herniation from severe TBI. Hypoglycemia does not typically
produce these specific neurological signs. Spinal shock
presents with flaccid paralysis, not posturing. (Source:
Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine, 10th ed., 2023)
Question 5
You are assessing a patient with a gunshot wound to the
abdomen. He is conscious, tachycardic, and hypotensive. His
abdomen is distended and tender. What type of shock is this
patient MOST likely experiencing?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Neurogenic shock
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Septic shock
CORRECT: C. Hypovolemic shock ✔️
RATIONALE: Penetrating abdominal trauma with distension and
tenderness indicates internal bleeding. Tachycardia and
