EMT Trauma Exam UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the definition of a flail chest? - CORRECT ANSWER - Two or more adjacent ribs
fractured in two or more places
What is the definitive treatment for a flail chest? - CORRECT ANSWER - BVM or CPAP
Name 2 different devices you might use to stabilize a pelvic fracture: - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Sheet splint
2. Commercial pelvic binder
List 5 things that describe a correctly applied dressing for an evisceration (besides covering the
wound/organ). This dressing must be: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Moist
2. Sterile
3. Non-fibrous
4. Occlusive
5. Taped on 4 sides
When should you replace the organs in the abdomen if they are eviscerated? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Never
In what position should you transport a patient with an abdominal evisceration who does not
need SMR? - CORRECT ANSWER - Semi-Fowlers or Supine; Flex knees/hips
How do you treat a female patient with a bleeding straddle injury? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Direct pressure applied externally, and do not pack vagina
For a stable male patient whose hand is clamped inside a small metal vice-like cylinder, should
you attempt to remove the hand from the cylinder and then treat the injury, or transport the
,patient with his hand still in the cylinder and let the ED attempt to remove it? Why? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Attempt removal.longer clamped/crushed -> more edema, more toxin buildup,
more injury
Name 3 things that must be done, and 1 thing that should not be done, when transporting an
amputated body part: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Do wrap in dry/moist sterile dressing,
rinse2. Do place in a plastic bag3. Do keep it cool4. Do not put directly on ice
Name 2 things that you should do ASAP to treat an open (sucking) chest wound - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Immediately cover with a gloved hand
2. Apply occlusive dressing taped on 3 sides
Name 4 signs of pericardial tamponade: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. JVD
2. Tachycardia
3. Narrow pulse pressure Hypotension
4. Pulsus paradoxus
What 2 signs let you know a tourniquet is applied appropriately - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.
Bleeding stops
2. No distal pulse
List 2 definitive signs that a pneumothorax has just progressed to a tension pneumothorax -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Hypotension
2. Change in mentation
List 5 signs/symptoms of internal bleeding - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Pain Tenderness
2. Hematemesis Hematochezia Melena
3. Increased respiratory rate Increased heart rate Weak/thready pulse
4. Narrow pulse pressure
5. Thirst Skin pale/cool/clammy Pupils dilated/sluggish
,What is the minimal time you should irrigate a chemical burn to the eye? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 20 minutes
How long should you irrigate/cool a thermal burn if found within the first 10 minutes? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1-2 minutes
Which 2 bone fractures are considered critical fractures?How much blood can be lost from each
one? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pelvis: entire blood supply
Femur: 1500 mL from each
List the 5 most important factors to consider in determining the severity of a burn: - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Depth of burn
2. BSA
3. Location (critical area)
4. Pre-existing conditions
5. Age < 2 or > 55
Give the BSA for Superficial thickness to face/neck; partial thickness to chest and front of each
arm. - CORRECT ANSWER - 18
Give the BSA for Full thickness to entire back and back of head/neck; partial thickness to
backside of each arm. - CORRECT ANSWER - 31.5
Give the BSA for Partial thickness to all legs and genitals; superficial thickness to abdomen and
lower back. - CORRECT ANSWER - 37
Give the BSA for Full thickness to each arm distal to elbow; partial thickness to each upper arm
and chest superficial thickness to face/neck - CORRECT ANSWER - 27
, Give the BSA for Superficial thickness to upper back, neck, face, and chest - CORRECT
ANSWER - 0
What is Kehr sign - CORRECT ANSWER - Referred pain in shoulder from abdominal injury
causing blood to touch diaphragm
Name 3 organs or structures located in the retroperitoneal area - CORRECT ANSWER - SAD
PUCKER:
S = Suprarenal (adrenal) glands
A = Aorta/Inferior Vena Cava
D = Duodenum (second and third segments)
P = Pancreas
U = Ureters
C = Colon (ascending and descending only)
K = Kidneys
E = Esophagus
R = Rectum
Your 17 y/o male patient suddenly became pulseless and apneic after being struck in the chest
during a boxing match. What is this type of cardiac arrest called? And what treatment will give
the patient the best chance of recovery? - CORRECT ANSWER - Type of cardiac arrest:
Commotio cordis;
Best treatment: AED
What are the 3 parts of the PAT? And at what point during your assessment is the PAT done? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Appearance
2. Work of breathing
3. Circulation to skin
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the definition of a flail chest? - CORRECT ANSWER - Two or more adjacent ribs
fractured in two or more places
What is the definitive treatment for a flail chest? - CORRECT ANSWER - BVM or CPAP
Name 2 different devices you might use to stabilize a pelvic fracture: - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Sheet splint
2. Commercial pelvic binder
List 5 things that describe a correctly applied dressing for an evisceration (besides covering the
wound/organ). This dressing must be: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Moist
2. Sterile
3. Non-fibrous
4. Occlusive
5. Taped on 4 sides
When should you replace the organs in the abdomen if they are eviscerated? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Never
In what position should you transport a patient with an abdominal evisceration who does not
need SMR? - CORRECT ANSWER - Semi-Fowlers or Supine; Flex knees/hips
How do you treat a female patient with a bleeding straddle injury? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Direct pressure applied externally, and do not pack vagina
For a stable male patient whose hand is clamped inside a small metal vice-like cylinder, should
you attempt to remove the hand from the cylinder and then treat the injury, or transport the
,patient with his hand still in the cylinder and let the ED attempt to remove it? Why? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Attempt removal.longer clamped/crushed -> more edema, more toxin buildup,
more injury
Name 3 things that must be done, and 1 thing that should not be done, when transporting an
amputated body part: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Do wrap in dry/moist sterile dressing,
rinse2. Do place in a plastic bag3. Do keep it cool4. Do not put directly on ice
Name 2 things that you should do ASAP to treat an open (sucking) chest wound - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Immediately cover with a gloved hand
2. Apply occlusive dressing taped on 3 sides
Name 4 signs of pericardial tamponade: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. JVD
2. Tachycardia
3. Narrow pulse pressure Hypotension
4. Pulsus paradoxus
What 2 signs let you know a tourniquet is applied appropriately - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.
Bleeding stops
2. No distal pulse
List 2 definitive signs that a pneumothorax has just progressed to a tension pneumothorax -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Hypotension
2. Change in mentation
List 5 signs/symptoms of internal bleeding - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Pain Tenderness
2. Hematemesis Hematochezia Melena
3. Increased respiratory rate Increased heart rate Weak/thready pulse
4. Narrow pulse pressure
5. Thirst Skin pale/cool/clammy Pupils dilated/sluggish
,What is the minimal time you should irrigate a chemical burn to the eye? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 20 minutes
How long should you irrigate/cool a thermal burn if found within the first 10 minutes? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1-2 minutes
Which 2 bone fractures are considered critical fractures?How much blood can be lost from each
one? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pelvis: entire blood supply
Femur: 1500 mL from each
List the 5 most important factors to consider in determining the severity of a burn: - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Depth of burn
2. BSA
3. Location (critical area)
4. Pre-existing conditions
5. Age < 2 or > 55
Give the BSA for Superficial thickness to face/neck; partial thickness to chest and front of each
arm. - CORRECT ANSWER - 18
Give the BSA for Full thickness to entire back and back of head/neck; partial thickness to
backside of each arm. - CORRECT ANSWER - 31.5
Give the BSA for Partial thickness to all legs and genitals; superficial thickness to abdomen and
lower back. - CORRECT ANSWER - 37
Give the BSA for Full thickness to each arm distal to elbow; partial thickness to each upper arm
and chest superficial thickness to face/neck - CORRECT ANSWER - 27
, Give the BSA for Superficial thickness to upper back, neck, face, and chest - CORRECT
ANSWER - 0
What is Kehr sign - CORRECT ANSWER - Referred pain in shoulder from abdominal injury
causing blood to touch diaphragm
Name 3 organs or structures located in the retroperitoneal area - CORRECT ANSWER - SAD
PUCKER:
S = Suprarenal (adrenal) glands
A = Aorta/Inferior Vena Cava
D = Duodenum (second and third segments)
P = Pancreas
U = Ureters
C = Colon (ascending and descending only)
K = Kidneys
E = Esophagus
R = Rectum
Your 17 y/o male patient suddenly became pulseless and apneic after being struck in the chest
during a boxing match. What is this type of cardiac arrest called? And what treatment will give
the patient the best chance of recovery? - CORRECT ANSWER - Type of cardiac arrest:
Commotio cordis;
Best treatment: AED
What are the 3 parts of the PAT? And at what point during your assessment is the PAT done? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Appearance
2. Work of breathing
3. Circulation to skin
