ATLS Practice Test 2025 – Complete
Questions & Answers (Graded A+)
What site is the first choice for intraosseous infusion?
A. Proximal tibia
B. Distal humerus
C. Proximal femur
D. Distal fibula - ANSWER - A. Proximal tibia
A 34 year old man has a gunshot wound to the right groin area. Arterial bleeding, which
cannot be controlled with direct pressure, is coming from the wound. The patient
appears confused, diaphoretic, and has weak peripheral pulses. What is the appropriate
fluid resuscitation for this patient?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough fluid to maintain
peripheral pulses
C. Intravenous fluid at a wide open rate; give at least two liters, then reassess patient
D. No intravenous access should be established in this situation - ANSWER - B. Apply a
hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough fluid to maintain peripheral
pulses
Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic hemorrhage,
EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - ANSWER - D. Narrowed pulse pressure
Among the following, what is the most common cause of preventable trauma death in
the injured adult patient?
A. Airway obstruction
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Hemorrhagic shock
D. Spinal injury - ANSWER - C. Hemorrhagic shock
Which of the following is most typical of early, neurogenic shock?
A. Increased pulse, clammy skin
B. Increased pulse, warm and dry skin
C. Decreased pulse, clammy skin
D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry skin - ANSWER - D. Decreased pulse, warm and
dry skin (skin is warm due to vasodilation)
Which of the following is an acceptable location to insert a needle when decompressing
a
, tension pneumothorax?
A. Directly under the bottom of the second rib, midclavicular line
B. Directly under the bottom of the third rib, midclavicular line
C. Directly over the top of the fourth rib, midaxillary line
D. Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line - ANSWER - D. Directly over
the top of the third rib, midclavicular line
What is the most common cause of cardiopulmonary arrest in the trauma patient?
A. Brain injury
B. Hypoxemia
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Ventricular arrhythmia - ANSWER - B. Hypoxemia
A 49 year old man is involved in a motor vehicle collision. First responders are doing
CPR. Findings include a distended abdomen and obviously deformed pelvis and a quick
look at the monitor shows asystole. Which of the following is the most appropriate act?
A. Establish intravenous access and administer a 20mL/kg bolus
B. Establish intravenous access and administer a 1 liter bolus
C. Establish intravenous access and administer a 2-4 liter bolus
D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced dead -
ANSWER - D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced
dead
Which of the following statements concerning treatment of shock in the pregnant, burn
patient is TRUE?
A. Oxygen should be used sparingly so as to avoid oxygen toxicity to the fetus
B. Pressor agents such as dopamine should be used to improve circulation to the fetus
C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger amounts to the pregnant,
burn patient
D. Volume replacement should be given more slowly so as to avoid fluid overloading the
fetus - ANSWER - C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger
amounts to the pregnant, burn patient
Which area of the spine is most susceptible to injury in a rear-impact motor vehicle
crash?
A. Cervical
B. Thoracic
C. Lumbar
D. Sacral-coccygeal - ANSWER - A. Cervical
A 23 year old female has won the "Let's-see-who-can-lean-the-farthest-backward-over-
the-second-story-balcony-railing contest. You arrive to find her boyfriend standing over
her, holding two beers, as she lies on the grass under the balcony. She opens her eyes
to voice, her skin is cool, clammy and ashen, respirations are rapid and shallow, radial
pulses are too rapid to count and thready. There is no external bleeding. She has flat
neck veins, a normal chest and abdomen and pelvis. Her boyfriend tells you that she
Questions & Answers (Graded A+)
What site is the first choice for intraosseous infusion?
A. Proximal tibia
B. Distal humerus
C. Proximal femur
D. Distal fibula - ANSWER - A. Proximal tibia
A 34 year old man has a gunshot wound to the right groin area. Arterial bleeding, which
cannot be controlled with direct pressure, is coming from the wound. The patient
appears confused, diaphoretic, and has weak peripheral pulses. What is the appropriate
fluid resuscitation for this patient?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough fluid to maintain
peripheral pulses
C. Intravenous fluid at a wide open rate; give at least two liters, then reassess patient
D. No intravenous access should be established in this situation - ANSWER - B. Apply a
hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough fluid to maintain peripheral
pulses
Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic hemorrhage,
EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - ANSWER - D. Narrowed pulse pressure
Among the following, what is the most common cause of preventable trauma death in
the injured adult patient?
A. Airway obstruction
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Hemorrhagic shock
D. Spinal injury - ANSWER - C. Hemorrhagic shock
Which of the following is most typical of early, neurogenic shock?
A. Increased pulse, clammy skin
B. Increased pulse, warm and dry skin
C. Decreased pulse, clammy skin
D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry skin - ANSWER - D. Decreased pulse, warm and
dry skin (skin is warm due to vasodilation)
Which of the following is an acceptable location to insert a needle when decompressing
a
, tension pneumothorax?
A. Directly under the bottom of the second rib, midclavicular line
B. Directly under the bottom of the third rib, midclavicular line
C. Directly over the top of the fourth rib, midaxillary line
D. Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line - ANSWER - D. Directly over
the top of the third rib, midclavicular line
What is the most common cause of cardiopulmonary arrest in the trauma patient?
A. Brain injury
B. Hypoxemia
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Ventricular arrhythmia - ANSWER - B. Hypoxemia
A 49 year old man is involved in a motor vehicle collision. First responders are doing
CPR. Findings include a distended abdomen and obviously deformed pelvis and a quick
look at the monitor shows asystole. Which of the following is the most appropriate act?
A. Establish intravenous access and administer a 20mL/kg bolus
B. Establish intravenous access and administer a 1 liter bolus
C. Establish intravenous access and administer a 2-4 liter bolus
D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced dead -
ANSWER - D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced
dead
Which of the following statements concerning treatment of shock in the pregnant, burn
patient is TRUE?
A. Oxygen should be used sparingly so as to avoid oxygen toxicity to the fetus
B. Pressor agents such as dopamine should be used to improve circulation to the fetus
C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger amounts to the pregnant,
burn patient
D. Volume replacement should be given more slowly so as to avoid fluid overloading the
fetus - ANSWER - C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger
amounts to the pregnant, burn patient
Which area of the spine is most susceptible to injury in a rear-impact motor vehicle
crash?
A. Cervical
B. Thoracic
C. Lumbar
D. Sacral-coccygeal - ANSWER - A. Cervical
A 23 year old female has won the "Let's-see-who-can-lean-the-farthest-backward-over-
the-second-story-balcony-railing contest. You arrive to find her boyfriend standing over
her, holding two beers, as she lies on the grass under the balcony. She opens her eyes
to voice, her skin is cool, clammy and ashen, respirations are rapid and shallow, radial
pulses are too rapid to count and thready. There is no external bleeding. She has flat
neck veins, a normal chest and abdomen and pelvis. Her boyfriend tells you that she
