EMT TRAUMA PRACTICE
QUESTIONS PART 1- TRAUMA
OVERVIEW, BLEEDING, SOFT-
TISSUE INJURIES, FACE AND
NECK INJURIES, HEAD AND
SPINE INJURIES
Common signs and symptoms of a serious head injury include
all of the following EXCEPT:
A) a rapid, thready pulse
B) decerebrate posturing
C) widening pulse pressure
D) CSF leakage from the ears - ANSWERS-A) a rapid,
thready pulse
Once a c-collar has been applied to a patient with possible
spinal injury, it should not be removed unless:
A) it causes a problem managing the airway
B) lateral immobilization has been applied
C) sensory and motor functions remain intact
,D) the patient adamantly denies neck pain - ANSWERS-A) it
causes a problem managing the airway
When immobilizing a patient's spine, the EMT manually
stabilizing the patient's head should not let go until:
A) the patient has been completely secured to the backboard
B) the head has been stabilized with lateral immobilization
C) the patient has been secured to the ambulance stretcher
D) an appropriately sized c-collar has been applied -
ANSWERS-A) the patient has been completely secured to the
backboard
During your primary assessment of a 19 y/o unconscious male
who experienced severe head trauma, you note that his
respirations are rapid, irregular, and shallow. He has bloody
secretions draining from his mouth and nose. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx for up to 15 seconds
B) pack his nostrils to stop the drainage of blood
C) immobilize his spine and transport immediately
D) assist his ventilations with a BVM - ANSWERS-A)
suction his oropharynx for up to 15 seconds
,A patient with a head injury presents with abnormal flexion of
his extremities. What value should you assign him for motor
response?
A) 3
B) 5
C) 2
D) 4 - ANSWERS-A) 3
Which of the following breathing patterns is MOST indicative
of increased ICP?
A) irregular rate, pattern, and volume of breathing with
intermittent periods of apnea
B) increased rate and depth, with distinct odor of acetone on
the breath
C) increased rate with a normal inspiratory time and
prolonged expiratory time
D) slow, shallow, occasional gasps that progress to prolonged
periods of apnea - ANSWERS-A) irregular rate, pattern, and
volume of breathing with intermittent periods of apnea
Which of the following statements regarding secondary brain
injury is correct?
A) signs are often present immediately after an impact to the
head
, B) it results from direct brain trauma following an impact to
the head
C) because cerebral edema develops quickly, it is considered
to be a primary brain injury
D) hypoxia and hypotension are the most common causes of
secondary brain injury - ANSWERS-D) hypoxia and
hypotension are the most common causes of secondary brain
injury
The GCS is used to assess:
A) verbal response, eye opening, and mental status
B) sensory response, pupil reaction, and heart rate
C) mental status, eye opening, and respiratory rate
D) eye opening, verbal response, and motor response -
ANSWERS-D) eye opening, verbal response, and motor
response
Hyperextension injuries of the spine are MOST commonly the
result of:
A) falls
B) compression
C) hangings
D) diving - ANSWERS-C) hangings
QUESTIONS PART 1- TRAUMA
OVERVIEW, BLEEDING, SOFT-
TISSUE INJURIES, FACE AND
NECK INJURIES, HEAD AND
SPINE INJURIES
Common signs and symptoms of a serious head injury include
all of the following EXCEPT:
A) a rapid, thready pulse
B) decerebrate posturing
C) widening pulse pressure
D) CSF leakage from the ears - ANSWERS-A) a rapid,
thready pulse
Once a c-collar has been applied to a patient with possible
spinal injury, it should not be removed unless:
A) it causes a problem managing the airway
B) lateral immobilization has been applied
C) sensory and motor functions remain intact
,D) the patient adamantly denies neck pain - ANSWERS-A) it
causes a problem managing the airway
When immobilizing a patient's spine, the EMT manually
stabilizing the patient's head should not let go until:
A) the patient has been completely secured to the backboard
B) the head has been stabilized with lateral immobilization
C) the patient has been secured to the ambulance stretcher
D) an appropriately sized c-collar has been applied -
ANSWERS-A) the patient has been completely secured to the
backboard
During your primary assessment of a 19 y/o unconscious male
who experienced severe head trauma, you note that his
respirations are rapid, irregular, and shallow. He has bloody
secretions draining from his mouth and nose. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx for up to 15 seconds
B) pack his nostrils to stop the drainage of blood
C) immobilize his spine and transport immediately
D) assist his ventilations with a BVM - ANSWERS-A)
suction his oropharynx for up to 15 seconds
,A patient with a head injury presents with abnormal flexion of
his extremities. What value should you assign him for motor
response?
A) 3
B) 5
C) 2
D) 4 - ANSWERS-A) 3
Which of the following breathing patterns is MOST indicative
of increased ICP?
A) irregular rate, pattern, and volume of breathing with
intermittent periods of apnea
B) increased rate and depth, with distinct odor of acetone on
the breath
C) increased rate with a normal inspiratory time and
prolonged expiratory time
D) slow, shallow, occasional gasps that progress to prolonged
periods of apnea - ANSWERS-A) irregular rate, pattern, and
volume of breathing with intermittent periods of apnea
Which of the following statements regarding secondary brain
injury is correct?
A) signs are often present immediately after an impact to the
head
, B) it results from direct brain trauma following an impact to
the head
C) because cerebral edema develops quickly, it is considered
to be a primary brain injury
D) hypoxia and hypotension are the most common causes of
secondary brain injury - ANSWERS-D) hypoxia and
hypotension are the most common causes of secondary brain
injury
The GCS is used to assess:
A) verbal response, eye opening, and mental status
B) sensory response, pupil reaction, and heart rate
C) mental status, eye opening, and respiratory rate
D) eye opening, verbal response, and motor response -
ANSWERS-D) eye opening, verbal response, and motor
response
Hyperextension injuries of the spine are MOST commonly the
result of:
A) falls
B) compression
C) hangings
D) diving - ANSWERS-C) hangings
