TRAUMA FISDAP PRACTICE TIPS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Traumatic Aortic Disruption - ✔✔Commonly seen in MVCs, blunt trauma, and falls.
High mortality rate. Signs and symptoms are tearing pain behind the sternum or in the
scapula. Other signs may be dyspnea, hypovolemic shock, and AMS. *Blood flow to the
extremities may be compromised. You will notice a stronger pulse in the right arm then
the left.
✔✔Peritonitis - ✔✔Hollow organs (stomach, bladder, colon, etc), carry toxins like bile,
feces, and urine. When they spill into the abdominal cavity, you end up with an
inflammation and infection.
✔✔Injuries to Solid Organs - ✔✔Liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas. The organ will
release blood into the abdominal cavity after sustaining trauma. Causes hypotension
and tachycardia.
✔✔Spleen Injuries - ✔✔Most common complaint is left shoulder pain, when the spleen
has ruptured. This is known as Kehr Sign.
✔✔How to Treat Heat Exhaustion - ✔✔Move the Pt to a cooler area. Remove excess
clothing. Sponge, spray, or drip tepid water on the Pt. If anuses and vomiting are
present, start a saline line. May want to consider an anti nausea medication (zofran). Pt
will still be alert and oriented.
✔✔Heatstroke - ✔✔Involves elevated temp above *104. and AMS. One of the earliest
signs in changes in behavior (irritable, combative, etc). Pt may have a seizure. Pt will be
tachycardia, hyperventilating. Manage the ABC's. Move the Pt to a cool environment.
Cooling efforts should continue until temp reaches below *102. Cool as rapidly as
possible. Consider ice water immersion, placed ice packs in groin, armpits, etc. Start a
line and administer saline. Monitor cardiac rhythm.
✔✔Frostbite/Frostnip - ✔✔Get the Pt out of the cold. Do not rub or massage the area.
Administer pain medication. Cover blisters with dry, sterile dressing. *Do not attempt
rewarming in the field if there is any possibility of refreezing or if the Pt must walk on the
frostbitten foot. Frotstbitten parts are usually hard and waxy. Gangrene can occur if the
area was frozen.
✔✔Treating a Pt with Hypothermia - ✔✔Strip all the wet or cold clothes, and move Pt to
a warm place. Begin to rewarm the Pt, with blankets (mild hypothermia less than 95
degrees), heat packs if necessary (moderate hypothermia 87 degrees to 93 degrees),
and lastly warm IV fluids for severe hypothermia.
✔✔Cushing Reflex/Response/Syndrome - ✔✔Due to ICP. Signs are- increased BP,
decreased HR & irregular respirations (Biots breathing!).
, ✔✔ If you see a cracked windshield in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✔✔Bruised or lacerated head or face. Brain injury, *cervical spine injury (always until
proven otherwise), tracheal injury.
✔✔If you see a deformed steering column in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✔✔Bruised neck, bruised chest. Sternal or rib fracture, flail chest, myocardial contusion,
*pericardial tamponade, pneumo/hemothorax, aortic tear.
✔✔If you see a deformed dashboard in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✔✔Bruised abdomen, bruised knee, misplaced kneecap. Ruptured spleen, liver, bowel,
diaphragm. Fractured patella, dislocated knee, *femoral fracture, dislocated hip.
✔✔Phases of Deceleration - ✔✔1) Deceleration of the vehicle, occurs when the vehicle
strikes another object & comes to a stop. 2) Deceleration of occupant, which starts
during sudden braking & continues through the whole crash. 3) Deceleration of internal
organs, that consist of internal organs that continue forward momentum until they're
stopped by anatomical restraints. 4) Secondary collisions, which occur when a vehicle
occupant is hit by objects moving within the vehicle (loose objects). 5) Additional
impacts, that the vehicle may receive when it is hit by a second vehicle or is deflected
into another.
✔✔Seat Belt Use - ✔✔All arguments against seat belt use are unfounded.
✔✔Primary Blast Injury - ✔✔Injuries due to the wave blast itself, usually causing
damage to the lungs, eardrums and other compressible organs (air filled cavities).
Burns also may occur.
✔✔Secondary Blast Injury - ✔✔Injuries due to missiles being propelled by blast force
(struck by flying debris).
✔✔Tertiary Blast Injury - ✔✔Injuries due to body impact with another object (when a
person is hurled by the force against stationary objects).
✔✔Perfusion - ✔✔Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to
meet the cells needs.
✔✔Autonomic Nervous System - ✔✔Monitors the body's needs from moment to
moment, adjusting the blood flow as required. Maintains homeostasis & is divided into
the parasympathetic & sympathetic components that oppose each other and keep vital
functions in balance.
✔✔Compensated Shock (Phase 1) - ✔✔Tachycardia, NORMAL BP, thirst, anxiety,
clammy/cool skin.
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Traumatic Aortic Disruption - ✔✔Commonly seen in MVCs, blunt trauma, and falls.
High mortality rate. Signs and symptoms are tearing pain behind the sternum or in the
scapula. Other signs may be dyspnea, hypovolemic shock, and AMS. *Blood flow to the
extremities may be compromised. You will notice a stronger pulse in the right arm then
the left.
✔✔Peritonitis - ✔✔Hollow organs (stomach, bladder, colon, etc), carry toxins like bile,
feces, and urine. When they spill into the abdominal cavity, you end up with an
inflammation and infection.
✔✔Injuries to Solid Organs - ✔✔Liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas. The organ will
release blood into the abdominal cavity after sustaining trauma. Causes hypotension
and tachycardia.
✔✔Spleen Injuries - ✔✔Most common complaint is left shoulder pain, when the spleen
has ruptured. This is known as Kehr Sign.
✔✔How to Treat Heat Exhaustion - ✔✔Move the Pt to a cooler area. Remove excess
clothing. Sponge, spray, or drip tepid water on the Pt. If anuses and vomiting are
present, start a saline line. May want to consider an anti nausea medication (zofran). Pt
will still be alert and oriented.
✔✔Heatstroke - ✔✔Involves elevated temp above *104. and AMS. One of the earliest
signs in changes in behavior (irritable, combative, etc). Pt may have a seizure. Pt will be
tachycardia, hyperventilating. Manage the ABC's. Move the Pt to a cool environment.
Cooling efforts should continue until temp reaches below *102. Cool as rapidly as
possible. Consider ice water immersion, placed ice packs in groin, armpits, etc. Start a
line and administer saline. Monitor cardiac rhythm.
✔✔Frostbite/Frostnip - ✔✔Get the Pt out of the cold. Do not rub or massage the area.
Administer pain medication. Cover blisters with dry, sterile dressing. *Do not attempt
rewarming in the field if there is any possibility of refreezing or if the Pt must walk on the
frostbitten foot. Frotstbitten parts are usually hard and waxy. Gangrene can occur if the
area was frozen.
✔✔Treating a Pt with Hypothermia - ✔✔Strip all the wet or cold clothes, and move Pt to
a warm place. Begin to rewarm the Pt, with blankets (mild hypothermia less than 95
degrees), heat packs if necessary (moderate hypothermia 87 degrees to 93 degrees),
and lastly warm IV fluids for severe hypothermia.
✔✔Cushing Reflex/Response/Syndrome - ✔✔Due to ICP. Signs are- increased BP,
decreased HR & irregular respirations (Biots breathing!).
, ✔✔ If you see a cracked windshield in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✔✔Bruised or lacerated head or face. Brain injury, *cervical spine injury (always until
proven otherwise), tracheal injury.
✔✔If you see a deformed steering column in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✔✔Bruised neck, bruised chest. Sternal or rib fracture, flail chest, myocardial contusion,
*pericardial tamponade, pneumo/hemothorax, aortic tear.
✔✔If you see a deformed dashboard in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✔✔Bruised abdomen, bruised knee, misplaced kneecap. Ruptured spleen, liver, bowel,
diaphragm. Fractured patella, dislocated knee, *femoral fracture, dislocated hip.
✔✔Phases of Deceleration - ✔✔1) Deceleration of the vehicle, occurs when the vehicle
strikes another object & comes to a stop. 2) Deceleration of occupant, which starts
during sudden braking & continues through the whole crash. 3) Deceleration of internal
organs, that consist of internal organs that continue forward momentum until they're
stopped by anatomical restraints. 4) Secondary collisions, which occur when a vehicle
occupant is hit by objects moving within the vehicle (loose objects). 5) Additional
impacts, that the vehicle may receive when it is hit by a second vehicle or is deflected
into another.
✔✔Seat Belt Use - ✔✔All arguments against seat belt use are unfounded.
✔✔Primary Blast Injury - ✔✔Injuries due to the wave blast itself, usually causing
damage to the lungs, eardrums and other compressible organs (air filled cavities).
Burns also may occur.
✔✔Secondary Blast Injury - ✔✔Injuries due to missiles being propelled by blast force
(struck by flying debris).
✔✔Tertiary Blast Injury - ✔✔Injuries due to body impact with another object (when a
person is hurled by the force against stationary objects).
✔✔Perfusion - ✔✔Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to
meet the cells needs.
✔✔Autonomic Nervous System - ✔✔Monitors the body's needs from moment to
moment, adjusting the blood flow as required. Maintains homeostasis & is divided into
the parasympathetic & sympathetic components that oppose each other and keep vital
functions in balance.
✔✔Compensated Shock (Phase 1) - ✔✔Tachycardia, NORMAL BP, thirst, anxiety,
clammy/cool skin.
