UCLA Paramedic - 2026
Trauma Exam
2026_2027 UPDATES
Questions And Answers
Solved 100% Correct
_Certified Study Resources
,#1 cause of death (age 1-46) Trauma (146k individuals)
Highway safety act of 1966 Set standards for the design and safety of the
highways passed by LBJ
The golden hour the 60-minute period after a severe injury; shown to
have the BEST survivability
Platinum 10 minutes The goal for on-scene time when caring for a trauma
or shock patient (10 mins max)
Goals of trauma center - decreased morbidity
- decreased mortality
- decreased cost
- increased years of productive life
Trauma Center: Designation v Designation (County designates as a trauma center
Verification - does not matter the level, and we only designate
level 1/2 in LA county as a "trauma center")
Verification (American college of surgeons
designates these eligible facilities into levels (Level
1-4))
Rural residents have what % higher 14% higher mortality (due to lack of trauma systems
of mortality for trauma nearby)
Level 5 - trauma center provides initial evaluation, stabilization and
diagnostic capabilities and prepares patients for
transfer to higher levels of care
(very basic - do not need to be open 24/7 - can
provide surgery and critical care services if
available - looking to transfer to level 1-3 trauma
centers)
,Level 4 - trauma center has demonstrated an ability to provide advanced
trauma life support (ATLS) prior to transfer of pts to
a higher level trauma center. Provides stabilization,
evaluation, and diagnostic capabilities for injured pts
Level 3 - trauma center Community Trauma Center,
Specialized ED and some surgical capability
(the specialty staff is on call and has 30 mins to get
to hospital)
Level 2 - trauma center able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients
24 hour immediate coverage (staff can still be on
call), tertiary care needs, provides trauma
prevention and continuing education programs for
staff
Level 1 - trauma center comprehensive regional resource that is a tertiary
care facility central to the trauma system -> capable
of providing total care for every aspect of injury
(prevention to rehab)
24 hr coverage (staff must be on-site)
Preventable deaths after injury casualties whose lives could have been saved by
appropriate and timely medical care
- extremity hemorrhage
- blunt trauma with vascular injury
- dismounted complex blast injury
- ped burn
- severe traumatic brain injury
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) a scale used to assess the consciousness of a
patient upon physical examination, typically in
patients with neurological concerns/complaints
Breakdown:
Eyes - 4
Verbal - 5
Motor - 6
3-10 -> immediate
11 -> urgent
12 -> delayed
, Reversed trauma score National scoring system - has a predictive value:
GCS -> Trauma value
13-15 - 4
9-12 - 3
6-8 - 2
4-5 - 1
3-0
Lethal triad - Hypothermia
- Coagulopathy
- Metabolic Acidosis
Lethal Diamond - hypothermia
- coagulopathy
- acidosis
- hypocalcemia
Bleeding rates Lowest internal bleeding per fracture to highest:
- Rib (125)
- Radius or Ulna
- Humorous
- Tibia or Fibula (500-1000)
- Femur
- Pelvis (3000-5000)
Estimated fluid and blood loss Class 1: <750ml / <15% blood loss ; Resp 14-20 ;
slight anxiety
Class 2: 750-1500ml / 15-30% blood loss ; Resp 20-
24 ; mild anxiety
Class 3: 1500-2000ml / 30-40% blood loss ; Resp
Elevated ; anxious and confused
Class 4: >2000ml / >40% blood loss ; Resp Elevated
; confused and lethargic
MAP when kidney perfusion starts to 60-65
fail
Trauma Exam
2026_2027 UPDATES
Questions And Answers
Solved 100% Correct
_Certified Study Resources
,#1 cause of death (age 1-46) Trauma (146k individuals)
Highway safety act of 1966 Set standards for the design and safety of the
highways passed by LBJ
The golden hour the 60-minute period after a severe injury; shown to
have the BEST survivability
Platinum 10 minutes The goal for on-scene time when caring for a trauma
or shock patient (10 mins max)
Goals of trauma center - decreased morbidity
- decreased mortality
- decreased cost
- increased years of productive life
Trauma Center: Designation v Designation (County designates as a trauma center
Verification - does not matter the level, and we only designate
level 1/2 in LA county as a "trauma center")
Verification (American college of surgeons
designates these eligible facilities into levels (Level
1-4))
Rural residents have what % higher 14% higher mortality (due to lack of trauma systems
of mortality for trauma nearby)
Level 5 - trauma center provides initial evaluation, stabilization and
diagnostic capabilities and prepares patients for
transfer to higher levels of care
(very basic - do not need to be open 24/7 - can
provide surgery and critical care services if
available - looking to transfer to level 1-3 trauma
centers)
,Level 4 - trauma center has demonstrated an ability to provide advanced
trauma life support (ATLS) prior to transfer of pts to
a higher level trauma center. Provides stabilization,
evaluation, and diagnostic capabilities for injured pts
Level 3 - trauma center Community Trauma Center,
Specialized ED and some surgical capability
(the specialty staff is on call and has 30 mins to get
to hospital)
Level 2 - trauma center able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients
24 hour immediate coverage (staff can still be on
call), tertiary care needs, provides trauma
prevention and continuing education programs for
staff
Level 1 - trauma center comprehensive regional resource that is a tertiary
care facility central to the trauma system -> capable
of providing total care for every aspect of injury
(prevention to rehab)
24 hr coverage (staff must be on-site)
Preventable deaths after injury casualties whose lives could have been saved by
appropriate and timely medical care
- extremity hemorrhage
- blunt trauma with vascular injury
- dismounted complex blast injury
- ped burn
- severe traumatic brain injury
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) a scale used to assess the consciousness of a
patient upon physical examination, typically in
patients with neurological concerns/complaints
Breakdown:
Eyes - 4
Verbal - 5
Motor - 6
3-10 -> immediate
11 -> urgent
12 -> delayed
, Reversed trauma score National scoring system - has a predictive value:
GCS -> Trauma value
13-15 - 4
9-12 - 3
6-8 - 2
4-5 - 1
3-0
Lethal triad - Hypothermia
- Coagulopathy
- Metabolic Acidosis
Lethal Diamond - hypothermia
- coagulopathy
- acidosis
- hypocalcemia
Bleeding rates Lowest internal bleeding per fracture to highest:
- Rib (125)
- Radius or Ulna
- Humorous
- Tibia or Fibula (500-1000)
- Femur
- Pelvis (3000-5000)
Estimated fluid and blood loss Class 1: <750ml / <15% blood loss ; Resp 14-20 ;
slight anxiety
Class 2: 750-1500ml / 15-30% blood loss ; Resp 20-
24 ; mild anxiety
Class 3: 1500-2000ml / 30-40% blood loss ; Resp
Elevated ; anxious and confused
Class 4: >2000ml / >40% blood loss ; Resp Elevated
; confused and lethargic
MAP when kidney perfusion starts to 60-65
fail
