Fisdap Trauma Study Guide Exam Questions With
Answer Graded A+ 2025/2026
An impaled object in the cheek should be removed if it interferes with your ability
to manage the patient's airway. In this case, however, the patient is
breathing adequately and does not require aggressive airway care (eg, ventilatory
assistance). The most practical approach is to suction the blood from his
oropharynx, which will prevent him from swallowing it, vomiting it, or aspirating
it. Stabilize the fork in place and protect it with bulky dressings; removing
an impaled object from the cheek in the opposite direction it entered would clearly
cause further soft-tissue injury and bleeding. Transport the patient in a
sitting position and suction his oropharynx en route as needed. There is no reason
to cut the fork to make it shorter; this will only unnecessarily manipulate
it, potentially causing further soft tissue damage and increased bleeding.
A 40-year-old man was hit in the nose during a fight. He has bruising under his left
eye and a nosebleed. What should you do?
A) Place a chemical ice pack over his nose.
B) Determine if he has any visual disturbances.
C) Ensure that he is sitting up and leaning forward.
D) Apply direct pressure by pinching his nostrils together. C) Ensure that he
is sitting up and leaning forward.
During a nosebleed (epistaxis), much of the blood may pass down the throat into
the stomach as the patient swallows; this is especially true if the patient is
lying supine. Blood is a gastric irritant; a person who swallows a large amount of
blood may become nauseated and vomit, which increases the risk of
aspiration. Therefore, your first action should be to ensure that the patient is sitting
up and leaning forward. This will prevent blood from draining down the
back of the throat. Next, apply direct pressure by pinching the fleshy part of the
nostrils together; you or the patient may do this. Placing a chemical ice pack
over the nose may further help control the bleeding by constricting the nasal
vasculature. After controlling the nosebleed, continue your assessment, which
includes assessing for facial deformities and visual disturbances.
The presence of subcutaneous emphysema following blunt trauma to the anterior
neck should make you MOST suspicious for a:
A) pneumothorax.
B) fractured larynx.
C) ruptured esophagus.
D) carotid artery injury. B) fractured larynx.
,Crushing or blunt trauma to the anterior neck can injure the trachea or larynx. Once
the cartilages of the upper airway and larynx are fractured, they do not
spring back to their normal position. Such a fracture can lead to loss of voice,
airway obstruction, and leakage of air into the soft tissues of the neck. Air leakage
into the soft tissues is called subcutaneous emphysema. Subcutaneous emphysema
may also be observed in patients with a tension pneumothorax, although it
is typically located in the chest. Esophageal rupture would likely present with
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and vomiting blood (hematemesis). You should
suspect injury to a carotid artery or jugular vein if you observe a rapidly expanding
hematoma to the neck following blunt trauma.
A 22-year-old man had a strong acid chemical splashed into both of his eyes. He is
conscious and alert, is experiencing intense pain, and
states that he is wearing contact lenses. Treatment should include:
A) leaving the contact lenses in and beginning irrigation of both eyes.
B) removing the contact lenses and beginning irrigation of both eyes.
C) leaving the contact lenses in and covering both eyes with sterile gauze.
D) removing the contact lenses and covering both eyes with sterile gauze. B)
removing the contact lenses and beginning irrigation of both eyes.
As a general rule, contact lenses should be left in place. Chemical eye burns are an
exception to this rule. If left in place, the chemical could get behind the
contact lens and continue to cause injury. Therefore, you should remove the
contact lenses and immediately irrigate the eyes with sterile saline or water. If
needed, continue to irrigate the eyes throughout transport.
Following blunt force trauma to the anterior chest, a man presents with difficulty
breathing, distended jugular veins, absent breath soundsover the left side of the
chest, and hypotension. Which of the following BEST describes the
pathophysiology of this patient's injury?
A) Increased pressure in the pleural space is compressing the great vessels
B) Blood is filling the pleural space and is collapsing the lung on the left side
C) Blood is filling the pericardia! sac and is restricting cardiac relaxation
D) The aorta has been injured and blood is rapidly filling the thoracic cavity A)
Increased pressure in the pleural space is compressing the great vessels
The patient is experiencing a tension pneumothorax. This type of injury occurs
when air fills the pleural space and progressively collapses the lung. In the
process, the vena cavae are compressed and blood return to the heart is reduced;
clinically, this manifests as jugular vein distention because blood is backing
up into the systemic venous system. If blood return to the heart is reduced, the
amount of blood that leaves the heart will also be reduced; as a result, cardiac
,output falls and the patient becomes hypotensive. Breath sounds are markedly
decreased or absent on the affected side of the chest because the lung is
being collapsed. In a hemothorax, blood fills the pleural space instead of air.
Breath sounds are decreased or absent on the affected side; however, because
the patient is losing blood volume into the chest, the jugular veins would be
collapsed, not distended as they are with a tension pneumothorax. Pericardia!
tamponade also causes jugular vein distention; however, the patient's breath sounds
are equal bilaterally (unless a pneumothorax is also present). Aortic injury would
be expected to cause collapsed jugular veins; like the hemothorax, the patient is
losing blood volume into the chest cavity. By itself, aortic injury
does not cause unequal breath sounds.
A patient is unresponsive with snoring respirations. His arm is amputated just
above the elbow and is bleeding heavily. The EMT should:
A) open the patient's airway.
B) apply a proximal tourniquet.
C) administer high-flow oxygen.
D) ventilate with a bag-mask device. B) apply a proximal tourniquet.
Major hemorrhage kills patients faster than a compromised airway, so in this case,
bleeding control has the highest priority. The EMT should apply a proximal
tourniquet and stop the bleeding immediately. Attention can then turn to the
patient's airway and breathing status. As with any patient, treatment priorities
must focus on injuries or conditions that will be the MOST immediately fatal.
Emergency care for a 68-year-old man with partial- and full-thickness bums to his
chest and upper extremities includes all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A) preparing to assist the patient's ventilations.
B) covering the bums with dry, sterile dressings.
C) avoiding the use of bum ointments or antiseptics.
D) flushing the bums with cool water for 10 minutes. D) flushing the bums
with cool water for 10 minutes.
Unless the patient is on fire, do not apply water to a full-thickness (third-degree)
burn, especially if the patient is already prone to hypothermia and infection
(ie, older adults, small children). Cover the burns with dry, sterile dressings or a
sterile burn sheet. The use of burn creams, ointments, or antiseptics should
be avoided; these increase the risk of infection and will only need to be removed at
the hospital. Apply high-flow oxygen, treat any associated injuries, and
rapidly transport the patient. If the patient is breathing inadequately (eg, fast or
slow rate, shallow breathing [reduced tidal volume]), assist ventilations with a
, bag-mask device.
After covering a large open chest wound with an occlusive dressing, it becomes
necessary to ventilate the patient with a bag-mask device.
What should you do?
A) Remove the occlusive dressing.
B) Ventilate with greater volume.
C) Ventilate at 24 breaths/min.
D) Request a paramedic intercept. A) Remove the occlusive dressing.
If it becomes necessary to ventilate a patient after covering an open chest wound,
you should remove the occlusive dressing. With the wound closed, positive
pressure ventilation will quickly increase intrathoracic pressure, resulting in a
tension pneumothorax. Ventilating the patient with greater volume and/or a
faster rate would only cause a more rapid increase in pleural tension and should be
avoided. Excessive ventilation can also reduce venous return to the heart,
causing a decrease in perfusion. Consider requesting a paramedic intercept, as long
as it does not cause a delay in transporting the patient to a trauma center.
Which of the following factors would reduce the blood's natural ability to clot, thus
worsening internal or external bleeding?
A) Tachycardia
B) Hypothermia
C) Hypotension
D) Vasoconstriction B) Hypothermia
Hypothermia can cause an abnormality in blood clotting (coagulopathy), which can
impair clotting factors and cause prolonged bleeding. This is why patients with
hemorrhagic shock should be kept warm. Tachycardia, hypotension, and
vasoconstriction do not impair the blood's ability to clot.
Internal or external bleeding would be especially severe in a patient:
A) with hemophilia.
B) who takes aspirin.
C) with heart disease.
D) who is hypotensive. A) with hemophilia.
Hemophilia is a condition in which the patient lacks one or more of the blood's
clotting factors. There are several forms of hemophilia, most of which are
hereditary and some of which are severe. Sometimes bleeding occurs
spontaneously in patients with hemophilia. Because the patient's blood does not
clot,
Answer Graded A+ 2025/2026
An impaled object in the cheek should be removed if it interferes with your ability
to manage the patient's airway. In this case, however, the patient is
breathing adequately and does not require aggressive airway care (eg, ventilatory
assistance). The most practical approach is to suction the blood from his
oropharynx, which will prevent him from swallowing it, vomiting it, or aspirating
it. Stabilize the fork in place and protect it with bulky dressings; removing
an impaled object from the cheek in the opposite direction it entered would clearly
cause further soft-tissue injury and bleeding. Transport the patient in a
sitting position and suction his oropharynx en route as needed. There is no reason
to cut the fork to make it shorter; this will only unnecessarily manipulate
it, potentially causing further soft tissue damage and increased bleeding.
A 40-year-old man was hit in the nose during a fight. He has bruising under his left
eye and a nosebleed. What should you do?
A) Place a chemical ice pack over his nose.
B) Determine if he has any visual disturbances.
C) Ensure that he is sitting up and leaning forward.
D) Apply direct pressure by pinching his nostrils together. C) Ensure that he
is sitting up and leaning forward.
During a nosebleed (epistaxis), much of the blood may pass down the throat into
the stomach as the patient swallows; this is especially true if the patient is
lying supine. Blood is a gastric irritant; a person who swallows a large amount of
blood may become nauseated and vomit, which increases the risk of
aspiration. Therefore, your first action should be to ensure that the patient is sitting
up and leaning forward. This will prevent blood from draining down the
back of the throat. Next, apply direct pressure by pinching the fleshy part of the
nostrils together; you or the patient may do this. Placing a chemical ice pack
over the nose may further help control the bleeding by constricting the nasal
vasculature. After controlling the nosebleed, continue your assessment, which
includes assessing for facial deformities and visual disturbances.
The presence of subcutaneous emphysema following blunt trauma to the anterior
neck should make you MOST suspicious for a:
A) pneumothorax.
B) fractured larynx.
C) ruptured esophagus.
D) carotid artery injury. B) fractured larynx.
,Crushing or blunt trauma to the anterior neck can injure the trachea or larynx. Once
the cartilages of the upper airway and larynx are fractured, they do not
spring back to their normal position. Such a fracture can lead to loss of voice,
airway obstruction, and leakage of air into the soft tissues of the neck. Air leakage
into the soft tissues is called subcutaneous emphysema. Subcutaneous emphysema
may also be observed in patients with a tension pneumothorax, although it
is typically located in the chest. Esophageal rupture would likely present with
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and vomiting blood (hematemesis). You should
suspect injury to a carotid artery or jugular vein if you observe a rapidly expanding
hematoma to the neck following blunt trauma.
A 22-year-old man had a strong acid chemical splashed into both of his eyes. He is
conscious and alert, is experiencing intense pain, and
states that he is wearing contact lenses. Treatment should include:
A) leaving the contact lenses in and beginning irrigation of both eyes.
B) removing the contact lenses and beginning irrigation of both eyes.
C) leaving the contact lenses in and covering both eyes with sterile gauze.
D) removing the contact lenses and covering both eyes with sterile gauze. B)
removing the contact lenses and beginning irrigation of both eyes.
As a general rule, contact lenses should be left in place. Chemical eye burns are an
exception to this rule. If left in place, the chemical could get behind the
contact lens and continue to cause injury. Therefore, you should remove the
contact lenses and immediately irrigate the eyes with sterile saline or water. If
needed, continue to irrigate the eyes throughout transport.
Following blunt force trauma to the anterior chest, a man presents with difficulty
breathing, distended jugular veins, absent breath soundsover the left side of the
chest, and hypotension. Which of the following BEST describes the
pathophysiology of this patient's injury?
A) Increased pressure in the pleural space is compressing the great vessels
B) Blood is filling the pleural space and is collapsing the lung on the left side
C) Blood is filling the pericardia! sac and is restricting cardiac relaxation
D) The aorta has been injured and blood is rapidly filling the thoracic cavity A)
Increased pressure in the pleural space is compressing the great vessels
The patient is experiencing a tension pneumothorax. This type of injury occurs
when air fills the pleural space and progressively collapses the lung. In the
process, the vena cavae are compressed and blood return to the heart is reduced;
clinically, this manifests as jugular vein distention because blood is backing
up into the systemic venous system. If blood return to the heart is reduced, the
amount of blood that leaves the heart will also be reduced; as a result, cardiac
,output falls and the patient becomes hypotensive. Breath sounds are markedly
decreased or absent on the affected side of the chest because the lung is
being collapsed. In a hemothorax, blood fills the pleural space instead of air.
Breath sounds are decreased or absent on the affected side; however, because
the patient is losing blood volume into the chest, the jugular veins would be
collapsed, not distended as they are with a tension pneumothorax. Pericardia!
tamponade also causes jugular vein distention; however, the patient's breath sounds
are equal bilaterally (unless a pneumothorax is also present). Aortic injury would
be expected to cause collapsed jugular veins; like the hemothorax, the patient is
losing blood volume into the chest cavity. By itself, aortic injury
does not cause unequal breath sounds.
A patient is unresponsive with snoring respirations. His arm is amputated just
above the elbow and is bleeding heavily. The EMT should:
A) open the patient's airway.
B) apply a proximal tourniquet.
C) administer high-flow oxygen.
D) ventilate with a bag-mask device. B) apply a proximal tourniquet.
Major hemorrhage kills patients faster than a compromised airway, so in this case,
bleeding control has the highest priority. The EMT should apply a proximal
tourniquet and stop the bleeding immediately. Attention can then turn to the
patient's airway and breathing status. As with any patient, treatment priorities
must focus on injuries or conditions that will be the MOST immediately fatal.
Emergency care for a 68-year-old man with partial- and full-thickness bums to his
chest and upper extremities includes all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A) preparing to assist the patient's ventilations.
B) covering the bums with dry, sterile dressings.
C) avoiding the use of bum ointments or antiseptics.
D) flushing the bums with cool water for 10 minutes. D) flushing the bums
with cool water for 10 minutes.
Unless the patient is on fire, do not apply water to a full-thickness (third-degree)
burn, especially if the patient is already prone to hypothermia and infection
(ie, older adults, small children). Cover the burns with dry, sterile dressings or a
sterile burn sheet. The use of burn creams, ointments, or antiseptics should
be avoided; these increase the risk of infection and will only need to be removed at
the hospital. Apply high-flow oxygen, treat any associated injuries, and
rapidly transport the patient. If the patient is breathing inadequately (eg, fast or
slow rate, shallow breathing [reduced tidal volume]), assist ventilations with a
, bag-mask device.
After covering a large open chest wound with an occlusive dressing, it becomes
necessary to ventilate the patient with a bag-mask device.
What should you do?
A) Remove the occlusive dressing.
B) Ventilate with greater volume.
C) Ventilate at 24 breaths/min.
D) Request a paramedic intercept. A) Remove the occlusive dressing.
If it becomes necessary to ventilate a patient after covering an open chest wound,
you should remove the occlusive dressing. With the wound closed, positive
pressure ventilation will quickly increase intrathoracic pressure, resulting in a
tension pneumothorax. Ventilating the patient with greater volume and/or a
faster rate would only cause a more rapid increase in pleural tension and should be
avoided. Excessive ventilation can also reduce venous return to the heart,
causing a decrease in perfusion. Consider requesting a paramedic intercept, as long
as it does not cause a delay in transporting the patient to a trauma center.
Which of the following factors would reduce the blood's natural ability to clot, thus
worsening internal or external bleeding?
A) Tachycardia
B) Hypothermia
C) Hypotension
D) Vasoconstriction B) Hypothermia
Hypothermia can cause an abnormality in blood clotting (coagulopathy), which can
impair clotting factors and cause prolonged bleeding. This is why patients with
hemorrhagic shock should be kept warm. Tachycardia, hypotension, and
vasoconstriction do not impair the blood's ability to clot.
Internal or external bleeding would be especially severe in a patient:
A) with hemophilia.
B) who takes aspirin.
C) with heart disease.
D) who is hypotensive. A) with hemophilia.
Hemophilia is a condition in which the patient lacks one or more of the blood's
clotting factors. There are several forms of hemophilia, most of which are
hereditary and some of which are severe. Sometimes bleeding occurs
spontaneously in patients with hemophilia. Because the patient's blood does not
clot,
