EMT FISDAP TRAUMA EXAM (UPDATED 2025) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION 1:
A 28-year-old male was struck in the chest with a baseball bat. He presents with rapid, shallow
respirations, unilateral decreased breath sounds, and jugular vein distension. What is the most
likely condition?
A. Simple pneumothorax
B. Tension pneumothorax
C. Cardiac tamponade
D. Pulmonary contusion
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Tension pneumothorax presents with tracheal deviation, JVD, diminished breath
sounds on one side, and respiratory distress. It results from air trapped in the pleural space,
compressing the lung and mediastinum. Simple pneumothorax lacks JVD; tamponade has
muffled heart tones and equal breath sounds; pulmonary contusion causes crackles, not absent
sounds.
QUESTION 2:
Which of the following is the priority intervention for an open chest wound?
A. Apply a bulky dressing
B. Seal the wound with an occlusive dressing taped on three sides
C. Provide positive-pressure ventilation
D. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * An occlusive dressing on three sides prevents further air entry while allowing
trapped air to escape, minimizing risk of developing a tension pneumothorax. Oxygen is
supportive but not definitive.
QUESTION 3:
During trauma assessment, you find paradoxical chest wall movement. This finding most likely
indicates:
A. Flail chest
B. Sternal fracture
C. Subcutaneous emphysema
D. Pulmonary contusion
,CORRECT ANSWER: A
*RATIONALE: * Flail chest results from fractures of two or more adjacent ribs in multiple places,
causing a free-floating segment that moves opposite to normal respiration. Other conditions do
not result in paradoxical motion.
QUESTION 4:
When ventilating a trauma patient with suspected chest injury using a bag-valve mask, which
sign indicates possible tension pneumothorax development?
A. Increasing compliance
B. Rising SpO₂
C. Increasing resistance to ventilation
D. Decreasing heart rate
CORRECT ANSWER: C
*RATIONALE: * Increased resistance and difficulty ventilating suggest air accumulation under
pressure in the pleural space. Compliance improves only after decompression.
QUESTION 5:
A 32-year-old male has a deep laceration to the right thigh with heavy arterial bleeding. After
applying a tourniquet, bleeding stops. What should you do next?
A. Remove the tourniquet after 15 minutes
B. Apply a second tourniquet above the first
C. Note the time of application and monitor distal perfusion
D. Cover with a pressure dressing
CORRECT ANSWER: C
*RATIONALE: * Tourniquet time documentation is critical for hospital providers; removal is not
done prehospital. Pressure dressings are not required if bleeding is controlled.
QUESTION 6:
A patient with suspected spinal injury reports tingling in arms and legs after diving into shallow
water. What is the best initial management?
A. Apply cervical collar and maintain manual stabilization
B. Allow patient to self-extricate
C. Perform a rapid extrication immediately
D. Move patient to seated position
,CORRECT ANSWER: A
*RATIONALE: * Cervical stabilization and collar application prevent further movement and
potential spinal cord damage.
QUESTION 7:
When assessing a patient with a head injury, which finding indicates rising intracranial pressure
(ICP)?
A. Tachypnea and bradycardia
B. Bradycardia and widening pulse pressure
C. Tachycardia and hypotension
D. Irregular pulse and narrow pulse pressure
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Cushing’s triad—widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular
respirations—signals increased ICP.
QUESTION 8:
You arrive to find a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. He is pale, diaphoretic, with weak radial pulse
and slow capillary refill. These findings most likely indicate:
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Cardiogenic shock
D. Distributive shock
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Cold, clammy skin and weak peripheral pulses reflect poor tissue perfusion due
to blood loss.
QUESTION 9:
A 40-year-old motorcycle crash victim has loud snoring respirations. First action?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway
B. Perform a jaw thrust maneuver
C. Administer oxygen
D. Begin suctioning
, CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Snoring indicates upper airway obstruction by the tongue. Jaw thrust opens
airway while maintaining cervical spine precautions.
QUESTION 10:
Which of the following mechanisms of injury most commonly causes a coup-contrecoup brain
injury?
A. Gunshot wound to the head
B. Fall from height
C. Head striking a windshield
D. Blast injury
CORRECT ANSWER: C
*RATIONALE: * Rapid deceleration causes the brain to impact both front and back of the skull
(coup–contrecoup). Windshield impacts are typical.
QUESTION 11:
A patient presents with a penetrating chest injury and jugular vein distension. Muffled heart
sounds are noted. Which condition is suspected?
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Pericardial tamponade
C. Hemothorax
D. Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Beck’s triad (JVD, muffled heart tones, hypotension) identifies pericardial
tamponade due to accumulating fluid compressing the heart.
QUESTION 12:
What is the correct site for needle decompression in suspected tension pneumothorax for
adults?
A. Second intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. Fourth intercostal space, anterior axillary line
C. Fifth intercostal space, midaxillary line
D. Second intercostal space, midaxillary line
QUESTION 1:
A 28-year-old male was struck in the chest with a baseball bat. He presents with rapid, shallow
respirations, unilateral decreased breath sounds, and jugular vein distension. What is the most
likely condition?
A. Simple pneumothorax
B. Tension pneumothorax
C. Cardiac tamponade
D. Pulmonary contusion
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Tension pneumothorax presents with tracheal deviation, JVD, diminished breath
sounds on one side, and respiratory distress. It results from air trapped in the pleural space,
compressing the lung and mediastinum. Simple pneumothorax lacks JVD; tamponade has
muffled heart tones and equal breath sounds; pulmonary contusion causes crackles, not absent
sounds.
QUESTION 2:
Which of the following is the priority intervention for an open chest wound?
A. Apply a bulky dressing
B. Seal the wound with an occlusive dressing taped on three sides
C. Provide positive-pressure ventilation
D. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * An occlusive dressing on three sides prevents further air entry while allowing
trapped air to escape, minimizing risk of developing a tension pneumothorax. Oxygen is
supportive but not definitive.
QUESTION 3:
During trauma assessment, you find paradoxical chest wall movement. This finding most likely
indicates:
A. Flail chest
B. Sternal fracture
C. Subcutaneous emphysema
D. Pulmonary contusion
,CORRECT ANSWER: A
*RATIONALE: * Flail chest results from fractures of two or more adjacent ribs in multiple places,
causing a free-floating segment that moves opposite to normal respiration. Other conditions do
not result in paradoxical motion.
QUESTION 4:
When ventilating a trauma patient with suspected chest injury using a bag-valve mask, which
sign indicates possible tension pneumothorax development?
A. Increasing compliance
B. Rising SpO₂
C. Increasing resistance to ventilation
D. Decreasing heart rate
CORRECT ANSWER: C
*RATIONALE: * Increased resistance and difficulty ventilating suggest air accumulation under
pressure in the pleural space. Compliance improves only after decompression.
QUESTION 5:
A 32-year-old male has a deep laceration to the right thigh with heavy arterial bleeding. After
applying a tourniquet, bleeding stops. What should you do next?
A. Remove the tourniquet after 15 minutes
B. Apply a second tourniquet above the first
C. Note the time of application and monitor distal perfusion
D. Cover with a pressure dressing
CORRECT ANSWER: C
*RATIONALE: * Tourniquet time documentation is critical for hospital providers; removal is not
done prehospital. Pressure dressings are not required if bleeding is controlled.
QUESTION 6:
A patient with suspected spinal injury reports tingling in arms and legs after diving into shallow
water. What is the best initial management?
A. Apply cervical collar and maintain manual stabilization
B. Allow patient to self-extricate
C. Perform a rapid extrication immediately
D. Move patient to seated position
,CORRECT ANSWER: A
*RATIONALE: * Cervical stabilization and collar application prevent further movement and
potential spinal cord damage.
QUESTION 7:
When assessing a patient with a head injury, which finding indicates rising intracranial pressure
(ICP)?
A. Tachypnea and bradycardia
B. Bradycardia and widening pulse pressure
C. Tachycardia and hypotension
D. Irregular pulse and narrow pulse pressure
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Cushing’s triad—widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular
respirations—signals increased ICP.
QUESTION 8:
You arrive to find a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. He is pale, diaphoretic, with weak radial pulse
and slow capillary refill. These findings most likely indicate:
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Cardiogenic shock
D. Distributive shock
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Cold, clammy skin and weak peripheral pulses reflect poor tissue perfusion due
to blood loss.
QUESTION 9:
A 40-year-old motorcycle crash victim has loud snoring respirations. First action?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway
B. Perform a jaw thrust maneuver
C. Administer oxygen
D. Begin suctioning
, CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Snoring indicates upper airway obstruction by the tongue. Jaw thrust opens
airway while maintaining cervical spine precautions.
QUESTION 10:
Which of the following mechanisms of injury most commonly causes a coup-contrecoup brain
injury?
A. Gunshot wound to the head
B. Fall from height
C. Head striking a windshield
D. Blast injury
CORRECT ANSWER: C
*RATIONALE: * Rapid deceleration causes the brain to impact both front and back of the skull
(coup–contrecoup). Windshield impacts are typical.
QUESTION 11:
A patient presents with a penetrating chest injury and jugular vein distension. Muffled heart
sounds are noted. Which condition is suspected?
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Pericardial tamponade
C. Hemothorax
D. Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: B
*RATIONALE: * Beck’s triad (JVD, muffled heart tones, hypotension) identifies pericardial
tamponade due to accumulating fluid compressing the heart.
QUESTION 12:
What is the correct site for needle decompression in suspected tension pneumothorax for
adults?
A. Second intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. Fourth intercostal space, anterior axillary line
C. Fifth intercostal space, midaxillary line
D. Second intercostal space, midaxillary line
