EMT FISDAP TRAUMA EXAM ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ELABORATE ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+/
NEW UPDATE /
1. What is the first priority when arriving at a trauma scene, and why is it
crucial?
The first priority is scene safety for both the responder and the patient. Ensuring a
safe environment prevents additional injuries and allows EMS providers to assess
and treat the patient effectively.
2. How does the primary survey (ABCDE) guide initial trauma assessment?
The primary survey assesses Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and
Exposure. It ensures life-threatening conditions are identified and managed
immediately before secondary assessment
3. Why is airway management the top priority in trauma patients?
An obstructed airway can rapidly lead to hypoxia and death. Ensuring airway
patency, including suction, adjuncts, or advanced airway, maintains oxygen
delivery to vital organs.
4. What are the signs of a compromised airway in a trauma patient?
Signs include noisy breathing (stridor, gurgling), cyanosis, inability to speak,
altered mental status, and use of accessory muscles. Prompt recognition allows
timely intervention.
5. How should a suspected cervical spine injury be handled in a trauma patient?
Manual stabilization and application of a cervical collar should be performed. The
patient should be moved carefully with spinal precautions to prevent further
neurological injury.
,6. What are the key indicators of tension pneumothorax, and how is it treated in
the field?
Indicators include severe respiratory distress, hypotension, jugular venous
distention, tracheal deviation, and absent breath sounds on one side. Immediate
needle decompression followed by chest tube placement is the definitive
treatment.
7. How can EMS identify internal bleeding, and why is rapid recognition
critical?
Signs include hypotension, tachycardia, pallor, diaphoresis, and abdominal
distention. Rapid recognition allows timely fluid resuscitation and transport to a
trauma center.
8. Why is rapid transport to an appropriate trauma center essential for severely
injured patients?
Certain injuries, such as severe hemorrhage, head trauma, or major fractures,
require surgical intervention that is only available at trauma centers. Early
transport improves survival rates.
9. What is the importance of mechanism of injury (MOI) in trauma assessment?
MOI helps predict the likelihood and severity of internal injuries. High-risk
mechanisms guide the need for rapid assessment and interventions, even if the
patient appears stable.
10. How should open fractures be managed in the prehospital setting?
Cover the wound with a sterile dressing, control bleeding with direct pressure,
immobilize the limb, and avoid pushing exposed bone back into the tissue. Rapid
transport is critical to reduce infection and further injury.
11. What are the signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock in trauma patients?
Signs include tachycardia, hypotension, pale/clammy skin, weak pulses, altered
mental status, and delayed capillary refill. Early recognition allows rapid fluid
resuscitation to maintain perfusion.
, 12. Why is controlling external hemorrhage a priority, and what methods are
effective?
Severe bleeding can be rapidly fatal. Direct pressure, hemostatic dressings, and
tourniquets are effective methods depending on the site and severity.
13. How does blunt trauma differ from penetrating trauma, and how does it
affect assessment?
Blunt trauma causes internal injuries without obvious external wounds, while
penetrating trauma creates an entry wound that may hide deeper injuries.
Assessment must consider hidden damage in blunt trauma.
14. Why is maintaining body temperature important in trauma patients?
Hypothermia worsens coagulopathy and shock, impairing clotting and increasing
mortality. Covering patients and using warming measures prevents heat loss.
15. What are the key signs of head injury, and how should it be managed in the
field?
Signs include altered mental status, unequal pupils, nausea/vomiting, and
posturing. Maintain airway, support ventilation, immobilize the spine, and
transport rapidly to a trauma center.
16. How should spinal immobilization be applied in a trauma patient?
Use a cervical collar, log-roll with backboard if necessary, and secure the patient
to prevent movement. Proper technique prevents exacerbation of spinal injuries.
17. What is the significance of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in trauma
assessment?
GCS provides an objective measure of consciousness based on eye, verbal, and
motor responses. It helps triage patients, monitor neurological status, and guide
interventions.
18. How is an occlusive chest wound managed in the prehospital setting?
Seal the wound with an occlusive dressing, secure three sides to allow air to
escape (flutter valve), monitor for tension pneumothorax, and prepare for rapid
transport.
AND ELABORATE ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+/
NEW UPDATE /
1. What is the first priority when arriving at a trauma scene, and why is it
crucial?
The first priority is scene safety for both the responder and the patient. Ensuring a
safe environment prevents additional injuries and allows EMS providers to assess
and treat the patient effectively.
2. How does the primary survey (ABCDE) guide initial trauma assessment?
The primary survey assesses Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and
Exposure. It ensures life-threatening conditions are identified and managed
immediately before secondary assessment
3. Why is airway management the top priority in trauma patients?
An obstructed airway can rapidly lead to hypoxia and death. Ensuring airway
patency, including suction, adjuncts, or advanced airway, maintains oxygen
delivery to vital organs.
4. What are the signs of a compromised airway in a trauma patient?
Signs include noisy breathing (stridor, gurgling), cyanosis, inability to speak,
altered mental status, and use of accessory muscles. Prompt recognition allows
timely intervention.
5. How should a suspected cervical spine injury be handled in a trauma patient?
Manual stabilization and application of a cervical collar should be performed. The
patient should be moved carefully with spinal precautions to prevent further
neurological injury.
,6. What are the key indicators of tension pneumothorax, and how is it treated in
the field?
Indicators include severe respiratory distress, hypotension, jugular venous
distention, tracheal deviation, and absent breath sounds on one side. Immediate
needle decompression followed by chest tube placement is the definitive
treatment.
7. How can EMS identify internal bleeding, and why is rapid recognition
critical?
Signs include hypotension, tachycardia, pallor, diaphoresis, and abdominal
distention. Rapid recognition allows timely fluid resuscitation and transport to a
trauma center.
8. Why is rapid transport to an appropriate trauma center essential for severely
injured patients?
Certain injuries, such as severe hemorrhage, head trauma, or major fractures,
require surgical intervention that is only available at trauma centers. Early
transport improves survival rates.
9. What is the importance of mechanism of injury (MOI) in trauma assessment?
MOI helps predict the likelihood and severity of internal injuries. High-risk
mechanisms guide the need for rapid assessment and interventions, even if the
patient appears stable.
10. How should open fractures be managed in the prehospital setting?
Cover the wound with a sterile dressing, control bleeding with direct pressure,
immobilize the limb, and avoid pushing exposed bone back into the tissue. Rapid
transport is critical to reduce infection and further injury.
11. What are the signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock in trauma patients?
Signs include tachycardia, hypotension, pale/clammy skin, weak pulses, altered
mental status, and delayed capillary refill. Early recognition allows rapid fluid
resuscitation to maintain perfusion.
, 12. Why is controlling external hemorrhage a priority, and what methods are
effective?
Severe bleeding can be rapidly fatal. Direct pressure, hemostatic dressings, and
tourniquets are effective methods depending on the site and severity.
13. How does blunt trauma differ from penetrating trauma, and how does it
affect assessment?
Blunt trauma causes internal injuries without obvious external wounds, while
penetrating trauma creates an entry wound that may hide deeper injuries.
Assessment must consider hidden damage in blunt trauma.
14. Why is maintaining body temperature important in trauma patients?
Hypothermia worsens coagulopathy and shock, impairing clotting and increasing
mortality. Covering patients and using warming measures prevents heat loss.
15. What are the key signs of head injury, and how should it be managed in the
field?
Signs include altered mental status, unequal pupils, nausea/vomiting, and
posturing. Maintain airway, support ventilation, immobilize the spine, and
transport rapidly to a trauma center.
16. How should spinal immobilization be applied in a trauma patient?
Use a cervical collar, log-roll with backboard if necessary, and secure the patient
to prevent movement. Proper technique prevents exacerbation of spinal injuries.
17. What is the significance of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in trauma
assessment?
GCS provides an objective measure of consciousness based on eye, verbal, and
motor responses. It helps triage patients, monitor neurological status, and guide
interventions.
18. How is an occlusive chest wound managed in the prehospital setting?
Seal the wound with an occlusive dressing, secure three sides to allow air to
escape (flutter valve), monitor for tension pneumothorax, and prepare for rapid
transport.
