ACT 235 Emergency Response 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer responds to an active threat and encounters a subject who appears shot but is still moving erratically. The officer should:
- Immediately approach to render aid
- Maintain cover, give verbal commands, and assess the threat level before approaching (Correct answer)
- Assume the threat is neutralized and holster the weapon
- Call for a supervisor before taking any action
Correct answer: Maintain cover, give verbal commands, and assess the threat level before approaching
A wounded and erratic subject may still pose a deadly threat; maintaining cover and issuing commands establishes control before closing distance.
Question 2: Which of the following is a sign of hypovolemic shock following a gunshot wound that an officer should recognize?
- Flushed, warm, dry skin and a strong pulse
- Pale, cool, clammy skin and a rapid, weak pulse (Correct answer)
- Slow, deep breathing and a low heart rate
- High blood pressure and full mental alertness
Correct answer: Pale, cool, clammy skin and a rapid, weak pulse
Hypovolemic shock from blood loss produces pale, cool, clammy skin and a rapid, weak pulse as the body compensates for reduced circulating volume.
Question 3: When writing an incident report following a use-of-force event, an officer should:
- Use subjective language to convey the emotional intensity of the situation
- Document only the facts observed and articulate the specific threat that justified each action taken (Correct answer)
- Omit information that may be unfavorable to the officer's decision
- Coordinate report language with other involved officers for consistency
Correct answer: Document only the facts observed and articulate the specific threat that justified each action taken
Incident reports must be factual, objective, and articulate the specific threat perception that justified the use of force at each moment.
Question 4: What is the correct recovery position for an unconscious but breathing gunshot victim with no suspected spinal injury?
- Supine (face-up) with legs elevated 12 inches
- Lateral recumbent (on the side) with the wounded side down if possible (Correct answer)
- Prone (face-down) with arms extended
- Seated upright to reduce swelling
Correct answer: Lateral recumbent (on the side) with the wounded side down if possible
The lateral recumbent (recovery) position prevents airway obstruction from vomit or blood while placing pressure on the wound to reduce blood loss.
Question 5: An ACT 235 officer must notify which authority after any firearm discharge in the course of duty?
- The local fire department only
- Their employing agency and comply with all agency reporting protocols and applicable law (Correct answer)
- Only the Pennsylvania State Police headquarters
- No reporting is required unless a fatality occurs
Correct answer: Their employing agency and comply with all agency reporting protocols and applicable law
Pennsylvania law and agency policy require immediate notification of supervisors and compliance with all applicable reporting protocols after any on-duty discharge.
Question 6: Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is most effective when conducted:
- Immediately upon leaving the scene while adrenaline is still elevated
- Within 24 to 72 hours after the critical incident (Correct answer)
- Only after formal disciplinary proceedings are concluded
- On a voluntary basis with no structured format
Correct answer: Within 24 to 72 hours after the critical incident
CISD conducted 24-72 hours post-incident allows stress hormones to normalize while memories are still fresh, optimizing psychological processing.
Question 7: When an officer applies wound packing (hemostatic gauze) to a junctional wound (groin, armpit, neck) where a tourniquet cannot be used, the packing must be held with direct pressure for at least:
- 30 seconds
- 3 minutes
- 5 minutes (Correct answer)
- 10 minutes
Correct answer: 5 minutes
TCCC guidelines recommend at least 3-5 minutes of continuous firm pressure on packed wounds to allow clot formation, with 5 minutes being the standard recommendation for hemostatic gauze.
ACT 235 Emergency Response 5
An officer responds to an active threat and encounters a subject who appears shot but is still moving erratically.
The officer should: