ATC Immediate & Emergency Care 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A diver is pulled from the water after a shallow-water blackout. He has no pulse and is not breathing. The scene is safe. What is the first action?
- Deliver 5 rescue breaths before compressions
- Begin CPR starting with 30 chest compressions (Correct answer)
- Activate EMS and wait for arrival
- Apply the AED immediately without CPR
Correct answer: Begin CPR starting with 30 chest compressions
CPR should begin immediately with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths per standard adult CPR protocol.
Question 2: An athlete sustains an open femur fracture. After activating EMS, what is the priority in wound management?
- Attempt to reduce the bone back into the wound
- Control hemorrhage with direct pressure without pushing bone ends in (Correct answer)
- Apply a tight circumferential bandage above and below the fracture
- Irrigate the wound with sterile saline immediately
Correct answer: Control hemorrhage with direct pressure without pushing bone ends in
Direct pressure is applied to control bleeding without attempting to manipulate or reduce protruding bone ends.
Question 3: Which assessment tool helps the AT rapidly identify a stroke in an athlete on the sideline?
- SCAT5
- Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (FAST) (Correct answer)
- Glasgow Coma Scale
- AVPU scale
Correct answer: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (FAST)
The FAST acronym (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911) is used for rapid sideline stroke identification.
Question 4: A cross-country runner collapses and is found to be hypoglycemic with a blood glucose of 48 mg/dL but is still conscious and able to swallow. What is the appropriate intervention?
- Administer glucagon intramuscularly
- Provide 15-20g of fast-acting oral carbohydrates and recheck in 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- Give IV dextrose 50%
- Have athlete rest and recheck in 30 minutes without intervention
Correct answer: Provide 15-20g of fast-acting oral carbohydrates and recheck in 15 minutes
A conscious athlete who can swallow should receive 15-20g of fast-acting carbohydrates, followed by glucose recheck in 15 minutes per the 15-15 rule.
Question 5: A tennis player is struck by a ball in the chest and immediately collapses in cardiac arrest. Which condition is MOST suspected?
- Myocardial infarction
- Commotio cordis (Correct answer)
- Tension pneumothorax
- Aortic dissection
Correct answer: Commotio cordis
Commotio cordis is sudden cardiac death caused by a blunt precordial impact that strikes during a specific vulnerable window of the cardiac cycle.
Question 6: When managing an athlete with a suspected spinal injury on the field, which helmet removal guideline applies to American football players?
- Always remove the helmet immediately on the field
- Remove the helmet only if the face mask cannot be removed for airway access
- Leave all equipment in place unless airway is compromised and cannot be managed otherwise (Correct answer)
- Remove the shoulder pads first, then the helmet
Correct answer: Leave all equipment in place unless airway is compromised and cannot be managed otherwise
Current NATA guidelines recommend leaving the helmet and shoulder pads in place unless the airway cannot be managed; the face mask should be removed first to access the airway.
Question 7: An athlete presents with tracheal deviation to the right, absent breath sounds on the left, and hypotension after blunt chest trauma. What life-threatening condition does this suggest?
- Simple pneumothorax on the left
- Tension pneumothorax on the left (Correct answer)
- Hemothorax on the right
- Cardiac tamponade
Correct answer: Tension pneumothorax on the left
Tension pneumothorax causes tracheal deviation away from the affected side, absent ipsilateral breath sounds, and obstructive shock.
ATC Immediate & Emergency Care 5
A diver is pulled from the water after a shallow-water blackout.
He has no pulse and is not breathing.
The scene is safe.
What is the first action?