CEP CEP Mass Casualty Incidents & Disaster Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the SALT triage system's initial step that differs from START?
- Assess respirations first
- Sort all patients by global sorting (walk, wave, still) before individual assessment (Correct answer)
- Check radial pulse before respirations
- Apply tourniquets before tagging
Correct answer: Sort all patients by global sorting (walk, wave, still) before individual assessment
SALT begins with global sorting — asking the walking wounded to move aside, then looking for those waving or moving, then approaching those who are still — before individual assessment.
Question 2: Which blast injury pattern results from the overpressure wave of an explosion damaging hollow organs?
- Secondary blast injury
- Tertiary blast injury
- Primary blast injury (Correct answer)
- Quaternary blast injury
Correct answer: Primary blast injury
Primary blast injury is caused by the overpressure wave and most commonly affects air-filled organs such as lungs, ears, and bowel.
Question 3: In a nerve agent (organophosphate) exposure, which finding is NOT expected?
- Miosis
- Excessive secretions (SLUDGE)
- Bronchospasm
- Dry, flushed skin (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dry, flushed skin
Nerve agents cause cholinergic crisis with wet secretions; dry flushed skin is a sign of anticholinergic poisoning, which is the opposite toxidrome.
Question 4: What is the antidote combination used for nerve agent (organophosphate) poisoning in the field?
- Pralidoxime alone
- Atropine and pralidoxime (2-PAM) (Correct answer)
- Diazepam and atropine
- Naloxone and physostigmine
Correct answer: Atropine and pralidoxime (2-PAM)
Atropine blocks muscarinic effects while pralidoxime (2-PAM) reactivates acetylcholinesterase if given early before aging occurs.
Question 5: A paramedic arrives at an active shooter MCI. What is the correct tactical EMS action before rendering care?
- Immediately enter the HOT zone with law enforcement
- Stage at the perimeter until scene is declared safe
- Enter warm zone with law enforcement escort and apply hemorrhage control (Correct answer)
- Treat patients at point of injury in the HOT zone
Correct answer: Enter warm zone with law enforcement escort and apply hemorrhage control
In TECC (Tactical Emergency Casualty Care), paramedics work in the WARM zone with law enforcement escort to apply hemorrhage control and move patients to the cold zone for definitive care.
Question 6: What resource management principle ensures personnel are assigned only tasks matching their training level during an MCI?
- Unity of command (Correct answer)
- Span of control
- Scope of practice management
- Interoperability
Correct answer: Unity of command
Unity of command ensures each responder reports to only one supervisor, who is responsible for appropriate task assignment within each responder's training level.
CEP CEP Mass Casualty Incidents & Disaster Response 2
What is the SALT triage system's initial step that differs from START?