EMD - Emergency Medical Dispatch Trauma and Injury Scenarios Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A caller reports a 45-year-old construction worker has fallen. Which piece of information is most critical for the EMD to obtain to accurately determine the potential for life-threatening injuries?
- Whether the patient was wearing a helmet.
- If the patient has any obvious broken bones.
- The height from which the patient fell. (Correct answer)
- The time the fall occurred.
Correct answer: The height from which the patient fell.
The height of a fall is a primary indicator of the mechanism of injury (MOI). Falls from a significant height (typically >10-20 feet for adults) are associated with a high risk of severe, life-threatening internal injuries, even if the patient is initially conscious. This information directly impacts the dispatch determinant and the level of response sent.
Question 2: A caller states their spouse has been burned by boiling water on the chest and abdomen. The patient is awake and in severe pain. After dispatching the appropriate response, what is the MOST appropriate Post-Dispatch Instruction (PDI) for the EMD to provide?
- Cover the burn with a clean, dry dressing or sheet. (Correct answer)
- Apply ice packs directly to the burned area.
- Apply butter or ointment to soothe the pain.
- Have the patient drink plenty of cold water immediately.
Correct answer: Cover the burn with a clean, dry dressing or sheet.
For significant thermal burns, the priority after stopping the burning process is to protect the patient from infection and hypothermia. Covering the burn with a clean, dry dressing or sheet achieves this. Applying ice, ointments, or butter is contraindicated and can worsen the injury.
Question 3: Which of the following is the most critical Pre-Arrival Instruction for a patient with an object impaled in their chest?
- Push the object further in to stop any bleeding.
- Carefully attempt to remove the object if it is small.
- Periodically wiggle the object to check for bleeding.
- Do not remove the object; stabilize it in place. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Do not remove the object; stabilize it in place.
An impaled object may be acting as a plug to control internal bleeding. Removing it can cause catastrophic hemorrhage. The correct DLS instruction is to leave the object in place and stabilize it to prevent further movement and internal damage until responders arrive.
Question 4: An EMD is handling a call for a 30-year-old male whose hand was severed in a factory accident. The caller has successfully controlled the bleeding from the arm using direct pressure as instructed. What is the next critical instruction regarding the amputated part?
- Place the hand directly into a container of ice water.
- Wrap the hand in a moist sterile dressing, place it in a sealed bag, and put the bag in cool water. (Correct answer)
- Wash the hand thoroughly with soap and water before wrapping it.
- Discard the amputated part as it cannot be reattached.
Correct answer: Wrap the hand in a moist sterile dressing, place it in a sealed bag, and put the bag in cool water.
The proper procedure for preserving an amputated part is to wrap it in a clean, moist sterile dressing, place it in a sealed plastic bag, and then place that bag into a container of cool water or ice water. This keeps the part cool without causing freezing damage (frostbite) from direct contact with ice.
Question 5: When assessing a patient who has been struck in the head, which of the following signs or symptoms reported by a caller would be the STRONGEST indicator of a potentially life-threatening brain injury?
- The patient is confused or not acting normally. (Correct answer)
- A large scalp laceration with moderate bleeding.
- A severe headache at the site of impact.
- The patient feels nauseous but has not vomited.
Correct answer: The patient is confused or not acting normally.
While all are potential signs of head injury, a change in the level of consciousness or altered mental status (confusion, combativeness, not acting normally) is the most significant indicator of a serious, potentially life-threatening intracranial injury. It suggests the brain itself has been affected.
Question 6: A caller reports a two-car collision. The caller is with two patients: Patient A is a 30-year-old male who is unconscious and making snoring sounds. Patient B is a 25-year-old female who is crying, reporting severe leg pain, and has an obvious deformity to her thigh. Based on DLS principles, which patient should the EMD provide instructions for first?
- Patient B, because a femur fracture can be life-threatening.
- Address both patients simultaneously by alternating instructions.
- Patient A, because his airway is compromised. (Correct answer)
- Patient B, because she is awake and can follow commands.
Correct answer: Patient A, because his airway is compromised.
The immediate priority in any trauma scenario is Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABCs). Patient A is unconscious and making snoring sounds, which indicates a partially obstructed airway. This is an immediate life threat that must be addressed before the limb injury of Patient B, even though a femur fracture is a serious injury. The EMD should provide airway-opening instructions for Patient A first.
EMD - Emergency Medical Dispatch Trauma and Injury Scenarios Questions and Answers 1
A caller reports a 45-year-old construction worker has fallen.
Which piece of information is most critical for the EMD to obtain to accurately determine the potential for life-threatening injuries?