First Aid Bleeding and Wound Care 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a mass casualty situation with limited supplies, which bleeding wound takes the highest priority for tourniquet use?
- A minor venous bleed on the forearm
- Arterial bleeding from an amputated leg that cannot be controlled by pressure (Correct answer)
- A scalp laceration bleeding heavily but controllable with pressure
- Capillary oozing from multiple small abrasions
Correct answer: Arterial bleeding from an amputated leg that cannot be controlled by pressure
Arterial hemorrhage from traumatic amputation is immediately life-threatening and requires tourniquet application when direct pressure fails.
Question 2: Which of the following is a late sign of significant blood loss indicating severe hemorrhagic shock?
- Mild anxiety and restlessness
- Slightly increased heart rate
- Unresponsiveness and absent radial pulse (Correct answer)
- Skin that feels slightly cool to touch
Correct answer: Unresponsiveness and absent radial pulse
Loss of consciousness and absent peripheral pulses indicate decompensated shock — a critical emergency requiring immediate EMS intervention.
Question 3: A hiker has a wound that occurred 2 days ago and now shows redness spreading from the edges, warmth, and pus. These are signs of:
- Normal healing inflammation in the first 48 hours
- Wound infection requiring medical evaluation (Correct answer)
- An allergic reaction to the bandage material
- Proper granulation tissue forming
Correct answer: Wound infection requiring medical evaluation
Spreading erythema, warmth, and purulent discharge after 48 hours indicate wound infection requiring medical treatment, possibly antibiotics.
Question 4: Why should you avoid applying a tourniquet directly over a joint such as the knee or elbow?
- It is too painful in that location
- The joint's anatomy prevents adequate compression of the artery (Correct answer)
- The skin is too thin at joints
- Joints bleed less than other locations
Correct answer: The joint's anatomy prevents adequate compression of the artery
Joints lack the flat bone surface needed to compress vessels effectively, making tourniquets ineffective over them.
Question 5: A person has a wound on their palm that is bleeding steadily. What is the best way to apply pressure while keeping your hands free?
- Have them hold a cloth with their other hand and monitor them
- Have them make a fist around the dressing to self-compress the wound (Correct answer)
- Tape the dressing loosely in place
- Have them elevate the hand above their head without any dressing
Correct answer: Have them make a fist around the dressing to self-compress the wound
Having the patient make a fist over a dressing applies effective palm pressure and frees the rescuer to manage other tasks.
Question 6: When is wound closure with butterfly bandages or wound closure strips NOT appropriate?
- Clean lacerations less than 6 hours old
- Heavily contaminated wounds or puncture wounds (Correct answer)
- Small cuts on extremities
- Cuts on the trunk that are not deep
Correct answer: Heavily contaminated wounds or puncture wounds
Closing contaminated or puncture wounds traps bacteria inside, greatly increasing the risk of serious abscess or cellulitis.
Question 7: An unconscious trauma patient has suspected internal abdominal bleeding. While waiting for EMS, what position should you place them in?
- Sitting upright to ease breathing
- Flat on their back (supine) with legs elevated if no spinal injury suspected (Correct answer)
- On their stomach in the prone position
- Semi-recumbent at a 45-degree angle
Correct answer: Flat on their back (supine) with legs elevated if no spinal injury suspected
The supine position with legs elevated (shock position) improves venous return to the heart when no spinal injury is suspected.
First Aid Bleeding and Wound Care 5
In a mass casualty situation with limited supplies, which bleeding wound takes the highest priority for tourniquet use?