First Aid Bleeding, Wounds, and Shock 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Dark red blood flowing steadily from a wound most likely indicates which type of bleeding?
- Arterial
- Capillary
- Venous (Correct answer)
- Internal
Correct answer: Venous
Venous blood is dark red and flows steadily because it is under lower pressure than arterial blood.
Question 2: You are treating a victim with an impaled object in their thigh. What is the correct first aid action?
- Remove the object quickly to control bleeding
- Stabilize the object in place and control bleeding around it (Correct answer)
- Push the object deeper to reduce air exposure
- Apply a tourniquet directly over the impaled object
Correct answer: Stabilize the object in place and control bleeding around it
Never remove an impaled object; stabilize it in place with bulky dressings to prevent further injury and control surrounding bleeding.
Question 3: Which action should you avoid when managing a nosebleed (epistaxis)?
- Pinching the soft part of the nose
- Leaning slightly forward
- Tilting the head backward (Correct answer)
- Applying gentle pressure for 10–15 minutes
Correct answer: Tilting the head backward
Tilting the head back causes blood to flow down the throat, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, or airway obstruction.
Question 4: A victim has signs of internal abdominal bleeding after a car accident. Which external sign might indicate this?
- Bright red blood visible on clothing
- Rigid or distended abdomen with tenderness (Correct answer)
- Rapid improvement in mental status
- Decreased heart rate with normal skin color
Correct answer: Rigid or distended abdomen with tenderness
A rigid, distended, and tender abdomen can indicate internal bleeding or organ damage in the abdominal cavity.
Question 5: When using a pressure dressing, the first bandage becomes blood-soaked. What should you do?
- Remove the soaked bandage and replace it
- Add more dressings on top and apply additional pressure (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet immediately
- Leave the wound open to allow clotting
Correct answer: Add more dressings on top and apply additional pressure
Adding more dressings on top preserves any clot that has begun to form; removing the original dressing disrupts the clotting process.
Question 6: Which of the following is a late sign of shock indicating the victim's condition is critical?
- Mild anxiety and restlessness
- Slightly increased heart rate
- Unresponsiveness and absence of radial pulse (Correct answer)
- Thirst and mild skin pallor
Correct answer: Unresponsiveness and absence of radial pulse
Unresponsiveness and loss of radial pulse are late, life-threatening signs of decompensated shock requiring immediate emergency intervention.
Question 7: Hemostatic gauze (such as QuikClot) is most appropriate for wounds that:
- Are superficial abrasions with minor oozing
- Have severe, life-threatening bleeding not controlled by standard pressure (Correct answer)
- Are closed bruises with no external opening
- Involve small capillary cuts on the finger
Correct answer: Have severe, life-threatening bleeding not controlled by standard pressure
Hemostatic gauze is used for severe, life-threatening wounds — particularly junctional wounds where a tourniquet cannot be applied — when standard pressure fails.
First Aid Bleeding, Wounds, and Shock 3
Dark red blood flowing steadily from a wound most likely indicates which type of bleeding?