Military First Aid 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A casualty has heat stroke with a core temperature above 104°F (40°C) and is confused. What is the MOST critical immediate action?
- Administer oral electrolyte fluids immediately
- Begin rapid cooling by any available means (Correct answer)
- Place in the recovery position and monitor breathing
- Administer antipyretics such as ibuprofen
Correct answer: Begin rapid cooling by any available means
Rapid cooling is the priority for heat stroke as core temperature above 104°F causes organ damage; use ice water immersion, wet towels, or fanning.
Question 2: What is the correct rate for delivering rescue breaths to an adult casualty during CPR?
- One breath every 2 seconds (30 per minute)
- One breath every 5-6 seconds (10-12 per minute) (Correct answer)
- One breath every 10 seconds (6 per minute)
- Two breaths every 2 seconds (60 per minute)
Correct answer: One breath every 5-6 seconds (10-12 per minute)
Rescue breaths are delivered at one breath every 5-6 seconds (10-12 per minute) when an advanced airway is in place during CPR.
Question 3: A casualty has a closed head injury and becomes increasingly agitated, then unresponsive. What does this progression most likely indicate?
- Normal stress response to trauma
- Increasing intracranial pressure (Correct answer)
- Hypovolemic shock from internal bleeding
- Organophosphate poisoning
Correct answer: Increasing intracranial pressure
Agitation followed by decreasing consciousness is a classic sign of increasing intracranial pressure (ICP) from brain swelling or bleeding.
Question 4: You are treating a casualty with severe abdominal evisceration. What is the correct field treatment for protruding intestines?
- Gently push the intestines back into the abdominal cavity
- Cover with a moist sterile dressing and do not attempt to replace (Correct answer)
- Apply a tight pressure bandage directly over the intestines
- Leave the wound uncovered to allow the intestines to be assessed
Correct answer: Cover with a moist sterile dressing and do not attempt to replace
Eviscerated organs should be covered with a moist sterile dressing to prevent drying and contamination; never attempt to replace them in the field.
Question 5: Which nerve agent antidote combination is carried by U.S. military personnel for self or buddy aid?
- Epinephrine and diphenhydramine
- Atropine and pralidoxime (2-PAM) via auto-injector (Correct answer)
- Naloxone and diazepam
- Morphine and promethazine
Correct answer: Atropine and pralidoxime (2-PAM) via auto-injector
U.S. military personnel carry ATNAA (Antidote Treatment Nerve Agent Auto-Injector) containing atropine and 2-PAM to counter nerve agent poisoning.
Question 6: A casualty has a suspected pelvic fracture after a blast. What field intervention can help reduce internal hemorrhage?
- Elevate both legs to 45 degrees
- Apply a pelvic binder or improvised circumferential wrap at the greater trochanters (Correct answer)
- Apply direct pressure to the lower abdomen
- Splint both legs together with padding between them
Correct answer: Apply a pelvic binder or improvised circumferential wrap at the greater trochanters
A pelvic binder applied at the level of the greater trochanters stabilizes the pelvis and reduces the volume of the pelvic cavity, decreasing internal hemorrhage.
Question 7: During the Tactical Field Care phase, a conscious casualty rates their pain as 8/10. Which analgesic is appropriate per TCCC guidelines for moderate-to-severe pain when IV access is unavailable?
- Oral acetaminophen only
- Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) (Correct answer)
- Intramuscular ketamine at a full anesthetic dose
- Intravenous morphine titrated to effect
Correct answer: Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC)
OTFC (oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate) is the TCCC-recommended analgesic for moderate-to-severe pain when IV/IO access is not established.
Military First Aid 5
A casualty has heat stroke with a core temperature above 104°F (40°C) and is confused.
What is the MOST critical immediate action?