Trauma Flashcards

Your patient is suffering from Epistaxis. How should you proceed.

Answer: Pinch the nostrils and have the patient lean forward

For epistaxis (nosebleed), the correct first aid involves pinching the soft part of the nostrils together firmly for at least 10-15 minutes. Simultaneously, having the patient lean forward helps prevent blood from flowing down the back of the throat, which can cause nausea, vomiting, or aspiration. Tilting the head backward is contraindicated as it directs blood into the airway or stomach.

What are the signs and symptoms of shock

Answer: Increased heart rate, increased respirations, hypotension

Shock is a life-threatening condition characterized by inadequate tissue perfusion. The body's initial compensatory mechanisms include increasing heart rate (tachycardia) and respiratory rate (tachypnea) to try and improve oxygen delivery. However, as shock progresses and compensatory mechanisms fail, blood pressure begins to drop (hypotension), indicating decompensated shock and a critical state.

Your patient is a 22 year old male with an object impaled in the right side of his chest, just below the shoulder. After assessing that the object is not blocking his airway, what is the best course of action for this patient?

Answer: Stabilize the object in place, control the bleeding and transport

For an impaled object, the primary goal is to prevent further injury and control bleeding. Removing the object, whether by pushing or pulling, can cause additional damage to tissues, blood vessels, or organs, and may lead to uncontrolled hemorrhage or air embolism. Therefore, the correct action is to stabilize the object in place, control any external bleeding, and transport the patient for surgical removal.

Your patient has an injury that consists of overstretched & torn ligaments. What type of injury does this patient have?

Answer: Sprain

A sprain is a specific type of injury that involves the stretching or tearing of ligaments, which are the tough bands of fibrous tissue connecting bones to other bones at a joint. In contrast, a strain affects muscles or tendons, a fracture is a broken bone, and a dislocation is when bones at a joint are forced out of alignment.

What is the best treatment for a suspected fracture of the talus bone?

Answer: Splint the ankle, apply ice, and elevate

The talus bone is located in the ankle. The standard treatment for a suspected fracture or significant injury to an extremity involves immobilizing the injured area with a splint to prevent movement and further damage. Applying ice helps reduce swelling and pain, while elevation also aids in minimizing swelling by promoting venous return. Traction splints are specifically used for mid-shaft femur fractures, not ankle injuries.

When dealing with a patient who has suffered an injury to the back of his head, what part of the brain would you suspect will be affected?

Answer: Occipital

The occipital lobe is located at the posterior (back) portion of the cerebrum. This region of the brain is primarily responsible for processing visual information. Therefore, an injury to the back of the head would most directly affect the occipital lobe and potentially lead to visual disturbances.

Your patient is a 34-year old male with a large laceration to the abdomen, and the abdominal organs are protruding from the wound. What is this type of injury called?

Answer: Evisceration

Evisceration is the medical term used to describe an injury where internal organs, most commonly abdominal organs, protrude through an open wound. This is a serious condition that requires immediate sterile dressing and prompt transport to prevent infection and further organ damage. Avulsion is a tearing away of tissue, protrusion is a general term for something sticking out, and a contusion is a bruise.

What is the best way to handle an amputated extremity?

Answer: Wrap it in sterile dressings and keep it cool with ice

Proper care for an amputated extremity is crucial for potential reattachment. The amputated part should be wrapped in a sterile, moist dressing, placed in a plastic bag, and then kept cool (not frozen) by placing it on ice. Direct contact with ice can cause frostbite and further damage the tissue, reducing the chances of successful reattachment.

You are transporting a trauma patient, and notice their condition starts to deteriorate. What do you do?

Answer: Reassess your patient

When a patient's condition deteriorates during transport, the immediate priority is to re-evaluate their status. Reassessing the patient's airway, breathing, circulation, and vital signs allows the EMT to identify the cause of the deterioration and implement appropriate interventions or adjust treatment plans. This systematic approach ensures that critical changes are recognized and addressed promptly.

You are transporting an unconscious patient. How often should you check their vitals?

Answer: 5 minutes

For unstable or critical patients, including those who are unconscious, vital signs should be monitored and recorded frequently to detect any changes in their condition. The standard for such patients in EMS is to reassess and document vital signs every 5 minutes. This allows for close monitoring and timely intervention if deterioration occurs.

What is the mnemonic for determining level of consciousness?

Answer: AVPU

AVPU is a widely recognized mnemonic used in emergency medical services to quickly assess a patient's level of consciousness. It stands for Alert, Verbal (responds to verbal stimuli), Pain (responds to painful stimuli), and Unresponsive. This rapid assessment helps determine the patient's neurological status and guides further evaluation and treatment.

Your patient is a 16-year old male, who fell approximately 15 feet. This call should be considered:

Answer: Not a significant mechanism of injury

For adult patients, a fall is generally considered a significant mechanism of injury if it is greater than 20 feet. While a 15-foot fall can certainly cause serious injuries, it does not meet the strict criteria for a 'significant mechanism of injury' based solely on height for a 16-year-old male, who is typically treated as an adult in trauma assessment guidelines.

A fall greater than ______ would be considered a significant mechanism of injury in a patient under the age of 8.

Answer: 10 feet

In pediatric trauma, the threshold for a significant mechanism of injury from a fall is lower than for adults. For a patient under the age of 8, a fall greater than 10 feet or two to three times the child's height is considered significant. This is due to children's different body proportions and less developed protective reflexes, making them more susceptible to severe injury from falls.

You are called to the scene of pedestrian that’s been struck by a car. Upon examination, you notice clear fluid leaking from the patient’s ear, that you believe to be cerebral spinal fluid. This tells you the patient may have suffered a:

Answer: Severe head injury

Clear fluid leaking from the ear (or nose) after head trauma, especially if it is suspected to be cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), is a hallmark sign of a basilar skull fracture. A basilar skull fracture is a specific type of severe head injury involving a fracture at the base of the skull, indicating significant force and potential for serious complications like brain injury or infection.

What does PMS stand for during your assessment of a patient’s lower extremity?

Answer: Pulse, Motor function, Sensation

PMS is a critical mnemonic used in the assessment of an injured extremity to evaluate its neurovascular status. It stands for Pulse (checking for adequate circulation distal to the injury), Motor function (assessing the patient's ability to move the extremity), and Sensation (checking for intact nerve function and feeling). This assessment helps identify potential nerve or blood vessel damage.