Clinical Knowledge Flashcards

A 3-year-old child is found unresponsive and not breathing. You are alone. What should you do first?

Answer: Give 2 minutes of CPR, then call 911

For children, provide 2 minutes of CPR before leaving to call 911, as cardiac arrest in children is often respiratory in origin.

Which sign indicates a tension pneumothorax in a trauma patient?

Answer: Tracheal deviation away from the injured side

Tension pneumothorax causes tracheal deviation away from the affected side due to air pressure pushing mediastinal structures.

When using an AED on a victim with a pacemaker, what should you do?

Answer: Avoid placing pads directly over the pacemaker device

AED pads should be placed at least 1 inch away from an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator to avoid interference.

What is the primary purpose of applying a tourniquet to an extremity?

Answer: To stop life-threatening bleeding that cannot be controlled by direct pressure

A tourniquet is applied to control severe, life-threatening arterial bleeding from an extremity when direct pressure is insufficient.

A patient has burns covering both arms and the front of their torso. Using the Rule of Nines, what percentage of BSA is burned?

Answer: 36%

Each arm = 9% (18% total) + front torso = 18%, totaling 36% BSA using the Rule of Nines.

Which of the following is a classic sign of hypoglycemia?

Answer: Rapid onset with confusion, sweating, and shakiness

Hypoglycemia presents rapidly with altered mental status, diaphoresis, shakiness, and pallor due to low blood sugar.

What is the most reliable way to confirm correct endotracheal tube placement?

Answer: Waveform capnography showing continuous CO2 detection

Waveform capnography is the gold standard for confirming ET tube placement because it continuously detects exhaled CO2 from the lungs.