Prehospital Trauma Life Support Scene Assessment and Safety 1 Flashcards

During scene size-up, which component of the primary assessment should be completed BEFORE approaching the patient in a potential hazmat incident?

Answer: Identify the substance and determine the safety perimeter

In a potential hazmat incident, the provider must identify the substance involved and establish a safe perimeter before approaching. Attempting patient care without this step exposes the provider to the same hazard, creating additional casualties.

A prehospital provider arrives at a scene involving a motor vehicle collision with downed power lines across the vehicle. What is the correct initial action?

Answer: Stage at a safe distance and request utility company response before entering

Downed power lines represent an immediate life threat to responders. The correct action is to stage at a safe distance and request the utility company to de-energize the lines. Appearance alone cannot confirm a line is de-energized — even still lines can be lethal.

According to PHTLS principles, which finding during scene size-up would MOST likely indicate the need to request additional resources before patient contact?

Answer: Multiple patients with varying levels of consciousness at a collision scene

Multiple patients with varying consciousness levels suggests a mass casualty incident may be developing. PHTLS emphasizes requesting additional resources early during size-up rather than after care has begun, as response times make early notification critical.

What is the PRIMARY purpose of the scene size-up in PHTLS?

Answer: To gather information needed to ensure provider safety and allocate resources appropriately

The scene size-up is designed to assess scene safety, determine mechanism of injury, identify the number of patients, and determine resource needs — all before hands-on patient care begins. This protects providers and ensures adequate resources are mobilized.

A provider arrives at a shooting scene and finds the patient on the ground. Law enforcement has not yet arrived. Which action reflects correct PHTLS scene safety principles?

Answer: Stage in a safe location and await law enforcement clearance before entering

PHTLS is clear that providers must not enter an active or unsecured violent scene. Staging and waiting for law enforcement to secure the scene is the correct action. Even with a critically injured patient, a provider who becomes a victim adds to the problem rather than solving it.

When assessing mechanism of injury at a vehicle collision, which observation is MOST significant for predicting internal injury severity according to PHTLS?

Answer: Intrusion of the passenger compartment and deployment of airbags

Passenger compartment intrusion and airbag deployment are key physical indicators of significant energy transfer to occupants. PHTLS uses these findings to predict injury patterns and trigger higher index of suspicion for serious internal injuries, even in patients who appear stable.