Trauma Management & Medical Emergencies Flashcards

What is the first priority when assessing a trauma patient in the wilderness?

Answer: Assessing the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation).

When assessing any trauma patient, especially in the wilderness, the absolute first priority is to assess and manage the ABCs: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Ensuring a patent airway, adequate breathing, and effective circulation addresses the most immediate life threats. Without these basic functions, other interventions will be ineffective, making them the foundation of all trauma care.

Which of the following is a sign of tension pneumothorax?

Answer: Tracheal deviation away from the affected side.

Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening condition where air accumulates in the pleural space, compressing the lung and shifting the mediastinum. Tracheal deviation away from the affected side is a late but critical sign, indicating significant pressure buildup that is pushing the trachea and other mediastinal structures. This shift compromises heart and lung function, requiring immediate intervention.

What is the best way to control severe bleeding in the wilderness?

Answer: Applying firm, direct pressure with a sterile dressing.

The most effective initial method to control severe bleeding in the wilderness is applying firm, direct pressure with a sterile dressing. This direct compression helps to close the damaged blood vessels and promote clotting. While tourniquets are used for uncontrolled bleeding, direct pressure is the primary and often sufficient first-line intervention.

Which symptom suggests a possible spinal injury?

Answer: Numbness or tingling in the extremities.

Numbness or tingling in the extremities is a classic symptom of a possible spinal injury because it indicates nerve impingement or damage. The spinal cord transmits sensory information, and any compromise to its function can result in altered sensations in the limbs. This neurological deficit warrants immediate spinal precautions and further assessment.

How should you manage an open chest wound (sucking chest wound) in the field?

Answer: Cover it tightly with plastic and tape on three sides.

An open chest wound, or sucking chest wound, allows air to enter the pleural space, leading to a pneumothorax. To manage this, apply an occlusive dressing (like plastic wrap) and tape it on three sides. This creates a flutter valve, allowing air to escape during exhalation but preventing more air from entering during inhalation, which helps to re-expand the lung and prevent tension pneumothorax.

What is the most common sign of hypovolemic shock in trauma patients?

Answer: Rapid, weak pulse.

Hypovolemic shock results from significant fluid (blood) loss, causing the heart to pump faster to compensate for the decreased circulating volume. A rapid, weak (thready) pulse is the most common and earliest sign, as the heart struggles to maintain perfusion with less blood. This indicates the body's compensatory mechanisms are working but are becoming overwhelmed.

When should a tourniquet be applied in wilderness trauma care?

Answer: When direct pressure fails to stop severe bleeding.

A tourniquet should be applied in wilderness trauma care only when direct pressure and pressure dressings have failed to control severe, life-threatening bleeding from an extremity. Tourniquets are powerful tools that can save a life, but they carry risks of tissue damage, so they are reserved for situations where other methods are insufficient to stop hemorrhage.

Which of the following is a key symptom of a head injury requiring urgent evacuation?

Answer: Confusion or worsening headache.

Confusion or a worsening headache are critical symptoms of a head injury that indicate increasing intracranial pressure or brain swelling, requiring urgent evacuation. These neurological changes suggest a deteriorating condition and potential for serious complications like herniation. Any alteration in mental status or severe, progressive headache after head trauma warrants immediate higher-level medical care.

What is the primary treatment for anaphylaxis in a wilderness setting?

Answer: Immediate epinephrine injection (if available).

The primary and most effective treatment for anaphylaxis in any setting, including the wilderness, is an immediate epinephrine injection. Epinephrine rapidly constricts blood vessels, relaxes airway muscles, and reduces swelling, counteracting the life-threatening allergic reaction. Oral antihistamines are insufficient for severe anaphylaxis and should not delay epinephrine administration.