Wildland Trauma
This is the most common injury mechanism on the fireline and often results from uneven terrain, roots, and loose rock.
What are slips, trips, and falls?
The most critical life-threatening condition associated with prolonged work in heat.
What is heat stroke?
This level of consciousness scale is commonly used during a primary assessment.
What is AVPU?
The first priority when treating a thermal burn on the fireline.
What is stopping the burning process and ensuring scene safety?
This artery is commonly assessed during a rapid circulation check in a conscious adult patient.
What is the radial artery?
A chainsaw operator suffers a severe leg laceration with bright red pulsatile bleeding.
What is arterial hemorrhage?
A firefighter becomes confused, irritable, and unsteady after hours of intense work despite drinking water.
What is heat exhaustion?
The SAMPLE acronym.
What is Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past History, Last Oral Intake, and Events.
A patient has white, leathery skin with little or no pain in the center of the wound.
What is a full-thickness (third-degree) burn?
This structure carries both air and food and is protected during swallowing by the epiglottis.
What is the pharynx?
After a snag strike, a firefighter complains of neck pain, tingling in both hands, and weakness.
What is a suspected spinal injury?
This electrolyte imbalance can occur when firefighters replace sweat losses with excessive water but little salt.
What is hyponatremia?
The GCS acronym
What is Glasgow Coma Scale?
Circumferential burns to an extremity are concerning because they may impair this.
What is circulation?
A patient is struck in the left lower ribs and develops difficulty breathing. Injury to this underlying organ should be suspected.
What is the spleen?
A firefighter's lower leg becomes trapped beneath a rolling log for 45 minutes.
What is a crush injury?
A crew member collapses in a low-lying area near a sour gas facility. A second worker attempts a rescue and also collapses. The most important action is this.
What is stay out of the contaminated area and initiate a properly equipped rescue?
A firefighter has a respiratory rate of 32, altered mental status, and hot dry skin. This transport decision should be made.
What is RTC?
A patient with extensive burns becomes pale, restless, and develops a rapid pulse several hours after the injury.
What is burn shock?
This chamber of the heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta.
What is the left ventricle?
This condition should be suspected when a patient develops worsening pain, swelling, and tight muscle compartments following trauma.
What is compartment syndrome?
A patient with hyponatremia may present with headache, vomiting, confusion, seizures, and this severe neurological outcome.
What is cerebral edema?
Following a fall from height, a patient develops decreasing LOC, vomiting, and unequal pupils.
What is increased intracranial pressure secondary to head injury?
A firefighter is trapped briefly during a burnover and sustains burns to the face, neck, chest, and both arms. Despite being able to talk normally, this concern requires continuous monitoring.
What is progressive airway swelling from inhalation injury?
This part of the brain controls breathing, heart rate, and consciousness, making injury here rapidly fatal.
What is the brainstem?