Airway
This maneuver is used to open the airway of an unresponsive patient when spinal trauma is not suspected.
What is the head-tilt chin-lift?
This is normally the first method used to control serious external bleeding.
What is direct pressure?
Pale, cool, clammy skin; a rapid pulse; and anxiety are common early findings of this life-threatening condition.
What is shock?
An unconscious patient has loud snoring respirations. What is the main physiological problem?
What is upper-airway obstruction caused by the tongue or relaxed soft tissue?
Your partner applies a nonrebreather mask to a hypoxic patient, connects the tubing to the cylinder, and places the mask immediately on the patient. The reservoir bag remains collapsed. What step is missing?
What is turning on the oxygen and pre-filling the reservoir bag before applying the mask?
An adult has a pulse but is apneic. Using a BVM, you should provide one ventilation at approximately this interval.
What is one ventilation every 6 seconds?
Bright-red blood that spurts or pulses from a wound most strongly suggests damage to this type of blood vessel.
What is an artery?
In addition to controlling bleeding and supporting the airway, this simple intervention helps prevent heat loss in a patient experiencing shock.
What is keeping the patient warm or covering the patient with a blanket?
A patient is breathing 8 times per minute with shallow chest rise and declining mental status. The SpO₂ is 91%. What is the main problem: oxygenation or ventilation?
What is inadequate ventilation?
An unresponsive patient has no gag reflex. You open the airway and begin BVM ventilation, but air repeatedly enters the stomach and the airway is difficult to maintain. What airway equipment is missing?
What is an appropriately sized OPA?
This airway adjunct is appropriate for an unresponsive patient without a gag reflex and is measured from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw or earlobe.
What is an oropharyngeal airway, or OPA?
Severe bleeding from an extremity continues despite firm direct pressure. This device should be applied proximal to the wound and not over a joint.
What is a tourniquet?
A patient with suspected internal bleeding is thirsty and repeatedly asks for water. This is the appropriate response.
What is do not give anything by mouth?
Following major blood loss, the lungs are moving air and oxygen is entering the blood, but insufficient blood is reaching the cells. What is the main problem?
What is inadequate perfusion?
A patient has severe extremity bleeding. You apply a tourniquet, the bleeding stops, and you immediately move the patient to the ambulance. What important step is missing?
What is documenting the time of tourniquet application and reassessing to confirm bleeding remains controlled?
Your patient is breathing 30 times per minute, but the breaths are shallow, chest rise is poor, and mental status is declining. Despite the fast rate, this treatment is indicated.
What is assisting ventilations with a BVM and supplemental oxygen?
A patient has a deep, actively bleeding wound where a tourniquet cannot be applied, such as the groin or axilla. This intervention is most appropriate.
What is packing the wound with hemostatic or plain gauze and maintaining firm pressure?
A trauma patient has a pulse of 124, respirations of 28, cool clammy skin, anxiety, and a normal blood pressure. This stage of shock is most likely present.
What is compensated shock?
A patient with major hemorrhage has cool skin, tachycardia, anxiety, and delayed capillary refill, but the blood pressure is still normal. What is happening physiologically?
What is compensation through vasoconstriction and an increased heart rate to maintain blood pressure and perfusion?
An apneic adult has a pulse. Your partner connects the BVM to oxygen at 15 L/min, inserts an OPA, and squeezes the bag once every 6 seconds. The chest does not rise. What crucial action is missing?
What is obtaining and maintaining an effective mask seal while correctly positioning the airway?
An unresponsive adult has snoring respirations, vomit in the mouth, a weak carotid pulse, and a respiratory rate of 6. In the correct order, which steps do you take in managing the airway?
What is open the airway, suction, insert an OPA if tolerated, and begin BVM ventilation with oxygen?
A patient has an open lower-leg fracture with severe bleeding. Direct pressure has failed, and a tourniquet is applied. The bleeding continues after the first tourniquet is fully tightened. What should you do next?
What is apply a second tourniquet immediately above and next to the first one, and reassess immediately?
A patient with suspected internal bleeding becomes confused and lethargic. The radial pulse is weak, the blood pressure is falling, and the skin is pale and cool. Identify the stage of shock and the transport priority.
What is decompensated shock requiring immediate or rapid transport?
Prolonged shock prevents enough oxygen from reaching the cells. The cells begin producing energy without adequate oxygen, causing lactic acid accumulation. What type of metabolism is occurring, and what acid–base disturbance develops?
What are anaerobic metabolism and metabolic acidosis?
A motorcycle rider has a deep thigh laceration. The crew controls the bleeding with a tourniquet, administers oxygen, keeps the patient warm, and completes a detailed secondary assessment at the scene. The patient is becoming confused, with a weak rapid pulse and falling blood pressure. What critical part of management is missing?
What is immediate rapid transport with treatment and reassessment performed en route?