Chest Trauma
What structure separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and helps with breathing?
diaphragm
What abdominal organ is located primarily in the right upper quadrant and is highly vascular?
This is the first intervention generally used to control external bleeding.
What is direct pressure?
This medical term is defined as the failure of the circulatory system to provide adequate oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells and tissues
What is shock?
This injury occurs when the skin is scraped against a rough surface.
What is an abrasion?
What is the term for air accumulating in the pleural space, causing partial or complete lung collapse?
Pneumothorax
What abdominal organ is located in the left upper quadrant and can cause significant internal bleeding when injured?
Spleen
This type of bleeding is typically dark red and flows steadily.
What is venous bleeding?
This type of shock results from significant blood or fluid loss.
What is hypovolemic shock?
This open wound occurs when a flap of skin or tissue is partially or completely torn away.
What is an avulsion?
This life-threatening condition occurs when air enters the pleural space but cannot escape, eventually causing tracheal deviation, jugular vein distention, and severe shock.
For an open abdominal injury with exposed organs, the EMT should dress the wound in this manner.
What is moist sterile dressing, then cover with an occlusive dressing taped on four sizes
This is where a tourniquet should be placed relative to life threatening bleeding wound.
What is approximately 2-3 inches above the wound?
A trauma pt. is anxious, pale, cool, and tachycardiac with a normal blood pressure. The pt. is in this stage of shock.
What is compensated shock?
This injury results when blood collects beneath intact skin following blunt trauma.
What is a hematoma?
A patient has paradoxical chest wall movement following blunt trauma. What injury should the EMT suspect?
Flail chest
This classification of abdominal organs which includes the stomach, intestines, and bladder tends to spill chemical or bacterial contents into the peritoneal cavity when ruptured, causing severe peritonitis.
What are hollow organs?
A pt. has a deep groin wound that cannot be controlled with a standard tourniquet. This is your next step if you are unable to place another tourniquet above the wound.
What is pack the wound preferably with hemostatic gauze?
This specific type of shock occurs when a severe bacterial infection releases toxins that cause widespread, massive vasodilation throughout the body, leading to a critical drop in blood pressure.
What is distributive shock?
In these two situations is it appropriate for an EMT to remove an impaled object.
What is CPR or airway involvement?
When assessing a patient with penetrating chest trauma, finding muffled heart sounds alongside these other two specific circulatory signs completes Beck's Triad.
What are hypotension and jugular venous distention (JVD)?
A patient involved in a high-speed collision has abdominal bruising from the seat belt, increasing tenderness, and a normal initial blood pressure. Why should the EMT remain concerned?
Compensated hypovolemic shock
At this late stage of hemorrhagic shock, the body's compensatory mechanisms fail, and the EMT will observe a critical drop in systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg.
What is decompensated shock?
A trauma patient becomes confused, hypotensive, and increasingly tachycardic after initially presenting with normal blood pressure. What does this change indicate?
Progression from compensated to decompensated shock, suggesting worsening tissue perfusion
This is the major concern with a pt. with circumferential full thickness burns around the chest that has developed increased respiratory distress.
What is the rigid burned tissue can restrict chest expansion and interfere with adequate ventilation.