OOPS, THAT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BEND
Bone ends poke out of skin like a horror movie — it’s this fracture type
What is an open/compound fracture
The kind of shock you don’t fix with an AED (even though it sounds electrical).
What is hypovolemic shock?
This airway maneuver is your go-to when no spine injury is suspected.
What is head tilt–chin lift?
Clear fluid from ears/nose is NOT allergies — it’s likely this.
What is CSF from a skull fracture?
This burn is painful, red, and perfect for ruining vacations (but doesn’t blister).
What is a superficial burn?
Splinting rule: immobilize the joint above and this.
What is the joint below?
If your patient is pale, cool, clammy, and says they “feel weird,” this might be happening — not just Monday.
What is compensated shock?
An open chest wound that sounds like someone drinking through a straw needs this dressing.
What is an occlusive dressing?
The airway technique used when spine injury is suspected. Think “no head tilt, no lawsuit.”
What is jaw thrust?
EMS estimates total burn surface area using this rule — not math class flashbacks, promise.
What is the Rule of Nines?
When assessing distal pulses, motor, and sensation — this EMS acronym saves the day.
What is PMS or CMS?
This simple bleeding control method doesn’t require magic — just hands.
What is direct pressure?
A high-pitched sound from the upper airway. Not Mariah Carey.
What is stridor?
If pupils don’t match, something’s wrong inside this part of the body.
What is the brain?
First step in managing a burn (no, not butter, toothpaste, or grandma’s advice).
What is stop the burning & cool gently?
his traction-friendly femur fracture isn’t as nice as it sounds.
What is mid-shaft femur fracture?
Blood pressure dropping, confusion setting in, this is worse than forgetting your lunch.
What is decompensated shock?
You’ll hear this when breath sounds vanish on one side and your day gets exciting.
What is pneumothorax?
Abnormal flexion or extension posturing means the brain pulled the plug on normal movement.
What is decorticate or decerebrate posturing?
Soft tissue trauma where organs politely try to escape the body.
What is an evisceration?
You don't try to push this back into place — unless you want paperwork.
What is a dislocation (do not reduce)?
Instead of jacking their BP back to normal, trauma resuscitation aims for this.
What is permissive hypotension?
A tension pneumo might push the trachea this way — because it’s rude like that.
What is deviation away from the affected side?
GCS below this number means you better get ALS and rapid transport moving.
What is 8? (GCS ≤ 8 = intubate)
Face, hands, or airway burns? Straight to this type of hospital — do not pass Go.
What is a burn center?