Deck 13: Head and Spine Injuries

Question 1

Most brain injuries are caused by:

A) recreation.
B) disease.
C) trauma.
D) sports.

Answer 1

trauma.

Question 2

A brain injury in which the head comes to a sudden stop but the brain continues to move back and forth inside the skull is:

A) coup-contrecoup.
B) a brain contusion.
C) an epidermal hematoma.
D) a subdural hematoma.

Answer 2

coup-contrecoup.

Question 3

When the brain is injured, blood vessels in the brain dilate allowing more blood into the injured area; swelling and an increase in pressure result. This can affect all but:

A) the heart rate.
B) breathing.
C) blood pressure.
D) body temperature.

Answer 3

body temperature.

Question 4

The most common type of skull fracture, which causes a thin-line crack in the skull, is a:

A) linear fracture.
B) basilar fracture.
C) comminuted fracture.
D) depressed fracture.

Question 5

A fracture that occurs when there is a break in the base of the skull, is difficult to detect, and often causes extensive damage, is a:

A) depressed fracture.
B) linear fracture.
C) comminuted fracture.
D) basilar fracture.

Question 6

When assessing a victim of head injury, it is important to obtain a history that includes:

A) whether the victim's mental status has changed.
B) what medications the victim is on.
C) whether the victim has allergies.
D) what the victim ate.

Question 7

The most serious complication of a head injury is:

A) extensive bleeding.
B) shock.
C) lack of oxygen to the brain.
D) impaired ventilation.

Question 8

One of the late signs of skull fracture is Battle's sign, which is:

A) bruising around the eyes.
B) bruising behind the ears.
C) fluid leaking from the ears.
D) deformity of the skull.

Question 9

Before beginning any first aid care for head injury, first:

A) immobilize the victim.
B) assess the victim's mental status.
C) control bleeding.
D) remove any penetrating objects.

Question 10

Whenever you care for a victim of head injury, always assume:

A) skull fracture.
B) brain damage.
C) spinal injury.
D) chest trauma.

Question 11

After activating the EMS system, the top priority of first aid care for a head injury is to:

A) control bleeding.
B) immobilize the victim.
C) establish an open airway.
D) treat for shock.

Question 12

If the victim sustained a medical or nontraumatic brain injury, place the victim on his or her:

A) back.
B) right side and elevate the head slightly.
C) left side and elevate the head slightly.
D) stomach.

Question 13

A toddler is running in the living room and falls, striking the side of his head on the end of a coffee table. The toddler is lying very still, with a blank stare on his face. What should you do?

A) Assess the toddler's ABCDs and call 911.
B) Call 911 and hold the toddler's head still.
C) Lift the toddler up and shake him awake.
D) Ignore the toddler; he will be fine.

Question 14

A local baseball league player has been struck in the side of the head with a baseball. She is lying on her back, unresponsive, with blood coming from her ear. She is breathing. What should you do?

A) Have someone call the police; roll her into the recovery position.
B) Have someone call 911; stabilize her head, open her airway with jaw thrust.
C) Have someone call 911; plug her ear with tissue and roll her into the recovery position.
D) Have someone call 911; start CPR.

Question 15

When the spinal cord is injured, the victim may show signs of:

A) muscle twitching.
B) memory loss.
C) paralysis.
D) pupil dilation.

Question 16

In which of the following situations should you always suspect spinal injury?

A) table saw accident
B) burn from grease
C) motorcycle accidents
D) stroke

Question 17

The two major complications of spinal injury are inadequate breathing effort and:

A) paralysis.
B) unresponsiveness.
C) bleeding.
D) impaired circulation.

Question 18

A high number of spinal injuries occur in the ________ spinal region.

A) sacral
B) lumbar
C) thoracic
D) cervical

Question 19

The first step in assessing a responsive victim of spinal injury is to:

A) assess equality of strength.
B) note the mechanism of injury.
C) inspect for deformities and swelling.
D) ask, "Can you feel me touching your toes?"

Question 20

At a local ski hill, a snowboarder wipes out while doing a flip. He is responsive and says he cannot move or feel his legs and feet. He has most likely suffered a:

A) leg fracture.
B) head injury.
C) neck injury.
D) lower spine injury.

Question 21

Pain associated with movement is a sign of spinal injury. Assess the victim's pain by:

A) asking the victim to move.
B) moving the victim yourself.
C) asking the victim where it hurts.
D) looking for bruising.

Question 22

What is the most reliable sign of spinal injury in a responsive victim?

A) impaired breathing
B) paralysis
C) pain associated with movement
D) obvious deformity

Question 23

What technique should you use to open the airway of an unresponsive victim with spinal injury?

A) modified jaw-thrust
B) head-tilt/chin-lift
C) chin-lift only
D) head-tilt only

Question 24

Under which of the following circumstances should you not remove the helmet of a spinal-injured victim?

A) if the helmet interferes with your ability to assess breathing
B) if the helmet interferes with proper spinal immobilization
C) if the victim is in cardiac arrest
D) removal of the helmet would cause further injury

Question 25

The general rule for management of spinal injury is to support and immobilize the:

A) spine only.
B) head only.
C) torso and pelvis only.
D) entire body.

Question 26

A helmeted child falls from a bicycle and is lying unresponsive on the sidewalk, on her side. She is breathing. As a First Aider who witnesses this accident, you should:

A) remove the child's helmet and then call 911.
B) call 911, then remove the child's helmet.
C) call 911, sit the child up, and remove her helmet.
D) call 911, then stabilize the child's helmeted head.

Question 27

At the local skateboard park, a skater takes a header in the half pipe. He didn't have a helmet on, and is lying on his back confused and not able to move. As a First Aider, you should:

A) drag him off the half pipe and take him by car to the hospital.
B) not move the victim, call 911, and stabilize his head and neck in a neutral in-line position.
C) roll him on his side in case he vomits.
D) roll him onto a piece of plywood and take him to the hospital in a pickup truck.

Question 28

Head injuries affect 500,000 children under fourteen years of age.

Question 29

Skull fracture itself presents little danger unless accompanied by brain injury.

Question 30

When assessing a head wound, palpate the wound to determine size and depth of the injury.

Question 31

To control bleeding of an open or depressed skull injury, apply direct pressure.

Question 32

Any head injury victim who loses consciousness even briefly must be evaluated at a medical facility.

Question 33

When the spinal cord is damaged, the victim will always have paralysis or numbness.

Question 34

The extent of assessment of a spinal-injured victim should be based on the level of training the First Aider has had under the direction of a qualified and certified instructor.

Question 35

You can generally rule out the possibility of spinal column or spinal cord damage if the victim can walk or move his or her arms and legs.

Question 36

A fracture of one spot on the spine is usually associated with a fracture in other areas of the spine.

Question 37

If a victim of a fall from a ladder has numbness and tingling in his arms and legs, you should have him stand up and walk it off.

Question 38

Sports helmets make it easier for the First Aider to access the victim's airway.

Question 39

While placing a victim's head in a neutral in-line position, you encounter resistance of the neck and head to move. You should force the head and neck into a neutral position.

Question 40

Football helmets should be left in place; however, the face shield should be removed if the victim requires immediate access to the airway.

Question 41

Football shoulder pads must be removed to assess the victim.

Question 42

If a victim of a football injury is to be transported, you can leave the face shield on.

Question 43

The cervical vertebrae are the least prone to injury.

Question 44

The first priority in treating spinal injury is to ensure an adequate airway and breathing.