Question 1

When using the rule of palm to estimate the approximate body surface area burned,the patient's palm equals about what percentage of the body's surface area (BSA)?

Accepted Answer

The patient's palm (excluding fingers) is approximately equal to 1% of the body's surface area, which is a useful guideline in estimating the extent of burns.

Question 2

Your patient is a 25-year-old man who picked up an iron skillet with a very hot handle.He has a reddened area with blisters across the palm of his hand.Which of the following must be avoided in the prehospital management of this wound?

Accepted Answer

Application of antibiotic ointment is not recommended as it may increase the risk of infection and delay wound healing. The other options, including application of a dry, sterile dressing, keeping the site clean, and elevating the wound above the level of the heart, are appropriate for the prehospital management of this burn.

Question 3

Which of the following is of concern in a patient who received burns to his hand when he grabbed a live electrical wire?

Accepted Answer

Electrical burns can cause damage not only to the skin but also to underlying tissue and organs, which may not be immediately apparent. It is important to assess the extent of tissue damage and determine appropriate treatment.

Question 4

Your patient is a 35-year-old female who spilled a cup of hot coffee on herself.She has an area about twice the size of the palm of her hand on her right thigh that is red and painful,but without blisters.When caring for this injury in the prehospital setting,which of the following is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Applying a dry sterile dressing is appropriate for managing a burn of this size and severity until the patient can receive further medical care. The other options may not be appropriate or may even exacerbate the injury. Applying an antibiotic ointment or lotion containing a topical anesthetic to a burn may trap heat and make the injury worse, and applying ice can cause further tissue damage.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding an electrical injury?

Accepted Answer

Electrical injuries can cause damage along the entire path of the electrical current through the body, not just around the source and ground burns. This means internal tissues and organs can be affected even if external injuries appear minimal.

Question 6

While assessing a patient with partial thickness burns to his chest and neck,what should be your highest priority (even if there are no symptoms presently)?

Accepted Answer

The highest priority when assessing a patient with partial thickness burns to the chest and neck should be assessing their airway, even if there are no symptoms present. Burns to the face, neck, chest, or upper airway can cause swelling and compromise the airway, which can lead to respiratory distress or failure. Therefore, it is important to monitor the patient's breathing and be prepared to intervene if necessary to maintain a patent airway.

Question 7

You are dispatched to a local industrial plant for an "electrical injury." You arrive on-scene and find a 46-year-old male lying supine in front of an electrical panel.You are told he was attempting to make a repair and somehow received an electrical shock and was thrown to the ground.The scene is safe and the electricity is off.Your initial exam reveals a conscious person,breathing adequately.Vital signs are normal and there are no obvious signs of burns.Coworkers state that he was unconscious until your arrival.What is the next step?

Accepted Answer

In cases of electrical injuries, there may be delayed onset of symptoms, including cardiac arrest and burns. Therefore, a rapid and complete assessment, including a thorough examination for spine injuries, providing oxygen and immediate transport is the best course of action, even if there are no obvious signs of burns at the time of assessment. It is important to closely monitor the patient for any changes in condition during transport. Loading the patient and conducting care in the ambulance en route is not recommended as the patient may deteriorate rapidly and require immediate treatment on scene. Encouraging the patient to refuse care is also not recommended as the potential for delayed onset of symptoms may be significant.

Question 8

According to the rule of nines for infants and young children,the patient's head and neck account for what percentage of the total body surface area?

Accepted Answer

The rule of nines for infants and young children allocates 18% of the total body surface area to the head and neck, reflecting the proportionally larger size of these areas in younger patients compared to adults.

Question 9

Which of the following injuries requires the use of an occlusive dressing?

Accepted Answer

An occlusive dressing is used to seal wounds from the external environment and is particularly important for wounds such as open neck wounds, open chest wounds (to prevent pneumothorax), and abdominal wounds with organ protrusion to prevent infection and further damage.

Question 10

You assess a 35-year-old female patient with a chemical burn to her right forearm and hand.As you assess the burn,you notice a white powder on the burn.What should be your next step?

Accepted Answer

When dealing with chemical burns, especially those involving a dry chemical like a powder, the first step is to brush off the chemical to prevent further injury. After removing the powder, the area should be flushed with copious amounts of water to dilute and remove any remaining chemical, reducing the risk of further damage. This approach helps in minimizing the chemical's contact with the skin and its potential harmful effects.

Question 11

Which of the following is a desirable characteristic of dressings used in the prehospital management of most open wounds?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a desirable...

Question 12

You are dispatched to an industrial plant for a burn.You arrive and find a 60-year-old male who came in contact with a broken steam line and appears to have partial thickness burns on both hands and arms.He is lying on the ground and coworkers are gently spraying him with water from a nearby hose.What should you do?

Accepted Answer

The first priority in this situation is to care for the burn and assess the patient. Pouring water on the burns is appropriate first aid, but the patient needs a complete assessment, including cervical spine precautions, before transport. Age alone is not a primary factor in determining where to transport a burn patient. Air transport may be necessary, but that decision should be made after initial assessment and stabilization. Contacting the burn center is also appropriate, but it should not delay necessary treatment and transport.

Question 13

When managing an electrical burn,the EMT should:

Accepted Answer

Checking for a source and ground burn injury is important in managing an electrical burn, as this can indicate the path of the electrical current through the patient's body. It is also important to remove the patient from the electrical source as quickly and safely as possible. Attempting CPR may be necessary if the patient is not breathing or does not have a pulse, regardless of the time elapsed since contact with the electrical source. Checking the patient's pulse is also important, but should only be done once the patient is safely removed from the source to prevent the EMT from becoming a path for the electrical current.

Question 14

Your patient is a 40-year-old male who has been exposed to a dry chemical powder and is complaining of severe pain on both of his hands,the site of the contact.He is working in an illegal chemical manufacturing plant and there is no decontamination shower on site.Which of the following would be the BEST way to manage this situation?

Accepted Answer

The best way to manage this situation is to brush away as much of the powder as possible and then have the patient hold his hands under running water from a faucet or regular garden hose. This will wash away the chemical powder and prevent further exposure. Option A is not recommended as spraying the patient with water can cause the chemical to spread to other parts of the body. Option B is not effective as sterile saline solution is not enough to remove the chemical powder. Option D is not appropriate as bandaging the hands can trap the chemical powder and worsen the condition.

Question 15

Which of the following patients has the greatest likelihood of being cared for in a burn center?

Accepted Answer

Patients with deep partial thickness burns covering a significant area of the body, such as a hand and arm, are more likely to require the specialized care provided by a burn center. This is due to the potential for significant fluid loss, infection, and the need for specialized wound care and possibly surgical intervention such as skin grafting.

Question 16

You are dispatched to the local elementary school for an injured student.Upon arrival you find that two 7-year-olds got into a fight and one of them jabbed a pencil in the other's cheek.The pencil is still sticking out of the child's cheek.When you examine the patient,you cannot see the end of the pencil that went through the cheek,as it appears to be stuck in the palate.There is not significant bleeding,and the child is not having any difficulty breathing.The child is very upset and wants you to pull the pencil out.What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Removing the object may cause more damage and increase bleeding. The object is stabilised to avoid further injury and transported to a hospital immediately for medical intervention. Leaving the object in place reduces the risk of more significant bleeding in the event that the object is acting as a tamponade. Always err on the side of caution and stabilize the object without removing it.

Quiz 26: Soft-Tissue Trauma

When using the rule of palm to estimate the approximate body surface area burned,the patient's palm equals about what percentage of the body's surface area (BSA) ?