You have arrived on the scene of an explosion in a warehouse used to store fertilizers. A paramedic, who has already triaged the nine patients involved, directs you to a young man sitting under a tree. The man states that he is having excruciating ear pain. The initial assessment and rapid trauma assessment reveal no obvious injuries. Given this presentation, the EMT would recognize which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The young man's symptoms, combined with the fact that he was near the site of an explosion, suggest that he has suffered a primary phase blast injury to the inner ear. This occurs when a sudden increase in pressure from the blast wave causes damage to the delicate structures in the inner ear, resulting in symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear pain. While other types of blast injuries can also cause ear damage, the fact that the patient is experiencing intense ear pain without any visible injuries suggests that the blast wave was the likely cause of his symptoms.

You Have Arrived on the Scene of an Explosion in a Warehouse