A patient presents with an arrow impaled in the right lower quadrant of his abdomen. He is in excruciating pain and states that he was accidentally shot by a friend while hunting. While there is no external bleeding coming from the injury, the surrounding skin is ecchymotic. Other assessment findings indicate early shock. Which action should the EMT perform first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first action the EMT should take is to administer supplemental oxygen to the patient. This will help to maintain the patient's oxygen saturation and prevent the development of hypoxia. Once oxygen has been administered, the EMT can proceed with stabilizing the arrow with bulky dressings and establishing manual in-line spinal stabilization if needed. However, the arrow should not be removed as this can cause further damage and bleeding. Instead, the arrow should be left in place and the patient transported to the hospital as quickly as possible.

A Patient Presents with an Arrow Impaled in the Right