An 8-year-old child was chasing his dog when he ran out into the street and was struck by a car. He is responsive to verbal stimuli and has an unstable pelvis and a bruise to the side of his face. His airway is open and his breathing is rapid and shallow. His radial pulse is rapid and weak and his skin is cool, moist, and diaphoretic. He also has burns and abrasions to his back after being thrown by the car onto the hot pavement. Based on these assessment findings, the EMT would treat the patient for what condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The assessment findings suggest that the child is in shock, which can be caused by blood loss and other factors. The weak pulse, cool and diaphoretic skin, and rapid breathing are all signs of shock. The unstable pelvis and facial bruising may be indicative of injuries sustained from the impact, but the priority is to treat the shock and transport the patient quickly to a medical facility for further evaluation and treatment. The burns and abrasions to the back should also be treated, but they are secondary to the shock. Hypoxia and head injury cannot be ruled out entirely without further evaluation, but the primary concern at this point is the patient's shock status.

An 8-Year-Old Child Was Chasing His Dog When He Ran