Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Exam
With Actual Questions & Verified Answers,
Plus Explained Rationales/Expert Verified For
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1. A trauma patient arrives with airway obstruction due to facial
trauma. What is the first priority?
A. Cervical spine immobilization
B. Defibrillation
C. Airway management with suction and adjuncts
D. Blood pressure control
Rationale: In PHTLS, airway takes absolute priority. A
compromised airway must be opened and maintained
immediately before other interventions.
2. Which finding is MOST concerning for tension pneumothorax?
A. Bilateral breath sounds
B. Bradycardia with hypertension
C. Absent breath sounds on one side with hypotension and
tracheal deviation
D. Mild chest pain only
Rationale: Tension pneumothorax presents with respiratory
distress, hypotension, unilateral absent breath sounds, and
possible tracheal shift due to mediastinal pressure.
3. The primary survey in trauma follows which sequence?
A. Disability, Exposure, Airway, Breathing, Circulation
B. Circulation, Airway, Breathing, Disability, Exposure
C. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE)
, D. Exposure, Airway, Circulation, Breathing, Disability
Rationale: PHTLS uses ABCDE to rapidly identify and treat life-
threatening conditions in order of priority.
4. A patient with suspected spinal injury should be managed with:
A. No immobilization if awake
B. Only cervical collar
C. Manual in-line stabilization and full spinal motion restriction if
indicated
D. Head elevation only
Rationale: Suspected spinal injury requires controlled
immobilization to prevent secondary spinal cord damage.
5. What is the most reliable early sign of shock in trauma?
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Cyanosis
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the earliest compensatory
response to shock before blood pressure drops.
6. Which type of shock is most common in trauma patients?
A. Cardiogenic
B. Neurogenic
C. Septic
D. Hypovolemic
Rationale: Hemorrhage is the leading cause of shock in trauma,
making hypovolemic shock most common.
7. A flail chest is characterized by:
A. Single rib fracture
B. Pneumothorax only
C. Paradoxical chest wall movement with multiple rib fractures
, D. Tracheal injury
Rationale: Flail chest occurs when multiple adjacent ribs are
fractured in two places causing unstable chest wall movement.
8. The most appropriate initial treatment for external bleeding is:
A. IV fluids
B. Tourniquet only if internal bleeding
C. Direct pressure on the wound
D. Immediate surgery
Rationale: Direct pressure is the first-line method to control
external hemorrhage.
9. Which sign suggests internal bleeding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Abdominal rigidity and distension
C. Warm skin
D. Normal mental status
Rationale: Abdominal rigidity and distension suggest possible
internal hemorrhage.
10. A GCS score of 8 indicates:
A. Mild head injury
B. Moderate head injury
C. Severe head injury
D. No injury
Rationale: A GCS of 8 or less defines severe traumatic brain
injury.
11. The “golden hour” refers to:
A. Time before EMS arrival
B. Critical time after injury when rapid treatment improves
survival
C. Time for imaging
With Actual Questions & Verified Answers,
Plus Explained Rationales/Expert Verified For
Guaranteed 100% Pass 2026/Latest
Update/Instant Download Pdf
1. A trauma patient arrives with airway obstruction due to facial
trauma. What is the first priority?
A. Cervical spine immobilization
B. Defibrillation
C. Airway management with suction and adjuncts
D. Blood pressure control
Rationale: In PHTLS, airway takes absolute priority. A
compromised airway must be opened and maintained
immediately before other interventions.
2. Which finding is MOST concerning for tension pneumothorax?
A. Bilateral breath sounds
B. Bradycardia with hypertension
C. Absent breath sounds on one side with hypotension and
tracheal deviation
D. Mild chest pain only
Rationale: Tension pneumothorax presents with respiratory
distress, hypotension, unilateral absent breath sounds, and
possible tracheal shift due to mediastinal pressure.
3. The primary survey in trauma follows which sequence?
A. Disability, Exposure, Airway, Breathing, Circulation
B. Circulation, Airway, Breathing, Disability, Exposure
C. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE)
, D. Exposure, Airway, Circulation, Breathing, Disability
Rationale: PHTLS uses ABCDE to rapidly identify and treat life-
threatening conditions in order of priority.
4. A patient with suspected spinal injury should be managed with:
A. No immobilization if awake
B. Only cervical collar
C. Manual in-line stabilization and full spinal motion restriction if
indicated
D. Head elevation only
Rationale: Suspected spinal injury requires controlled
immobilization to prevent secondary spinal cord damage.
5. What is the most reliable early sign of shock in trauma?
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Cyanosis
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the earliest compensatory
response to shock before blood pressure drops.
6. Which type of shock is most common in trauma patients?
A. Cardiogenic
B. Neurogenic
C. Septic
D. Hypovolemic
Rationale: Hemorrhage is the leading cause of shock in trauma,
making hypovolemic shock most common.
7. A flail chest is characterized by:
A. Single rib fracture
B. Pneumothorax only
C. Paradoxical chest wall movement with multiple rib fractures
, D. Tracheal injury
Rationale: Flail chest occurs when multiple adjacent ribs are
fractured in two places causing unstable chest wall movement.
8. The most appropriate initial treatment for external bleeding is:
A. IV fluids
B. Tourniquet only if internal bleeding
C. Direct pressure on the wound
D. Immediate surgery
Rationale: Direct pressure is the first-line method to control
external hemorrhage.
9. Which sign suggests internal bleeding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Abdominal rigidity and distension
C. Warm skin
D. Normal mental status
Rationale: Abdominal rigidity and distension suggest possible
internal hemorrhage.
10. A GCS score of 8 indicates:
A. Mild head injury
B. Moderate head injury
C. Severe head injury
D. No injury
Rationale: A GCS of 8 or less defines severe traumatic brain
injury.
11. The “golden hour” refers to:
A. Time before EMS arrival
B. Critical time after injury when rapid treatment improves
survival
C. Time for imaging
