PRACTICE EVALUATION 2026 QUESTION BANK
FULL SOLUTION SET
◉ What are the surface landmarks for cricothyroidotomy? (TFC #1)
Answer: - top of the thyroid cartilage
- bottom of the thyroid cartilage
- thyroid prominence ("Adam's apple")
- cricothyroid membrance
- cricoid cartilage
◉ What is beneath the surface landmarks? (TFC #1)
Answer: - hyoid bone
- thyroid prominence
- thyroid cartilage
- cricothyroid membrane
- cricoid cartilage
- thyroid gland bone
◉ What would you consider in a casualty with progressive
respiratory distress & known/suspected torso trauma? (TFC #1)
,Answer: tension pneumothorax
◉ Where do you perform a needle decompression? (TFC #1)
Answer: 14g, 3.25-inch needle/catheter in the
- 2nd intercostal space in the midclavicular line
- 4th or 5th intercostal space at the anterior axillary line
◉ How do you treat a casualty that develops increasing hypoxia,
respiratory distress, or hypotension & a tension pneumothorax is
suspected? (TFC #1)
Answer: treat by burping or removing the dressing or by needle
decompression
◉ How do you "burp" a seal? (TFC #1)
Answer: life one edge of the seal and allow the tension
pneumothorax to decompress
remove the seal for a few seconds to accomplish the decompression,
then re-apply
◉ Where can tension pneumothorax also occur? (TFC #1)
Answer: with entry wounds in the abdomen, shoulder, or neck
,◉ What can also cause a tension pneumothorax? (TFC #1)
Answer: blunt (motor vehicle accident) or penetrating trauma
(GSW)
◉ What is pneumothorax? (TFC #1)
Answer: a collection of air between the lung and chest wall due to an
injury to the chest and/or lung, the lung then collapses
◉ What is a tension pneumothorax? (TFC #1)
Answer: injured lung tissue acts as a one-way valve, trapping more
and more air between the lung and chest wall
pressure builds up, compressing both lungs & the heart
◉ How do you treat tension pneumothorax? (TFC #1)
Answer: let the trapped air under pressure escape by inserting a
needle decompression (14g, 3.25 in)
◉ Where should the needle for needle decompression be inserted?
(TFC #1)
Answer: - needle make a 90-degree angle to the chest wall, sliding in
just over the top of the rib
, (an intercostal artery & vein run along the bottom edge of each rib)
◉ It takes a _____ for a sucking chest wound to occur. (TFC #1)
Answer: hole in the chest the size of a nickel or bigger
◉ What is another term for "sucking chest wound"? (TFC #1)
Answer: open pneumothorax
◉ How do you treat a sucking chest wound (open pneumothorax)?
(TFC #1)
Answer: apply a vented occlusive dressing completely over the
defect at the end of one of the casualty's exhalations
◉ pulse oximetry monitoring (TFC #1)
Answer: - tells you how much oxygen is present in the blood
- shows heart rate & percent of oxygenated blood ("O2 sat") in the
numbers displayed
- 98% or higher is normal O2 sat at sea level
- 86% is normal at 12,000 feet due to lower oxygen pressure at that
altitude
◉ When do you consider using a pulse oximetry? (TFC #1)
Answer: - TBI