WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 4
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026
VERIFIED RESPONSES AND TRAUMA CARE
REVIEW PACK
◉ A 15-year-old female was struck by a small car while riding her
bicycle. She was wearing a helmet and was thrown to the ground,
striking her head. In addition to managing problems associated with
airway, breathing, and circulation, it is MOST important for you to:
Select one:
A. leave her bicycle helmet on.
B. obtain baseline vital signs.
C. stabilize her entire spine.
D. inspect the helmet for cracks.
Answer: C. stabilize her entire spine.
◉ A young male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during
an altercation. As your partner is assessing and managing his airway,
you should control the obvious bleeding and then:
Select one:
A. auscultate bowel sounds.
B. assess for an exit wound.
,C. apply a cervical collar.
D. obtain baseline vital signs.
Answer: B. assess for an exit wound.
◉ According to the American College of Surgeons Committee on
Trauma (ACS-COT), an adult trauma patient should be transported
to the highest level of trauma center if he or she:
Select one:
A. was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another patient in
the same vehicle was killed.
B. has a systolic blood pressure of less than 110 mm Hg or a heart
rate greater than 110 beats/min.
C. has a bleeding disorder or takes anticoagulant medications and
has any blunt or penetrating injury.
D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism
attributed to trauma.
Answer: D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a
mechanism attributed to trauma.
◉ According to the Association of Air Medical Services, you should
consider air medical transport of a trauma patient if:
Select one:
,A. the patient requires advanced life support care and stabilization,
and the nearest ALS-ground ambulance is more than 5 to 10 minutes
away.
B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma
center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best clinical
outcome.
C. ground transport will take your ambulance out of service for an
extended period of time, regardless of the severity of the patient's
injuries.
D. he or she was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another
occupant in the same vehicle was killed, even if your patient's
injuries are minor.
Answer: B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to
a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best
clinical outcome.
◉ Approximately 25% of severe injuries to the aorta occur during:
Select one:
A. frontal collisions.
B. rollover collisions.
C. rear-end collisions.
D. lateral collisions.
Answer: D. lateral collisions.
, ◉ Following a blunt injury to the head, a 22-year-old female is
confused and complains of a severe headache and nausea. On the
basis of these signs and symptoms, you should be MOST concerned
with the possibility of:
Select one:
A. a fracture of the skull.
B. airway compromise.
C. intracranial bleeding.
D. spinal cord injury.
Answer: C. intracranial bleeding.
◉ Force acting over a distance is the definition of:
Select one:
A. work.
B. latent energy.
C. kinetic energy.
D. potential energy.
Answer: A. work.
◉ The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
A. the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026
VERIFIED RESPONSES AND TRAUMA CARE
REVIEW PACK
◉ A 15-year-old female was struck by a small car while riding her
bicycle. She was wearing a helmet and was thrown to the ground,
striking her head. In addition to managing problems associated with
airway, breathing, and circulation, it is MOST important for you to:
Select one:
A. leave her bicycle helmet on.
B. obtain baseline vital signs.
C. stabilize her entire spine.
D. inspect the helmet for cracks.
Answer: C. stabilize her entire spine.
◉ A young male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during
an altercation. As your partner is assessing and managing his airway,
you should control the obvious bleeding and then:
Select one:
A. auscultate bowel sounds.
B. assess for an exit wound.
,C. apply a cervical collar.
D. obtain baseline vital signs.
Answer: B. assess for an exit wound.
◉ According to the American College of Surgeons Committee on
Trauma (ACS-COT), an adult trauma patient should be transported
to the highest level of trauma center if he or she:
Select one:
A. was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another patient in
the same vehicle was killed.
B. has a systolic blood pressure of less than 110 mm Hg or a heart
rate greater than 110 beats/min.
C. has a bleeding disorder or takes anticoagulant medications and
has any blunt or penetrating injury.
D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism
attributed to trauma.
Answer: D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a
mechanism attributed to trauma.
◉ According to the Association of Air Medical Services, you should
consider air medical transport of a trauma patient if:
Select one:
,A. the patient requires advanced life support care and stabilization,
and the nearest ALS-ground ambulance is more than 5 to 10 minutes
away.
B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma
center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best clinical
outcome.
C. ground transport will take your ambulance out of service for an
extended period of time, regardless of the severity of the patient's
injuries.
D. he or she was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another
occupant in the same vehicle was killed, even if your patient's
injuries are minor.
Answer: B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to
a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best
clinical outcome.
◉ Approximately 25% of severe injuries to the aorta occur during:
Select one:
A. frontal collisions.
B. rollover collisions.
C. rear-end collisions.
D. lateral collisions.
Answer: D. lateral collisions.
, ◉ Following a blunt injury to the head, a 22-year-old female is
confused and complains of a severe headache and nausea. On the
basis of these signs and symptoms, you should be MOST concerned
with the possibility of:
Select one:
A. a fracture of the skull.
B. airway compromise.
C. intracranial bleeding.
D. spinal cord injury.
Answer: C. intracranial bleeding.
◉ Force acting over a distance is the definition of:
Select one:
A. work.
B. latent energy.
C. kinetic energy.
D. potential energy.
Answer: A. work.
◉ The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
A. the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
