WEST COAST EMT - BLOCK 4 QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS 2024/2025
A 12-year-old male jumped approximately 12 feet from a tree and landed on his feet.
He complains of pain to his lower back. What injury mechanism is MOST likely
responsible for his back pain?
Select one:
• Lateral impact to the spine
• Secondary fall after the initial impact
• Direct trauma to the spinal column
• Energy transmission to the spine - ANSWER-D. Energy transmission to the spine
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:
• leave her bicycle helmet on.
• obtain baseline vital signs.
• stabilize her entire spine.
• 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:
• auscultate bowel sounds.
• assess for an exit wound.
• apply a cervical collar.
• 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:
• was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another patient in the same
vehicle was killed.
• has a systolic blood pressure of less than 110 mm Hg or a heart rate greater
than 110 beats/min.
• has a bleeding disorder or takes anticoagulant medications and has any blunt
or penetrating injury.
,• 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:
• the patient requires advanced life support care and stabilization, and the
nearest ALS-ground ambulance is more than 5 to 10 minutes away.
• 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.
• ground transport will take your ambulance out of service for an extended period
of time, regardless of the severity of the patient's injuries.
• 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:
• frontal collisions.
• rollover collisions.
• rear-end collisions.
• 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 fracture of the skull.
• airway compromise.
• intracranial bleeding.
• spinal cord injury. - ANSWER-C. intracranial bleeding.
Force acting over a distance is the definition
of: Select one:
• work.
• latent energy.
• kinetic energy.
• potential energy. - ANSWER-A. work.
The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
• the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
• a predictable pattern that leads to serious injuries.
• your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
,• the way in which traumatic injuries occur. - ANSWER-C. your awareness
and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
When assessing a patient who experienced a blast injury, it is important to
remember that:
Select one:
• solid organs usually rupture from the pressure wave.
• secondary blast injuries are usually the least obvious.
• primary blast injuries are the most easily overlooked.
• primary blast injuries are typically the most obvious. - ANSWER-C. primary
blast injuries are the most easily overlooked.
When assessing an elderly patient who fell, it is important to remember
that: Select one:
• any fall in the elderly is considered to be high-energy trauma.
• osteoporosis can cause a fracture as a result of a fall from a standing position.
• bilateral hip fractures usually occur when an elderly person falls.
• elderly patients who fall usually have a secondary head injury. - ANSWER-
B. osteoporosis can cause a fracture as a result of a fall from a standing
position.
When the speed of a motor vehicle doubles, the amount of kinetic energy:
Select one:
• quadruples.
• is not affected.
• triples.
• doubles. - ANSWER-A. quadruples.
Which of the following destinations is most appropriate for a 41-year-old male
patient who was involved in a rollover motor vehicle collision and is unconscious
and unresponsive, assuming that travel times to each is equal?
Select one:
• A Level I or Level II trauma center
• Only a Level I trauma center
• A Level IV or Level III trauma center
• Any designated trauma center is acceptable. - ANSWER-A. A Level I or Level
II trauma center
Which of the following findings would be LEAST suggestive of the presence of high-
energy trauma?
Select one:
• Intrusion into the vehicle
• Dismounted seats
• Steering wheel deformity
• Deployment of the air bag - ANSWER-D. Deployment of the air bag
, Which of the following injuries would MOST likely occur as a direct result of the third
collision in a motor vehicle crash?
Select one:
• Flail chest
• Forehead lacerations
• Aortic rupture
• Extremity fractures - ANSWER-C. Aortic rupture
Which of the following interventions is the MOST critical to the outcome of a patient
with multisystem trauma?
Select one:
• Intravenous fluid administration
• Early administration of oxygen
• Rapid transport to a trauma center
• Elevation of the lower extremities - ANSWER-C. Rapid transport to a trauma center
Which of the following statements regarding gunshot wounds is correct?
Select one:
• The size of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
• High-velocity bullets will cause less severe internal injuries.
• The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
• Low-velocity bullets will cause the greatest amount of trauma. - ANSWER-C.
The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
Which types of motor vehicle collisions present the greatest potential for multiple
impacts?
Select one:
• Lateral and rollover
• Frontal and rotational
• Rotational and rollover
• Rear-end and rotational - ANSWER-C. Rotational and rollover
While en route to a major motor vehicle crash, an on-scene police officer advises
you that a 6-year-old male who was riding in the front seat is involved. He further
states that the child was only wearing a lap belt and that the air bag deployed. On
the basis of this information, you should be MOST suspicious that the child has
experienced:
Select one:
• lower extremity fractures.
• neck and facial injuries.
• blunt trauma to the head.
• open abdominal trauma. - ANSWER-B. neck and facial injuries.
ANSWERS 2024/2025
A 12-year-old male jumped approximately 12 feet from a tree and landed on his feet.
He complains of pain to his lower back. What injury mechanism is MOST likely
responsible for his back pain?
Select one:
• Lateral impact to the spine
• Secondary fall after the initial impact
• Direct trauma to the spinal column
• Energy transmission to the spine - ANSWER-D. Energy transmission to the spine
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:
• leave her bicycle helmet on.
• obtain baseline vital signs.
• stabilize her entire spine.
• 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:
• auscultate bowel sounds.
• assess for an exit wound.
• apply a cervical collar.
• 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:
• was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another patient in the same
vehicle was killed.
• has a systolic blood pressure of less than 110 mm Hg or a heart rate greater
than 110 beats/min.
• has a bleeding disorder or takes anticoagulant medications and has any blunt
or penetrating injury.
,• 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:
• the patient requires advanced life support care and stabilization, and the
nearest ALS-ground ambulance is more than 5 to 10 minutes away.
• 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.
• ground transport will take your ambulance out of service for an extended period
of time, regardless of the severity of the patient's injuries.
• 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:
• frontal collisions.
• rollover collisions.
• rear-end collisions.
• 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 fracture of the skull.
• airway compromise.
• intracranial bleeding.
• spinal cord injury. - ANSWER-C. intracranial bleeding.
Force acting over a distance is the definition
of: Select one:
• work.
• latent energy.
• kinetic energy.
• potential energy. - ANSWER-A. work.
The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
• the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
• a predictable pattern that leads to serious injuries.
• your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
,• the way in which traumatic injuries occur. - ANSWER-C. your awareness
and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
When assessing a patient who experienced a blast injury, it is important to
remember that:
Select one:
• solid organs usually rupture from the pressure wave.
• secondary blast injuries are usually the least obvious.
• primary blast injuries are the most easily overlooked.
• primary blast injuries are typically the most obvious. - ANSWER-C. primary
blast injuries are the most easily overlooked.
When assessing an elderly patient who fell, it is important to remember
that: Select one:
• any fall in the elderly is considered to be high-energy trauma.
• osteoporosis can cause a fracture as a result of a fall from a standing position.
• bilateral hip fractures usually occur when an elderly person falls.
• elderly patients who fall usually have a secondary head injury. - ANSWER-
B. osteoporosis can cause a fracture as a result of a fall from a standing
position.
When the speed of a motor vehicle doubles, the amount of kinetic energy:
Select one:
• quadruples.
• is not affected.
• triples.
• doubles. - ANSWER-A. quadruples.
Which of the following destinations is most appropriate for a 41-year-old male
patient who was involved in a rollover motor vehicle collision and is unconscious
and unresponsive, assuming that travel times to each is equal?
Select one:
• A Level I or Level II trauma center
• Only a Level I trauma center
• A Level IV or Level III trauma center
• Any designated trauma center is acceptable. - ANSWER-A. A Level I or Level
II trauma center
Which of the following findings would be LEAST suggestive of the presence of high-
energy trauma?
Select one:
• Intrusion into the vehicle
• Dismounted seats
• Steering wheel deformity
• Deployment of the air bag - ANSWER-D. Deployment of the air bag
, Which of the following injuries would MOST likely occur as a direct result of the third
collision in a motor vehicle crash?
Select one:
• Flail chest
• Forehead lacerations
• Aortic rupture
• Extremity fractures - ANSWER-C. Aortic rupture
Which of the following interventions is the MOST critical to the outcome of a patient
with multisystem trauma?
Select one:
• Intravenous fluid administration
• Early administration of oxygen
• Rapid transport to a trauma center
• Elevation of the lower extremities - ANSWER-C. Rapid transport to a trauma center
Which of the following statements regarding gunshot wounds is correct?
Select one:
• The size of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
• High-velocity bullets will cause less severe internal injuries.
• The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
• Low-velocity bullets will cause the greatest amount of trauma. - ANSWER-C.
The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
Which types of motor vehicle collisions present the greatest potential for multiple
impacts?
Select one:
• Lateral and rollover
• Frontal and rotational
• Rotational and rollover
• Rear-end and rotational - ANSWER-C. Rotational and rollover
While en route to a major motor vehicle crash, an on-scene police officer advises
you that a 6-year-old male who was riding in the front seat is involved. He further
states that the child was only wearing a lap belt and that the air bag deployed. On
the basis of this information, you should be MOST suspicious that the child has
experienced:
Select one:
• lower extremity fractures.
• neck and facial injuries.
• blunt trauma to the head.
• open abdominal trauma. - ANSWER-B. neck and facial injuries.
