PHTLS Post Test | PHTLS Exam Review – Prehospital Trauma Life
Support (2025 Edition) Questions and Answers |Fall 2025/2026
Update | 100% Correct Latest
QUESTION 1
Which of the following is the primary goal of Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)?
A. To teach advanced surgical repair techniques in the field
B. To improve the quality of trauma care and reduce mortality
C. To replace ATLS training for physicians
D. To provide definitive care before arrival at the hospital
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: PHTLS is designed to improve prehospital trauma assessment, management, and
outcomes by reducing preventable deaths.
QUESTION 2
According to the PHTLS primary survey, what is the correct order of assessment?
A. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
B. Airway, Circulation, Breathing, Disability, Environment
C. Airway, Breathing, Disability, Circulation, Exposure
D. Scene safety, Secondary survey, Airway, Circulation
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: The ABCDE sequence ensures life-threatening issues such as airway obstruction and
breathing compromise are addressed before less critical concerns.
QUESTION 3
What is the main consideration during scene size-up in trauma response?
A. Obtaining a SAMPLE history from bystanders
B. Determining the number of patients and mechanism of injury
C. Performing a detailed head-to-toe exam immediately
D. Initiating resuscitation before hazard assessment
,CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Scene size-up ensures responder safety, identifies the mechanism of injury, and
determines additional resource needs.
QUESTION 4
A trauma patient exhibits unequal pupils and posturing. Which condition should the provider
suspect first?
A. Spinal shock
B. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Simple concussion
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Unequal pupils and abnormal posturing indicate brain herniation caused by rising
intracranial pressure.
QUESTION 5
The “golden hour” in trauma care refers to:
A. The first hour of hospital arrival
B. The period when definitive surgical care should ideally begin
C. The time required for complete EMS assessment
D. One hour after transport begins
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The golden hour emphasizes rapid recognition, transport, and surgical intervention
within 60 minutes of injury.
QUESTION 6
The primary goal of airway management in trauma care is to:
A. Insert an advanced airway in all patients
B. Prevent aspiration by placing the patient supine
C. Maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation
D. Hyperventilate all head-injured patients
, CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Effective airway control ensures oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide elimination,
preventing secondary brain and tissue hypoxia.
QUESTION 7
When performing a jaw-thrust maneuver, the rescuer should:
A. Tilt the head back fully
B. Use the thumbs to open the mouth
C. Lift the angles of the jaw forward while keeping the head neutral
D. Apply firm pressure to the forehead
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Jaw-thrust maintains cervical spine alignment while opening the airway, making it
the preferred method in suspected trauma.
QUESTION 8
A patient is bleeding profusely from an arm laceration despite direct pressure. The next
appropriate step is to:
A. Apply a tourniquet proximal to the wound
B. Pack the wound with hemostatic gauze only
C. Elevate the limb and monitor pulse
D. Begin IV fluids immediately
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: When direct pressure fails, a proximal tourniquet controls life-threatening extremity
hemorrhage quickly and effectively.
QUESTION 9
Which assessment finding best differentiates compensated shock from decompensated shock?
A. Absence of radial pulse
B. Tachycardia with normal blood pressure
C. Hypotension and weak carotid pulse
D. Bradypnea and normal skin color
Support (2025 Edition) Questions and Answers |Fall 2025/2026
Update | 100% Correct Latest
QUESTION 1
Which of the following is the primary goal of Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)?
A. To teach advanced surgical repair techniques in the field
B. To improve the quality of trauma care and reduce mortality
C. To replace ATLS training for physicians
D. To provide definitive care before arrival at the hospital
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: PHTLS is designed to improve prehospital trauma assessment, management, and
outcomes by reducing preventable deaths.
QUESTION 2
According to the PHTLS primary survey, what is the correct order of assessment?
A. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
B. Airway, Circulation, Breathing, Disability, Environment
C. Airway, Breathing, Disability, Circulation, Exposure
D. Scene safety, Secondary survey, Airway, Circulation
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: The ABCDE sequence ensures life-threatening issues such as airway obstruction and
breathing compromise are addressed before less critical concerns.
QUESTION 3
What is the main consideration during scene size-up in trauma response?
A. Obtaining a SAMPLE history from bystanders
B. Determining the number of patients and mechanism of injury
C. Performing a detailed head-to-toe exam immediately
D. Initiating resuscitation before hazard assessment
,CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Scene size-up ensures responder safety, identifies the mechanism of injury, and
determines additional resource needs.
QUESTION 4
A trauma patient exhibits unequal pupils and posturing. Which condition should the provider
suspect first?
A. Spinal shock
B. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Simple concussion
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Unequal pupils and abnormal posturing indicate brain herniation caused by rising
intracranial pressure.
QUESTION 5
The “golden hour” in trauma care refers to:
A. The first hour of hospital arrival
B. The period when definitive surgical care should ideally begin
C. The time required for complete EMS assessment
D. One hour after transport begins
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The golden hour emphasizes rapid recognition, transport, and surgical intervention
within 60 minutes of injury.
QUESTION 6
The primary goal of airway management in trauma care is to:
A. Insert an advanced airway in all patients
B. Prevent aspiration by placing the patient supine
C. Maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation
D. Hyperventilate all head-injured patients
, CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Effective airway control ensures oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide elimination,
preventing secondary brain and tissue hypoxia.
QUESTION 7
When performing a jaw-thrust maneuver, the rescuer should:
A. Tilt the head back fully
B. Use the thumbs to open the mouth
C. Lift the angles of the jaw forward while keeping the head neutral
D. Apply firm pressure to the forehead
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Jaw-thrust maintains cervical spine alignment while opening the airway, making it
the preferred method in suspected trauma.
QUESTION 8
A patient is bleeding profusely from an arm laceration despite direct pressure. The next
appropriate step is to:
A. Apply a tourniquet proximal to the wound
B. Pack the wound with hemostatic gauze only
C. Elevate the limb and monitor pulse
D. Begin IV fluids immediately
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: When direct pressure fails, a proximal tourniquet controls life-threatening extremity
hemorrhage quickly and effectively.
QUESTION 9
Which assessment finding best differentiates compensated shock from decompensated shock?
A. Absence of radial pulse
B. Tachycardia with normal blood pressure
C. Hypotension and weak carotid pulse
D. Bradypnea and normal skin color
