Assorted Injuries

Question 1

What is the most common cause of choking in adults?

Answer 1

Foreign bodies - food

Question 2

How can a partial airway obstruction be identified? a complete obstruction?
How should a rescuer respond to a partial airway obstruction?

Answer 2

Partial - coughing, speaking/sounds
Complete - cannot cough or speak

Encourage victim to cough

Question 3

What action should be taken if a choking victim becomes unconscious?
When can a finger sweep be used?
What is the maximum time suctioning may be used on an adult? On an infant?

Answer 3

Lower carefully to ground, activate EMS, begin CPR, check for obstruction

When the obstruction is visible

15 seconds, 10 seconds child, 5 sections infant

Question 4

How is first aid distinguished from basic life support?

What is the purpose of a secondary assessment?

Answer 4

FA - medical care for injuries or illnesses not immediately life-threatening
LS - life-threatening

2nd - action occurring after an initial assessment for urgent needs

Question 5

What action provides the best chance for survival of an avulsed tooth?

Answer 5

Reimplantation

Soak in milk

Question 6

What is the primary first aid for seizures? for poisoning? for exertional dehydration?

Answer 6

Move object away from victim, protect but don’t restrain
Activate EMS, monitor breathing and prepare to perform BLS
Oral rehydration

Question 7

What restrictions should be observed by someone who may have suffered a concussion?

Answer 7

Physical and metal rest required, avoid vigorous activity

Question 8

What is asthma?

Answer 8

noncontagious respiratory illness characterized by airway narrowing and enhanced bronchial thickening

Question 9

What are the signs and symptoms of heart attack?

Answer 9

heavy pressure or squeezing pain in the center of the chest or center of the back
shoulder, arm, neck or jaw pain
nausea and vomiting
shortness of breath
indigestion, heartburn
sweating
sense of impending doom

Question 10

What is hypoglycemia versus hyperglycemia?

Answer 10

Hypo - low blood sugar

Hyper - elevated blood sugar

Question 11

What is hypothermia?
What is the first aid response?
What special consideration must be taken into account for hypothermia?

Answer 11

Lower body temp
Prevent further heat loss and initiate rewarming
Coe temperature after-drop - after rewarming individual core temp drops

Cold-water immersion - handle carefully to avoid cardiac arrhythmias - symptom severity and mental status

Question 12

What is hyperthermia?

What is the first aid response?

Answer 12

Overheating

Stop activity, rehydrate

Question 13

What are four methods of heat transfer, and how can they benefit the hyperthermic individual?

Answer 13

Conduction - heat warmer to cooler - immersion in cooler fluid
Convection - heat loss due to movement of fluid or gas - wind chill/fans
Evaporation - head absorbed by sweat and released once in gas phase - sponge with cool water/mist
Radiation - transfer of energy between diff temps - remove from sunlight to shade

Question 14

What are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

Answer 14

E - heavy sweating, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, weakness, headache, muscle cramps
S - Rapid pulse, dry hot skin, confusion, seizures

Question 15

What two tactics can prevent slips and falls?

What are the steps and general guidelines in a secondary assessment of slips and falls?

Answer 15

Proper drainage and rubber matting, warning signs

Leave in position, identify possible injuries, talk to victim
Check head, neck eye dilation, collarbone, work down body

Question 16

What is the role of a splint?

Answer 16

Immobilization of injure extremity - reduce movement and physical stress to injury

Question 17

How are burns categorized?
What is a superficial burn?
What is a second-degree burn?
What is a third-degree burn?
What is a fourth-degree burn?
What is the general first aid treatment for burns?
How should chemical burns be treated?

Answer 17

Based on depth of tissue involvement
Sup - epidermis, redness, minimal swelling
2nd - epidermis and dermis, scalding, blisters, blanching, most painful
3rd - down to subcutaneous, dry/leathery, waxy/charred, variable pain
4th - muscle or bone, electric shock
Application of cool or very cold water (not ice)
Brush off chem remove jewelry, flush with copious water for 25-20 mins

Question 18

What are the three general categories of marine life injuries?
What protective measures should a first aid provider utilize?

Answer 18

Envenomations, traumatic injuries, seafood poisoning

Gloves, eye protection

Question 19

What is an envenomation?

Answer 19

process by which venom or toxin is injected into another creature by means of a bite, puncture or sting

Question 20

What is the usual trigger for marine animal bites? (3 reasons)

Answer 20

Defensive reactions (feels threatened) or misidentification of diver’s body part (mistaken for prey) (humans engaged in spearfishing or feeding)

Question 21

What is the primary cause of seafood poisoning?

Answer 21

Ingestion of food or liquids contaminated with specific, harmful toxins

Question 22

By what mechanisms do envenomations occur?
Why do most envenomations occur?
What three factors may affect an individual’s response to envenomations?

Answer 22

stings, spines, bites and barbs
animal’s defensive actions or accidental contact
Animal: venom potency, volume injected and the area involved
Person: health status, sensitivity to venom and delays to first aid and treatment

Question 23

What are the first-aid steps for venomous fish injuries? for jellyfish stings? for treating injuries resulting from contact with marine life?

Answer 23

Fish - cleaning the wound remove object, controlling bleeding and pain (heat), and applying topical antibiotics
Jelly - heat/vinegar inactivation, remove tentacles, wash area, apply heat and treat
Marine life - monitor vitals, hydration, removal of foreign bodies, irrigation of wound

Question 24

For which three injuries is the pressure immobilization technique recommended?

Answer 24

Sea snake bites, Molluscs (cone, octopus) injuries

Question 25

How does the body respond to bleeding?

What is the primary method used to control most external bleeding?

Answer 25

Vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and platelet activation to clot blood

Direct pressure to help clot blood and limit bloodloss

Question 26

When should a tourniquet be utilized?

How long should a tourniquet be left in place?

Answer 26

Bleeding is a massive arterial bleed and/or is life-threatening

Until the injured person is under medical care

Question 27

Why are marine animal bites of particular concern?

Answer 27

High risk for infection

Question 28

What are the signs and symptoms of infection?

Answer 28

inflammation, pus/discharge, fever, chills
P - pain
R - redness
I - immobilization
S - swelling
H - heat

Question 29

What is the primary cause of seafood poisoning?
What are the three well-established types of seafood poisoning?
How can the risk of seafood poisoning be minimized?

Answer 29

ingestion of either contaminated or naturally toxic seafood
ciguatera, tetrodotoxin poisoning and scombroid fish poisoning
avoid eating fish known to cause poisoning, properly store fish

Question 30

What are the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction?

What steps should be taken if an allergic reaction occurs?

Answer 30

generalized itching, redness, swelling, puffy eyes, airway narrowing
Allergy meds, monitor breathing/airway

Question 31

What are the signs and symptoms of cardiogenic shock?

What steps should be taken if cardiogenic shock occurs?

Answer 31

hypotension, altered mental status, cold hands/feet, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath, weak pulse, cardiac arrest, chest pain
Lie on their back, check for circulation, warm/comfortable

Question 32

What are the signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock?

Answer 32

anxiety/agitation, pale cool skin, confusion, rapid breathing, unconsciousness

Question 33

What twelve dive safety practices can reduce the risk of injuries by marine life?

Answer 33

Plan dive, Pack first aid, exposure protection, shuffle feet,
Streamline body, situational awareness, avoid reef touching, passive interactions,
don’t touch shells, don’t carry speared fish, watch out when surfacing, avoid fish