Question

You arrive on scene with your partner Elija to a multiple vehicle accident where you are the 2nd ambulance to arrive. Scene size up indicates there are 7 patients in 3 cars all requiring extrication. In the first care is a 27 year old woman who is 32 weeks pregnant, conscious, and crying, a 12 year old girl who is screaming and complaining of back pain, and an 8 year old boy who has a facial laceration and open fracture of the tibia who is also conscious but breathing very shallow. In the second car is an 86 year old man who is slumped against the steering wheel with no pulse and has a piece of metal impaled through his head. In the third car are 3 teenagers 17 years of age. The two in the front seat are complaining of neck pain and appear to have and altered level of consciousness. Neither of them were wearing a seatbelt and both have contusions on their foreheads. In the back seat is the last occupant, a girl who said she was having a seizure and vomiting earlier so her friends were taking her to the hospital. She was wearing her seat belt and has no sign of injury. Who should be receiving treatment first?

A. The pregnant woman

B. The 8 year old boy

C. The 86 year old man

D. The vomiting teenager

Answer 1

The 8-year-old boy with the facial laceration and open fracture of the tibia should receive treatment first, followed by the pregnant woman, the 12-year-old girl complaining of back pain, the teenagers with neck pain and altered level of consciousness, and finally, the vomiting teenager with no sign of injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first priority for treatment should be given to the 8-year-old boy with the facial laceration and open fracture of the tibia. Although he is conscious, his shallow breathing indicates that he may be experiencing respiratory distress. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

The second priority should be the 27-year-old pregnant woman. Pregnancy can complicate injuries and it is important to ensure the safety and well-being of both the mother and the unborn child. The woman is conscious and crying, which indicates distress and should be assessed.

The third priority should be the 12-year-old girl complaining of back pain. Back pain can be a sign of spinal injury, which must be treated promptly to prevent further damage.

The fourth priority should be the teenagers in the third car who are complaining of neck pain and have an altered level of consciousness. Neck pain and altered level of consciousness can be indicative of serious head or spinal injuries that require immediate attention.

The last priority should be the vomiting teenager who was wearing a seat belt and has no sign of injury. While her symptoms are concerning, her condition does not appear to be immediately life-threatening compared to the other patients.