Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Trauma Practice Test

A 33-year-old factory worker was pinned between two pieces of machinery. When you arrive at the scene, he is supine, complaining of severe pain to his pelvis, and is restless, diaphoretic, and tachycardic. After performing a rapid head-to-toe assessment, you should:

1. Carefully log roll him to check his back

2. Palpate his pelvis to assess for crepitus

3. Perform a detailed secondary exam

4. Prepare for immediate transport

The correct answer is: Carefully log roll him to check his back

In this scenario, the correct course of action is to carefully log roll the patient to check his back after performing a rapid head-to-toe assessment. This step is crucial to assess for any hidden injuries, especially since the patient is complaining of severe pain in the pelvis after being pinned between two pieces of machinery. Log rolling the patient will help in determining if there are any additional injuries, such as spinal injuries, that may not be immediately visible during the initial assessment. Performing a detailed secondary exam or palpating the pelvis for crepitus would be important steps to follow after log rolling the patient to assess for further injuries. Preparing for immediate transport should be done once a thorough assessment has been completed to ensure the patient's condition is stable for transfer.