Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Trauma Practice Test

A 44-year-old man has a traumatic leg amputation just below the knee. He is unresponsive; is breathing rapidly and shallowly; and has pale, cool, clammy skin. He is lying in a large pool of blood and the wound is bleeding profusely. To control this bleeding, you should:

1. apply a pressure dressing and elevate the injured extremity at least 12 inches.

2. apply an icepack to the wound to constrict the vessels and stop the bleeding.

3. cover the wound with a trauma dressing and apply a proximal tourniquet.

4. locate the femoral artery and apply pressure to it until the bleeding stops.

The correct answer is: apply a pressure dressing and elevate the injured extremity at least 12 inches.

In the scenario described, the correct course of action to control the bleeding from a traumatic leg amputation just below the knee is to apply a pressure dressing and elevate the injured extremity at least 12 inches. Elevating the extremity helps to reduce blood flow to the area by taking advantage of gravity, which can aid in controlling the bleeding. Applying a pressure dressing helps to further stem the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound. The other options are not recommended in this situation: - Applying an ice pack to the wound may lead to further tissue damage and is not the appropriate method to control bleeding. - Applying a proximal tourniquet should only be considered as a last resort for uncontrolled bleeding, as it can potentially lead to complications such as tissue damage and limb loss if left on for an extended period. - Locating the femoral artery and applying pressure to it is not the recommended approach in this scenario as it may not effectively control the bleeding, especially in the case of a traumatic amputation below the knee.