Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Trauma Practice Test

You respond to a shooting at a local bar. Law enforcement is present, and the scene is secured. Your patient is a young male with bright red blood spurting from a wound near his groin. You should:

1. Administer high-flow oxygen.

2. Apply pressure to the wound.

3. Ensure an open airway.

4. Transport the patient at once.

The correct answer is: Administer high-flow oxygen.

In this scenario, the patient is experiencing bright red blood spurting from a wound near his groin. This type of bleeding is indicative of arterial bleeding, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening situation as it can lead to rapid blood loss. Administering high-flow oxygen is the correct choice because it helps to improve the oxygen levels in the patient's blood, which is critical in cases of severe bleeding to support the body's oxygen demands. Applying pressure to the wound would also be a crucial step to control the bleeding, but in cases of arterial bleeding, direct pressure may not be enough to stop the bleeding completely. However, it is important to continue applying pressure while other interventions are being initiated. Ensuring an open airway is essential in all medical emergencies, but in this case, controlling the arterial bleeding takes precedence due to the immediate threat it poses to the patient's life. Transporting the patient is necessary, but providing immediate interventions to control the bleeding and support the patient's oxygenation should be the priority before moving the patient to definitive care.