You are treating an adult trauma patient who was thrown from a moving vehicle. Upon assessment, you find the patient is hypotensive, has absent breath sounds on the right, and has visible tracheal deviation. What should you do first?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Perform a needle decompression. Tracheal deviation indicates tension pneumothorax, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate decompression. Performing a needle decompression will release the trapped air in the pleural space and relieve the pressure on the heart and lungs, stabilizing the patient's condition. Administering a fluid bolus (B) is not the priority as the hypotension is likely due to the tension pneumothorax. Intubating the patient (C) may worsen the condition by increasing the intrathoracic pressure. Placing the patient on a cardiac monitor (D) is important but not as urgent as addressing the tension pneumothorax.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Inferior wall. ST elevation in Leads II, III, aVF indicates an inferior wall myocardial infarction, commonly caused by occlusion of the right coronary artery. Lead II views the inferior part of the heart, and Leads III/aVF view the inferior and posterior parts. This pattern suggests damage to the inferior wall supplied by the right coronary artery. Other choices are incorrect as ST elevation in these leads does not correspond to lateral (A), anterior (C), or septal (D) wall infarctions.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Congestive heart failure is most likely to cause problems with both internal (heart's pumping ability) and external (lung function) processes of respiration. Step 1: In CHF, the heart struggles to pump blood effectively, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs (internal process). Step 2: The fluid in the lungs impairs gas exchange, affecting oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination (external process). Step 3: This dual impact on internal and external respiration distinguishes CHF from other choices (lung cancer, hypertension, emphysema).

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Negligence charges could be brought against the paramedic in charge of the unit. Rationale: 1. Negligence: In this scenario, the paramedic failed to ensure the equipment was properly charged, leading to the death of the patient. 2. Duty of Care: The paramedic had a duty to ensure the equipment was functional to provide appropriate care to the patient. 3. Breach of Duty: By not ensuring the defibrillator had adequate battery power, the paramedic breached their duty of care. 4. Proximate Cause: The lack of functioning equipment directly contributed to the patient's death. 5. Legal Liability: Negligence in providing care can result in legal charges being brought against the individual responsible for the patient's care. Summary: A: Manslaughter charges are not applicable as there was no intent to harm the patient. C: Battery charges are not relevant as it refers to physical harm, not the lack of battery power in equipment

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock in children is typically lower than in adults due to their smaller size. A: Vital signs are age-related in children, so they may differ from those in adults. B: Children actually have limited physiologic reserves compared to adults, making them more vulnerable to shock. C: Tachycardia is a common response to hypovolemia in children, but it is not the only physiologic response. Therefore, D is false because children require less blood loss to develop shock compared to adults.