Now Who Wants To Be A Paramedic? Quiz

Answer: Mass and Velocity

Kinematics deals with objects (including people) in motion, and the exchange of energy that takes place when objects collide.
While weight and mass, as well as speed and velocity, are strictly speaking not the same thing, for the purpose of simplicity, we regard speed as velocity and weight as mass.

Mass and velocity are the two key elements to consider when trying to predict injury patterns - this may be trying to predict what organs may be damaged if a person is hit with a baseball bat, or what injuries to be suspicious of after observing the damage to a vehicle after a motor-vehicle crash (MVC).

Answer: True

In blunt trauma, it is the transmission of energy through the tissues that causes damage, rather than the object itself. Think of this like dropping a bowling ball onto your foot - the weight of the ball compresses (squashes) the tissues of your foot against the floor. This force of this weight being dropped can rupture blood vessels, causing bruising, and even break bones.

Dropping a bowling ball onto the stomach could compress the bowel, causing it to rupture, spilling the contents into the abdominal cavity and becoming a major source of infection.

Answer: False

Pericardial tamponade (literally 'around the heart') occurs when the sack around the heart fills with blood, limiting the hearts ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
This may happen during a stabbing, in which there is a small weapon, propelled with a low speed, pierces the heart muscle itself. The muscle bleeds into the sac, which fills like a balloon. It also puts pressure against the heart, not allowing it to fill fully or contract properly in order to pump blood properly.

Answer: Tunica media

The outer layer is a strong, fibrous tissue that is not very elastic. This tissue that makes up the outer wall of an artery is called the tunica adventitia.
The middle layer is the muscular layer that assists in regulating the size of the artery, and it is called the tunica media - media means middle.
The innermost layer is a smooth layer in order to ensure smooth blood flow and to prevent nutrient loss through the walls of the opening. It is known as the tunica intima.

Answer: True

Our skin is one of the most important organs of our bodies. The skin keeps out infections, and assists us to regulate our temperature.
When skin is burned, the burn process releases plasma, which seeps into the wound. From here, the plasma may evaporate, which can quickly lower temperature. If the wound is large, heat loss can be difficult if not impossible for the body to control itself. Hypothermia can result quickly if not considered by the treating paramedics.

Answer: Synarthroses

Synarthroses are the immovable joints - an example of this is the sutures of the skull. Where a tooth meet the jaw is also an example of synarthroses, it even has its own name - it's called a gomphosis.

Amphiarthroses are the joints with a little, but limited, movement. The joints between the vertebrae are examples of amphiarthroses.

Diarthroses permit relatively free movement. Often, these are referred to as the synovial joints, and are further broken down into three more categories: Monoaxial joints; Biaxial joints; and Triaxial joints.

Answer: Vitreous humour

The vitreous humour is the watery, clear fluid that fills out the eye into its shape and is contained in the posterior chamber of the eye.
The aqueous humour is the clear fluid that fills the anterior (front) chamber of the eye.
The retina is the tissue that lines the posterior chamber of the eye and it senses colour and light.
The semicircular canals are parts of the inner ear that help sense the motion of the head. The pinna is the visible outer portion of the ear.

Answer: False

Coup - Countrecoup head injuries take place when the brain is injured directly below the site of impact (coup) and/or on the opposite side when the brain hits the other side with full force (contracoup). These terms are pronounced "Coo" and "Contra-coo" - the 'P'at the end is silent.

Answer: Speak in a calm voice, tell the truth, and maintain a safe distance

The key to dealing with someone who is suffering with a behavioural disturbance is to be calm and in control, while maintaining your safety. Never attempt to 'stare down' a patient, never shout or raise your voice, tell them the truth and don't raise false hope or expectation in the person, and don't leave them alone as they may harm or injure themselves or others.

Eye contact is important as it helps establish both trust and control, as well as being a 'tell' or indicator for actions they are about to make, eg, strike out at you, grab a weapon, or run away from you. Staring is very confrontational and should be avoided as it may make a hostile situation violent.

Answer: Kidney

The kidneys, ureters and the abdominal aorta are located in the retroperitoneal cavity. This is why pain associated with inflammation of the kidneys will often be in the middle or lower back rather than the abdomen.