A Patient Presents with an Arrow Impaled in the Right

question 36

Multiple Choice

A patient presents with an arrow impaled in the right lower quadrant of his abdomen. He is in excruciating pain and states that he was accidentally shot by a friend while hunting. While there is no external bleeding coming from the injury, the surrounding skin is ecchymotic. Other assessment findings indicate early shock. Which action should the EMT perform first?

• A) Carefully remove the arrow.
• B) Administer supplemental oxygen.
• C) Stabilize the arrow with bulky dressings.
• D) Establish manual in-line spinal stabilization.

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Definitions:

Hemostasis

Arrest of bleeding.

Coagulation

The process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a clot, to stop bleeding and begin repair of the damaged vessel.

Erythropoiesis

The production of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the bone marrow, a process regulated by the hormone erythropoietin.

Macrophages

Large white blood cells that are part of the immune system, engulfing and digesting cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells.