North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

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Prepare for the North Carolina EMT State Exam with interactive quizzes and comprehensive explanations. Master your skills and gain confidence by reviewing key topics before test day!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What is the recommended treatment for a sucking chest wound?

Apply a pressure bandage
Leave the wound open
Use an occlusive dressing, taped on 3 sides
Perform surgery immediately

The correct answer is: Use an occlusive dressing, taped on 3 sides

Using an occlusive dressing taped on three sides is the correct treatment for a sucking chest wound. This type of injury can occur when air enters the pleural space through a chest wall defect, resulting in a potential collapse of the lung on the affected side. An occlusive dressing is designed to create a seal over the wound, preventing air from entering the thoracic cavity during inhalation while allowing any pressure that may build-up to escape during exhalation. Taping the dressing on three sides instead of four is crucial because it allows for the prevention of a tension pneumothorax, a dangerous condition that can occur if air becomes trapped in the pleural cavity and cannot escape. By leaving one side untaped, the dressing maintains the ability to facilitate exhalation while still protecting the wound from further air entry. Applying a pressure bandage does not adequately address the need for an occlusive seal and can exacerbate the situation by compressing the thoracic cavity. Leaving the wound open would also allow continuous air entry, worsening the lung's collapse. Immediate surgical intervention is not feasible in pre-hospital settings and should only be performed in a hospital environment under professional care.