North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT considered a significant mechanism of injury (MOI)?

1. Death of a passenger in the same vehicle

2. Pedestrian hit by a vehicle

3. Minor sprains and strains

4. High-speed collisions

The correct answer is: Minor sprains and strains

Significant mechanisms of injury (MOI) are events that have a high potential to cause serious injuries or trauma to the body. Minor injuries, such as sprains and strains, typically do not involve the same level of impact or force as other mechanisms like high-speed collisions or pedestrian accidents. In this context, options that represent high-impact incidents, such as pedestrians being hit by vehicles or fatalities in vehicle accidents, are clearly significant because they often lead to severe bodily harm. Minor sprains and strains, however, usually result from low-impact activities and do not typically indicate a high degree of trauma or danger, making them less critical in the assessment of potential injury severity. Thus, identifying minor sprains and strains as not significant helps prioritize cases that require more immediate and intense medical response.