New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

A 40-year-old unrestrained female impacted the steering wheel with her chest when she hit a tree while traveling at 45 mph. Which of the following injuries did this patient likely NOT experience?

1. Head injury

2. Cardiac contusion

3. Pulmonary contusion

4. Multiple rib fractures

The correct answer is: Head injury

In the scenario described, the patient experienced a significant impact during a motor vehicle collision, which can result in a range of injuries due to the high-speed nature of the crash. While head injuries can occur in such accidents, the question specifically asks for the injury that the patient likely did not experience. The mechanism of injury here indicates that the female impacted the steering wheel with her chest. This direct collision with the steering wheel suggests that injuries would be concentrated in the thoracic region, particularly affecting the chest and potentially the ribs, heart, and lungs. Cardiac contusion, pulmonary contusion, and multiple rib fractures are all plausible outcomes of a high-impact accident where the driver strikes the steering wheel. Cardiac contusion, which is a bruise to the heart muscle, can occur from blunt force trauma to the chest. Similarly, a pulmonary contusion — which is bruising of the lung tissue — can arise from the same mechanism of injury, leading to compromised respiratory function. Multiple rib fractures are a common consequence of significant thoracic impact. In contrast, while a head injury can occur in a collision scenario, the specifics of this situation suggest that the primary focus of injury would likely be centered around the torso rather than the head, especially since there