Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

How much IV fluid should be administered to a 65-kg patient with severe burns and shock?

1. 800 mL

2. 1,000 mL

3. 1,300 mL

4. 1,500 mL

The correct answer is: 1,300 mL

In cases of severe burns combined with shock, fluid resuscitation is critical for maintaining hemodynamic stability. The Parkland formula is a widely accepted guideline used to estimate the volume of crystalloid fluids required in the first 24 hours following a burn injury. The formula is calculated based on the percentage of body surface area (BSA) burned and the patient's weight. Assuming the patient has sustained significant burns (often considered to be 20% or more of total body surface area), the calculation involves multiplying the weight in kilograms by 4 mL of fluid for every percentage of BSA burned. The goal is to provide half of the total calculated volume in the first 8 hours and the other half over the subsequent 16 hours. For a 65-kg patient, if the BSA burn percentage is estimated around 30%, you would calculate the fluid requirement as follows: 1. Calculate the total fluid requirement: - \( 4 \, \text{mL} \times \text{percentage of BSA burned} \times \text{weight in kg} \) - If the BSA burned is 30%, then \( 4 \, \text{mL} \times 30 \