Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Test with focused study methods including flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Practice with hints and detailed explanations to boost your readiness for the exam.

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In an infant, after how much blood loss can significant signs and symptoms be expected post blunt abdominal trauma?

50 mL
100 mL
150 mL
200 mL

The correct answer is: 100 mL

In infants, the total blood volume is significantly less than in adults, which means that even small amounts of blood loss can lead to noticeable physiological changes. Generally, the threshold for significant signs and symptoms from blood loss due to blunt abdominal trauma in infants is around 100 mL. This is important because infants have a total blood volume of approximately 70-80 mL per kilogram of body weight. When an infant loses about 100 mL of blood, which is roughly 20–25% of their total blood volume, it can cause symptoms such as increased heart rate, altered mental status, hypotension, or even hypovolemic shock, depending on the severity of the loss and the infant's overall condition. Monitoring for these signs is crucial for timely intervention, making awareness of this critical threshold vital for healthcare providers working with pediatric populations. Understanding this allows responders to assess the situation accurately and provide proper care, thus highlighting the relevance of recognizing when significant blood loss is occurring.