The client is receiving a continuous heparin drip 25,000 units/250 mL D5W, at 23 mL/hr. How many units of heparin is the client receiving an hour? Round answer to the nearest whole number.

The primary survey in trauma management focuses on life threatening conditions using the airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure sequence. Knowledge of emergency stabilization techniques is required to prioritize rapid assessment and immediate interventions for physiological survival during the initial encounter.

Choice A rationale

Cervical spine stabilization prevents permanent spinal cord injury during airway management. In trauma, any mechanism of injury involving high velocity or impact requires strict spinal precautions until the spine is radiographically cleared or physically assessed for stability.

Choice B rationale

Obtaining a comprehensive history is part of the secondary survey, specifically the AMPLE assessment. The primary survey focuses only on immediate life threats and physiological stabilization, delaying detailed data collection until the client is determined to be stable.

Choice C rationale

Elevating the head of the bed may compromise spinal alignment before clearance and is not a priority in the ABCDE sequence. Management typically focuses on maintaining a flat, supine position on a backboard to protect the spine.

Choice D rationale

The Glasgow Coma Scale assessment is a core component of the disability portion of the primary survey. It provides a standardized method to evaluate neurological status, including eye opening, verbal response, and motor response to stimuli.

Choice E rationale

Prevention of hypothermia is the exposure and environment stage of the primary survey. Maintaining normothermia is vital because hypothermia can lead to coagulopathy and metabolic acidosis, forming a lethal triad that significantly increases trauma mortality..

Immediate first aid for thermal burns focuses on stopping the burning process and limiting tissue damage. This scenario requires applying knowledge of cooling mechanisms to dissipate heat from deep tissue layers without causing further vasoconstriction or injury.

Choice A rationale

Cool tap water helps dissipate heat from the skin and prevents the burn from progressing to deeper layers. Applying cool water for twenty minutes reduces edema and provides immediate pain relief without causing thermal shock.

Choice B rationale

Ice packs should never be applied directly to a burn. Extreme cold causes profound vasoconstriction, which impairs local blood flow to the injured area and can lead to frostbite or further tissue necrosis and ischemia.

Choice C rationale

While medical evaluation is necessary for serious burns, immediate cooling is the priority to stop tissue destruction. Delaying first aid to travel to a doctor without cooling the hand first allows the heat to continue.

Choice D rationale

Ointments or butter can trap heat within the skin and increase the risk of infection. Professional assessment should occur before applying topical agents, as they can interfere with the initial cleaning and debridement of the wound.