When caring for a patient with a possible fracture of the scapula, the EMT should

When caring for a patient with a possible fracture of the scapula, the EMT should

• A. Check pedal pulses only
• B. Carefully assess the patient for breathing problems
• C. Immobilize the arm with a rigid sling only
• D. Ignore chest assessment and focus on limb

Answer: (B)

In trauma care, protecting and assessing breathing comes first. A scapula fracture usually results from a high-energy impact and often signals potential chest or lung injury, such as rib fractures, pneumothorax, or pulmonary contusion. Even if the arm looks injured, a compromised airway or poor ventilation can be life-threatening, so you must evaluate the patient’s breathing carefully—rate, effort, symmetry of chest movement, work of breathing, and oxygen saturation—and be ready to provide support if needed. Immobilizing the arm helps prevent further injury, but it should not delay checking and supporting breathing. Ignoring chest assessment or focusing only on the limb could miss a serious thoracic injury, making breathing evaluation the best immediate priority.

In trauma care, protecting and assessing breathing comes first. A scapula fracture usually results from a high-energy impact and often signals potential chest or lung injury, such as rib fractures, pneumothorax, or pulmonary contusion. Even if the arm looks injured, a compromised airway or poor ventilation can be life-threatening, so you must evaluate the patient’s breathing carefully—rate, effort, symmetry of chest movement, work of breathing, and oxygen saturation—and be ready to provide support if needed. Immobilizing the arm helps prevent further injury, but it should not delay checking and supporting breathing. Ignoring chest assessment or focusing only on the limb could miss a serious thoracic injury, making breathing evaluation the best immediate priority.