Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

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Prepare for your EMT Intermediate Test. Study with detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

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After an electrical burn, what is a critical reason to administer IV crystalloid fluids?

To prevent patient intoxication
To maintain adequate urine output
To replenish electrolytes quickly
To alleviate pain and discomfort

The correct answer is: To maintain adequate urine output

Administering IV crystalloid fluids after an electrical burn is crucial primarily to maintain adequate urine output. When a patient suffers an electrical burn, there can be significant damage to internal organs and deep tissues, which may lead to complications such as rhabdomyolysis—where damaged muscle tissue releases myoglobin into the bloodstream. This myoglobin can clog the kidneys, leading to potential acute kidney injury. By ensuring adequate hydration and maintaining urine output, you help to dilute the myoglobin in the urine and promote its excretion, thereby reducing the risk of kidney damage. Monitoring and maintaining urine output is a vital indicator of renal perfusion and helps in early recognition of any possible complications resulting from the burn injury. While other options mention important considerations—such as replenishing electrolytes, alleviating pain, or preventing intoxication—these are not the primary motivation for administering IV crystalloid fluids in the context of managing electrical burns and their associated complications. Maintaining urine output is a direct and critical intervention to protect renal function and manage the patient’s overall stability.