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Remote major trauma — DipIMC MCQ

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ModerateRetrieval MedicineRemote major traumaDipIMC

A 32-year-old falls down a gorge. Road evacuation to the nearest emergency department is 80 minutes; helicopter to MTC is 35 minutes. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: CRequest critical care retrieval and protect against hypothermia

Explanation lettering: E = shown as A · C = shown as B · D = shown as C · A = shown as D · B = shown as E

D is correct: Remote major trauma needs early retrieval activation while the immediate scene team prevents deterioration and heat loss. A is less suitable because it moves the patient before the decisive threat or destination issue is addressed; B is less suitable because it creates avoidable delay in a time-critical presentation; C is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; E is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; NICE Major Trauma Service Delivery NG40; ATACC