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Blast lung — DipIMC MCQ

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HardPre-Hospital Trauma ManagementBlast lungDipIMC

After an industrial explosion, a walking casualty has chest tightness, cough and mild hypoxia but no external chest wound. Several more obvious casualties are present. What is the most appropriate transport decision?

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

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Correct answer: C — Transport to a hospital able to assess blast lung and occult injury

Option C is correct because Blast exposure can cause serious occult pulmonary injury despite limited external signs, especially with cough or hypoxia. Option A is less appropriate because the clinical risk exceeds that destination or timeframe; option D is less appropriate because pre-alert is needed to mobilise the correct receiving team. Option E is less appropriate because watchful waiting risks deterioration or delays definitive care; option B is less appropriate because unmonitored private transport is unsafe for this risk profile. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: MIMMS; NHS Major Incident Triage Tool