While on standby at a semi-professional baseball game, you are summoned onto the field at home plate for a player who complains of severe leg pain after colliding with the catcher of the opposing team. The primary assessment shows no threats to the airway, breathing, or circulation. The secondary assessment reveals a severely deformed knee that is swollen and ecchymotic. The leg is pale and cool, and the patient cannot move his leg when asked to do so. In addition, you cannot palpate a pedal pulse. What should the EMT's priority action be at this time?

Question

A) Apply cold packs to the knee and transport immediately
B) Apply a traction splint and enough traction until a pulse returns
C) Check the patient's radial or carotid pulse
D) Attempt to straighten the leg until a pulse returns

Answer 1

D) Attempt to straighten the leg until a pulse returns