Written Assessment Topic: 

"A Comprehensive Review of Key Topics in Trauma Management within a prehospital context: Mass Casualty Incidents, Tranexamic Acid Administration, and Tourniquet Application in Trauma Care" 

For this essay, you are required to explore three critical topics in the field of paramedic trauma and emergency management, based on current peer-reviewed literature from the last 10 years. Your analysis should address the following: 

Key Findings in the Successful Handling of Mass Casualty Incidents: Examine the most recent evidence on the best practices and strategies for managing mass casualty incidents (MCIs). Focus on coordination with other agencies, resource management, triage protocols, and challenges faced in such high-stress scenarios. 

The Effects of Administration of Tranexamic Acid on Mortality and Morbidity in Trauma Patients with Significant Haemorrhage: Review the latest research regarding the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in trauma care, particularly its impact on survival rates and recovery outcomes in patients with severe bleeding. 

Tourniquet Application in Trauma Care: Duration and Limb Preservation: Analyse the current evidence on the safe duration for tourniquet application in trauma situations, considering the risks of ischemia and tissue damage. Additionally, discuss best practices paramedics can adopt to minimise complications and maximise limb preservation. 

Your essay should be structured as follows: 

·         Section 1: Key Findings in the Successful Handling of Mass Casualty Incidents (+/-600 words) 

·         Section 2: The Effects of Administration of Tranexamic Acid on Mortality and Morbidity in Trauma Patients with Significant Haemorrhage (+/-600 words) 

·         Section 3: Tourniquet Application in Trauma Care: Duration and Limb Preservation-(+/-600 words) 

·         Conclusion: Summarize the findings from each section, highlight their implications for paramedic practice, and discuss any gaps in research or areas for future exploration. 

  Your assessment should be professional and academic in tone. 

The minimum word count is 1800 words and the maximum word count is 2200 words.  This does not include references. 

The assessment should include a cover page and a separate reference list for each topic. On the cover page include your name and student number, the unit code (PMSC13014), the word count excluding title page, in-text citations, and reference list.

Ambulance guidelines should not be used as sources; rely exclusively on peer-reviewed literature for your research.  Ensure that each section is well-researched and properly cited using APA format for both in-text citations and the reference list. The written assessment is worth 60% of your overall unit mark.   Please refer to the Moodle site for additional task information such as assignment marking rubric.

For this assessment task you will complete a one hour and twenty minute (80 minutes) online test on the Moodle website. The online test will assess your knowledge of the pathophysiology of trauma presentations, and your capacity to effectively manage trauma cases.

This quiz will comprise a mix of multiple-choice, true/false, short answer questions, and case management exercises related to the material in this unit

Once started, do not press BACK on your browser or REFRESH the page at any time; your work will be lost as responses are not saved until the quiz is submitted or the allotted time expires.

When the due date expires, any open attempts are automatically submitted; you must therefore start the quiz at least two hours before that deadline, or you will not receive your full time period.

You have 80 minutes to complete the test and you will only be given one attempt for this quiz. When your time limit expires, any open attempts are automatically submitted. This quiz is worth 40% of your overall mark and you must achieve a minimum pass mark of 50% to pass this assessment. If you experience a technical issue you must notify the Unit Coordinators immediately. This is an INDIVIDUAL TASK and must not be collaboratively completed. 

During the compulsory residential school for this unit, you will need to complete a practical assessment to evaluate your procedural and declarative knowledge of the various assessments, skills and pharmacology learned throughout this unit. You will be assessed via two objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE’s) involving comprehensive assessment and management of a patient presenting with traumatic injuries. Following these assessments you will undertake a critical reflection of your performance.

The practical assessment will be assessed in line with the rubric provided on the unit Moodle page.

The OSCE's are pass/fail assessment and you must pass each OSCE. One resit will be offered if you pass one OSCE but fail the other. If you fail both OSCE’s or the resit you will fail the unit. 

Assessments with unsafe practices will be moderated by the Unit Coordinator and therefore feedback will not be made available immediately at the completion of your assessment day/s or residential school.

Unsafe practice in this unit is classed as anything, by act or omission that: causes immediate harm or has the potential to cause harm to yourself, partner, patient or bystanders and/or any procedure/skill or pharmacology administered, that is performed outside your scope of practice.

Examples include 

·         Unsafe defibrillation

·         Incorrect joules delivered during defibrillation

·         Defibrillation of a non-shockable rhythm

·         Failure to recognise a cardiac arrest within one (1) minute

·         Failure to defibrillate a shockable rhythm within two (2) minutes

·         Failure to perform a complete drug check

·         Incorrect sharps disposal or unsafe practice with a sharp

·         Performing a skill or procedure outside your scope of practice taught to you in all previous and current units

·         Administering pharmacology outside your scope of practice, or administering an incorrect drug or drug dose

·         Any grossly unsafe practice, as determined by the assessing academic.

During any form of assessment, if any examples of unsafe practice are witnessed the assessment will continue and be moderated. Upon review and confirmation of unsafe practice, no marks will be awarded for that assessment item. 

In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete this assessment after the compulsory Residential School for this unit.