AEMCA Practice Exam

What do children commonly experience when involved in a vehicular incident?

1. Severe head trauma

2. Waddell's triad of injuries

3. Multiple organ failure

4. Internal bleeding

The correct answer is: Waddell's triad of injuries

When children are involved in a vehicular incident, they commonly experience Waddell's triad of injuries. Waddell's triad refers specifically to a set of injuries that are typically sustained by young children when struck by a motor vehicle. This triad includes a combination of: 1. A head injury, 2. An injury to the torso, often involving the abdomen, 3. A lower extremity injury, frequently seen as a fracture or soft tissue injury. This pattern occurs due to the height and size of a child compared to an adult, as well as the mechanics of how they may be struck by a vehicle. Waddell's triad is a critical concept to understand in pediatric trauma because it helps healthcare professionals identify the likely injuries and provide appropriate treatment promptly. The other choices present serious conditions that can occur due to vehicular incidents, but they are not as specifically characteristic of child injuries as Waddell's triad. Severe head trauma can occur, but it is just one potential injury rather than a specific pattern. Multiple organ failure and internal bleeding are serious potential outcomes of trauma but are more generalized and not unique to children or indicative of the most common presentation in such contexts.