Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Test

What term describes the situation when a victim takes a deep breath before impact and the air trapped in the lungs is compressed, potentially causing a pneumothorax?

1. Bellows effect

2. Piston effect

3. Pump effect

4. Paper bag effect

The correct answer is: Paper bag effect

The term that describes the situation when a victim takes a deep breath before impact, causing compression of the trapped air in the lungs, leading to a potential pneumothorax, is known as the "paper bag effect." This term captures the scenario where the lungs act similarly to a paper bag that can rupture when squeezed. The act of inhaling deeply prior to a traumatic incident causes the alveoli to be filled with more air than usual, and during sudden trauma, the air can become compressed, increasing the risk of a pneumothorax, which occurs when air leaks into the pleural space. The other options describe different scenarios and do not accurately represent the lung mechanics involved in this particular situation. The bellows effect generally refers to a mechanism of expanding and contracting to pump air but does not specifically denote the risk of pneumothorax associated with a breath taken prior to a significant impact. The piston effect and pump effect pertain to different mechanical applications and are not relevant in this context since they do not encompass the physiological implications of a deep breath taken before a traumatic event leading to lung injuries. Thus, the "paper bag effect" is the appropriate term for this phenomenon.