Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What happens to the victims' lungs right before impact in the "paper bag effect" situation?

1. The lungs fill with fluid

2. The lungs expand with air

3. The lungs are compressed by chest trauma

4. The lungs swell due to smoke inhalation

The correct answer is: The lungs expand with air

In the "paper bag effect" scenario, the lungs of the victim expand with air right before impact due to a few key physiological factors. This phenomenon occurs when an individual is experiencing a sudden, intense emotional response, like fear or panic, often causing hyperventilation. During hyperventilation, the individual takes rapid, deep breaths, which can fill the lungs with air beyond normal capacity. When a person then encounters a significant and abrupt external force, such as in a crash or a fall, the lungs are filled with this additional air. If the body experiences rapid deceleration, the elastic properties of the lung tissue result in a situation where air is trapped or the chest is unable to compress effectively upon impact. It creates a condition akin to that of a paper bag being pulled tightly at the opening, which may lead to barotrauma or rupture of the alveoli. This process is distinct from other conditions like fluid filling the lungs, which would indicate a drowning situation, or compression from chest trauma, which typically occurs after significant blunt force. Additionally, smoke inhalation does not pertain to the situation at hand since it involves inhaling toxic substances rather than the mechanics of lung expansion under stress. Thus, the correct understanding of the "paper bag effect