A 21-year-old female struck in the chest with a baseball bat has chest pain and a heart that feels funny. The monitor shows Sinus Tach with frequent multifocal PVCs. What is the next best step?

Prepare for the Paramedic Readiness Exam 4 with our engaging quiz. Hone your skills with targeted questions, hints, and in-depth explanations. Excel on your exam with confidence!

Blunt chest trauma can cause cardiac injury, so quickly checking the heart’s electrical activity is crucial. Sinus tachycardia with frequent multifocal PVCs can signaling myocardial contusion or irritation of the conduction system. A 12-lead ECG provides a comprehensive view of the heart’s electrical status, helps identify contusion‑related changes or evolving ischemia, and gives a baseline for monitoring and decisions about treatment and transport. This information guides management without assuming ACS or relying on therapies that might be harmful after trauma. Nitroglycerin is avoided when the perfusion status is uncertain after chest trauma; aspirin carries bleeding risk in the trauma setting and isn’t indicated without a clear ACS diagnosis; CPR isn’t needed as long as there is a pulse. So the best immediate step is to obtain a 12-lead ECG.