Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Which of the following weapons would MOST likely result in the largest surface area of tissue damage?

1. Handgun

2. 12-gauge shotgun

3. Bow and arrow

4. Rifle

The correct answer is: 12-gauge shotgun

The 12-gauge shotgun is likely to result in the largest surface area of tissue damage primarily due to the nature of its ammunition. A shotgun fires multiple pellets or a slug, which disperse upon exiting the barrel. When fired, especially at close range, these pellets spread out and can create a widespread pattern of injury. This characteristic allows a shotgun to impact a larger area of tissue compared to the focused projectile of a handgun, a rifle, or the single arrow of a bow. The effectiveness of shotguns in causing extensive damage is particularly pronounced in scenarios involving the use of shotgun slugs, which are large, solid projectiles designed to cause significant trauma. The dispersion of pellets upon impact leads to a wider zone of destruction, making shotguns exceptionally destructive compared to weapons that deliver singular, focused projectiles. In contrast, handguns typically fire single bullets, rifles are designed for precise, long-range targeting of narrow areas, and bows and arrows deliver a single arrow with a smaller diameter than the combined area of multiple shotgun pellets. Therefore, the unique operating mechanics and ammunition of a 12-gauge shotgun stand out as the reason for its potential to cause the most significant surface area damage upon impact.