EMT Intermediate Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

Administering IV crystalloid fluids after an electrical burn is crucial primarily to maintain adequate urine output. When a patient suffers an electrical burn, there can be significant damage to internal organs and deep tissues, which may lead to complications such as rhabdomyolysis—where damaged muscle tissue releases myoglobin into the bloodstream. This myoglobin can clog the kidneys, leading to potential acute kidney injury.

By ensuring adequate hydration and maintaining urine output, you help to dilute the myoglobin in the urine and promote its excretion, thereby reducing the risk of kidney damage. Monitoring and maintaining urine output is a vital indicator of renal perfusion and helps in early recognition of any possible complications resulting from the burn injury.

While other options mention important considerations—such as replenishing electrolytes, alleviating pain, or preventing intoxication—these are not the primary motivation for administering IV crystalloid fluids in the context of managing electrical burns and their associated complications. Maintaining urine output is a direct and critical intervention to protect renal function and manage the patient’s overall stability.