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A wide range of emergency medical topics, including infection control, respiratory emergencies, cardiac emergencies, diabetic emergencies, neurological emergencies, and hazardous materials incidents. It provides detailed information on the proper personal protective equipment, assessment, and treatment protocols for various medical situations that emts and other healthcare providers may encounter. The document delves into the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and management of conditions like asthma, myocardial infarction, seizures, anaphylaxis, and heat-related illnesses. It also addresses topics such as spinal immobilization, newborn resuscitation, and the recognition and response to biological, chemical, and radiological threats. This comprehensive resource aims to equip emergency responders with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective and safe patient care in a variety of critical situations.
Typology: Exams
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Which of the following definitions best describes an EMS system? - ANSWER A system of resources and personnel necessary to provide immediate medical care to patients with sudden or unexpected illness or injury. The first use of ambulances in the United States occurred during the: - ANSWER Civil War Motorized ambulances were first used by which hospital? - ANSWER Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago Which landmark paper did the National Academy of Sciences publish in 1966? - ANSWER "Accidental Death and Disability The Neglected Disease of Modern Society" The ______ is the "central nervous system" of EMS resources. - ANSWER Dispatch center Which component of an EMS system is the "intersection of care" for the critical patient? - ANSWER The hospital emergency department
Who of the following EMS system personnel often provides the first help to the patient? - ANSWER The lay rescuer Which of the following are the best ways to maintain competence? - ANSWER Employing a serious effort to apply and perfect the skills taught during the initial training program, as well as taking measures to prevent deterioration of knowledge Which of the following is not a primary role for the EMT? - ANSWER Online medical director Which of the following treatments would require wearing only gloves (no goggles) as your personal protective equipment? - ANSWER Bandaging a minor wound Which of the following best describes offline medical direction? - ANSWER Standing orders and written protocols to advise rescuers on how to deal with certain situations The EMT's first priority when dealing with a dangerous patient is: - ANSWER Personal safety Which of the following actions is produced by voluntary or skeletal muscles? - ANSWER Movement of the arms
Cardiac muscle is responsible for: - ANSWER Pumping of blood The air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen from the lungs to the blood occurs are called: - ANSWER Alveoli The capillary level is where: - ANSWER Oxygen is transferred from blood to the cells The part of the urinary system that filters the blood and reabsorbs essential ingredients while excreting waste products is called the: - ANSWER Kidney Which of the following best explains why a patient experiences cardiac arrest after prolonged respiratory arrest? - ANSWER Cardiac hypoxia You observe a child with labored breathing leaning forward with the head and neck thrust forward, seated and perched on both hands. This is the: - ANSWER Tripod position The groove formed by the larynx and muscles of the neck is the correct location for finding the: - ANSWER Carotid pulse
The chief complaint is best described as: - ANSWER Expression of the patient's main complaint in his or her own words A respiratory rate of 12 to 20 per minute is considered normal for which of the following patients? - ANSWER Adult Obstruction of the airway by the tongue is most likely to result in which of the following sounds? - ANSWER Snoring Narrowing of the upper airway at the level of the vocal cords is most likely to result in which of the following sounds? - ANSWER Stridor The pulse palpated to establish the presence or absence of a pulse in an infant is the: - ANSWER Brachial pulse Determining a blood pressure by feeling a distal pulse rather than listening through a stethoscope is called: - ANSWER Palpation Which component of blood pressure is obtained when using the palpation technique? - ANSWER Systolic
When capillary refill is 1 second in a child, it is considered: - ANSWER Normal Which of the following is not a vital sign? - ANSWER Nausea Normal skin temperature is: - ANSWER Warm You are transporting a 32-year-old man, who was involved in a high-speed motor vehicle accident, to the hospital. His initial vital signs were blood pressure 124/72; pulse 104, strong and regular; and respiratory rate 14 and normal. Five minutes after you obtain this set of vital signs, you repeat the vital signs and determine that the blood pressure is now 104/70; pulse is 120, weak and regular; and his respiratory rate is 18 and normal. The change in vital signs is probably due to: - ANSWER A worsening in the patient's condition When lifting a patient, you should use the muscles in your: - ANSWER Legs An effective method for lifting a very heavy device such as a stretcher is called a: - ANSWER Power lift The length of the scoop stretcher should be adjusted to a length longer than the patient: - ANSWER Before sliding the stretcher under the patient
You and your partner have completed treating and transporting a patient who sustained a slash injury to her right arm. During the treatment of this patient you wore disposable medical gloves that are now visibly contaminated with blood. Once you move your patient to the emergency department stretcher, you should: - ANSWER Take off your gloves, properly dispose of them, and immediately wash your hands When confronted with an open wound oozing blood, the EMT should: - ANSWER Put on disposable medical gloves before assessing and treating the patient When confronted with a patient who has a 2-week history of persistent cough and night sweats, the proper personal protective equipment for the EMT includes: - ANSWER Disposable medical gloves and a HEPA respirator Diseases capable of being spread from one person to another are called: - ANSWER Communicable diseases The simplest and most effective way to block the spread of infection is: - ANSWER Hand washing after every patient contact Which of the following is not a source of information at a hazardous materials transportation accident site? - ANSWER The color of the vehicle
Which of the following best describes the term "standard of care"? - ANSWER The body of knowledge, laws, policies, standards, and guidelines set forth by various standard-setting organizations that provides the basis of prehospital and medical care You respond to the call of an attempted murder. You witness a person removing a knife from the scene. What should you do? - ANSWER Report it to police and document the event. The Spinal column consists of _______ vertebrae. - ANSWER 33 Two imaginary lines that intersect at the umbilicus form the: - ANSWER Abdominal quadrants On removing a 4-year-old child from a pool, you note respirations 3 per minute. What breathing rate would you use on this patient? - ANSWER 1 breath every 3 seconds A typical adult bag-valve-mask consists of all of the following except. - ANSWER A pop-off vale When ventilating a patient using the bag-valve-mask:. - ANSWER Supplemental oxygen at 15 L/min should be used
Which of the following is not a component of scene size-up? - ANSWER Taking the vital signs of the patient What is the formal name of traffic cones, ambulance lights, and flares used at the scene of a crash? - ANSWER Traffic delineation devices What is an ideal location to first evaluate a motor vehicle collision? - ANSWER 100 feet away, uphill and upwind What is the rule of thumb for placing traffic delineation devices on the highway at the scene of a crash? - ANSWER Three times the speed limit, in feet A series of initial questions and observations regarding the patient's condition, including age, sex, and chief complaint, describes which of the following? - ANSWER The general impression What is the mnemonic AVPU used to evaluate? - ANSWER Level of responsiveness Which of the following best describes the head tilt/chin lift procedure for opening the airway? - ANSWER Tilting the head back with one hand while lifting the lower margin of the jaw with the index and middle fingers of the other hand
Which of the following statements best explains the reason for performing a rapid trauma examination? - ANSWER To determine whether life-threatening injuries are present When assessing a patient for injury, which mnemonic assists in the evaluation of each body part? - ANSWER DCAP/BTLS Active use of accessory muscles suggests: - ANSWER Respiratory distress Subcutaneous emphysema is characterized by which of the following9 - ANSWER A crackling sensation found when palpating the neck and upper chest Where is the tibia palpated? - ANSWER The anterior surface of the lower leg Which of the following problems is most likely to result from an obstruction of an artery by a bone end? - ANSWER An absent pulse in one arm Which of the following may be found in a patient with an injury to the lumbar spine? - ANSWER Paralysis in lower, but not upper, extremities
Which of the following is not a component of a SAMPLE history? - ANSWER Mental state For which of the following conditions would a patient be questioned about vomiting, dizziness, and the use of antacids? - ANSWER Abdominal pain You are assessing a small child who cut her index finger on the sharp edge of a toy. The most appropriate physical examination would consist of: - ANSWER An examination of the finger and hand You note blood drainage from the ear during your detailed physical examination. What actions should you take? - ANSWER Cover the ear with a loose dressing A small particle of debris is noted on the cornea of the eye during your detailed physical examination. The patient is experiencing severe irritation. What action should be taken? - ANSWER Irrigate the eye with water or saline solution Which of the following patients would not receive a detailed physical examination? - ANSWER A victim in cardiopulmonary arrest
Which of the following physical examination components might be performed on a trauma patient but not a medical patient? - ANSWER Comparison of both thighs for deformity and swelling Sequential blood pressures of 120/80, 110/76, and 90/60 mm Hg were discovered during your ongoing assessment of an accident victim who fell approximately 25 feet from scaffolding. Which of the following would best explain this pattern? - ANSWER Trending during uncontrolled internal bleeding You are transporting a 15-year-old boy who was hit by a car and is receiving oxygen via non-rebreather mask He has a traction splint on his left leg and is fully immobilized to a long spine board. All of the following are important elements of your ongoing assessment for this patient, except: - ANSWER Palpating the pelvis for instability You are administering oxygen via a non-rebreather mask to a patient complaining of chest pain and note the following during your ongoing assessment en route to the hospital. The patient becomes cyanotic and unresponsive, respiratory rate is 8 and shallow, and pulse is 120 and thread. What immediate action should you take? - ANSWER Administer positive-pressure ventilation You are transporting a patient with a traction splint. What specific evaluation would be most appropriate during your ongoing assessment? - ANSWER Check for a distal pulse in the injured extremity As a general rule, how often should the ongoing assessment be performed and repeated for an unstable patient? - ANSWER Every 5 minutes
As a general rule, how often should the ongoing assessment be performed and repeated for a stable patient? - ANSWER Every 15 minutes The individual who communicates with field personnel and other agencies to coordinate the emergency medical response is the: - ANSWER Dispatcher Which of the following statements is true when presenting your patient to the hospital via radio? - ANSWER The EMT should give a lengthy, presumptive report over the radio Which of the following is not acceptable practice for radio communications? - ANSWER The use of profanity over the airwaves Which of the following is not a technique of effective communication with patients, family members, and bystanders? - ANSWER Using personal terms such as "dear" or "honey" Which of the following is not appropriate when communicating with a deaf patient? - ANSWER Shouting in a very loud voice
A systematic review of pre-hospital care reports to evaluate the appropriateness and/or effectiveness of pre- hospital care is called: - ANSWER Continuous quality improvement Which of the following represents the best "nonjudgmental" documentation of a suspected case of alcohol intoxication on a pre-hospital care report? - ANSWER There was an alcohol-like smell on the patient's breath. Body diagrams on an ambulance call report are a useful way to document: - ANSWER Wounds and areas of pain Five o'clock PM is expressed in military time as: - ANSWER 1700 hours Noon is expressed in military time as: - ANSWER 12000 hours In what section of the pre-hospital care report is the application of a splint documented? - ANSWER Treatment data Which of the following patients has the right to refuse medical aid? - ANSWER A competent adult patient When an error of omission occurs, the EMT should: - ANSWER Document what actually did or did not happen, and what steps, if any, were
taken to correct the situation You are assessing an alert and oriented 21-year-old man who was thrown from a motorcycle and is complaining of head and neck pain. The patient wants transport to the hospital, but despite your insistence, refuses immobilization with a cervical collar, long board, and head immobilization device. Your best action would to: - ANSWER Have the patient sign a refusal pertaining to the immobilization and then transport The name a manufacturer uses in marketing a drug is referred to as the: - ANSWER Trade name Normal exhaled air contains approximately: - ANSWER 16% oxygen The major problem caused by an asthmatic attack is: - ANSWER Narrowing of the bronchioles A patient who is found breathing deeply and rapidly after an argument with his or her boss and complains of tingling around the mouth and "crampy" fingers is probably suffering from: - ANSWER Hyperventilation syndrome The muscle that separates the chest and the abdomen is called the: - ANSWER Diaphragm The normal resting tidal volume for an adult is approximately: - ANSWER 500 mL
A patient with asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis who is breathing rapidly and shallowly at a rate of 32 and who is unresponsive should receive: - ANSWER Positive-pressure ventilation An inflammation of the alveolar spaces caused by various types of infectious organisms or by aspiration of fluid into the tracheobronchial tree is called: - ANSWER Pnemonia The initial management of an asthmatic patient who is sleepy and breathing at a rate of 8 breaths/minute is: - ANSWER Positive-pressure ventilation You are assessing a 5-year-old girl who is breathing at a rate of 26 breaths/min. You realize that this rate is considered: - ANSWER Normal A cyanotic patient in obvious respiratory distress is extremely confused and combative. The family states that the patient is normally alert and oriented, and he does not have any previous medical history. Which of the following might explain the change in mental status? - ANSWER Oxygen-poor blood is causing the brain to dysfunction The amount of blood ejected from the heart with each contraction is called the: - ANSWER Stroke volume
The right circulation is the: - ANSWER Pulmonary circulation A patient who is demonstrating generalized signs of hypoxia (e.g., cyanosis or altered mental state) and severe chest pain should receive oxygen via a: - ANSWER Non-rebreather mask Nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, palpitations, lightheadedness, sweating, dizziness, and loss of consciousness are all possible associated signs of: - ANSWER Myocardial infaraction What symptom is always present in cases of myocardial infarction? - ANSWER No symptom is always present Which of the following terms best describes the classic pain of coronary artery disease, such as angina or myocardial infarction? - ANSWER Squeezing or pressure A common reaction to serious illness, including myocardial infarction, that often causes the patient to not seek help is referred to as: - ANSWER Denial Myocardial infarction patients who are experiencing shortness of breath usually prefer to be placed in a: - ANSWER Sitting position
Historically, which of the following is not a typical symptom that a congestive heart failure patient might describe?
Which of the following administration devices can provide approximately 90% oxygen delivery to the patient? - ANSWER Non-rebreather mask The jaw thrust without head tilt is the primary airway maneuver used for: - ANSWER Suspected spinal injury patients To ensure proper sizing, an oropharyngeal airway is measured from the angle of the jaw to the: - ANSWER Corner of the patient's mouth A pressure compensated flowmeter measures liter flow with a: - ANSWER Gravity-fed ball A cyanotic patient who cannot speak or cough is most likely suffering a: - ANSWER Complete airway obstruction The ventricle cannot pump out an adequate amount of blood and blood backs up through the atria and venous system. This best describes: - ANSWER Heart failure
A 55-year-old man experiences severe pressure, like chest pain, after walking up 2 flights of stairs. After taking 2 nitroglycerin tablets, his pain subsides. He is also complaining of a headache. The most likely cause of this condition is: - ANSWER Angina pectoris The primary cause of myocardial infarction is: - ANSWER Blockage of a coronary artery Suddenly a female patient with difficulty breathing from heart failure becomes lethargic and lies down on the stretcher. Her respiratory rate becomes shallow and drops to 6, and she has cyanosis throughout her face. Your first action should be to: - ANSWER Begin positive-pressure breathing The patient tells you that he has angina pectoris and is prescribed nitroglycerin but has not taken any today. How should you assist this patient in the administration of a nitroglycerin tablet? - ANSWER Place one tablet under the patient's tongue and do not let him drink water. Which of the following patients should have an AED attached? - ANSWER A pulseless 25-year-old man Applying an AED, analyzing, and defibrillating in a moving ambulance: - ANSWER Is not appropriate since it may shock a normal rhythm
In which of the following circumstances would you not need to check for a pulse while using an AED? - ANSWER After every shock that is delivered Some AEDs allow for conversion of the defibrillator to manual mode for: - ANSWER Rhythm monitoring and ACLS procedures The most common cause of defibrillator failure is: - ANSWER Poor maintenance A national organization that designs training programs and establishes guidelines for defibrillator use is the: - ANSWER American Heart Association The best method for ensuring competency with AEDs is: - ANSWER Frequent hands-on practice Post-resuscitation care for a patient who was in cardiac arrest includes: - ANSWER Frequently checking the pulse and properly managing the airway as indicated You are treating an adult patient with an AED and the device has just delivered its first shock. It is in the process of analyzing the patient when ALS providers arrive. You expect that the ALS providers would: - ANSWER Allow your AED to complete its cycle of analysis and shocking
Whereas most cells also use other sources of fuel, such as fats, the central nervous system depends almost exclusively on: - ANSWER Glucose The type of respirations that may be observed in a diabetic patient with a blood glucose level that is too high is characterized by: - ANSWER Deep and usually rapid The most common and treatable diabetic problem encountered in pre-hospital care is: - ANSWER Hypoglycemia Which of the following are appropriate treatments for an unconscious patient with suspected hypoglycemia? - ANSWER Administer oral glucose gel and oxygen Which of the following is not a step in the administration of oral glucose gel? - ANSWER Taking blood pressure in both sitting and lying position Patients who have a severe or absolute lack of insulin are called: - ANSWER Insulin-dependent diabetics If a situation is unclear regarding the history and physical assessment of a suspected diabetic patient, you should:
Status epilepticus is the term used to describe a: - ANSWER Rapid succession of seizures without an intervening period of consciousness Hyperglycemia is the term for: - ANSWER A patient with a high level of sugar in the blood Shock secondary to anaphylaxis is: - ANSWER Vasodilatory Some anaphylactic patients may carry a kit that contains antihistamine agents and: - ANSWER Epinephrine Anaphylactic reactions may present with raised, red patches of skin called: - ANSWER Urticaria The major lethal complications of anaphylaxis are circulatory collapse and: - ANSWER Airway obstruction The trade name for epinephrine is: - ANSWER Adrenalin A patient presenting with severe difficulty breathing, hives, and swelling of the mouth, neck, and tongue is likely to be experiencing: - ANSWER Epiglottis
Complete airway obstruction caused by anaphylaxis can be treated by the EMT with: - ANSWER Continued positive-pressure ventilation The most common drug abused in the United States is: - ANSWER Alcohol Which of the following is not a commonly injected drug? - ANSWER Amyl nitrate Fast heart rate, hypertension, chest pain, anxious behavior, delirium, and paranoia best describe an overdose of: - ANSWER Stimulants A patient has ingested a substance that might contraindicate the use of activated charcoal. What actions should you take? - ANSWER Contact medical direction or poison control for clarification You respond to a call and find a 50-year-old man locked in his garage with his car motor running. He is unresponsive and has a bright cherry-red skin color. Your immediate action should be to: - ANSWER Turn off the car engine, remove the patient from the garage, and give high-concentration oxygen
The pink or cherry-red color associated with carbon monoxide poisoning is from: - ANSWER Hemoglobin saturated with carbon monoxide The metabolism necessary to maintain cellular function at rest is called the: - ANSWER Basal metabolism Radiation is the: - ANSWER Transfer of heat from a warmer environment to a cooler environment that is not in direct contact with the body The body's "thermostat," which regulates temperature by influencing the metabolic rate, the cardiovascular system, and the skin, is located on the: - ANSWER Hypothalamus The three general types of heat emergencies are: - ANSWER Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke The group of individuals who are at increased risk of heat emergencies includes: - ANSWER The very young and the very old What effect does alcohol have on blood vessels that can cause a gain in heat when the environmental temperature is above body temperature? - ANSWER Vasodilation
The treatment of heat stroke includes: - ANSWER Rapid transport and oxygen, cooling with ice at arterial points, fanning with wet sheets on the body If a person's frostbitten foot should thaw before arrival at the hospital, you should: - ANSWER Cover with sterile dressings A patient who witnessed a friend killed in an automobile accident is sitting on the sidewalk, refusing to talk or interact with the EMT. This is an example of: - ANSWER Withdrawal A patient is agitated, upset, crying uncontrollably, and punching the wall. This is an example of: - ANSWER Hysteria Response such as guilt, grief, anger, hysteria, denial, or withdrawal are common reactions to: - ANSWER Death The EMTs first priority with a potentially dangerous patient is: - ANSWER Self-protection A patient who is afraid that you are trying to kill him with poison gas when you place an oxygen mask over his face is suffering from: - ANSWER Paranoia