BU written exam questions
what is the correct ratio of compressions to ventilations when performing two-rescuer child CPR?
15:2
How is nitroglycerin usually given by the EMT? A. Sublingually B. Injected C. Inhaled D. Orally
A. Sublingually
You have applied a dressing and roller-gauze bandage to a laceration on the arm of a young female. During transport, she begins to complain of numbness and tingling in her hand. You should: A. assess distal circulation and readjust the bandage as needed. B. carefully manipulate her arm until the symptoms subside. C. remove the bandage and dressing and apply another one. D. remove the gauze bandage and replace it with an elastic one.
A. assess distal circulation and readjust the bandage as needed.
A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should: A. assess whether the patient's mental condition is impaired. B. have the patient sign a refusal form and return him to his office. C. document the patient's request but continue to transport him. D. request that the police place the patient under protective custody.
A. assess whether the patient's mental condition is impaired.
You respond to a college campus for a young male who is acting strangely. After law enforcement has secured the scene, you enter the patient's dorm room and find him sitting on the edge of the bed; he appears agitated: As you approach him, you note that he has dried blood around both nostrils: He is breathing adequately, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is 200/110 mm Hg. Treatment for this patient includes: A. attempting to calm him and giving him oxygen if tolerated. B. asking law enforcement to place handcuffs on the patient. C. requesting a paramedic to administer naloxone (Narcan). D. assisting his ventilations with a bag-mask device.
A. attempting to calm him and giving him oxygen if tolerated.
A 38-year-old male was electrocuted while attempting to wire a house. Your assessment reveals that he is unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. A coworker has shut off the power to the house. You should: A. begin CPR and apply the AED. B. assess for entry and exit wounds. C. begin CPR and transport at once. D. fully immobilize his spinal column
A. begin CPR and apply the AED.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a middle-aged man who collapsed about 5 minutes ago. He is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. Bystanders are present, but have not provided any care. You should: A. begin high-quality CPR and apply the AD as soon as possible. B. immediately apply the AED pads and analyze his cardiac rhythm. C. have your partner perform CPR while you question the bystanders. D. perform two-rescuer CPR for 5 minutes and request ALS backup.
A. begin high-quality CPR and apply the AD as soon as possible.
While transporting a stable patient with chest pain to the hospital, you come across a major motor vehicle crash involving several critically injured patients. You should: A. continue transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash. B. stop and triage the patients while your partner remains in the ambulance. C. ask a bystander to remain with your patient as you treat the crash victims, D. remain at the scene until law enforcement and another ambulance arrive.
A. continue transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash.
A critical aspect of the rapid extrication technique is to: A. maintain stabilization of the spine at all times. B. extricate the patient with one coordinated move. C. move the patient as quickly as you possibly can. D. apply a vest-style device before moving the patient.
A. maintain stabilization of the spine at all times.
You are dispatched to a local high school track and field event for a 16-year-old male who fainted. The outside temperature is approximately 95°F (35°C) with high humidity. Upon your arrival, the patient is conscious, alert, and complains of nausea and a headache. His skin is cool, clammy, and pale. You should: A. move him into the cooled ambulance. B. give him a liquid salt solution to drink C. apply chemical ice packs to his axillae D. administer 100% supplemental oxygen.
A. move him into the cooled ambulance.
When removing a critically injured patient from his or her vehicle, you should: A. protect the cervical spine during the entire process. B. remove him or her using a short backboard. C. release c-spine control to facilitate rapid removal. D. move him or her in one fast, continuous step.
A. protect the cervical spine during the entire process.
You respond to a local lake where a diver complains of difficulty breathing that occurred immediately after rapidly ascending from a depth of approximately 30 feet. On assessment, you note that he has cyanosis around his lips and pink froth coming from his nose and mouth. You should: A. suction his mouth and nose, apply high-flow oxygen, monitor the patient's breath sounds for a pneumothorax, and contact medical control regarding transport to a recompression facility. B. suction his mouth and nose, keep him supine and elevate his legs to prevent air bubbles from entering his brain, administer high-flow oxygen, and transport to a hyperbaric chamber. C. position him supine with his head elevated 30°, suction his mouth and nose, hyperventilate him with a bag-valve mask, and contact medical control for further guidance. D. place him in a semi-sitting position, suction his mouth and nose, apply a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, and transport to the closest emergency department.
A. suction his mouth and nose, apply high-flow oxygen, monitor the patient's breath sounds for a pneumothorax, and contact medical control regarding transport to a recompression facility.
As you and your team are removing an unresponsive patient from her wrecked car, you note that she has deformities to both of her legs and a deformity to her left humerus. You should: A. support the injured extremities and continue removal B. assess distal neurovascular functions in her extremities C. splint the deformities before moving her any further. D. realign the deformed extremities before continuing.
A. support the injured extremities and continue removal
A 4-year-old female has a peanut lodged in the external auditory canal of her right ear. You should: A. transport her to the emergency department. B. thoroughly flush her ear with sterile saline. C. remove the peanut with a cotton-tipped swab. D. use tweezers to try to remove the object.
A. transport her to the emergency department.
A 23-year-old male experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has agonal gasps, and has copious bloody secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway? - Suction his oropharynx with a rigid catheter until all secretions are removed. - Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and provide suction and assisted ventilations. - Provide continuous ventilations with a bag-mask device to minimize hypoxia. - Alternate oropharyngeal suctioning and ventilation with a bag-mask device.
Alternate oropharyngeal suctioning and ventilation with a bag-mask device.
Which of the following conditions or situations presents the most unique challenge to the EMT when immobilizing an elderly patient on a long backboard? A. Joint flexibility B. Abnormal spinal curvature C. Naturally deformed bones D. Patient disorientation
B. Abnormal spinal curvature
Which of the following clinical signs would necessitate the administration of naloxone (Narcan) in a suspected narcotic overdose? A. Extreme agitation B. Slow respirations C. Hypertension D. Tachycardia
B. Slow respirations
A 26-year-old female presents with heavy vaginal bleeding. She is conscious, but restless. Her blood pressure is 84/54 mm Hg, her pulse is 120 beats/min and weak, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth. She tells you that she inserted a tampon about 2 hours ago. You should: A. administer high-flow oxygen, ask her to remove the tampon, perform a detailed secondary assessment, and transport promptly. B. administer high-flow oxygen, place a sterile pad over her vagina, keep her warm, elevate her lower extremities, and transport without delay C. administer high-flow oxygen, perform a detailed assessment of her vaginal area for signs of trauma, place her on her side, and transport D. assist her ventilations with a bag-valve mask, place one sterile dressing into her vagina, perform a rapid secondary assessment, and transport.
B. administer high-flow oxygen, place a sterile pad over her vagina, keep her warm, elevate her lower extremities, and transport without delay
A 49-year-old man has been removed from his overturned tanker, which was carrying a hazardous material. The tank ruptured, and he was exposed to the material. When rescue personnel bring him to the decontamination area, they note that he is unconscious and has slow, shallow breathing. They should: A. defer the decontamination procedure and bring the patient directly to awaiting EMS personnel for immediate treatment. B. cut away all of the patient's clothing and do a rapid rinse to remove as much of the contaminating matter as they can. C. request that EMS personnel don standard precautions, enter the warm zone, and begin immediate treatment of the patient. D. decontaminate the patient as they would any other patient and then move him to the area where EMTs are waiting.
B. cut away all of the patient's clothing and do a rapid rinse to remove as much of the contaminating matter as they can.
A 19-vear-old female has just been extricated from her severely damaged car. She is on a long backboard and has been moved to a place of safety. As your partner maintains manual stabilization of her head, you perform a rapid assessment. The patient is unresponsive, has slow and shallow respirations, and has bilateral closed femur deformities. You should: A. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. B. direct your partner to begin ventilatory assistance. C. stabilize her legs with longboard splints. D. obtain baseline vital signs and transport at once
B. direct your partner to begin ventilatory assistance.
A 33-year-old restrained driver of a motor vehicle crash is awake and alert, complaining only of neck pain and left leg pain. The vehicle is stable, and no hazards are present. When removing this patient from his vehicle, you should: A. apply a full leg splint prior to extrication B. immobilize him with a vest-style device. C. maintain slight traction to his neck area. D. use the rapid extrication technique
B. immobilize him with a vest-style device.
You are dispatched to a residence for a 66-year-old male who, according to family members, has suffered a massive stroke. Your primary assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. You should: A. obtain a blood glucose sample to rule out hypoglycemia. B. initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible. C. perform CPR for 5 minutes before applying the AED. D. assess the patient for a facial droop and hemiparesis.
B. initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible.
A 38-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia is reported by neighbors to be screaming and throwing things in his house. You are familiar with the patient and have cared for him in the past for unrelated problems. Law enforcement officers escort you into the residence when you arrive. The patient tells you that he sees vampires and is attempting to ward them off by screaming and throwing things at them. He has several large lacerations to his forearms that are actively bleeding. The MOST appropriate way to manage this situation is to: A. request that the police officers arrest him and take him to the hospital. B. restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to treat his injuries. C. try to gain the patient's trust by telling him that you see the vampires too D. approach the patient and calm him by placing your hand on his shoulder.
B. restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to treat his injuries.
With increasing age, the heart must work harder to move the blood effectively because: A. the arteries dilate significantly. B. the blood vessels become stiff. C. the blood thickens as a person ages. D. diastolic blood pressure decreases.
B. the blood vessels become stiff.
An infant or small child's airway can be occluded if it is overextended or overflexed because: A. the tongue is proportionately small and can fall back into the throat B. the occiput is proportionately large, and the trachea is flexible C. he or she has a long neck, which makes the trachea prone to collapse. D. the back of the head is flat, which prevents a neutral position.
B. the occiput is proportionately large, and the trachea is flexible
Which of the following patients has decision-making capacity and can legally refuse emergency medical treatment? A. A confused young male who says he is the president B. A diabetic woman who has slurred speech and is not aware of the date C. A conscious and alert woman with severe abdominal pain D. A man who is staggering and states that he had three beers
C. A conscious and alert woman with severe abdominal pain
During your assessment of a 50-year-old male who was found unresponsive in an alley, you note that he has slow, shallow respirations; bradycardia; facial cyanosis; and pinpoint pupils. As your partner begins assisting the patient's ventilations, he directs your attention to the patient's arms, which have multiple needle tracks on them. Which of the following would most likely explain the patient's presentation? A. Alcohol intoxication B. Closed-head injury C. Heroin overdose D. Delirium tremens
C. Heroin overdose
Which type of medical direction do standing orders and protocols describe? A. Direct B. Online C. Off-line D. Radio
C. Off-line
EMTs are called for an unresponsive infant. When they arrive, they find the mother holding her child. She advises that the child became limp, blue, and stopped breathing. Assessment reveals that the infant is conscious and crying, and has good muscle tone and pink skin color. The mother states that she will take her child to the doctor. The EMTs should: A. advise the mother that the danger has past and that she can take the child to the pediatrician. B, contact law enforcement personnel and advise them that they are suspicious for child abuse. C. inform that mother that, although the event seems to have resolved, transport via EMS is advisable. D. allow the mother to take her child to the doctor, but inform her that the risk for SIDS is high.
C. inform that mother that, although the event seems to have resolved, transport via EMS is advisable.
A factory worker was splashed in the eyes with a strong acid chemical. He complains of intense pain and blurred vision. Your ambulance does not carry bottles of sterile saline or water. You should: A. mix baking soda with water and irrigate his eyes with the solution. B. flush both eyes with an alcohol-based solution and transport C. irrigate both eyes continuously for 20 minutes with plain water. D. neutralize the acid chemical in his eye with an alkaline chemical.
C. irrigate both eyes continuously for 20 minutes with plain water.
A 28-year-old male was struck in the chest with a baseball bat during an altercation. He is conscious and alert and complains of severe chest pain. Your assessment reveals a large area of ecchymosis over the sternum and a rapid, irregular pulse. In addition to providing supplemental oxygen, you should: A. determine if he has cardiac problems. B. apply bulky dressings to the sternum. C. prepare for immediate transport. D. apply an AED and assess his BP.
C. prepare for immediate transport.
You respond to a call for an unknown emergency. When you arrive at the scene, the patient's husband meets you at the door and states that his wife has been depressed and has locked herself in an upstairs bedroom. He further tells you that he keeps his handgun in the bedroom. You should: A. ask the husband to attempt to reason with his wife. B. get in your ambulance and leave the scene immediately. C. remain in a safe place and request law enforcement. D. go upstairs with caution and attempt to talk to the patient.
C. remain in a safe place and request law enforcement.
A 56-year-old male has an incomplete avulsion to his right forearm. After controlling any bleeding from the wound, you should: A. carefully probe the wound to determine if the bleeding is venous or arterial. B. thoroughly irrigate the wound with sterile water and cover it with a sterile dressing C. replace the avulsed flap to its original position and cover it with a sterile dressing D. carefully remove the avulsed flap and wrap it in a moist, sterile trauma dressing
C. replace the avulsed flap to its original position and cover it with a sterile dressing
You are assessing a man with suspected hypothermia. The patient is conscious, alert, and actively shivering. His respiratory rate is increased, but his breathing is unlabored, and the pulse oximeter reads 72%. The pulse oximetry reading is most likely: A. a direct reflection of his increased respiratory rate. B. accurate because shivering affects hemoglobin binding. C. secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities. D. accurate because he has signs of respiratory failure.
C. secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities.
While en route to a call for a patient in cardiac arrest, you approach a stopped school bus with its red warning lights flashing. You should: A. pass the bus only after all the children have exited. B. back up and take an alternate route lo-the scene. C. stop and wait until the warning lights stop flashing D. slowly and carefully pass the bus on the left side.
C. stop and wait until the warning lights stop flashing
A patient in respiratory arrest at the scene of a multiple-casualty incident would typically be classified as a fourth priority (black tag; expectant) patient, unless: A. he or she has signs of an injury to the cervical spine. B. there are at least three other patients in respiratory arrest. C. there are enough resources to provide care for him or her. D. he or she has external signs of severe thoracic trauma.
C. there are enough resources to provide care for him or her.
A 58-year-old male presents with confusion, right-sided weakness, and slurred speech. His airway is patent, and his breathing is adequate. His wife is present and is very upset. Which of the following has the MOST immediate priority? A. Obtaining a complete set of baseline vital signs B. Administering glucose to rule out hypoglycemia C. Documenting all of his current medications D. Asking his wife when she noticed the symptoms
D. Asking his wife when she noticed the symptoms
A tour bus has overturned, resulting in numerous patients. When you arrive, you are immediately assigned to assist in the triage process. Patient 1 is a middle-aged male with respiratory distress, chest pain, and a closed deformity to his right forearm. Patient 2 is a young female who is conscious and alert but has bilateral femur fractures and numerous abrasions to her arms and face. Patient 3 is an older woman who complains of abdominal pain and has a history of cardiovascular disease. Patient 4 is unresponsive, is not breathing, has a weak carotid pulse, and has a grossly deformed skull. What triage categories should you assign to these patients? A. Patient 1, delayed (yellow); Patient 2, immediate (red): Patient 3, delayed (yellow): Patient 4, immediate (red) B. Patient 1, immediate (red); Patient 2, minimal (green); Patient 3, delayed (yellow): Patient 4, expectant (black) C. Patient 1, delayed (yellow); Patient 2, delayed (yellow): Patient 3, minimal (green): Patient 4, immediate (red) D. Patient 1, immediate (red); Patient 2, delayed (yellow); Patient 3, immediate (red); Patient 4, expectant (black)
D. Patient 1, immediate (red); Patient 2, delayed (yellow); Patient 3, immediate (red); Patient 4, expectant (black)
Situations in which you should use the rapid extrication technique include all of the following, except: A. a patient who blocks access to another seriously injured patient. B. a patient whose condition requires immediate transport to the hospital. C. a patient who needs immediate care that requires a supine position. D. a patient who can be properly assessed while still in the vehicle.
D. a patient who can be properly assessed while still in the vehicle.
While jogging, a 19-year-old male experienced an acute onset of shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. He is conscious and alert with stable vital signs. Your assessment reveals that he has diminished breath sounds over the left side of the chest. You should: A. circumferentially tape a dressing around his chest. B. recognize that he needs a needle decompression C. immediately perform a rapid head-to-toe exam. D. administer oxygen and transport to the hospital.
D. administer oxygen and transport to the hospital.
You have just delivered a major trauma patient to the hospital. Shortly after departing the hospital, dispatch advises you of another call. The back of the ambulance is contaminated with bloody dressings and is in disarray, and you are in need of airway equipment and numerous other supplies: You should: A. quickly proceed to the call and clean and restock the ambulance afterwards B. proceed lo the call, functioning only as an emergency medical responder. C. have your partner quickly clean the ambulance as you proceed to the call D. advise the dispatcher that you are out of service and to sond another unit.
D. advise the dispatcher that you are out of service and to sond another unit.
A young female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She complains of pain to her left eye, which appears to have a piece of glass impaled in it. Further assessment reveals a large laceration to her left forearm with active venous bleeding. As your partner manually stabilizes the patient's head you should: A. carefully remove the glass from her eye B. stabilize the impaled glass in her eye C. administer 100% supplemental oxygen, D. apply direct pressure to her arm wound.
D. apply direct pressure to her arm wound.
A 29-year-old male complains of a severe headache and nausea that has gradually worsened over the past 12 hours. He is conscious, alert, and oriented and tells you that his physician diagnosed him with migraine headaches. He further tells you that he has taken numerous different medications, but none of them seems to help. His blood pressure is 132/74 mm Hg, his pulse is 110 beats/min and strong and his respirations are 20 breaths/min: Treatment should include: A. applying warm compresses to the back of his neck and transporting with lights and siren B. placing him in a supine position and transporting with lights and siren to a stroke center C. assisting him with his migraine medication and transporting without lights and siren D. dimming the lights in the back of the ambulance and transporting without lights and siren
D. dimming the lights in the back of the ambulance and transporting without lights and siren
You are assessing a 59-year-old male and note that his pupils are unequal. He is conscious and alert. When obtaining his medical history, it is most pertinent to ask him if he: A. regularly sees a family physician. B. noticed the change during a meal C. is allergic to any medications. D. has a history of eye surgeries.
D. has a history of eye surgeries.
A 29-year-old male has an anterior nosebleed after he was accidentally elbowed in the nose. He is conscious and alert with adequate breathing. The most appropriate care for this patient includes: A. applying a gauze pad in between his lower lip and gum. B. placing him supine and pinching his nostrils together. C. packing the nasopharynx with moist, sterile dressings. D. leaning him forward and pinching his nostrils together.
D. leaning him forward and pinching his nostrils together.
The person who is responsible for authorizing EMTs to perform emergency medical care in the field is the: A. field training officer. B. shift supervisor. C. EMS administrator. D. medical director.
D. medical director.
Your EMS team is performing CPR on a 60-year-old male in cardiac arrest. You connect the AED, push the analyze button, and receive a "no shock advised" message. A. re-analyze the patient's cardiac rhythm. B. determine if a palpable pulse is present. C. immediately assess the patient's airway. D. perform CPR for 2 minutes and reassess.
D. perform CPR for 2 minutes and reassess.
You and your partner are standing by at the scene of a residential fire when you hear the incident commander state, "We have located a victim" over the radio. You should: A. immediately locate the incident commander and ask where the victim is located B. locate the victim and provide initial care while your partner stays with the ambulance C. notify the hospital that you will be transporting a burn patient to their facility. D. remain with the ambulance and wait for fire personnel to bring the victim to you
D. remain with the ambulance and wait for fire personnel to bring the victim to you
You are dispatched to a local elementary school for an injured child. As you approach the child, you note that he is lying at the base of the monkey bars. He is unresponsive, and there are no signs of breathing. You should: A. open his airway and look in his mouth. B. perform a head tilt-chin lift maneuver C. begin immediate rescue breathing. D. stabilize his head and check for a pulse
D. stabilize his head and check for a pulse
A 67-year-old female with severe chest pain becomes unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic during transport. You should: A. defibrillate with the ED while continuing transport to the hospital. B. perform CPR for 1 to 2 minutes and then analyze her rhythm with an AED. C. alert the receiving hospital and perform CPR for the duration of the transport. D. stop the ambulance, begin CPR, and attach the AED as soon as possible.
D. stop the ambulance, begin CPR, and attach the AED as soon as possible.
The goal of the primary assessment is to: - determine if the patient's problem is medical or traumatic. - identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions - determine the need to perform a head-to-toe assessment. - identify patients that require transport to a trauma center.
Identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions
A 75-year-old male with type 1 diabetes presents with chest pain and a general feeling of weakness. He tells you that he took his insulin today and ate a regular meal approximately 2 hours ago. You should treat this patient as though he is experiencing: - a heart attack. - hyperglycemia. - hypoglycemia - an acute stroke.
a heart attack
you are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by SOB & sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should suspect: - acute pulmonary edema - right sided heart failure - acute pulmonary embolism - spontaneous pneumothorax
acute pulmonary embolism
A 73 year old man presents with a generalized rash, which he thinks may have been caused by an antibiotic that he recently began taking. He has a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and emphysema. He is conscious and alert, his bp is 144/94 mm Hg, pulse is 64 beats/min and regular. You auscultate his breath sounds and hear scattered wheezing, although he is not experiencing respiratory distress. You should: - administer O2 if needed, transport the pt, and monitor him for signs of deterioration - ask him if he has epinephrine & request approval from medical control to administer it to the pt - begin transport & request to administer epi if his systolic bp falls below 110 mm Hg - avoid the use of epi because of his cardiac history, even if his symptoms become severe
administer O2 if needed, transport the pt, and monitor him for signs of deterioration
A 70 yr old man complains of a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. He has dried blood on his lips and is very anxious. His left leg is red, swollen, and painful. The EMT should: - suspect severe pneumonia - apply a cold pack to his leg - position the patient supine - administer high-flow O2
administer high-flow O2
Medical control gives you an order that seems inappropriate for the patient's condition. After confirming that you heard the physician correctly, you should: - advise the physician that the order is unclear and ask for clarification - carry out the order and then carefully document it on the run form - state that you will not carry out the order because it is inappropriate - obtain consent from the patient and then carry out the order as usual
advise the physician that the order is unclear and ask for clarification
Pain that radiates to the right lower quadrant from the umbilical area, nausea and vomiting, and anorexia are MOST indicative of: - cholecystitis - appendicitis - pancreatitis - gastroenteritis
appendicitis
a 39-year-old male sustained a large laceration to his leg during an accident with a chainsaw & is experiencing signs and symptoms of shock. you should first: apply direct pressure to the wound, provide high-flow oxygen, obtain baseline vitals, cover the patient with a blanket.
apply direct pressure to the wound
During your assessment of a 29-year-old female with significant deformity to her left elbow, you are unable to palpate a radial pulse. Your transport time to the hospital is approximately 40 minutes. You should: - apply gentle manual traction in line with the limb and reassess for a pulse - make two or three attempts to restore distal circulation by manipulating the elbow - splint the elbow in the position of deformity & transport immediately - carefully straighten the injured arm and secure it with the padded board splints
apply gentle manual traction in line with the limb and reassess for a pulse
A 76-yr-old male experienced sudden pain to his left thigh when he was standing in line at the grocery store. Your assessment reveals ecchymosis and deformity to the distal aspect of his left femur, just above the knee. Distal circulation and sensory and motor functions are intact. You should: - apply a traction splint to realign the deformity - apply padded board splints to both sides of the leg - flex the knee slightly and apply a formable splint - bind the legs together and elevate them six feet to eight feet
apply padded board splints to both sides of the leg
While auscultating an elderly woman's breath sounds, you hear low-pitched "rattling" sounds at the bases of both of her lungs. This finding is MOST consistent with which of the following conditions? - acute asthma attack - aspiration pneumonia - early pulmonary edema - widespread atelectasis
aspiration pneumonia
a young male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during an altercation. As your partner is assessing & managing his airway, you should control the obvious bleeding and then:
assess for an exit wound
After establishing that an adult patient is unresponsive, you should:
assess for breathing & a pulse
a young male was in the abdomen by an unknown type of gun. law enforcement personnel have ensured that the scene is safe. the patient is semiconscious, has shallow breathing, and is bleeding externally from the wound. as you control the external bleeding, your partner should:
assist the patient's ventilations
When you shine a light into one pupil, the normal reaction of the other pupil should be to:
become smaller
A 54-yr-old male accidently shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun. Your assessment reveals a small entrance wound to the medical aspect of his right leg. The exit wound is on the opposite side of the leg and is actively bleeding. The pt complains of numbness & tingling in his right foot. You should: - manually stabilize the leg above and below the site of injury - assess distal pulses as well as sensory and motor functions - gently manipulate the injured leg until the numbness dissipates - control the bleeding and cover the wound with a sterile dressing
control the bleeding and cover the wound with a sterile dressing
To select the proper size oropharyngeal airway, you should measure from the: - angle of the jaw to the center of the mouth. - corner of the mouth to the superior ear. - corner of the mouth to the earlobe. - center of the mouth to the posterior ear.
corner of the mouth to the earlobe.
A 50-year-old male is found unconscious in his car. There were no witnesses to the event. When gathering medical history information for this patient, the EMT should: - wait for family members to arrive before asking any questions. - defer SAMPLE history questions until you arrive at the hospital. - determine if the patient has a medical alert bracelet or wallet card. - ask law enforcement officials if they are familiar with the patient.
determine if the patient has a medical alert bracelet or wallet card.
Upon delivery of a baby's head, you see that the umbilical cord is wrapped around its neck. You should manage this situation initially by A. first attempt to slip the cord gently over the infant's head B. immediately clamp and cut the umbilical cord C. give high-flow O2 to the mother and transport D. provide high-flow O2 to the infant and transport
first attempt to slip the cord gently over the infant's head
a 66 yr old male presents with dark, red rectal bleeding & abdominal pain. he is conscious & alert; however, his skin is cool and clammy and his pulse is rapid. further assessment reveals that his blood pressure is 112/60 mm Hg. which of the following questions would be most pertinent to ask him? - have you experienced recent abdominal trauma? - has blood soaked through your undergarments? - what does your blood pressure normally run? - do you take any over the counter medications?
have you experienced recent abdominal trauma?
After performing a primary assessment, a rapid exam of the body should be performed to:
identify less obvious injuries that require immediate treatment
you and your partner are EMTs who have been dispatched to stand by at the scene of a residential fire. While standing next to the ambulance observing the firefighters, you see a woman frantically moving around in her burning house. You should: - do a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and rescue the woman - request permission from the fire chief to enter the structure - immediately notify the incident commander or safetly officer - stay where you are until firefighters remove her from the house
immediately notify the incident commander or safety officer
A 17-yr-old football player collided with another player and has pain to his left clavicle. He is holding his arm against his chest & refuses to move it. Your assessment reveals obvious deformity to the midshaft clavicle. After assessing distal pulse, sensory, and motor functions, you should: - perform a rapid secondary assessment - place a pillow under his arm and apply a sling - immobilize the injury with a sling & swathe - straighten his arm & apply a board splint
immobilize the injury with a sling & swathe
You are treating a 40-year-old male with a documented blood sugar reading of 480 mg/dL. The patient is semiconscious and breathing shallowly, and is receiving assisted ventilation from your partner. You should recognize that definitive treatment for this patient includes: - oxygen - dextrose - insulin - glucagon
insulin
Once a cervical collar has been applied to a patient with a possible spinal injury, it should not be removed unless: - it causes a problem managing the airway - lateral immobilization has been applied - sensory & motor functions remain intact - the pt adamantly denies neck pain
it causes a problem managing the airway
the goal of the systematic head-to-toe exam that is performed during the secondary assessment is to: - locate injuries not found in the primary assessment - detect and threat all non-life threatening injuries - assess only the parts of the body that are injured - definitively rule out significant internal injuries
locate injuries not found in the primary assessment
CPR is in progress on a pulseless and apneic 29-year-old woman who is 37 weeks pregnant. When treating this patient, the EMT should: - manually displace the pt's uterus to the left - avoid defibrillation bc it might harm the fetus - perform compressions slightly lower on the sternum - deliver a compression rate of 120 to 140 per minute
manually displace the pt's uterus to the left
After administering 0.3 mg of epinephrine via auto-injector to a 22-year-old woman with an allergic reaction, you note improvement in her breathing and dissipation of her hives. However, she is still anxious and tachycardic. You should: - monitor her closely but recall that anxiety & tachycardia are side effects of epinephrine - consider administering 0.15 mg of epinephrine to completely resolve her allergic reaction - contact medical control & obtain authorization to administer another 0.3 mg of epi - transport her rapidly, because it is obvious that she is having a sever reaction to the epinephrine
monitor her closely but recall that anxiety & tachycardia are side effects of epinephrine
The chief complaint is MOST accurately defined as the:
most serious thing the pt is concerned about
which of the following MOST accurately describes paradoxical movement of the chest wall?
only one section of the chest rises on inspiration, while another area falls
A man finds his 59-year-old wife unconscious on the couch. He states that she takes medications for type 2 diabetes. He further tells you that his wife has been ill recently and has not eaten for the past 24 hours. Your assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive. You should: - administer 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. - administer oral glucose between her cheek and gum. - assess for the presence of a medical identification tag. - open and maintain her airway and assess breathing.
open and maintain her airway and assess breathing.
During your assessment of a 6-month-old male with vomiting and diarrhea, you note that his capillary refill time is approximately 4 second. From this information, you should conclude that the infant's: - peripheral circulation is decreased - respiratory status is adequate - systolic blood pressure is normal - skin temperature is abnormally cold
peripheral circulation is decreased
normal skin CTC should be:
pink, warm, and dry
A 26-year-old female who is 34 weeks pregnant is experiencing a seizure. Her husband tells you that her bp has been high and that she has been complaining of a headache for the past few days. You should: - elevate her legs to improve brain perfusion and keep her warm - insert an oral airway and ventilate her with a BVM - administer oral glucose for presumed hypoglycemia and transport - place her on her side, administer high flow O2 and transport
place her on her side, administer high flow O2 and transport
A 77-yr-old woman slipped and fell on a throw rug and landed on her left hip. She denies striking her head or losing consciousness. Assessment of her left leg reveals that it is shortened and externally rotated. Distal pulses, sensory, and motor functions are intact. You should: - place her onto a scoop stretcher, pad around her left hip with pillows, and secure her to the scoop with straps - bind both of her legs together w/ triangular bandages and carefully secure her onto the ambulance stretcher - manually stabilize her left leg, apply a traction splint, and then secure to longboard - carefully slide a longboard underneath her, keep her in a supine position and apply a splint to her leg
place her onto a scoop stretcher, pad around her left hip with pillows, and secure her to the scoop with straps
a 50 yr old male presents with altered mental status. His wife tells you that he had a small stroke 3 yrs ago but had otherwise been in good health. The pt is responsive but unable to follow commands. After administering oxygen if needed, you should: - prepare for immediate transport - inquire about his family history - repeat the primary assessment - perform a head-to-toe assessment
prepare for immediate transport
A 25-year-old female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car hit a tree while traveling at a high rate of speed. She has signs & symptoms of shock, which you suspect are the result of intrathoracic bleeding. Which of the following interventions will provide this pt with the greatest chance for survival? - rapid transport to a trauma center - intravenous fluid administration - full immobilization of her spine - high-flow O2 administration
rapid transport to a trauma center
the primary function of the right atrium is to:
receive blood from the vena cava
You are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-mask device. She has dentures, which are tight fitting. Adequate chest rise is present with each ventilation, and the patient's oxygen saturation reads 96%. When you reassess the patency of her airway, you note that her dentures are now loose, although your ventilations are still producing adequate chest rise. You should: - leave her dentures in place and increase the rate and volume of your ventilations. - leave her dentures in place, but carefully monitor her for an airway obstruction - remove her dentures, resume ventilations, and assess for adequate chest rise. - attempt to replace her dentures so that they fit tightly and resume ventilations.
remove her dentures, resume ventilations, and assess for adequate chest rise
Male was stung multiple times by fire ants. He is experiencing obvious signs & symptoms of anaphylactic shock. You administer high-flow oxygen and give him epinephrine via intramuscular injection. Upon reassessment, you determine that his condition has not improved. You should: - repeat the epinephrine injection after consulting with medical control - consider that he may actually be experiencing an acute asthma attack - transport him immediately & provide supportive care while en route - request a paramedic unit that is stationed approx. 15 miles away
repeat the epinephrine injection after consulting with medical control
You have administered one dose of epinephrine to a 40-year-old female to treat an allergic reaction that she developed after being stung by a scorpion. Your reassessment reveals that she is still having difficulty breathing, has a decreasing mental status, and has a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg. You should: - monitor her en route to the hospital & call medical control if she worsens - crush up an antihistamine tablet and place it in between her cheek and gum - request permission from medical control to give another dose of epinephrine - administer a nebulized bronchodilator to improve the status of her breathing
request permission from medical control to give another dose of epinephrine
As you are wheeling your patient through the emergency department doors, you receive another call for a major motor vehicle crash. You should:
respond only after giving a verbal patient report to a nurse or physician
A 75-year-old male with a terminal illness has died at home. As you and your partner enter the residence, a family member becomes verbally abusive, pushes you, and states that you took too long to get there. You should: - retreat and notify law enforcement personnel - ignore the fam member & assess the pt - subdue the fam member until the police arrive - tell the fam member it is not your fault
retreat and notify law enforcement personnel
you are dispatched to a residence for an 80 yr old female who fell. when you arrive, you find the pt conscious, lying in a recumbent position on the floor in her living room. In addition to providing the appropriate treatment, you should ask the pt if: - she became dizzy or fainted before falling - a family member regularly checks on her - she takes medication for Alzheimer disease - she attempted to catch herself before falling
she became dizzy or fainted before falling
During your primary assessment of a 19-year-old unconscious male who experienced severe head trauma, you note that his respirations are rapid, irregular, and shallow. He has bloody secretions draining from his mouth and nose. You should:
suction his oropharynx for up to 15 seconds
`To protect vital organs, the body compensates by directing blood flow away from organs that are more tolerant of low flow, such as: - the skin - the heart - the lungs - the brain
the skin
a 22 yr old male was kicked in the abdomen several times. you find him lying on his left side and his knees drawn up. he is conscious and alert and complains of increased pain & nausea when he tries to straighten his legs. his blood pressure is 142/82 mm Hg. His pulse rate is 110 beats/min and strong, and his respirations are 22 breaths/min and regular. in addition to adminstering high flow O2, you should: - transport him in the position in which you found him - place him supine but allow him to keep his knees bent - apply full spinal motion restriction precautions - keep him on his side but gently straighten his legs
transport him in the position in which you found him
The driver of a sport utility vehicle lost control and struck a utility pole head-on. The driver was killed instantly. The passenger, a young female, is conscious and alert and has several small abrasions and lacerations to her left forearm. Treatment for the passenger should include:
transport to a trauma center
the MOST important treatment for a pt with sever abdominal pain and signs of shock is: - administering high-flow O2 - giving oral fluids to maintain perfusion - positioning the pt on his/her side - transporting the pt without delay
transporting the pt without delay
the simplest, yet most effective method of preventing the spread of an infectious disease is to:
wash your hands in between pt contacts
