Chapter 37 Questions

you respond to a motor vehicle crash with massive damage to the front of the vehicle where it stuck a tree head on. The only occupant is a young man, who is unrestrained, unresponsive, and entrapped. Fire rescue is on scene preparing for extrication, and a responding paramedic unit is attending the patient. The supervisor informs you he has requested a helicopter to respond and has asked you and your partner to prepare a landing zone. What should your considerations be when establishing a landing zone?

1. The area should be a hard or grassy level surface that measures 100 feet x 100 feet (recommended) and no less than 60 feet x 60 feet. If the site is not level, the flight crew must be notified of the steepness and direction of slope. 2. The area must be cleared of any loose debris that could become airborne and strike the helicopter or the patient and crew; this includes branches, trash bins, flares, caution tape, and medical equipment, and supplies. 3. You must survey the immediate area for any overhead or tall hazards such as power lines or telephone cables, antennas, and tall or leaning trees. The presence of these must be relayed immediately to the flight crew because an alternative landing site may be required. The flight crew may request that the hazard be marked or illuminated by weighted cones or by positioning an emergency vehicle with its lights turned on next to or under the potential hazard. 4. To mark the landing site, use weighted cones or position emergency vehicles at the corners of the landing zone with headlights facing inward to form an "X". This procedure is essential during night landings as well. Never use caution tape or ask people to mark the site. The use of flares is also not recommended, because not only can they airborne, but they also have the potential to start a fire or cause an explosion. 5. Move all nonessential people and vehicles to a safe distance outside of the landing zone. 6. If the wind is strong, radio to the flight crew direction of the wind. They may request that you create some form of wind directional device to aid their approach. A bed sheet tightly secured to a tree or pole may be used to help the crew determine wind direction and strength. Never use tape.

the nine phases of an ambulance call is:

1. preparation 2. dispatch 3. en route 4. arrival at scene 5. transfer of patient to ambulance 6. en route to receiving facility (transport) 7. at receiving facility (delivery) 8. en route to station 9. postrun.

At speeds of greater than 30 mph, tires may be lifted off the road as water "piles up" underneath; the vehicle may then feel as if it is floating. This problem is known as ____________. 1. Acceleration 2. Defensive Driving 3. Hydroplaning 4. Braking

3. Hydroplaning

You end up transporting an unstable trauma patient from the scene. Assuming that the patient is breathing adequately, what should you be doing about every 5 minutes during the transport phase? a. Reassessing vital signs b. Providing an update to the receiving facility c. Checking your ETA with the navigational equipment d. Attempting to rendezvous with an ALS crew

An ambulance call has nine phases: preparation, dispatch, en route, arrival at scene, transfer of patient toambulance, en route to receiving facility (transport),at receiving facility ( delivery), en route to station,and postrun.

you are treating a 45-year old woman who is has chest pain. Her blood pressure is 92/40 mm Hg; pulse rate, 132 beats/min and irregular; and respirations, 24 breaths/min and labored. Should you use lights and siren when transporting this patient? Justify your answer

Because lights and sirens can exacerbate anxiety, using them with a patient having chest pain is not always the best option. However, when weighing the risks versus the benefits for this patient, it may be in her best interest to transport her with light and sirens to the closest, most appropriate facility depending on traffic, distance, and road conditions. She is borderline hypotensive, complaining of severe pain, and tachycardic with an irregular pulse, and has labored respirations that are a little fast. All of these factors together create a potentially unstable patient who needs access to advanced care quickly. Consider consulting medical control for advice about use of lights and sirens on a particular call depending on your local protocol.

cushion of safety

Keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, checking for tailgaters behind your ambulance, and being aware of objects in your mirror's blind spots are considered maintaining a

Specifically regarding the transport of patients from this scene, you should immediately consider _________ before stepping out of the ambulance. a. Scene Safety b. Parking 100 feet past the scene c. Requesting a medical helicopter d. The risk versus benefits of using the siren

a. Scene Safety

when responding to a scene where smoke or possible hazardous materials are present it is best to park? a. uphill and upwind b. uphill and downwind c. downhill and downwind d. downhill and upwind

a. uphill and upwind

In a mass-casualty incident, you need to evaluate and ask for

additional resources

You may be allowed to drive faster than the speed limit, but you will still be liable if

an accident occurs

What are the recommended dimensions for a landing zone for a medivac helicopter? a. 50 x 50 feet b. 100 x 100 feet c. 75 x 75 feet d. 100 x 50 feet

b. 100 x 100 feet

To ensure you have enough reaction time to avoid hitting a motorist who does not move over, you should drive, at minimum, about ___ seconds behind vehicles traveling at an average speed? a. 2 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8

b. 4

Identify which of the following statements is/are true with regard to laws and regulations governing ambulances. (More than one possible answer, select all statements you believe is true) a. When you are on an urgent call and cannot wait for traffic lights to change, you can proceed through as long as the ambulance's lights and sirens are activated. b. An emergency vehicle is never allowed to pass a school bus that has stopped to load or unload children and is displaying its flashing red lights or extended "stop arm." c. When driving on a highway with your emergency devices activated, always travel in the far left-hand lane. d. The use of the siren is critical in ensuring the fastest possible travel time to the ED.

b. An emergency vehicle is never allowed to pass a school bus that has stopped to load or unload children and is displaying its flashing red lights or extended "stop arm." c. When driving on a highway with your emergency devices activated, always travel in the far left-hand lane.

If you are on an emergency call with your warning lights and siren turned on, you may be allowed to do which of the following? a. Proceed through a red traffic light or stop sign without stopping b. Drive faster than the posted speed limit. c. Drive against the flow of traffic on an interstate in the left lane d. Pass a stopped school bus with the stop sign out.

b. Drive faster than the posted speed limit.

Which phase of an ambulance call does this scenario demonstrate? a. Fifth b. Fourth c. Third d. Second

b. Fourth

________ crashes are the most common and usually the most serious type of collision in which ambulances are involved. a. Frontal b. Intersection c. Lateral d. Rollover

b. Intersection

The six-pointed Star of Life emblem identifies vehicles that meet which of the following criteria? a. Are staffed by a minimum of one certified advanced EMT (AEMT) b. Meet federal specifications as licensed or certified ambulances c. Are operated federally certified ambulance operators d. Are equipped with supplies to manage a mass-casualty situation

b. Meet federal specifications as licensed or certified ambulances

If you are on an emergency call with your warning lights and siren turned on, you may be allowed to do which of the following a. proceed through a red traffic light or stop sign without stopping b. drive faster than the posted speed limit c. drive against the flow of traffic on an interstate in the left lane d. pass a stopped school bus with the stop sign out

b. drive faster than the posted speed limit

Suction units carried on ambulances must be powerful enough to generate a vacuum of ____ when the tube is clamped. a. 100 mm HG b. 200 mm HG c. 300 mm HG d. 400 mm HG

c. 300 mm HG

A jump kit contains everything you might need in the first 5 minutes with a patient, including which of the following? a. An AED b. A CPR board c. A BVM d. Long backboard

c. A BVM

Keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, checking for tailgaters behind your ambulance, and being aware of objects in your mirror's blind spots are considered maintaining what? a. A buffer zone b. Open space c. A cushion of safety d. An evasion area

c. A cushion of safety

If you arrive on the scene of a mass-casualty incident, what is the first thing you should do? a. Declare the area a crime scene. b. Direct traffic until law enforcement arrives. c. Ask for additional resources. d. Begin treating patients.

c. Ask for additional resources.

How would you ensure proper control of traffic around the scene? a. Put out flares in patterns that leads other vehicles safely around the involved vehicles b. Because roads were deserted when you arrived, it is not a priority. c. Ask law enforcement officer to control any traffic d. Pull completely off the roadway and leave your red emergency lights flashing

c. Ask law enforcement officer to control any traffic

If you are signaled by the medivac crew to approach a medivac helicopter that has landed on uneven ground, from which direction should you approach the aircraft? a. From the front b. From the rear c. From the downhill side of the aircraft d. From the uphill side of the aircraft

c. From the downhill side of the aircraft

For every emergency call, the dispatcher should gather and record all of the following EXCEPT: a. The nature of the call b. The patient's location c. Medications that the patient is currently taking d. The number of patients and possible severity of their condition

c. Medications that the patient is currently taking

Ambulances today are designed according to strict government regulations based on _________ standards. a. Local b. State c. National d. Individual

c. National

If you arrive on the scene of a mass-casualty incident, what is the first thing you should do? a. declare the area a crime scene b. direct traffic until law enforcement arrives c. ask for additional resources d. begin treating patients

c. ask for additional resources

Keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, checking for tailgaters behind your ambulance, and being aware of objects in your mirror's blind spots are considered maintaining a? a. buffer zone b. open space c. cushion of safety d. evasion area

c. cushion of safety

during the ___ phase of an ambulance call, the crew should review dispatch information about the nature of the call and location of the patient a. preparation b. dispatch c. en route d. postrun

c. en route

Your supervisor asks you to make up jump kits for each ambulance. He has told you that he will leave it up to you as to what goes into the kit. You would want to include everything that you might need within the first ______ minutes of arrival at the patient's side. a. 2 b. 3 c. 4 d. 5

d. 5

Extrication equipment carried on an ambulance may include all of the following EXCEPT: a. A Rescue Blanket b. An adjustable wrench c. Duct tape d. Jaws of life

d. Jaws of life

The features found in a modern ambulance are defined by which of the following agencies? a. Department of Transportation b. National Association of EMS Directors c. American Ambulance Association d. National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences

d. National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences

Which of the following would you most likely NOT need for this incident? a. Jump kit b. Airway kit c. Extrication kit d. Obstetrics kit

d. Obstetrics kit

Removal of all microbial contamination is accomplished through ________. a. Cleaning b. Disinfection c. High-level disinfection d. Sterilization

d. Sterilization

which of the following is a cause of fatigue? a. family interaction b. working during the day c. sleeping only 6 hours d. stress

d. stress

Due to uneven ground, You should approach the aircraft from the

downhill side of the aircraft

Sterilization

uses a process such as heat to remove all microbial contamination