year in review part 1

If you could only take two pieces of equipment with you to a patient's side, in addition to the jump kit, you should choose the: Select one: A. AED and portable suction unit. B. cervical collar and long backboard. C. BVM and portable oxygen. D. oral airways and sterile dressings.

A. AED and portable suction unit.

A 40-year-old unrestrained female impacted the steering wheel of her vehicle with her chest when she hit a tree while traveling at 45 mph. She is conscious and alert, but is experiencing significant chest pain and shortness of breath. Which of the following injuries is the LEAST likely? Select one: A. Head injury B. Multiple rib fractures C. Pulmonary contusion D. Cardiac contusion

A. Head injury

Which of the following is a typical function of the rescue team? Select one: A. Providing safe entry and access to patients B. Shutting off power to downed electrical lines C. Initial triage and patient prioritization D. Providing emergency care during extrication

A. Providing safe entry and access to patients

As many as 40% of patients with Down syndrome have: Select one: A. a heart condition. B. intracranial bleeding. C. diabetes mellitus. D. unilateral paralysis.

A. a heart condition.

The term "supraventricular tachycardia" means: Select one: A. a rapid heart rate that originates from above the ventricles. B. a slow heart rate that originates from above the ventricles. C. a slow heart rate that originates from within the ventricles. D. a rapid heart rate that originates from within the ventricles.

A. a rapid heart rate that originates from above the ventricles.

An area of swelling or enlargement in a weakened arterial wall is called: Select one: A. an aneurysm. B. a thrombus. C. atherosclerosis. D. an embolism.

A. an aneurysm.

The components of the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) are: Select one: A. appearance, work of breathing, and skin circulation. B. mental status, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure. C. activity, respiratory quality, and level of consciousness. D. skin condition, respiratory rate, and level of alertness.

A. appearance, work of breathing, and skin circulation.

You receive a call for a 70-year-old female with respiratory distress. Her husband tells you that she has congestive heart failure; however, he does not think that she has been taking her medications as prescribed. The patient is laboring to breathe, appears tired, and has cyanosis around her lips. You should: Select one: A. assist her ventilations with a bag-valve mask. B. apply a pulse oximeter and assess her vital signs. C. obtain a complete list of all of her medications. D. administer oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.

A. assist her ventilations with a bag-valve mask.

In contrast to hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia: Select one: A. can only be corrected in the hospital setting. B. commonly results in excess water retention. C. is a rapidly developing metabolic disturbance. D. is rapidly reversible if oral glucose is given. Feedback

A. can only be corrected in the hospital setting.

All information recorded on the PCR must be: Select one: A. considered confidential. B. reflective of your opinion. C. a matter of public record. D. typewritten or printed.

A. considered confidential.

An effective team leader should: Select one: A. help the team accomplish goals. B. refrain from any direct patient care. C. command his or her team. D. perform all difficult interventions.

A. help the team accomplish goals.

When documenting a call in which a female was sexually assaulted, you should: Select one: A. keep the report concise and record only what the patient stated in her own words. B. only use quotation marks when recording any statements made by witnesses. C. translate the patient's words or statements using proper medical terminology. D. record your opinion only if you have reasonable proof to justify the statement.

A. keep the report concise and record only what the patient stated in her own words.

If a person is partially immune to a particular disease, he or she: Select one: A. may develop illness from germs that lie dormant from the initial infection. B. must be revaccinated at least every 18 months to avoid infection. C. will not experience future illness, even if his or her immune system is stressed. D. is not protected from a new infection if exposed to another individual.

A. may develop illness from germs that lie dormant from the initial infection.

When a patient experiences a severe spinal injury, he or she: Select one: A. may lose sensation below the level of the injury. B. will likely be paralyzed from the neck down. C. most commonly has a palpable spinal deformity. D. often loses motor function on one side of the body.

A. may lose sensation below the level of the injury.

A 20-year-old male was pulled from cold water by his friends. The length of his submersion is not known and was not witnessed. You perform a primary assessment and determine that the patient is apneic and has a slow, weak pulse. You should: Select one: A. provide rescue breathing, remove his wet clothing, immobilize his entire spine, keep him warm, and transport carefully. B. ventilate with a bag-valve mask, apply a rigid cervical collar, remove his wet clothing, and transport rapidly. C. suction his airway for 30 seconds, provide rescue breathing, keep him warm, and transport at once. D. apply high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, immobilize his spine, keep him warm, and transport rapidly.

A. provide rescue breathing, remove his wet clothing, immobilize his entire spine, keep him warm, and transport carefully.

A teenage boy who was involved in a bicycle accident has a puncture wound where the bicycle kickstand impaled his leg. The MOST appropriate method for treating this injury is to: Select one: A. unbolt the kickstand from the bike frame and stabilize it with bulky dressings. B. remove the kickstand in a circular motion and apply a dry, sterile dressing. C. leave the kickstand attached to the bike until the physician can remove it safely. D. cut the kickstand off just above the skin and stabilize it with sterile dressings.

A. unbolt the kickstand from the bike frame and stabilize it with bulky dressings.

Rough handling of a hypothermic patient with a pulse may cause: Select one: A. ventricular fibrillation. B. profound bradycardia. C. ventricular tachycardia. D. pulseless electrical activity.

A. ventricular fibrillation.

Which of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma is correct? Select one: A. Hollow abdominal organs are vascular and bleed profusely when injured. B. The absence of abdominal pain does not rule out intra-abdominal bleeding. C. The liver is well protected and is rarely injured during a traumatic event. D. Most of the vital abdominal organs lie within the retroperitoneal space.

B. The absence of abdominal pain does not rule out intra-abdominal bleeding.

After establishing that an adult patient is unresponsive, you should: Select one: A. apply the AED and deliver a shock, if needed. B. assess for breathing and a pulse. C. immediately begin chest compressions. D. manually open the airway.

B. assess for breathing and a pulse.

he MOST ominous sign of impending cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children is: Select one: A. pallor. B. bradycardia. C. nasal flaring. D. retractions.

B. bradycardia.

Hemoptysis is defined as: Select one: A. vomiting blood. B. coughing up blood. C. abnormal blood clotting. D. blood in the pleural space.

B. coughing up blood.

The principal symptom in both infectious and noninfectious gastroenteritis is: Select one: A. vomiting. B. diarrhea. C. dysuria. D. high fever.

B. diarrhea.

Potentially life-threatening consequences of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) include: Select one: A. ovarian cysts and gonorrhea. B. ovarian abscess and ectopic pregnancy. C. uterine rupture with severe bleeding. D. bacterial vaginosis and chlamydia.

B. ovarian abscess and ectopic pregnancy.

A 50-year-old male was stung by a honeybee approximately 15 minutes ago. He presents with respiratory distress, facial swelling, and hypotension. After placing him on oxygen and administering his epinephrine via auto-injector, you note that his breathing has improved. Additionally, his facial swelling is resolving and his blood pressure is stable. Your next action should be to: Select one: A. reassess his breathing and blood pressure in 15 minutes. B. record the time and dose of the injection and transport promptly. C. visualize his airway to assess for oropharyngeal swelling. D. notify medical control of the patient's response to your treatment.

B. record the time and dose of the injection and transport promptly.

A 30-year-old female was robbed and assaulted as she was leaving a nightclub. She has massive facial trauma and slow, gurgling respirations. As your partner manually stabilizes her head, you should: Select one: A. visualize her mouth for obvious wounds. B. suction her oropharynx for 15 seconds. C. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. D. begin immediate ventilatory assistance.

B. suction her oropharynx for 15 seconds.

Common signs of a skull fracture include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A. mastoid process bruising. B. superficial scalp lacerations. C. noted deformity to the skull. D. ecchymosis around the eyes.

B. superficial scalp lacerations.

You are triaging patients at the scene of a multiple-vehicle crash when you encounter a young male who is unresponsive and is not breathing. After you open his airway, he begins to breathe at a rapid rate. According to the START triage system, you should: Select one: A. assist his ventilations with a bag-valve mask and perform a rapid scan of his entire body. B. tag him as immediate (red), place him in the recovery position, and move to the next patient. C. move to the other patients, but reassess him in 5 minutes to determine if he is still breathing. D. move him to the treatment area so he can receive a more comprehensive assessment of his status.

B. tag him as immediate (red), place him in the recovery position, and move to the next patient.

A 22-year-old male was kicked in the abdomen several times. You find him lying on his left side with his knees drawn up. He is conscious and alert and complains of increased pain and 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 administering high-flow oxygen, you should: Select one: A. keep him on his side but gently straighten his legs. B. transport him in the position in which you found him. C. place him supine but allow him to keep his knees bent. D. apply full spinal motion restriction precautions.

B. transport him in the position in which you found him.

External bleeding from a vein is relatively easy to control because: Select one: A. veins carry deoxygenated blood. B. veins are under a lower pressure. C. veins hold smaller blood volume. D. blood typically oozes from a vein.

B. veins are under a lower pressure.

Which of the following statements regarding a decreased level of consciousness in the elderly patient is correct? Select one: A. Most elderly patients have some deterioration in their level of consciousness. B. A decreased level of consciousness is most often the result of chronic dementia. C. A decreased level of consciousness is not a normal part of the aging process. D. The AVPU scale is an ineffective tool when assessing an elderly patient's level of consciousness.

C. A decreased level of consciousness is not a normal part of the aging process.

In infants and children, a capillary refill time (CRT) that is greater than ______ second(s) is a sign of poor peripheral perfusion. Select one: A. 1 B. 3 C. 4 D. 2

D. 2

Which of the following statements regarding a "dirty bomb" is correct? Select one: A. Dirty bombs contain significant amounts of radioactive material and are capable of being delivered via a missile. B. The dirty bomb, because of its ability to cause massive damage over a large geographic area, is an effective WMD. C. Dirty bombs could injure victims with both radioactive material and the explosive material used to deliver it. D. The effectiveness of a dirty bomb is solely dependent on the amount of alpha radiation that it emits.

C. Dirty bombs could injure victims with both radioactive material and the explosive material used to deliver it.

Which of the following statements regarding communications with the elderly is correct? Select one: A. The majority of elderly patients are hearing or visually impaired. B. Attempt to calm the elderly patient by using his or her first name. C. Older patients have difficulty understanding when they are stressed. D. Explain the justification for a procedure after it has been completed.

C. Older patients have difficulty understanding when they are stressed.

How does respiration differ from ventilation? Select one: A. Respiration occurs when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, whereas ventilation occurs when those same muscles relax. B. Respiration occurs when oxygen is delivered to the cells of the body, whereas ventilation occurs when carbon dioxide is removed. C. Respiration is the process of gas exchange, whereas ventilation is the movement of air between the lungs and the environment. D. Ventilation occurs when air is forced into the lungs, whereas respiration occurs when air is drawn or sucked into the lungs.

C. Respiration is the process of gas exchange, whereas ventilation is the movement of air between the lungs and the environment.

What is the MOST common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious patient? Select one: A. Aspirated fluid B. Blood clots C. The tongue D. Vomitus

C. The tongue

It is MOST important to determine a patient's weight when asking questions pertaining to a toxic ingestion because: Select one: A. you may need additional lifting and moving assistance. B. naloxone is contraindicated if the patient is very obese. C. activated charcoal is given based on a patient's weight. D. this will allow you to determine if the exposure is lethal.

C. activated charcoal is given based on a patient's weight.

Subcutaneous emphysema is an indication that: Select one: A. at least half of one lung has completely collapsed. B. your patient is experiencing a pericardial tamponade. C. air is escaping into the chest wall from a damaged lung. D. blood is slowly accumulating within the tissue of the lung.

C. air is escaping into the chest wall from a damaged lung.

With increasing age, the heart must work harder to move the blood effectively because: Select one: A. diastolic blood pressure decreases. B. the blood thickens as a person ages. C. the blood vessels become stiff. D. the arteries dilate significantly.

C. the blood vessels become stiff.

A 21-year-old male was thrown over the handlebars of his motorcycle when he rear-ended a car that was stopped at a red light. He was wearing a helmet, which he removed prior to your arrival. He is conscious, but restless, and has closed deformities to both of his femurs. His skin is pale, his heart rate is rapid and weak, and his respirations are rapid and shallow. You should: Select one: A. apply traction splints to both of his legs, keep him warm, and transport without delay. B. splint each of his deformed femurs with air splints, elevate his lower extremities, and transport. C. bind his legs together on the backboard, keep him warm, and transport without delay. D. splint each of his deformed femurs with long board splints and transport without delay.

C. bind his legs together on the backboard, keep him warm, and transport without delay.

A 40-year-old male was in his woodworking shop when he felt a sudden, sharp pain in his left eye. Your assessment reveals a small splinter of wood embedded in his cornea. You should: Select one: A. cover his right eye and flush the left eye with saline. B. remove the object with a cotton-tipped applicator. C. cover both of his eyes and transport to the hospital. D. scrape the splinter away with moist, sterile gauze.

C. cover both of his eyes and transport to the hospital.

The disruption of a joint in which the bone ends are no longer in contact is called a: Select one: A. strain. B. sprain. C. dislocation. D. fracture.

C. dislocation.

The EMT certification exam is designed to: Select one: A. identify those EMTs who are prepared for advanced levels of training. B. rank EMTs based on performance on the certification exam. C. ensure that EMTs are competent and have the same level of knowledge and skills. D. provide EMTs with the best possible wage once certification is achieved.

C. ensure that EMTs are competent and have the same level of knowledge and skills.

After a baby is born, it is important to: Select one: A. immediately clamp and cut the umbilical cord. B. cool the infant to stimulate effective breathing. C. ensure that it is thoroughly dried and warmed. D. position it so that its head is higher than its body.

C. ensure that it is thoroughly dried and warmed.

According to the rule of palm method for estimating the extent of a patient's burns, the palm of the patient's hand is equal to _____ of his or her total BSA. Select one: A. 2% B. 4% C. 6% D. 1%

D. 1%

Which of the following is an example of a functional behavioral disorder? Select one: A. Drug addiction B. Head trauma C. Alzheimer disease D. Schizophrenia

D. Schizophrenia

You are assessing a 25-year-old woman who is 39 weeks pregnant. She is experiencing regular contractions that are approximately 3 minutes apart and states that her amniotic sac broke 2 hours ago. After taking the standard precautions, you should: Select one: A. place her on her left side. B. transport her immediately. C. apply high-flow oxygen. D. assess her for crowning.

D. assess her for crowning.

You are dispatched to an office building for a 49-year-old male with chest pain. When you arrive at the scene, you find the patient to be conscious and alert, but in obvious pain. He tells you that he did not call 9-1-1; a coworker did. He further states that he does not want to be treated or transported to the hospital. You should: Select one: A. err in the best interest of the patient and transport him at once. B. have him sign a refusal of care form and then return to service. C. tell him that he is having a heart attack and needs medical care. D. ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care.

D. ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care.

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: Select one: A. ask the husband to attempt to reason with his wife. B. get in your ambulance and leave the scene immediately. C. go upstairs with caution and attempt to talk to the patient. D. remain in a safe place and request law enforcement.

D. remain in a safe place and request law enforcement.

A 67-year-old female with severe chest pain becomes unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic during transport. You should: Select one: A. defibrillate with the AED 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.

During your assessment of a patient who experienced a blast injury, you note that he has a depressed area to the front of his skull. This injury MOST likely occurred: Select one: A. as a direct result of the pressure wave. B. by inhaling toxic gases. C. as a result of flying debris. D. when the patient was hurled against a stationary object.

D. when the patient was hurled against a stationary object.