EMT Chapter 12
You arrive on the scene at an extended care facility where you see the facility employees removing the residents via wheelchairs and hospital beds. As you exit the ambulance, an employee walks up to you and identifies herself as the night-shift charge nurse. She states that the facility had a furnace malfunction and the carbon monoxide alarms are sounding. There are probably 30 residents already in the parking lot a safe distance away, and there are reportedly 15 more inside who are unresponsive. Given the number of patient overall, the EMT should: A. Continue to supervise the actions of the facility employees until all the residents are removed from the facility B. Put on a TB mask and gain entry into the facility to remove the unresponsive patients C. Alert dispatch of the need for additional resources D. Send his partner into the facility with another employee to start rendering care where the patients are lying
Alert dispatch of the need for additional resources
What is the most common potential hazard an EMT faces on scene? A. Upset family members B. Blood and body fluids C. Aggressive patients D. Unfamiliar settings
Blood and body fluids
You are dispatched for a call with a patient with chest pain. You arrive on scene at a residential address. You approach the scene carefully, and upon entering the scene, you find a male patient on the floor who has been shot in the chest. You can hear voices coming from another room, but you are not sure who the people are. What would be your best course of action? A. Call for law enforcement, and then begin care. B. Provide treatment of immediate life threats only. C. Provide treatment of immediate life threats and then leave the scene. D. Exit the scene and call for law enforcement.
Exit the scene and call for law enforcement. Assessment of the scene for safety issues is always a dynamic situation. In this case, the call came in as "chest pain" (which certainly the patient had), but the caller probably realized that if he said a person was shot, law enforcement almost certainly would be called by the EMS dispatcher. In this situation, the EMT should back out of the scene to a safe location and then summon law enforcement.
An intoxicated patient is complaining of a severe headache and a large bruise to the left side of his face after accidentally being struck with a baseball bat during a family picnic softball game. In this situation, being struck with the baseball bat is called the: A. Nature of illness B. Mechanism of injury C. Differential diagnosis D. Chief complaint
Mechanism of injury
The EMT obtains a call from dispatch to respond for a victim down on the street. Which statement made by dispatch should alert the EMTs there is an increased risk of danger? A. Shots fired in the street B. Single motor vehicle accident C. Child choking at a restaurant D. Person is intoxicated
Shots fired in the street Reports of shots fired should always alert the EMT to be cautious. An intoxicated person, a child choking at a restaurant, and a single motor vehicle accident would not increase the level of danger for the EMTs who respond.
Why is it important NOT to simply rush into a patient's house when you arrive on the scene? A. Because a family member or a home health care provider who may currently be en route may want to assess the patient first. B. The scene should be sized up for threats and violence. C. You can be sure to bring the correct equipment into the house with you. D. Because some calls do not require any equipment to be carried into the house.
The scene should be sized up for threats and violence.
A 67-year-old male patient who lives in an extremely "bad" neighborhood is experiencing chest pain. There are vacant homes throughout the area, including the homes to either side of his residence. Additionally, parked/abandoned cars have forced you to park three houses away, making it necessary to walk and carry supplies to the residence. Which action is most appropriate as you approach and/or gain access to the patient's house? A. Walk single file with your partner behind you carrying the medical bag B. Walk on the sidewalk instead of the grass to ensure steadier footing C. Hold a lit flashlight in front of you to illuminate shrubbery and trash cans D. Stand in front of the door while knocking to make your presence known
Walk single file with your partner behind you carrying the medical bag
When would an EMT enter the scene of a crime to provide care to the patient? A. When the police return their guns to their holsters B. When all hazards have been addressed C. When an additional crew arrives on scene D. When the dispatcher informs the crew to enter
When all hazards have been addressed
The purpose of a thorough scene assessment by EMTs is to ensure their own well-being as well as the well-being of patients and: A. law enforcement. B. criminals. C. bystanders. D. property.
bystanders.
While caring for a patient at a secured crime scene where people are starting to gather to watch: A. for safety, move or secure weapons you find near the patient. B. ask the patient about the crime so you can report the answers to law enforcement. C. have one EMT constantly watch bystanders and the surrounding area. D. assist law enforcement in searching the scene for clues.
have one EMT constantly watch bystanders and the surrounding area.
An anticipation that certain types of accidents and mechanisms will produce specific types of injuries.
index of suspicion
You arrive on the scene of a head-on car crash on a busy highway. Knowing that the speed limit is 70 miles per hour gives you a high: A. mechanism of injury. B. trauma score. C. index of suspicion. D. Glasgow score.
index of suspicion.
The factors and forces that cause traumatic injury.
mechanism of injury (MOI)
Just as protection from traffic at the scene of a collision is important to the EMT, the EMT should also conduct a systematic scene size-up to: A. protect herself from violence. B. determine the mechanism of injury. C. find out the patient's medical history. D. determine the chief complaint.
protect herself from violence.
Steps taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the EMT, his partners, patients, and bystanders.
scene safety
An assessment of the scene for safety hazards and to determine the nature of the patient's problem and the number of patients.
scene size-up
The ambulance arrives on scene with the EMTs and paramedic. Which finding would necessitate calling for additional assistance? A. Person with nausea and vomiting B. Victim in cardiac arrest C. Person lying face down in a pool D. Downed power line
Downed power line A downed power line would necessitate calling for assistance from the power or utility company. An ambulance staffed with an EMT and a paramedic should be able to manage a victim in cardiac arrest, a person with nausea and vomiting, and a person lying face down in a pool without calling for outside help due to hazards.
You are alongside a busy highway for a two-car MVC, and will be loading the patient into the ambulance in about 5 minutes. Traffic has just been opened up again by the local police. Which of the following statements is most correct? A. Do not load the patient until an EMS supervisor can arrive to watch for oncoming traffic. B. Keep an eye on the passing traffic for the safety of yourself and your crew. C. Immediately enter the ambulance and have the fire department (FD) load the patient into the ambulance. D. Disregard the passing traffic, as they will automatically avoid your scene.
Keep an eye on the passing traffic for the safety of yourself and your crew.
What concept is applied when the EMT attempts to determine how the patient may have been injured? A. Scene hazards B. Historical account C. Mechanism of injury D. Nature of call
Mechanism of injury When arriving on the scene of a suspected trauma, you will be looking for the mechanism of injury (MOI). Mechanism of injury refers to how the patient was injured. It includes the strength, direction, and nature of the forces that caused the injury. The mechanism of injury provides only a degree of suspicion of the types of injuries. It does not provide any indication of the actual injuries or condition. Scene hazards are a threat to you, nature of call is what dispatch infers about the emergency from the caller, and historical account is a fictitious term.
Any type of equipment that is used to reduce your risk of personal injury or illness is referred to as: A. BSO. B. SSD. C. PEP. D. PPE.
PPE. Before arriving on the scene, you must anticipate what Standard Precautions and other personal protection is necessary. Equipment that you put on to reduce your risk of personal injury or illness is called personal protective equipment (PPE). This may range from simple examination gloves to a complex breathing apparatus and suits that are used in a toxic environment. PEP, BSO, and SSD are all fictitious abbreviations.
You are entering the scene where a 32-year-old intoxicated male has fallen down 13 stairs leading to the basement. He is seated on the floor of the basement, holding a bloody towel over his face. During the initial scene size-up, what is it essential that the EMT quickly identify? A. Amount of alcohol consumed by the patient B. Status of the patient's airway and breathing C. Possible need for additional personnel D. The patient's level of consciousness
Possible need for additional personnel
If a scene becomes unsafe after you have entered, you should first: A. Notify the EMS supervisor B. Remove yourself from the scene C. Call for assistance on the radio D. Attempt to neutralize the threat
Remove yourself from the scene
The need for additional assistance to deal with issues such as heavy rescue, potential violence, or mass-casualty incidents comes under which of the following phases of the scene size-up? A. Resource determination B. Personal protective equipment C. Environmental hazards D. MOI/NOI determination
Resource determination
Whenever EMTs arrives on the scene of an emergency, what is the first assessment phase they must complete prior to touching the patient? A. Determining the chief complaint B. Determining how many patients are injured C. Scene safety D. Seeking additional resources
Scene safety
Which of the following findings at a motor vehicle collision (MVC) would BEST indicate that more than one patient may be involved? A. The car was overturned in a ditch. B. The vehicle involved was a SUV. C. You find a woman's purse in the car and a man was driving. D. The vehicle has four doors.
You find a woman's purse in the car and a man was driving.
When assessing a patient who has received a traumatic injury, initially you will want to know the: A. nature of illness. B. index of injury. C. index of suspicion. D. mechanism of injury.
mechanism of injury.
Equipment worn to protect against injury and disease.
personal protective equipment (PPE)
An example of an environmental factor that must be considered to manage a scene effectively and not sustain a personal injury is: A. unstable surfaces or slopes. B. the absence of a working flashlight on the ambulance. C. a spill from a tanker truck in another section of town. D. a group of bystanders behind a police security line watching the events unfold.
unstable surfaces or slopes.
In which part of your assessment will you determine the need for additional resources? A. Secondary assessment B. Scene size-up C. Primary assessment D. Reassessment
Scene size-up At any time during the scene size-up, it may be necessary to recognize your own limitations and call for additional resources or specially trained personnel for situations or rescues that are beyond your training. This may include hazmat or other specially trained people. This determination is made during the scene size-up. The primary, secondary, and reassessment are all focused on the patient.
Which of these emergency responders have articles of personal protective equipment in place? A. All the responders have personal protective equipment in place. B. An Emergency Medical Responder with leather gloves and steel-toed boots C. An EMT with gloves, gown, and eye protection D. A firefighter with a self-contained breathing apparatus unit on
All the responders have personal protective equipment in place.
You are providing care to a patient with altered mental status amid a large crowd gathered for a concert. Which characteristic of the crowd should concern you the most in relation to personal safety? A. The presence of alcohol and possibly drugs in the crowd B. The arrival of news vans to "cover" the story C. A growing number of people making up the crowd D. An angry mood developing within the crowd
An angry mood developing within the crowd
You have been directed to a car that struck another vehicle at a moderate rate of speed. You note deformity and starring of the windshield on the driver's side. What should you do to determine whether the deformity to the windshield was caused by the driver hitting his head or by the air bags? A. Determine if a seat belt was used B. Ask the front-seat passenger C. Assess the patient's head D. Determine if the air bags deployed
Assess the patient's head
When deciding whether to transport a patient to the hospital using lights and sirens to the hospital, which information carries the most weight in your decision? A. Assessment findings B. Mechanism of injury C. Index of suspicion D. Past medical history
Assessment findings
As you approach the scene of an automobile accident, you notice that law enforcement is NOT present. Which of the following should be your initial action during the scene size-up? A. Radio dispatch to verify that the police are en route, and stage your ambulance to help protect the scene. B. Park your unit in a location that will protect the scene. C. Establish whether there are any victims who will require transport. D. Put on the additional personal protection equipment that you determine you will need.
Radio dispatch to verify that the police are en route, and stage your ambulance to help protect the scene.
Dispatch has sent you to the scene of a fight at a local sporting event. Since the EMS system is busy and there are very few ambulances available, dispatch has instructed you to call for additional units after arrival on scene. On scene, you find that the police are present and what appear to be 10 to 12 people are seated or lying on the ground, many with blood on their faces and clothing. When would you call for additional ambulances? A. Once all patients have been triaged B. Once the exact number of patients has been determined C. After assessing and treating life-threatening injuries D. Before getting out of the ambulance
Before getting out of the ambulance
It is nighttime and you have been dispatched for a vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate with a driver slumped over the steering wheel. When pulling up onto the scene, how should you best position the ambulance? A. Behind the car with your high-beams on B. Next to the car to block one lane of traffic C. In front of the car with the white strobe lights activated D. Behind the car with the ambulance wheels turned toward the guard rail
Behind the car with your high-beams on
Which one of the following is true about dispatch information? A. Callers only report accurate information. B. It generally does not provide enough information to anticipate needed personal protective equipment (PPE). C. Callers may deliberately provide false information. D. Routine calls automatically alert the emergency medical technician (EMT) to be cautious.
Callers may deliberately provide false information.
You have been dispatched for an 89-year-old female patient who fell in her kitchen and was found by family members several hours later. Should something go awry on scene, which of these serves to give you the most safety and security? A. Ensuring that lights are on throughout the residence B. Notifying dispatch that you are at the residence C. Backing the ambulance into the driveway for rapid egress D. Carrying a portable radio with you into the house
Carrying a portable radio with you into the house
You are dispatched to an auto accident. As you approach the scene you notice that law enforcement is there and the fire department is close behind you. There are four badly damaged vehicles involved. What would your NEXT action be? A. Contact dispatch and request additional EMS units. B. Position the ambulance to protect the scene. C. Begin triage. D. Determine the number of victims.
Contact dispatch and request additional EMS units. If there is a probability that there are more patients than you can safely handle, you should call for assistance as soon as possible, preferably prior to making contact with the victims. As you proceed into a scene, more patients may become apparent, and you are less likely to call for help once involved with patient care.
Dispatch has sent you to a residence for a female patient with a possible broken arm. On scene, you find the patient seated in a chair holding her left arm. Her arm appears deformed and she has blood and bruises on her face. She tells you that an intruder, whom she believes lives in her neighborhood, broke into her home and robbed her. Prior to fleeing, he beat her, leaving her as you find her. With this information, you would immediately: A. Recognize a crime scene and not touch the patient to avoid altering any evidence B. Determine the identity of the intruder and contact and direct the police to his location C. Leave the patient and scene and wait in the ambulance until the police arrive D. Contact law enforcement, assess the patient, and initiate care
Contact law enforcement, assess the patient, and initiate care
You are dispatched to the scene of a child bitten by a dog where the fire department has already responded. What step of scene size-up can you begin to perform prior to arrival? A. Instruct bystanders on bleeding control. B. Place the trauma kit in close proximity. C. Determine from dispatch if the animal is secured. D. Establish the seriousness of the bite.
Determine from dispatch if the animal is secured.
You and your partner are first on the scene of a bleacher collapse at a local raceway. As you exit the ambulance, you note several patients seated throughout the debris from the collapsed structure. In this situation, which action would you perform first? A. Determine the severity of injuries B. Notify the local hospitals of a mass-casualty incident C. Wait for additional units to arrive D. Determine the number of patients
Determine the number of patients
It has been reported that two people have been shot in an alleyway. As you pull up to the scene, you see a police officer standing over a person with blood on his shirt and pants. In this situation, what is your first priority? A. Determining the overall safety of the scene B. Determining the number of patients on scene C. Considering the need for additional resources D. Assessing the patient's airway for patency
Determining the overall safety of the scene
Which personal protective equipment must the EMT take on every call? A. Goggles and gown B. Gloves C. Gloves and face shield D. Gloves, gown, and goggles
Gloves
Which of the following scenes would MOST likely have more than one patient? A. High school basketball playoff game where a fight reportedly broke out B. Call to a grocery store of abdominal pain C. Construction site where a piece of heavy machinery rolled over D. Dispatch tells that you are responding to a call for chest pain
High school basketball playoff game where a fight reportedly broke out The EMT must always remain dynamic about the changing characteristics of a scene because dispatch information is only as good as the information the caller is giving dispatch. However, if you keep in mind an index of suspicion, given the nature of competitive sports during a playoff game, if a fight breaks out, it will typically involve numerous people. At a construction site, the rollover of a piece of machinery will likely involve fewer people (if not just one), and information from dispatch about a chest pain or abdominal pain patient also is more likely to mean just one patient.
When approaching a possible crime scene in the dark, why is it recommended that you hold your flashlight out and to the side of your body? A. If you are carrying the jump kit in one hand, it will help to prevent back injuries by balancing the weight more effectively. B. It will be easier to illuminate your feet and watch where you walk, ensuring that you do not step on potential evidence. C. It will light the path better for any partners who may be walking behind you. D. If someone is waiting to harm responding emergency personnel, they will most likely aim at the light, under the assumption that it is being held directly in front of the carrier.
If someone is waiting to harm responding emergency personnel, they will most likely aim at the light, under the assumption that it is being held directly in front of the carrier. If you are using a flashlight, hold it beside, not in front of, your body so that you don't make your body a possible target. Only the first person in line should carry a flashlight because anyone with a flashlight behind the first person will backlight those in front. It is not an issue of balancing the weights you may be carrying because a flashlight is considerably lighter than your gear bag. Also, lighting the path and illuminating your feet are less relevant than the risk of making yourself a potential target.
You have been called to a bar full of intoxicated patrons for a 46-year-old man who fell off his stool, injuring his left arm. As you assess his arm, the patient screams in pain. Several of the patrons get angry and yell for you to give him something for pain. Someone in the back throws a bottle in your direction. What should you do next? A. Leave the scene and return only when police have made it safe to do so B. Inform the patrons that you are a medical professional and will care for the patient as you have been educated to do so C. Ignore the yelling and continue to care for the patient as you would anyone else with a similar injury D. Contact medical command for permission to give aspirin as a pain medication
Leave the scene and return only when police have made it safe to do so
Be very alert for severe trauma to what anatomical regions of the body when responding to snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle crashes? A. Wrists and shoulders B. Neck and airway C. Pelvis and femur D. Ankles and knees
Neck and airway
On scene, frantic family members direct you into the basement where their 67-year-old mother has shot herself in the chest with a small handgun. She is unresponsive and breathing 6 times per minute. The gun remains in her hand by her side. Which action should you take immediately? A. Pick up the gun by the edge of the grip and carefully remove it, and advise the police of your action B. Leave the gun in the patient's hand and start providing emergency care C. Determine whether the gun contains ammunition and remove it if it is loaded D. Do not touch the patient or gun until the police arrive on scene
Pick up the gun by the edge of the grip and carefully remove it, and advise the police of your action
At the scene of a motor vehicle collision involving two vehicles on a narrow two-lane road, which actions would be most appropriate to ensure rescuer and patient safety? A. Treat the patients between the vehicles so all rescuers can see each other B. Place flares in each direction from the collision scene C. Turn your reflective back to oncoming traffic so those drivers are aware of your presence D. Remove reflective clothing to avoid distracting passing vehicles
Place flares in each direction from the collision scene
A young male patient was playing hockey on an ice-covered pond and became injured; he remains on the ice. As you arrive on scene, a park ranger informs you that the ice is 12 inches thick and poses no danger of collapse. In this situation, which action would be most appropriate to help keep you safe while accessing and extricating the patient? A. Take small slow steps while walking on the ice B. Apply salt to the ice to provide traction C. Place tarps on the ice to walk over to the injured player D. Have a teammate assist the injured player to your location
Place tarps on the ice to walk over to the injured player
You arrive on scene for a motor vehicle collision (MVC) on a freeway. At this time, state patrol still has the outside lane of the highway open for traffic. You are concerned, however, for your safety while operating at the scene. What should you do? A. Tell the state trooper to close the freeway temporarily. B. Do nothing until more EMS help arrives. C. Only care for the most critical patients. D. Move all the patients to the side of the road before beginning treatment.
Tell the state trooper to close the freeway temporarily. An EMT will not be able to perform safely, let alone efficiently, if they are concerned for their safety at the scene of an MVC. As such, the EMT has the right to have the police shut down the freeway to make the scene safer until all patients have been transported.
You are approaching a victim of a motor vehicle accident still sitting in the car. The patient is carrying on a conversation with a bystander outside the window and appears conscious and well oriented. As you approach the open driver's door, you notice that the air bag never deployed, the steering wheel is bent, and there is a starburst on the windshield. What is the MOST important conclusion you can draw from this observation? A. The patient may have chest injuries he does not realize. B. The air bag may still deploy, injuring you or the patient. C. You should immediately fit a cervical collar. D. The patient may have a head injury.
The air bag may still deploy, injuring you or the patient. While all the choices are important considerations, deployment of the airbag could easily result in a second victim (you) and one less rescuer. Regardless of what injuries the victim may currently have, your injury would be detrimental to his treatment. Fitting a cervical collar may be important, but it does not replace the need for you to keep yourself safe.
To best determine the type and extent of injuries sustained by a patient who has fallen, the EMT should consider which of these pieces of information? A. The reason that the patient fell B. The patient's past medical history C. Vital signs obtained during the assessment D. The distance fallen and the type of surface landed on
The distance fallen and the type of surface landed on
You are called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident. As you approach the scene, you notice that no law enforcement is present and that an auto has left the roadway and struck a tree, causing moderate damage. The driver is still in the vehicle and is talking to a bystander. As you get closer, you notice a mangled tricycle near the edge of the roadway. In terms of scene size-up, what is your most important suspicion? A. You should position the ambulance between traffic and the tricycle. B. There may be a critically injured victim that is not readily visible. C. You should have dispatch call the police. D. The driver of the auto is not seriously injured.
There may be a critically injured victim that is not readily visible.
When should the EMT evaluate the scene of an emergency for hazards that may threaten or harm him? A. Before responding to the call B. Throughout the entire call C. Prior to leaving the ambulance D. After completing the primary assessment
Throughout the entire call
A 67-year-old male patient, who has a history of diabetes and previous heart attack, fell down three stairs. His chief complaint is pain and deformity to his right wrist. The EMT would initially classify this patient as a: A. Medical and trauma patient B. Special needs patient C. Trauma patient D. Medical patient
Trauma patient
You have arrived at the scene of a shooting on the "rough" side of town. As you draw near the address, you see, lying on the porch, what appears to be a man who has been shot. There are two or three other people standing around the body, waving at you to hurry up. What is your first action or primary concern? A. Your own safety B. Your partner's safety C. Your patient's safety D. Bystanders' safety
Your own safety The overriding goal during any scene size-up is to determine whether there are life threats or risks to you, the responding EMT. If there is a risk or the threat of one, do not enter the scene until the threat has been controlled. You have no duty to act for the patient if you are at risk of injury or harm. After you have ensured your safety, you focus on the safety of your partner and then the safety of the patient and bystanders.
Principles of scene safety that should be followed by the EMT are best exemplified by: A. learning how to use your EMS equipment as offensive weapons. B. disarming and/or restraining violent patients as soon as possible. C. calling for assistance if a scene is outside your area of training or expertise. D. removing patients from hazardous areas.
calling for assistance if a scene is outside your area of training or expertise. Under certain circumstances, the EMT may need to call upon additional specialized resources that are beyond the capabilities of the responding EMS providers. These would include water rescue, high angle rescue, utility services, and law enforcement. EMTs should not attempt to disarm a patient or remove the patient from a hazardous area they are not equipped and trained for, as this violates the principle of scene safety. EMTs should use their equipment in a physical altercation ONLY if necessary and ONLY as a defensive weapon.
Concerning illness.
medical
The type of medical condition or complaint a patient suffers from.
nature of the illness (NOI)
In a patient with a medical condition, your scene size-up helps you to determine the: A. nature of the illness. B. chief complaint. C. specific age of the patient. D. mechanism of injury.
nature of the illness. In a patient who is not injured but is suffering from a medical condition, you will begin to determine the nature of the illness (NOI) during scene size-up. The patient, relatives, bystanders, or physical evidence at the scene may provide you with clues to determine from what the patient is suffering. You are not attempting to diagnose the patient's illness. You are gathering information that will narrow down the nature of the patient's complaint. The mechanism of injury is for trauma patients, the age of the patient has nothing to really do with it, and the chief complaint is what the problem is that is bothering the patient. For example, the chief complaint can be "chest pain," but that chest pain could come from a knife wound (MOI) or from a cardiac problem (NOI).
You have been called to a residence of a woman who fell down the stairs. On scene, you find the patient on the couch with a large laceration to her forehead. As you begin assessing and treating her, she states that she did not fall down the stairs, but rather was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend after inviting him into her home. He has since left the residence prior to your arrival. In this situation, which statement would be most appropriate? A. "I am not going to bandage your head so we can preserve evidence." B. "What is the name of your ex-boyfriend?" C. "Why did you invite your ex-boyfriend over to your house?" D. "Aside from your head, do you hurt anywhere else?"
"Aside from your head, do you hurt anywhere else?"
Although MOST calls to which the EMT responds go by uneventfully, the EMT should stay aware of being surrounded by a large crowd for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT: A. the number of children in the crowd watching you. B. fighting or loud voices. C. weapons visible or in use. D. signs of alcohol or drug use.
the number of children in the crowd watching you. If a crowd has gathered before your arrival, assess the crowd. Be aware that the size of the crowd is less important than its mood. Is the scene chaotic? If so, do not allow yourself to be pulled into the chaos. Is the scene hysterical? Again, do not be pulled in. Does the crowd seem hostile to your presence? If it does, your options include retreating until appropriate backup arrives or taking the patient and leaving. You may also witness drug or alcohol abuse, see weapons, or hear loud voices; all of these are a concern. Children would be the least likely concern at this scene.
When you respond to a private residence and there are multiple family members complaining of headache and nausea, you should consider: A. the possibility of CO poisoning and get everyone out of the house. B. whether they might have all become injured in a crash. C. whether the illness is related to their family. D. whether they all go to the same school.
the possibility of CO poisoning and get everyone out of the house. A toxic environment will generally cause all people within it to suffer from similar symptoms. Therefore, the EMT who is called to a residence in which all occupants exhibit similar signs and symptoms must assume that the environment is toxic until it has been proven not to be. Faulty furnaces cause such problems every winter. The EMT who encounters this situation during the winter months should be prepared to consider the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. A blocked flue on a gas-powered hot water tank can produce the same problem in a closed, air-conditioned residence at the peak of summer.
Concerning injury.
trauma