emt medical
What is the correct dose, concentration, and route of epinephrine for anaphylactic shock in an adult?
0.3 mg, 1:1000, intramuscular
A young woman reports significant weight loss over the last month, persistent fever, and night sweats. When you assess her, you note the presence of dark purple lesions covering her trunk and upper extremities. You should suspect:
HIV infection
A 48-year-old male became acutely hypoxic, experienced a seizure, and is now postictal. The MOST effective way to prevent another seizure is to:
administer high-flow supplemental oxygen
You receive a call to a restaurant where a 34-year-old man is experiencing shortness of breath. When you arrive, you immediately note that the man has urticaria on his face and arms. He is conscious, but restless, and is in obvious respiratory distress. You should:
administer supplemental oxygen at 12 to 15 L/min
Rapid transport of a patient who ingested a large dose of Tylenol is important because:
an antidote may prevent liver failure if administered early enough
The signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction to a bee sting are caused by:
an exaggrerated immune system reaction in which chemicals are released in response to the venom
A behavioral crisis is MOST accurately defined as:
any reaction to an event that interferes with the activities of daily living or has become unacceptable to the patient, family, or community
Which of the following is a physiologic effect of epinephrine when used to treat anaphylactic shock?
as a bronchodilator, it improves the patient's breathing
A 28-year-old woman has severe lower quadrant abdominal pain. When assessing her abdomen, you should:
ask her where the pain is located and palpate that area last
A 29-year-old man presents with an acute onset of severe pain to the left upper quadrant of his abdomen. He is conscious and alert and states that he is very thirsty. The EMT should:
assess his vital signs and prepare for immediate transport
You respond to a baseball field for a person who was struck by lightning. When you arrive, you see one patient who appears confused and is ambulatory; a second patient who is conscious, sitting on the ground, and holding his arm; and a third patient who is supine and motionless. After requesting additional responders, you should:
assess the motionless victim and perform CPR + defibrillation if necessary
The two MOST important steps in treating a patient with a contact poisoning are:
avoiding self-contaminations and removing the irritating or corrosive substance from the patient as rapidly as possible
Activated charcoal is contraindicated for a patient who is:
awake and alert and has swalloed a commercial drain cleaner
Naloxone improves ventilation in a patient who overdosed on an opioid because it:
binds to receptor sites + prevents drug uptake
A 23-year-old female with sickle cell disease complains of a sudden onset of severe pain in her lower extremities. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of her symptoms?
blood flow is diminished because of vascular occlusion
A 60-year-old man presents with an acute onset of confusion and slurred speech. Which of the following assessments would be the MOST likely to reveal the possible cause of his altered mental status?
blood glucose level
Hypoglycemia and acute ischemic stroke can present similarly because:
booth oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function
Which of the following signs is LEAST suggestive of a diabetic emergency?
bradycardia
Which of the following clinical presentations is the MOST consistent with an opioid overdose?
bradycardia, shallow breathing, hypotension
A patient who overdosed on an opioid would be expected to present with:
bradypnea
Which of the following mechanisms cause respiratory and circulatory collapse during anaphylactic shock?
bronchoconstricition+vasvasodilation
In the patient with diabetes, insulin shock typically presents with:
clammy skin and a rapid onset
EMTs are assessing a man who is under the influence of an unknown substance. The patient is agitated, his BP is 180/100 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 150 beats/min, and his skin is hot to the touch. Which of the following drugs would MOST likely cause these signs and symptoms?
cocaine
Which of the following drugs can cause or worsen excited delirium?
cocaine
Immediately following a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, most patients are:
confused
Which of the following patients with diabetes is the BEST candidate for oral glucose?
confused patient who has cool, clammy skin
A 30-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia cut his wrists and is bleeding profusely. He is confused and combative and has slurred speech. With the assistance of law enforcement personnel, you and your partner physically restrain him so that you can provide care and transport. In this situation, a court of law would MOST likely:
consider your actions in providing care to be appropriate
After administering epinephrine to a woman in anaphylactic shock, her condition improves. The EMT should recognize that her clinical improvement is because epinephrine:
constricts the blood vessels and dilates the bronchioles
The bite of a brown recluse spider is characterized by:
delayed onset of pain, swelling, and blister formation at the site
When treating an unresponsive man who was struck by lightning, you should:
ensure that you and the patient are in a safe place
When caring for a patient with an acute behavioral crisis, your primary concern should be:
ensuring your own and your partner's safety
Which of the following patient presentations would MOST likely require the EMT to don a high-efficiency particular air (HEPA) respirator?
fever, cough, night sweats
A 36-year-old male, who is a known diabetic, presents with severe weakness, diaphoresis, and tachycardia. He is conscious, but confused. His blood pressure is 110/58 mm Hg, pulse is 120 beats/min and weak, and respirations are 24 breaths/min. The glucometer reads error after several attempts to assess his blood glucose level. Medical control will MOST likely order you to:
give at least one tube of oral glucose
When insulin levels in the blood remain high:
glucose is rapidly taken out of the blood to fuel the cells
A 73-year-old male presents with confusion; cool, pale, clammy skin; absent radial pulses; and a blood pressure of 70/40 mm Hg. The patient's wife tells you that he has had abdominal pain for a week and began vomiting a coffee-ground substance yesterday. His past medical history includes hypertension and gastric ulcer disease. Your MOST immediate concern should be that:
he is in shock and requires prompt transport
A 29-year-old man with abdominal pain tells the EMT that he has hemophilia A. This means that:
he will bleed for a longer period of time
Which of the following conditions would place the patient at greatest risk for complications after receiving epinephrine?
heart disease
All of the following are signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, EXCEPT:
hemoptysis
Patients who abuse opioids by injecting them are also at risk for:
hepatitis C
Which of the following is the MOST significant finding in a patient experiencing an allergic reaction?
hoarseness
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to be present in a patient who was submerged in water?
hyperglycemia
Which of the following structures is responsible for regulating body temperature?
hypothalamus
Activated charcoal may be indicated following an ingestion of:
ibuprofen
After several months of using an illegal substance, the patient develops a tolerance for it. What does this mean?
increasing amounts of drugs are needed to achieve the same effect
A known diabetic female is found unresponsive. Her respirations are rapid and shallow; her skin is cool, clammy, and pale; and her pulse is rapid and weak. Which of the following would BEST explain the likely cause of her condition?
insulin overdose
Witnesses state that a 49-year-old man had a seizure that lasted approximately 5 minutes. If the patient truly experienced a seizure, you would MOST likely find that he:
is confused and disoriented
Which of the following statements regarding the function of insulin is correct?
it facilitates the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream into the cells
Which of the following is a later sign of hepatitis?
jaundice
Hypoxia-induced unresponsiveness during a submersion injury is usually the result of:
laryngospasm
An 80-year-old woman has pain in the right upper quadrant of her abdomen and a yellow tinge to her skin. You should suspect dysfunction of the:
liver
A 24-year-old female presents with a rash to her left leg and swollen, painful knee joints. She tells you that she and her friends returned from a hiking trip in the mountains a week ago. She is conscious and alert with a blood pressure of 112/62 mm Hg, a pulse of 84 beats/min, and respirations of 14 breaths/min. What should you suspect?
lyme disease
A 23-year-old female with a history of bulimia is vomiting large amounts of bright red blood and complains of pain in her upper abdominal area. What should you suspect?
mallory-weiss tear
Which part of the assessment process would MOST likely provide clues as to the possible underlying cause of a medical patient's chief complaint?
medical history
A 42-year-old male presents with fever, a severe headache, and a stiff neck. He is conscious, but confused. His wife tells you that he does not have any medical problems and does not take any medications. What should you suspect?
meningitis
Law enforcement requests your assistance to evaluate a young female whom they believe has overdosed. The patient is conscious, is displaying bizarre behavior, and is very restless. Her BP is 170/90 mm Hg and her heart rate is 130 beats/min. You see needle tracks on both of her arms. Which of the following would MOST likely explain her presentation?
methamphetamine
You are called to a local park for an ill person. It is a hot day and the humidity is high. When you arrive, a bystander directs you to the patient, a young male who is semiconscious. His skin is flushed, hot, and moist. Your FIRST action in the management of this patient should be to:
move him to a cool area
The MOST obvious way to reduce heat loss from radiation and convection is to:
move to a warmer environment
Unresponsiveness, shallow breathing, and constricted pupils are indicative of which type of drug overdose?
narcotic
Common complaints in a patient with an infectious disease include:
nausea, rash, fever, shortness of breath
Which of the following signs or symptoms would you MOST likely encounter in a patient with an inflamed gallbladder?
pain in the right shoulder
Which of the following signs and symptoms should the EMT expect to encounter in a patient with severe anemia?
pallor and shortness of breath
A 50-year-old man complains of severe pain to both upper abdominal quadrants. He states that the pain moves to his back and that he is nauseated and has been running a fever. His wife advises that he does not take care of himself and that he drinks a lot of alcohol. What should you suspect?
pancreatitis
When caring for a patient with severe hypothermia who is in cardiac arrest, you should:
perform BLS and transport
After moving a hypothermic patient to a warmer area, your primary focus should be to:
prevent further body heat loss
Functions of the liver include:
production of clotting factors
A 50-year-old woman with a history of epilepsy is actively seizing. Care for this patient should focus primarily on:
protecting her from injury + ensuring adequate ventilation
A man is experiencing a severe allergic reaction after being stung by a scorpion. He does not have his own epinephrine; however, his wife is allergic to bees and has a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector. You should:
provide rapid transport + consider an ALS intercept
Which of the following complications would MOST likely occur if a patient with end-stage renal disease missed several dialysis treatments?
pulmonary edema
A 45-year-old man complains of shortness of breath that began suddenly. He tells the EMT that he has a condition called thrombophilia. What should you suspect?
pulmonary embolism
You are at the scene where a man panicked while swimming in a small lake. Your initial attempt to rescue him should include:
reaching for the victim with a long object
You are transporting a 30-year-old man who is experiencing an emotional crisis. The patient does not speak when you ask him questions. How should you respond to his unwillingness to speak?
remain silent until the patient speaks to you
You are dispatched to a residence for a 20-year-old male with respiratory distress. When you arrive, you find that the patient has a tracheostomy tube and is ventilator dependent. His mother tells you that he was doing fine, but then suddenly began experiencing breathing difficulty. You should:
remove him from the mechanical ventilator and ventilate him manually
A 20-year-old man was stung on the arm by a bee and is experiencing local redness, pain, and swelling. You can see that the stinger is still in the man's arm. What should you do?
remove the stinger by gently scraping the skin with the edge of a rigid subject
Active rewarming of a patient with moderate or severe hypothermia should be avoided in the field because:
rewarming too quickly can cause a fatal cardiac dysrhythmia
A 40-year-old man complains of difficulty swallowing and is vomiting bright red blood. His wife advises that he has diabetes and liver failure from years of alcohol abuse. What should you suspect?
ruptured esophageal varices
A woman with type I diabetes presents with deep, rapid breathing; tachycardia, dehydration; and an altered mental status. Which of the following would MOST likely explain her clinical presentation?
she has not taken her insulin in several days
A 50-year-old woman who is conscious and alert complains of a severe migraine headache. When caring for her, you should generally avoid:
shining a light into her pupils
A patient with a core body temperature of 94°F would MOST likely present with:
shivering and pale skin
When you arrive at a residence for a man who is "not acting right," you enter the house and find him sitting on his couch. Which of the following findings would be MOST indicative of an altered mental status?
slurred speech
When restraining a violent patient, you should make sure that:
someone talks to the patient during the process
A 44-year-old woman was bitten on the ankle by an unidentified snake while working in her garden. She is conscious and alert, has stable vital signs, and denies shortness of breath. Her only complaint is a burning sensation at the wound site. Your assessment reveals two small puncture wounds, redness, and swelling. You should:
splint her leg to decrease movement and keep her eg below the level of her heart
A 46-year-old man presents with generalized weakness and shortness of breath after he was bitten on the leg by a rattlesnake. His blood pressure is 106/58 mm Hg and his pulse rate is 112 beats/min. Treatment for this patient should include:
splinting and lowering of the affected part
A 32-year-old man who was stung by a bee has diffuse hives, facial swelling, and difficulty breathing. When he breathes, you hear audible stridor. What does this indicate?
swelling of the upper airway structures
In contrast to a patient with a blood glucose level of 25 mg/dL, a patient with a blood glucose level of 800 mg/dL would be expected to present with:
tachycardia and poor skin turgor
Which of the following would MOST likely cause a rapid drop in a patient's blood glucose level?
taking too much prescribed insulin
A 40-year-old male with a history of depression and schizophrenia appears frightened and tells you that he sees snakes everywhere. You should:
tell him that you do not see any snakes, but they are obviously scaring him
In general, you should avoid rewarming a frostbitten body part in the field if:
the affected part could refreeze after warming
Which of the following statements regarding lightning-related injuries is correct?
the cardiovascular and nervous systems are most commonly injured during a lightening strike
You receive a call for a 54-year-old female who is having a seizure. When you arrive at the scene, the patient is actively seizing. Her husband tells you that she has a history of seizures, and that she has been seizing continuously for 20 minutes. It is MOST important for you to recognize that:
the patient is hypoxic and needs oxygen as soon as possible
When assessing a patient with an apparent behavioral crisis, the MOST important initial observation the EMT should make is whether or not:
the patient seems aggressive or verbally abusive
A 60-year-old man presents with a right-sided headache and weakness to his left side. He is conscious and alert. His blood pressure is 190/100 mm Hg, pulse is 88 beats/min, and respirations are 14 breaths/min. His past medical history includes diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension. Which of the following should concern you the MOST?
the presence of hemiparesis
When assessing a conscious patient who overdosed on a drug, you should FIRST determine:
the type of medication ingested
You are transporting a 35-year-old male who has a history of alcoholism. He stopped drinking 4 days ago and is now disoriented, diaphoretic, and tachycardic. This patient is at risk for:
tonic-clonic seizures
A 60-year-old male complains of a sudden tearing sensation in his abdomen. He is conscious and alert with a blood pressure of 148/88 mm Hg, a pulse of 120 beats/min, and respirations of 22 breaths/min. You should:
transport at once + be prepared too treat him for severe shock
A young male experienced a syncopal episode after working in the heat for several hours. He is conscious and alert; has cool, clammy skin; and complains of nausea and lightheadedness. You should:
transport him on his side
A 39-year-old male asks you to take him to the hospital because has had a fever, headache, and diarrhea for the past 2 days. His blood pressure is 120/60 mm Hg, his pulse is 110 beats/min, and his respirations are 16 breaths/min. You should:
transport him to the hospital in a position of comfort
A 50-year-old woman complains of a rash and itching to her trunk and arms that began a day after she started taking penicillin. Her breath sounds are clear to auscultation, she denies shortness of breath, her oxygen saturation is 96%, and her BP is 132/74 mm Hg. Treatment should include:
transport only with close monitoring
Which of the following is a complication associated with renal failure?
uremia
You are called to an assisted living center where an attendant found a 72-year-old man unresponsive. The patient had recent hip surgery and has been taking Vicodin for pain. His respirations are slow and shallow, and his pulse is slow and weak. You should:
ventilate the patient with a bag valve mask device
Which of the following signs and symptoms are MOST characteristic of hyperglycemic ketoacidosis?
warm, dry skin, slow onset