Ch. 31 Quiz - Environmental Emergencies AEMT

Severe, persistent pain caused by a jellyfish sting should be treated by: A. immersing the affected area in hot water for 30 minutes. B. washing the affected area with rubbing alcohol. C. removing the nematocysts with a pair of tweezers. D. irrigating the affected area with fresh water for 15 minutes.

A. immersing the affected area in hot water for 30 minutes.

A patient with a core body temperature of 85°F would be expected to present with: A. profoundly slow respirations. B. deep, rapid respirations. C. confusion or lethargy. D. uncontrolled shivering.

A. profoundly slow respirations.

A 45-year-old hiker was lost in the woods for approximately 24 hours. When he is rescued, you find that he is unresponsive; has profoundly slow respirations; and a weak, irregular pulse. This clinical presentation is MOST suggestive of a core body temperature of: A. less than 80°F. B. 80°F to 88°F. C. 89°F to 92°F. D. 93°F to 95°F.

B. 80°F to 88°F.

General management for a moderately hypothermic patient with a decreased level of consciousness may include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. passive external rewarming. B. active internal rewarming. C. assisted ventilation as needed. D. obtaining a rectal temperature.

B. active internal rewarming.

Shortly after returning to the surface of the water, a scuba diver experiences an acute onset of pleuritic chest pain and difficulty breathing. He is tachycardic and his pulse is irregular. You should suspect: A. spontaneous pneumothorax. B. air embolism. C. decompression sickness. D. acute nitrogen narcosis.

B. air embolism.

A 44-year-old male was bitten by a black widow spider. He is conscious and alert, complains of nausea, and has a tense, painful abdomen. His blood pressure is 150/94 mm Hg, pulse is 110 beats/min and strong, and respirations are 24 breaths/min and unlabored. After administering 100% oxygen, you should: A. request a paramedic unit to respond and administer an antihistamine. B. clean the bite with soap and water, apply ice to the area, and transport. C. apply a chemical heat pack to the area to reduce the pain and transport. D. start a large-bore IV line and administer a 20 mL/kg fluid bolus.

B. clean the bite with soap and water, apply ice to the area, and transport.

A 30-year-old female presents with signs of dehydration, generalized weakness, and cool, clammy skin. She is conscious and alert and has an oral temperature of 101.5°F. This clinical presentation is MOST consistent with: A. thermolytic failure. B. heat exhaustion. C. heatstroke. D. heat cramps.

B. heat exhaustion.

Lethal cardiac dysrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation, may occur in the hypothermic patient if he or she: A. has an elevated blood pressure. B. is rewarmed too quickly. C. is passively rewarmed. D. takes anticoagulant medications.

B. is rewarmed too quickly.

The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease resulting from a tick bite are MOST commonly confused with: A. an allergic reaction. B. rheumatoid arthritis. C. acute peritonitis. D. acute ischemic stroke.

B. rheumatoid arthritis.

A 40-year-old female, who is conscious and alert with mild hypothermia, should receive active external rewarming. This involves: A. infusing an isotonic crystalloid that is warmed to 115°F. B. wrapping her in blankets and applying heat packs to her groin. C. immersing her in water that is between 106°F and 110°F. D. wrapping her in blankets and lavaging her urinary bladder.

B. wrapping her in blankets and applying heat packs to her groin.

Heatstroke occurs when the: A. process of thermogenesis is rendered ineffective. B. patient's core body temperature gradually rises. C. body is subjected to more heat than it can remove. D. hypothalamus produces excessive body heat.

C. body is subjected to more heat than it can remove.

Near-drowning is MOST accurately defined as: A. recovery that lasts for more than 36 hours following water submersion. B. immediate recovery at the scene and minor secondary complications. C. recovery that lasts for at least 24 hours following submersion in water. D. death beyond 24 hours as a result of intrapulmonary complications.

C. recovery that lasts for at least 24 hours following submersion in water.

A 24-year-old male was pulled from the water following submersion for an unknown length of time. There were no witnesses to the patient's submersion. When you arrive at the scene, you determine that he is in cardiac arrest. Routine management for this patient should include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. defibrillation as needed. B. oropharyngeal suctioning. C. subdiaphragmatic thrusts. D. full spinal precautions.

C. subdiaphragmatic thrusts.

How could the mammalian diving reflex protect the hypothermic patient who was submerged in water? A. It constricts the cerebral vasculature and maintains cerebral perfusion. B. It increases metabolism and shunts blood to the brain and lungs. C. It markedly increases the heart rate and increases oxygen supply. D. It slows the metabolic rate and decreases the body's oxygen demand.

D. It slows the metabolic rate and decreases the body's oxygen demand.

A 19-year-old male who was struck by lightning. He is unresponsive and apneic, but has a pulse. He also has widespread superficial burns. You should: A. provide mouth-to-mask rescue breathing, apply dry dressings to his burns, and transport without delay. B. quickly insert a multilumen airway device, provide mild hyperventilation, and administer 2 liters of IV fluid. C. ventilate him with a bag-mask device, call for a paramedic unit to intubate him, cover his burns, and start an IV. D. manually stabilize his head, ventilate him with a bag-mask device, and establish at least one large-bore IV.

D. manually stabilize his head, ventilate him with a bag-mask device, and establish at least one large-bore IV.