EMT Final Review

Twelve pairs of ribs attach to which section of the spinal column?

thoracic

At the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you determine that there are two critically injured patients and that another ambulance is needed. You attempt to contact the dispatcher with your portable radio but are unsuccessful. You should:

use the mobile radio in the ambulance to contact dispatch.

General guidelines for effective radio communications include all of the following, EXCEPT:

using 10 codes to ensure radio traffic confidentiality.

In an otherwise healthy adult, blood loss would cause:

vascular constriction and tachycardia

If you use a waterless handwashing substitute in the field, it is important to:

wash your hands with soap and water at the hospital

The MOST effective way to preserve your own body heat when functioning in cold, wet weather is to:

wear at least 3 layers of clothing

The carpal bones form the

wrist

The inferior cartilaginous tip of the sternum is called the:

xiphoid process

You are transporting to a 66-year-old patient with a history of heart problems. The patient chart indicates that he has hepatomegaly. The root of the term indicates that:

The problem is with the patient's liver.

The anterior fontanelle fuses together between the ages of:

9 and 18 months

A patient has fractured both femurs. Anatomically, these injuries would be described as being:

bilateral

Contraction of the right ventricle causes

blood to flow into the pulmonary circulation.

The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract during:

inhalation

An intoxicated 40-year-old male is found lying face down. How would you document his body's position?

prone

To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should:

provide competent care that meets current standards.

In relation to the wrist, the elbow is:

proximal

The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the:

pulmonary veins

The axial skeleton is composed of the:

skull, face, thorax, and vertebral column.

The elbow is an example of a ____________ joint.

hinge

You are caring for a 52-year-old man who complains of chest discomfort. The patient is a retired paramedic and is very anxious because he thinks he is having a heart attack. Which of the following statements would be appropriate?

"It is possible that you are experiencing a heart attack. I am going to give you four baby aspirin to chew and swallow." -be honest, don't diagnose and say what you are doing

At what age does separation anxiety typically peak in infants and small children?

10 to 18 months

Shortly after you load your patient, a 50-year-old man with abdominal pain, into the ambulance, he tells you that he changed his mind and does not want to go to the hospital. The patient is conscious and alert and has no signs of mental incapacitation. You are suspicious that the man has a significant underlying condition and feel strongly that he should go to the hospital. Which of the following statements regarding this situation is correct?

A mentally competent adult can withdraw his or her consent to treat at any time.

Which of the following statements regarding an infant's vital signs is correct?

An infant's normal body temperature is typically higher than a preschooler's.

All critical life functions are coordinated in which part of the brain?

Brain Stem

Why does the incidence of diabetes mellitus increase with age?

Decreased physical activity, increased weight gain, and decreased insulin production

You are transporting a veteran whose legs were amputated in the war. When calling your radio report to the emergency department, which of the following words would be the MOST appropriate to use when describing the patient?

Disabled

You suspect that a pregnant 16-year-old girl has a broken leg after she was hit by a car. You explain that you plan to splint her leg, and she agrees to treatment. Which type of consent is her agreement considered?

Expressed

You and your partner are attempting to resuscitate a middle-aged female in cardiac arrest. Because of the remote geographic location, you are unable to contact medical control. What should you do?

Follow locally established protocols or standing orders.

Which of the following has the weakest transmission signal and, as a result, is LEAST likely to be heard by the party being called?

Hand held portable radio

EMT training in nearly every state meets or exceeds the guidelines recommended by the:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Which of the following are noticeable characteristics of a 9-month-old infant?

Places objects in the mouth, pulls himself or herself up

Which of the following patients has decision-making capacity and can legally refuse emergency medical treatment?

a conscious and alert woman with severe abdominal pain

Age-related changes in the renal system result in:

a decreased ability to clear wastes from the body and a decreased ability to conserve fluids when needed.

Information included in a radio report to the receiving hospital should include all of the following, EXCEPT:

a preliminary diagnosis of the patient's problem

Signs of adequate breathing in the adult include all of the following, EXCEPT:

a reduction in tidal volume

You are transporting a 67-year-old female patient to the hospital for investigation of abdominal pain. The patient care record indicates that the patient has a history of AAA. Based on this information, the patient care record includes an abbreviation for:

abdominal aortic aneurysm

The femoral head forms a ball-and-socket joint with the:

acetabulum

When caring for the parents of a child who has died of leukemia, the EMT should:

acknowledge the death of their child in private.

A 15-year-old boy was killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle. He has numerous disfiguring injuries and has been placed in the back of the ambulance to shield him from curious bystanders. When the child's parents arrive at the scene, they demand to see him. You should:

advise them that their son had severely disfiguring injuries and ask them if there is anyone they would like you to contact first.

A patient's refusal of EMS treatment and/or transport must be:

an informed refusal

As an EMT, the performance of your duties will be compared to that of: Correct!

another EMT

The major artery that supplies all other arteries with blood is the:

aorta

A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should:

assess whether the patient's mental condition is impaired.

According to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, an EMT should be able to:

assist a patient with certain prescribed medications.

The decline in cardiac function that commonly occurs in late adulthood is MOST often related to:

atherosclerosis

When you and your partner arrive at the residence of a man in cardiac arrest, you immediately recognize the patient as the drunk driver who killed your brother several years earlier. A backup ambulance is en route to the scene. You should:

begin two-rescuer CPR and apply the AED as soon as possible.

The most distal four spinal vertebrae, which are fused together, form the:

coccyx

EMTs should have a strong working knowledge of medical terminology in order to:

communicate effectively with other members of the health care team.

While transporting a woman with diabetes, you inadvertently give her oral glucose even though her blood glucose level was high. You reassess the patient and note that her condition did not change; she remained stable. You should:

contact medical control and notify them of the error.

An appropriate demonstration of professionalism when your patient is frightened, demanding, or unpleasant is to:

continue to be nonjudgmental, compassionate, and respectful.

Which type of stress reaction occurs when an EMT is exposed to many insignificant stressors over a period of several months or years?

cumulative stress reaction

You are caring for a 35-year-old female with pregnancy-related complications. She is clearly experiencing significant stress and is crying uncontrollably. Your MOST appropriate action would be to:

demonstrate courtesy and speak with a professional tone of voice

The phase of the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles fill with blood is called:

diastole

Oxygen and carbon dioxide pass across the alveolar membrane in the lungs through a process called:

diffusion

The suffix "-pathy" means:

disease

A 5-year-old boy has fallen and has a severe deformity of the forearm near the wrist. He has possibly sustained a fracture of the ____________ forearm.

distal

Common factors that influence how a patient reacts to the stress of an illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:

distrust of EMTs

You are dispatched to the residence of an Asian family for a child with a high fever. When you assess the child, you note that he has numerous red marks on his back. The child's parents explain that these marks represent coining—a traditional Asian healing practice in which hot coins are rubbed on the back. You should:

document this finding on your patient care report and advise the emergency department staff of what the child's parents told you.

The MOST important consideration at the scene of a hazardous materials incident is:

ensuring your personal safety

You are assessing a middle-aged man with chest pain that you suspect is caused by a cardiac problem. The patient tells you that he does not want to go to the hospital and insists that you leave him alone. You should:

explain the seriousness of the situation to him, but avoid causing undue alarm.

Bile is produced by the liver and concentrated and stored in the:

gallbladder

The official transfer of patient care does not occur until the EMT:

gives an oral report to the emergency room physician or nurse.

The continuous quality improvement (CQI) process is designed to:

identify areas of improvement and provide remedial training if needed.

The pelvic bones are formed by the fusion of the:

ilium, ischium, pubis

In the eyes of the courts, an incomplete or untidy patient care form indicates:

inadequate patient care was administered

Factors that contribute to a decline in the vital capacity of an elderly patient include all of the following, EXCEPT:

increased surface area available for air exchange.

In late adults, the amount of air left in the lungs after expiration of the maximum amount of air:

increases, which hampers diffusion of gases because of the stagnant air that remains in the alveoli.

Obtaining continuing medical education is the responsibility of the:

individual EMT

A diabetic patient has polydipsia. This means that she:

is excessively thirsty

Which of the following organs or structures lies within the retroperitoneal space?

kidneys

The vocal cords are located in the

larynx

You are caring for a 40-year-old female who was involved in a motor vehicle crash. Her husband, who was driving the vehicle, was killed. When the patient asks you if her husband is all right, you should:

let clergy or hospital staff relay the bad news if possible.

As an EMT, it is important to remember that the signs and symptoms of cumulative stress:

may not be obvious or present all the time

The topographic term used to describe the location of body parts that are closer toward the midline of the body is:

medial

The person who is responsible for authorizing EMTs to perform emergency medical care in the field is the:

medical director

According to the terminal drop hypothesis:

mental function is presumed to decline in the 5 years preceding death.

"Myo" in the word myocarditis means:

muscle

The muscle tissue of the heart is called the:

myocardium

When caring for a 65-year-old male with respiratory distress, you place him in a comfortable position but do not apply oxygen. The patient's condition continues to deteriorate and he develops cardiac arrest and dies at the hospital. This scenario is an example of:

negligence

Which type of medical direction do standing orders and protocols describe?

off-line

Prescription glasses do not provide adequate eye protection because they:

offer little or no side protection.

The ___________ is made up of the maxilla and zygoma, as well as the frontal bone of the cranium.

orbit

Cardiac monitoring, pharmacologic interventions, and other advanced treatment skills are functions of the:

paramedic

The bones that constitute the fingers and toes are called:

phalanges

In relation to the chest, the back is:

posterior

You are treating a man who was assaulted and has a closed head injury. The patient, who has slurred speech, becomes verbally abusive and tells you to leave him alone. You should:

proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary.

You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a shooting. Law enforcement personnel are present and have the suspect in custody. You find the patient lying in a narrow space between the couch and coffee table of his small apartment. He is semiconscious and has a large gunshot wound to his chest. You should:

quickly move the coffee table so you can access and treat the patient.

The bones of the forearm are called the:

radius and ulna

After receiving online orders from medical control to perform a patient care intervention, you should:

repeat the order to medical control word for word.

The amount of air that remains in the lungs simply to keep them open is called the:

residual volume

You are assessing a 13-month-old female who is running a fever and has been vomiting. While you are performing your physical examination on this child, you will MOST likely find that she:

responds to her name but is fearful of your presence.

A 75-year-old male with a terminal illness has died at home. As you and your partner enter the residence, a family member becomes verbally abusive, pushes you, and states that you took too long to get there. You should:

retreat and notify law enforcement

The ___________ portion of the spinal column is joined to the iliac bones of the pelvis.

sacrum

The large, flat, triangular bone that overlies the posterior thoracic wall is called the:

scapula

You arrive at the scene of a domestic violence situation. As you approach the doorway of the apartment, you hear screaming and the statement "He has a gun!" Your MOST appropriate action should be to:

seek a safe place and request law enforcement assistance

The primary organ responsible for absorption of the products of digestion is the:

small intestine

Worn-out blood cells, foreign substances, and bacteria are filtered from the blood by the:

spleen

The standards for prehospital emergency care and the individuals who provide it are typically regulated by the:

state office of EMs

"Gastro" in the word "gastroenteritis" means:

stomach

An infant or small child's airway can be occluded if it is overextended or overflexed because:

the occiput is proportionately large and the trachea is flexible.