EMT Chapter 2: Workforce Safety and Wellness

What should you do before attempting to access a patient trapped in a vehicle?

Ensure that the vehicle is stable.

The compliance-monitoring component of an infection control plan should:

ensure that employees understand what they should do and why it is important.

Which of the following statements regarding the hepatitis B vaccine is correct?

OSHA requires that your employer offer you the vaccine free of charge.

When treating a patient who is trapped in a vehicle and covered with broken glass, it is BEST to wear:

puncture-proof leather gloves over your latex gloves.

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 three layers of clothing.

Critical incident stress management (CISM) can occur at an ongoing scene in all of the following circumstances, EXCEPT:

when patients are actively being assessed or treated.

While trying to make a family member feel better after a loved one has died, your partner states, "I know how you are feeling." The family members may view this as:

your partner's attempt to diminish their grief.

A positive TB skin test indicates that:

you have been exposed to TB.

Which of the following statements is MOST consistent with the bargaining phase of the grieving process?

"I will be compliant with all my medications if I can just see my grandson graduate."

Which of the following statements would NOT be appropriate to say to the family of a dying patient?

"Things will get better in time."

Common questions asked by patients with a serious illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:

"Which hospital am I going to?"

A critical incident stress debriefing should be conducted no more than ________ hours following the incident.

72

You and your partner respond to the residence of a 66-year-old male with shortness of breath. As you are assessing the patient, his wife tells you that he was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. The patient is verbally abusive and tells you that failure of the health care system caused his disease. Which stage of the grieving process is this patient's behavior consistent with?

Anger.

Physiologic manifestations of stress include:

perspiration, increased blood glucose levels, and dilated pupils.

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 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.

Which of the following is the MOST significant factor in determining whether a person will become ill from certain germs?

Immunity.

Which of the following signs would indicate that your partner is experiencing significant stress?

Isolation from the rest of the crew

Which of the following infectious diseases confers no protection from reinfection after exposure?

Syphilis.

The final stage of death and dying MOST commonly takes the form of:

acceptance.

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

acknowledge the death of their child in private.

The BEST way to reduce your risk of contracting a work-related disease following exposure is to:

activate your department's infection control plan as soon as possible.

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.

You are transporting a 40-year-old male with respiratory distress. The patient tells you that he recently had a positive tuberculosis (TB) skin test and is currently being evaluated for possible TB. You should:

apply a nonrebreathing mask on the patient and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirator on yourself.

When a patient is dying, he or she may experience regression. This is MOST accurately defined as:

behavior consistent with an earlier developmental stage.

Carbon monoxide blocks the ability of the blood to oxygenate the body because it:

binds with the hemoglobin in red blood cells.

Hazards that are associated with a structural fire include all of the following, EXCEPT:

carbon dioxide deficiency.

The spread of HIV and hepatitis in the health care setting can usually be traced to:

careless handling of sharps.

If it is not possible to adequately clean your ambulance at the hospital following a call, you should:

clean the ambulance at your station in a designated area that is well ventilated.

You are assessing a woman who was thrown from a horse. She is located in a large field and you can see that a thunderstorm is rapidly approaching. Suddenly, you feel your skin begin to tingle and the hair on your arms stands on end. The ambulance is located about 30 yards away. You should:

crouch down in a position so that only your feet are touching the ground.

Determination of exposure is an important component of an infection control plan because it:

defines who is at risk for contact with blood and body fluids and which tasks pose a risk of exposure.

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.

It is especially important for EMS personnel to develop nonadversarial relationships with their coworkers because they:

depend on one another for their safety.

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.

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.

The hepatitis B vaccine program, a component of the infection control plan, addresses all of the following issues, EXCEPT:

family history of hepatitis.

When considering his or her personal life, it is important for the EMT to realize that:

family or friends may not understand the stress associated with EMS.

You and your partner are EMTs who have been dispatched to stand by at the scene of a residential fire. While standing next to the ambulance observing the firefighters, you see a woman frantically moving around in her burning house. You should:

immediately notify the incident commander or safety officer.

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.

You are dispatched to the scene of a crash involving a large tanker truck. While you are en route, dispatch advises you that there are multiple patients and that the fire department is en route as well. As you approach the scene, you should:

maintain a safe distance and try to read the placard with binoculars.

You are summoned to a convalescent center for an 88-year-old female with an altered mental status. A staff nurse advises you that the patient has terminal cancer and her physician stated that she would probably die within the next few hours; a valid do not resuscitate (DNR) order is presented to you. When caring for this patient, you should:

make her comfortable and provide emotional support.

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.

According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, an employer must:

offer a workplace environment that reduces the risk of exposure.

Prescription glasses do not provide adequate eye protection because they:

offer little or no side protection.

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 personnel.

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.

Patients who become dependent upon EMS personnel or other health care providers often feel:

shamed.

While you are on duty, your partner asks you out on a date and touches you in an inappropriate location without your consent. You should:

tell your partner to stop and report the incident to your supervisor.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommended immunizations and tests include a:

tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster every 10 years.