EMT Chapter 38: Vehicle Extrication and Special Rescue

How far away should you park your ambulance from the site of a cave-in or trench collapse?

500 feet away

Trench collapses usually involve large areas of falling dirt that weigh approximately _______ per cubic foot

A. 100 lb Correct

The use of special tools to remove an entrapped patient from a vehicle is known as _________.

A. complex access Correct

You are standing by at the scene of a hostage situation when the incident commander advises you that one of his personnel has been shot. The patient is lying supine in an open area and is not moving. As the SWAT team escorts you to the patient, you should:

A. grab him by the clothes and immediately move him to safety. Correct

Once entrance and access to the patient have been provided, you should:

A. perform a primary assessment. Correct

While staged at the scene of a structure fire, the EMT should _________

A. remain with the ambulance Correct

Returning the emergency unit to service is part of the _________.

A. termination phase Correct

The EMT's responsibility during search-and-rescue operations is to _________.

A. wait at the staging area until the patient is located Correct

_____________ is defined as the ability to reach the patient.

Access

You are attempting to gain access to a patient who was injured when his truck struck another vehicle from behind. The patient is conscious and alert, but is screaming in pain. You try to open the door, but it is locked. You should:

B. ask the patient if he can unlock the door. Correct

If a technical rescue team is required at the scene, but is not present when you arrive, you should:

B. check with the incident commander to ensure that the team is en route. Correct

When removing a critically injured patient from his or her vehicle, you should:

B. protect the cervical spine during the entire process. Correct

At what point should you begin your primary assessment of a patient who has been entrapped?

Before extrication begins

You have tried to gain simple access to a crashed vehicle but the doors are all jammed. What is your next step?

Break the window farthest away from the patient.

You arrive at an accident scene to find an alternative-fuel vehicle leaking an unknown substance. You should immediately _________.

C. call for additional resources and keep bystanders away from the vehicle Correct

A 19-year-old female has just been extricated from her severely damaged car. She is on a long backboard and has been moved to a place of safety. As your partner maintains manual stabilization of her head, you perform a rapid assessment. The patient is unresponsive, has slow and shallow respirations, and has bilaterally closed femur deformities. You should:

C. direct your partner to begin ventilatory assistance. Correct

Extrication is defined as:

C. removal from a dangerous situation or position. Correct

When functioning at the scene of a motor vehicle crash in which a patient will require complex extrication, you should enter the vehicle and provide care to the patient:

D. after receiving approval from the incident commander. Correct

The rescue team is in the process of extricating a 40-year-old male from his truck. The patient's wife, who was uninjured in the crash, is calmly observing the extrication and asks you if her husband will be all right. You should:

D. ensure that she is in a safe area, away from the scene. Correct

Upon arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you can see three patients, one who is entrapped in his car and two who have been ejected from their vehicle. You should:

D. immediately request additional resources. Correct

A 33-year-old restrained driver of a motor vehicle crash is awake and alert, complaining only of neck pain and left leg pain. The vehicle is stable and no hazards are present. When removing this patient from his vehicle, you should:

D. immobilize him with a vest-style device. Correct

Upon arrival at a trench rescue operation, you should _________.

D. park at least 500 feet from the incident Correct

Upon arrival at a search-and-rescue incident, the EMS crew should _________.

D. prepare the equipment to carry to the patient Correct

At a scene with downed electrical lines, the EMT should _________.

D. remain outside the danger (hot) zone Correct

What should be done for any type of alternative-fuel vehicle that is involved in an accident?

Disconnect the battery.

Which of the following is the BEST example of gaining simple access to a patient?

Entering a vehicle through an open window

Who has overall command of an emergency incident?

Incident commander

In an instance of multiple casualties, how should patient care be initiated?

Only after all patients have been triaged

Which of the following is an example of simple access?

Opening a rear door

What should you do if you find a patient entrapped in a vehicle who is in need of CPR?

Perform rapid extrication techniques.

You are assessing a female patient as the extrication team gets ready to roll up the dashboard to remove her. The patient has multiple fractures in her left arm. What should you do?

Secure the injured arm against her body.

Which of the following is the most important in protecting EMS providers during an extrication operation?

The scene size-up

As an EMT, what is your main role at the scene of an accident involving extrication of the patient?

To assess and provide immediate medical care

Where should you park the ambulance when responding to a vehicle crash involving a hazardous material spill?

Uphill and upwind from the hazard

During which phase of extrication should you don proper protective gear (PPE)?

Upon arrival

Rescuers have brought you a patient rescued from a structural collapse. You should immediately _________.

begin a rapid assessment

Tactical EMS providers are specially trained to function during _________.

dangerous law enforcement operations

To evaluate the scene for hazards and identify the number of patients, the EMT should first _________.

do a 360-degree walk-around

A hiker was injured when he fell approximately 20 feet from a cliff. When you arrive at the scene, a member of the technical rescue group escorts you to the patient, who is positioned on a steep incline. The MOST appropriate method of immobilizing and moving the patient to the ambulance is to:

immobilize his spine with a long backboard and place him in a basket stretcher.

In contrast to simple access, complex access:

involves forcible entry into a vehicle.

A 50-year-old female is entrapped in her passenger car after it struck a tree. As the rescue team is preparing to extricate her, you quickly assess her and determine that she is breathing shallowly and that her radial pulse is absent. You should:

maintain spinal stabilization as she is extricated.

Upon arrival at an active law enforcement incident, the EMT should _________.

notify the incident commander

The EMT's primary responsibility during a rescue or extrication situation is _________.

patient care

You and your partner are standing by at the scene of a residential fire when you hear the incident commander state, "We have located a victim" over the radio. You should:

remain with the ambulance and wait for fire personnel to bring the victim to you.

Disentanglement involves:

removing a patient from a dangerous position.

As you and your team are removing an unresponsive patient from her wrecked car, you note that she has closed deformities to both of her legs and a deformity to her left humerus. You should:

support the injured extremities and continue removal.

A unique consideration when dealing with a hybrid vehicle is that:

the battery has higher voltage than a traditional vehicle battery.

The reasons for rescue failure can be referred to by the mnemonic FAILURE. In this mnemonic the "U" stands for:

underestimating the logistics of the incident.

Your unit has been dispatched to stand by at the scene of a structure fire. There are no injuries of which you are aware. Upon arriving at the scene, you should:

ask the incident commander where the ambulance should be staged.

Common duties and responsibilities of EMS personnel at the scene of a motor vehicle crash include all of the following, EXCEPT:

keeping bystanders at a safe distance.