EMT Written Final Questions
In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist?
A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change.
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.
Medical control orders you to administer nitroglycerin to an 82-year-old male with chest pain. What is the maximum number of doses you should administer?
3
Normal respiratory rates should not exceed _________ per minute in toddlers and _________ breaths per minute in infants.
40, 60
A 32-year-old female complains of abdominal pain, weakness, and vomiting. She lost her only bottle of insulin yesterday. What blood glucose level are you most likely to obtain?
440 mg/dL
You are performing a 1-minute Apgar on a newborn. He is pink with blue extremities, is breathing slowly, has a pulse rate of 98, is somewhat flexed, and makes a face and whimpers when you stimulate him. What is his Apgar score?
5
A patient in unstable condition should be reassessed at least every:
5 minutes.
What is the alveolar minute volume of a patient with a tidal volume of 500 mL, a dead space volume of 150 mL, and a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min?
5,600 mL
A portable oxygen cylinder should have a minimum capacity of ______ of oxygen.
500 L
The normal respiratory rate for a newborn should not exceed ________ breaths/min.
60
Which of the following statements regarding a patient refusal is correct?
A mentally competent adult has the legal right to refuse EMS care and transport.
Which of the following patients has signs of an altered mental status?
A patient with a head injury who is slow to answer questions
Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to cause an altered level of consciousness?
Acute anxiety
Medical control gives you an order that seems inappropriate for the patient's condition. After confirming that you heard the physician correctly, what should you do?
Express your concerns and respectfully question if the order is appropriate.
Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital?
Expressed
Which of the following statements regarding penetrating injuries is correct?
External bleeding might be minimal, but internal injuries can be extensive.
A 46-year-old female complains of right-upper-quadrant abdominal pain. The pain started acutely after she ate a greasy meal. Where should you assess for referred pain?
Scapula
Which of the following statements regarding hypoxic drive is correct?
The hypoxic drive stimulates a person to breathe on the basis of low oxygen levels.
Which of the following describes the Moro reflex?
The neonate opens his or her arms wide, spreads his or her fingers, and seems to grasp at something after being startled.
Which of the following symptoms would lead the EMT to believe that a patient's headache is caused by sinus congestion?
The pain is worse when bending over
When a conflict arises between crew members, what is the number one rule in troubleshooting the conflict?
The patient comes first
In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information?
The patient is competent and signs a release form
You are caring for an 81-year-old female who fell from a standing position. The patient has pain upon palpation of her right anterior chest and upper abdomen, a pulse of 120, a respiratory rate of 24, and a blood pressure 86/50. Which of the following is the most likely explanation of the presenting signs?
The patient suffered a rib fracture that has caused a laceration to the liver.
When is forcible restraint permitted?
When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others
When is it MOST appropriate to consider requesting additional ambulances at an accident scene?
When you determine there are multiple patients
As the first arriving emergency responder at the scene of a suspected terrorist or weapon of mass destruction incident, you should request additional resources as needed and then:
function as the incident commander until additional personnel arrive.
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:
immobilize him with a vest-style device
The goal of the primary assessment is to:
identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions.
The diaphragm is unique because it:
is both a voluntary and an involuntary muscle.
In the anatomical position used for reference in using directional terms, the thumb is_______ to the fingers.
lateral
You respond to a call for a female pedestrian who has been struck by a car. As your partner maintains manual stabilization of her head, you perform a primary assessment. She is unconscious, has ineffective breathing, and has bloody secretions in her mouth. You should:
immediately suction her oropharynx.
You are dispatched to a residence for a young female who was kicked in the abdomen. While en route to the scene, you should ask the dispatcher if:
law enforcement is at the scene.
After receiving online orders from medical control to perform a patient care intervention, you should:
repeat the order to medical control word for word.
When interviewing a patient, you can show him or her that you understand the situation by:
repeating statements back to him or her.
Rough handling of a hypothermic patient with a pulse may cause:
ventricular fibrillation
To treat a sting from a jellyfish, pour _______ on the affected area.
vinegar
Which of the following statements regarding a basilar skull fracture is correct?
The absence of raccoon eyes or Battle sign does not rule it out.
A 69-year-old female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She is semiconscious with a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg and a heart rate of 74 beats/min that is weak. Her daughter, who was uninjured in the crash, tells you that her mother has a history of hypertension and takes beta-blockers. Because the patient is probably in shock, what is the MOST likely explanation for the absence of tachycardia?
The effects of her antihypertensive medication
Which of the following increases a patients' risk for suicide?
Diagnosis of a serious neuromuscular disease
With proper technique, you and your partner should be able to safely lift a patient who weighs up to ______ lb.
220
A 60-year-old man complains of chest pain. He is conscious, alert, and denies shortness of breath. Which of the following questions would be the MOST appropriate to ask him?
"Do you have any heart problems or take any medications?"
Which of the following questions would you ask a patient to ascertain the "M" in the SAMPLE history?
"How much Tylenol do you take each day?"
Which of the following questions is used to determine a patient's chief complaint?
"What seems to be the matter?"
A patient with slurred speech is sitting slumped over to one side and showing one-sided facial drooping. Which question is most important to ask?
"When did the symptoms start?"
A 60-year-old male is unable to move his left arm and leg. He has expressive aphasia and facial droop. Which question is the most important to ask the patient's family?
"When did you last see him normal?"
A 22-year-old female complains of pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding. What question should you ask?
"When was your last menstrual period?"
The adult epinephrine auto-injector delivers ______ mg of epinephrine, and the infant-child auto-injector delivers ______ mg.
0.3, 0.15
Femoral shaft fractures can result in up to _____ mL of internal blood loss.
1,000
When parking your ambulance at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you should position the ambulance:
100 feet past the scene on the same side of the road.
What is the minimum systolic blood pressure necessary to administer nitroglycerin?
100 mm Hg
Your patient answers your questions appropriately, although her eyes remain closed the entire time. She moves each extremity on command, although her left side is weaker than the right. You should assign a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of:
12
An adult at rest should have a respiratory rate that ranges between:
12 and 20 breaths/mins
The normal respiratory rate for an adult should range from:
12 to 20 breaths per minute.
Following a head injury, a 20-year-old female opens her eyes spontaneously, is confused, and obeys your commands to move her extremities. You should assign her a GCS score of:
14
Which of the following patients is at highest risk for a pulmonary embolism?
71-year-old male with recent surgery to a lower extremity
The low normal systolic blood pressure for a 30-year-old is:
90 mm Hg
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below:
95 F (35 C)
Hepatitis __ can be transmitted only from a patient who has an acute infection.
A
Which of the following is a sign of abnormal breathing?
Accessory muscle use
For which of the following patients should the EMT put on gloves and a mask?
A 22-year-old female with fever, headache, neck discomfort, and a red rash on her skin.
Which of the following scenarios does NOT involve the presence of any symptoms?
A 61-year-old female who is unconscious with facial cyanosis
Which of the following patients is most likely suffering from congestive heart failure?
A 64-year-old male with uncontrolled hypertension, dependent edema, and dyspnea
What is the main difference between a group and a team regarding EMS patient care?
A team consists of a group of health care providers who are assigned specific roles working together.
An alert 44-year-old female is complaining of shortness of breath. Vitals are BP 130/80, P 98, R 24, and depth is adequate. Her SpO2 is 91% on room air. What should you do?
Administer 02 via nonrebreather mask.
An 18-year-old male with a history of sickle cell disease complains of abdominal pain. It started 3 hours ago while playing soccer. Vital signs are BP 104/72, P 102, R 20, and temp 98.8. What should you do?
Administer oxygen via nonrebreathing mask
When assessing a patient with a possible stroke, what should you check first?
Airway
A 22-year-old male complains of blood in his urine and back pain. He fell in the shower 6 hours prior to EMS arrival. What should you do?
Allow him to assume a position of comfort
You are caring for a hockey player who has been struck in the front of the neck by a hockey puck traveling at high speed. The player is sitting upright. He is drooling because it hurts to swallow, and he reports neck pain. Which of the following actions is most appropriate?
Allow the patient to remain upright, in a position of comfort, to protect the airway.
A 23-year-old male has experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has agonal gasps, and has copious bloody secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway?
Alternate oropharyngeal suctioning and ventilation with a bag-mask device.
The aorta dilates at a weakened area, which makes it susceptible to rupture. What is this called?
Aneurysm
A 55-year-old male is complaining of chest pain that was relieved with nitroglycerin. Vital signs are BP 100/70, R 20, and P 100. What should you suspect?
Angina pectoris
A trauma patient has a gunshot wound to the left side of the chest, away from the nipple. How should the injury location be described?
Anterolateral
Which of the following is NOT considered a basic technique when controlling bleeding?
Apply a cervical collar and place the patient on a long backboard.
Initial treatments of an arterial bleed in the left forearm are unsuccessful. What should you do?
Apply a tourniquet.
A 68-year-old female has blood spurting from a dialysis shunt on her arm. She is pale and cool. A large amount of blood has soaked the sheets of her bed. What should you do?
Apply direct pressure
Which of the following is required for an EMT to administer a drug to a patient?
Approval from medical direction
You are caring for a pediatric patient who has a nosebleed and is reporting nausea from swallowing blood. What should you do?
Ask the patient to lean forward so the blood does not drain from the throat.
A 58-year-old male presents with confusion, right-sided weakness, and slurred speech. His airway is patent, and his breathing is adequate. His wife is present and is very upset. Which of the following has the MOST immediately priority?
Asking his wife when she noticed the symptoms
While auscultating an elderly woman's breath sounds, you hear low-pitched "rattling" sounds at the bases of both of her lungs. This finding is MOST consistent with which of the following conditions?
Aspiration pneumonia
A 65-year-old female is complaining of chest pain. You suspect she is having an acute myocardial infarction. Vital signs are BP 110/80, P 90, R 18, and SpO2 97%. What should you administer?
Aspirin
An example of an anti-inflammatory is:
Aspirin
You and your partner respond to a park where several people were reportedly struck by lightning. When you arrive, you find three patients. The first patient is lying supine on the ground; he is unresponsive and does not appear to be breathing. The second patient is ambulatory, appears confused, and is holding his arm against his chest. The third patient is sitting on the ground holding the sides of his head. After calling for backup, you should:
Assess the unresponsive patient's pulse, begin CPR starting with chest compressions if he is pulseless, and attach the automated external defibrillator as soon as possible.
A 62-year-old male presents with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin, but states that he has not taken any. After administering supplemental oxygen, if needed, and contacting medical control, what should you do?
Assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
An alert 62-year-old male complains of respiratory distress. He speaks in two-to three-word sentences and has a history of heart failure and hypertension. Vital signs are BP 180/110, P 88, R 28 with rales, SpO2 82%. What should you do?
Assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask.
You have been working with a partner who routinely lifts patients using poor body mechanics. When you bring this up with them, they tell you that it is easier for them to lift patients this way. How can you best help your partner?
Assist your partner in developing an exercise routine to build strength
A 42-year-old female with wheezes is complaining of severe shortness of breath. She is tripoding and says she already used her metered-dose inhaler. What should you suspect?
Asthma
Which of the following is the absence of all electrical activity in the heart?
Asystole
You are treating a 19-year-old who fell of a balcony during a party. He has an open fracture of the tibia and fibula of the left leg. He reports drinking approximately four beers over the past 2 hours. He would like to be driven to the hospital by a friend in a private vehicle. Which of the following is the best first action to take?
Attempt to persuade the patient by explaining the benefits of transportation by ambulance
Which of the following is the MOST effective method of assessing the quality of air movement in the lungs?
Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope.
After assuming care of a cardiac arrest patient from an EMT, the paramedic should remember that:
BLS efforts must continue throughout the patient care continuum.
When should you take standard precautions during an EMS call?
Before exiting the ambulance and before actual patient contact.
You are treating a male patient who has been in a fight at a local bar. The patient has an altered mental status and a large hematoma on his forehead. Bystanders state that the patient had been drinking alcohol all day. You transport the patient to the local hospital where staff determine that his altered level of consciousness is the result of hypoglycemia and not the head injury. Tunnel vision in patient treatment can result from:
Bias
Which of the following skills would a layperson MOST likely be trained to perform before the arrival of EMS?
Bleeding control and using a tourniquet
Which of the following statements regarding the blood pressure is correct?
Blood pressure is usually not measured in children younger than 3 years of age.
Which of the following pupillary changes would indicate depressed brain function?
Both pupils are sluggish with introduction of a bright light.
When assessing for a pulse in an unresponsive 6-month-old patient, which artery should you palpate?
Brachial
You are responding to a 9-year-old female having an asthma attack. On arrival, the school nurse informs you that she gave the patient 2 puffs from her albuterol inhaler. You recall that this medication causes smooth muscle relaxation and dilation of the airways. In what portion of the lower airway does the medication act?
Bronchioles
A 36-year-old female has dark red blood oozing from her foot. What best describes this bleeding?
Capillary
Which of the following is a more accurate indication of perfusion in a 5-year-old patient than in an adult?
Capillary refill
A 54-year-old female has had chest pain for the past 18 hours. She went to bed last night thinking it was severe heartburn and became concerned when she woke up this morning and it was still present. She is now short of breath and feels lightheaded when standing. Vital signs are 82/64, P 121, and R 24. You can hear audible crackles on lung auscultation. What type of shock is she in?
Cardiogenic
What does the "C" in the PACE mnemonic stand for?
Challenge
According to the "E" in the DOPE mnemonic, which of the following actions should you perform to troubleshoot inadequate ventilation in a patient with a tracheostomy tube?
Check the mechanical ventilator for malfunction
During the delivery of an infant, you find the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck. You are unable to slide the cord over the infant's head. What should you do?
Clamp the cord in two places and cut the cord.
You have received a medication order from medical control. Staying consistent with the training you completed from your field training officer, you repeat the medical order back to medical control over the radio. This form of communication would fall under which element of effective communication?
Close-loop communication
Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of collisions in a typical impact in a motor vehicular crash?
Collision of two passenger bodies within the same vehicle.
You are transporting a stable patient with a possible pneumothorax. The patient is receiving high-flow oxygen and has an oxygen saturation of 95%. During your reassessment, you find that the patient is now confused, hypotensive, and profusely diaphoretic. What is MOST likely causing this patient's deterioration?
Compression of the aorta and vena cava
Which of the following statements regarding crush syndrome is correct?
Compromised arterial flow leads to crush syndrome and can occur when an area of the body is trapped for longer than four hours.
A 70-year-old female is complaining of difficulty breathing. She has rales (crackles) bilaterally with dependent edema. What should you suspect?
Congestive heart failure
A 76-year-old male is dyspneic after eating soup that contained crab. His eyes are swollen shut, and he has red blotches over his face. Last year he had a heart attack and was prescribed medication for hypertension. What should you do?
Contact medical control
A 65-year-old male is not breathing and is pulseless. High quality CPR has been in progress for approximately 2 minutes. The AED states, "No shock advised." What should you do?
Continue CPR
Care from health care providers working as a unified team from first patient contact to patient discharge describes which concept?
Continuum of care
Which term describes the idea that all team members expect and deserve to be spoken to politely?
Courtesy
Your patient has a history of congestive heart failure and is complaining of shortness of breath. What type of breath sounds would you anticipate hearing on this patient?
Crackles
You are caring for a patient who needs cervical spinal immobilization. Your unit has only one adult-sized commercially manufactured cervical collar, and it breaks while you are sizing it. What should you do?
Create an improvised soft cervical collar by rolling up a blanket.
With regard to bleeding in the airway, what condition should you be most concerned about?
Esophageal varices
You are assessing a 5-year-old child who was struck by a vehicle. His blood pressure is 70/40 and his pulse is 76 and weak. What do these findings indicate?
Decompensated shock
You are treating a 45-year-old woman who was stung by a hornet and has a rash. She tells you that she is allergic to hornets and has her own epinephrine auto-injector. On exam you hear diffuse wheezing, and she is clearly having difficulty breathing. Her blood pressure is 138/74 and heart rate is 98/min. Medical control authorizes you to assist her with her auto-injector. Which of the following therapeutic effects are you hoping to achieve by administering this medication?
Dilate the patient's airways.
A woman amputated the tip of her finger. Which directional term should be used to describe her injury location?
Distal
Where is the wrist located in relationship to the elbow?
Distal
A 76-year-old male has hypotension, tachycardia, and warm moist skin with flash capillary refill. He has a temperature of 103.4 F (39.7 C). What should you suspect?
Distributive shock
Which of the following medications increases a person's risk of a heat-related emergency?
Diuretics
Your paramedic partner administers atropine to a 49-year-old male with bradycardia. Which of the following side effects would you expect the patient to experience?
Dry mucous membranes
Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence?
Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation
A 40-year-old female is in her third trimester. Upon your arrival, she complains of blurry vision and a severe headache. She begins to seize in the middle of a sentence. Her vital signs are BP 180/96, P 110, and R 18. What should you suspect?
Eclampsia
When conflict occurs between team members, which of the following is NOT a recommended troubleshooting technique?
Engage and confront
Following a stab wound to the left anterior chest, a 25-year-old male presents with a decreased level of consciousness and signs of shock. Which of the following additional assessment findings should increase your index of suspicion for a cardiac tamponade?
Engorged jugular veins
You are called to the home of a 3-year-old male who has had fever, drooling and difficulty breathing for the past 48 hours. On exam he is leaning forward and drooling, and he has audible inspiratory stridor. The mother informs you he is not vaccinated. What is the most likely cause of this patient's respiratory distress?
Epiglottitis
A 56-year-old female is found supine in a narrow hallway of her mobile home. She complains of severe weakness and dizziness, and states that she is unable to walk. There is no evidence of trauma, and the patient states that she did not fall. How should you and your partner move this patient to a more spacious area?
Extremity lift
What are the three assessments that comprise the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale?
Facial droop, arm drift, speech
Which signs or symptoms are characteristic of schizophrenia?
Feeling that someone controls their mind
A 2-year-old child is found in respiratory distress with stridor. The father states that the child was healthy with no illness, fever, or breathing problems up until 10 minutes ago while he was playing on the kitchen floor. What should you suspect?
Foreign body airway obstruction
You respond to a call for a 45-year-old patient who is having an asthma attack. You place her in a sitting position on the stretcher for transport. On your report you write that you placed her in the ____________ position.
Fowler
Which of the following is NOT a positive attribute contributing to a culture of safety?
Freelancing
A 21-year-old female was lost in the woods for several hours. The ambient temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit. She is lethargic and confused. The skin on her hands is waxy and white. What should you do?
Gently wrap the patient in several dry blankets
A conscious 10-month-old is choking. What should you do?
Give five back slaps followed by five chest thrusts
Which of the following is an OSHA-recommended vaccine for healthcare workers?
Hepatitis A (HepA)
Which form of hepatitis has an incubation period of 4-12 weeks and a vaccine is available for it?
Hepatitis B
During your assessment of a 50-year-old male who was found unresponsive in an alley, you note that he has slow, shallow respirations; bradycardia; facial cyanosis; and pinpoint pupils. As your partner begins assisting the patient's ventilations, he directs your attention to the patient's arms, which have multiple needle tracks on them. Which of the following would MOST likely explain the patient's presentation?
Heroin overdose
What is the most significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke?
Hypertension
What is another word for "shock"?
Hypoperfusion
Which signs or symptoms indicate the need to administer an EpiPen?
Hypotension, urticaria, and flushed skin
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Hypovolemia
A 34-year-old male has had nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for the last 72 hours. He has been unable to hold any fluids down despite multiple attempts. He has not urinated in 24 hours. Vital signs are BP 88/70, P 114, and R 22. What type of shock is he in?
Hypovolemic
A 52-year-old female is unresponsive and supine after a seizure. She has blood-tinged food particles and emesis in her mouth. What should you do?
Immediately position her on her side
A 19-year-old female complains of a dull lower pelvic pain that began during her menstrual period. She sates that the pain increases when she stands or walks. What should you suspect?
Infection in the uterine lining
Three months after returning home from West Africa, a 50-year-old man begins experiencing a fever, cough, and muscle aches. The EMT should suspect:
Influenza
You are dispatched to an apartment complex where a 21-year-old female has apparently overdosed on several narcotic medications. She is semiconscious and has slow, shallow respirations. What should you do?
Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation
You respond to a call where a frantic mother reports that her 4-year-old was stung by a bee and is now having trouble breathing because his throat is swelling. Based on the most likely condition this patient has, the medication that will be most helpful would be administered by what route?
Intramuscular
A paramedic placed an IV catheter in your patient. What does "IV" stand for?
Intravenous
Which of the following would the paramedic be LEAST likely to ask the EMT to do?
Intubate a patient
Placenta previa occurs when the placenta:
Is abnormally positioned
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of epinephrine?
It decreases heart rate and blood pressure.
How does positive-pressure ventilation affect cardiac output?
It increases intrathoracic pressure, which decreases venous return to the heart and causes a decrease in cardiac output.
Which statement regarding the right side of the heart is true?
It receives blood from the vena cava
Which of the following assessment findings is MOST indicative of a cardiovascular problem?
Jugular venous distention
Care for a patient with a fractured tibia and suspected compartment syndrome includes:
Keeping the leg at the level of the heart.
A young female presents with costovertebral angle tenderness. She is conscious and alert with stable vital signs. Which of the following organs is MOST likely causing her pain?
Kidney
Which of the following organ(s) exhibits bilaterality?
Kidneys
An 81-year-old female fell and struck her head. You find the patient lying on her left side. She is conscious and complains of neck and upper back pain. As you are assessing her, you note that she has a severely kyphotic spine. What is the MOST appropriate method of immobilizing this patient?
Leave her on her side and use blanket rolls to immobilize her to the long backboard.
Pulmonary congestion would be caused by obstructing flow to which of the following areas?
Left ventricle
Before administering oral glucose gel, what instructions should you provide?
Let it dissolve in your mouth.
Which of the following steps is NOT proper procedure when performing an emergency move?
Lifting the patient by the belt to move him or her
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate device to use when immobilizing a patient with a suspected spinal injury?
Long backboard
You are dispatched to a residence for a young female who is sick. The patient complains of a rash to her lower extremities and truncal area. Your assessment reveals a small, painful blister on her inner thigh. As your partner is taking the patient's vital signs, she states that she and her family returned from a camping trip two days ago. On the basis of this patient's presentation, you should suspect:
Lyme disease
Your patient's symptoms include high fever, cough, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and shortness of breath. Which of the following should you suspect?
MERS-CoV
Which of the following is NOT a function of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)?
Maintaining communications equipment on the ambulance
A 4-year-old has bilateral degloving burns to his feet. What should you do?
Manage the injuries and transport the child to the hospital
After the delivery of her baby and the placenta, a mother has a steady flow of vaginal bleeding. What should you do?
Massage the lower abdomen
You respond to a homeless shelter for a 48-year-old male who is unconscious in respiratory distress. On arrival, the shelter supervisor tells you that the man had been complaining of fever, trouble breathing, sweating at night, and a persistent cough for the past week. He also noticed that the man has lost a significant amount of weight in the past month. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment is the most important to don before making contact with this patient?
N-95 respirator
To reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose you should administer:
Narcan
EMT training in nearly every state meets or exceeds the guidelines recommended by the:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Which of the following is a common cause of dehydration in the infant or child?
Nausea and vomiting
A patient has kidney disease that is causing him severe pain. What condition does he have and what would be administered for his pain?
Nephropathy; analgesic
Your patient is showing signs of severe respiratory distress. Which of the following would be the best choice for providing oxygen to the patient?
Nonrebreathing mask with reservoir
A 24-year-old male has been involved in a motor vehicle collision. As you approach the vehicle you note that the steering wheel is bent over. He is short of breath, can only speak in two- to three-word sentences, and appears pale and diaphoretic. Vital signs are BP 84/68, P 120, and R 26. What type of shock is he in?
Obstructive
An injured patient is assigned a total score of 9 on the GCS. He is assigned a score of 2 for eye opening, a score of 3 for verbal response, and a score of 4 for motor response. Which of the following clinical findings is consistent with his GCS score?
Opens eyes in response to pain, uses inappropriate words, withdraws from pain
You are assigned to a partner that you have not worked with before. They are a new EMT but explain to you that they have driven large trucks before, so they are comfortable driving the ambulance with limited supervision. What type of decision trap might this individual be susceptible to?
Overconfidence
A 60-year-old male presents with acute respiratory distress. He is conscious and alert, has pink and dry skin, and has respirations of 22 breaths/min with adequate breath. Which of the following treatments is MOST important for this patient?
Oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and a focused secondary assessment
You and your partner respond to a call in which a traumatically injured child died during ambulance transport. Which of the following actions may be best protect you from developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Participating in critical incident stress management
Which of the following musculoskeletal injuries would pose the greatest threat to a patient's life?
Pelvic fracture with hypotension
EMTs are dispatched for a patient in cardiac arrest. When they arrive, they find that the patient is pulseless, apneic, and wearing an external defibrillator vest. In this situation, the EMTs should:
Perform CPR and leave the vest in place
A 16-year-old male has a broken nose. He is bleeding heavily from both nostrils. What should you do?
Pinch his nose and lean him forward.
You respond to a crying 16-year-old female who is complaining of mild lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Her vital signs are BP 120/76, P 96, and R 20. She states that her last menstrual period was 6 weeks ago and that a pregnancy test was positive. What should you do?
Place pads over her vagina and transport her to the hospital.
A 35-year-old female is 39 weeks pregnant. She complains of bright red vaginal bleeding with no abdominal pain. What should you suspect?
Placenta previa
You and your partner are dispatched to a single vehicle rollover at 0200 on a Saturday morning. En route you and your partner discuss the potential scene safety issues based on the mechanism of injury, traffic in the response area, and environmental conditions. Which stage of the decision-making process are you and your partner functioning under at this point in time?
Prearrival
A 20-year-old male was stung by a bee. Two minutes after the initial epinephrine, his symptoms worsen, and his lips begin to swell. An ALS intercept is 8 minutes away. The local hospital is 20 minutes away. What do you do?
Prepare to administer additional epinephrine in 3 minutes
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the treatment supervisor?
Primary assessment
A conscious and alert 28-year-old male complains of difficulty breathing. His respirations are 30 with accessory muscle use. His tidal volumes appear adequate. What should you do?
Provide oxygen via nonrebreathing mask.
A 22-year-old male complains of numbness and tingling in his hands and feet. He states that he has not been able to catch his breath since an argument with his girlfriend. Vitals are BP 118/76, P 88, R 40. What should you do?
Provide reassurance and administer oxygen as needed.
A 19-year-old female with audible wheezes complains of shortness of breath. She states that a friend gave her someone else's Ventolin inhaler to help, but she hasn't used it yet. Vital signs are BP 120/64, P 110, R 24, SpO2 90%. What should you do?
Provide supplemental oxygen.
Relative to the ankle, the knee is:
Proximal
A 66-year-old female experienced a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She has a history of type 2 diabetes and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). On the basis of her medical history, which of the following should the EMT suspect?
Pulmonary embolism
Which of the following is the only vein(s) in the body to carry oxygenated blood?
Pulmonary veins
While assisting with a delivery, you see the baby's head inside a water sac that has emerged from the vagina. What should you do?
Puncture the sac with an umbilical clamp
Your patient has a history of alcoholic hepatitis. Based on what this term means, you would expect him to potentially have abdominal pain located in the:
RUQ
You are assessing a conscious 55-year-old male with a sudden change in behavior. Which of the following clinical findings would be MOST suggestive of dysfunction of this patient's central nervous system?
Rapid eye movement
A 25-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car hit a tree while traveling at a high rate of speed. She has signs and symptoms of shock, which you suspect are the result of intrathoracic bleeding. Which of the following interventions will provide this patient with the greatest chance for survival?
Rapid transport to a trauma center
Which of the following actions would NOT be performed during the scene size-up?
Rapidly assessing a patient's respiratory status
A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed metered-dose inhaler, what should you do?
Reassess the patient and document her response to the medication.
A 55-year-old male is exhibiting signs of a stroke, including difficulty understanding what you are asking him. What is this type of aphasia called?
Receptive
A 70-year-old male is concerned about his inguinal hernia. Which sign or symptom would indicate an emergency condition?
Redness over the site
If you worked with the same partner each day and had a system of how your responses would flow, you would be functioning under which type of EMS system team?
Regular Teams
A 2-year-old male has been ill for a day. His father describes seizure-like activity prior to your arrival. You note that his temperature is 103.6 degrees Fahrenheit. What should you do?
Remove his clothing and sponge him with tepid water
A 16-year-old boy tells you that he "caught" his 40-year-old mother "holding a handful of sleeping pills." The son explains that she is depressed, and he is convinced that she meant to kill herself. She is extremely agitated and is refusing treatment. What should you do?
Request law enforcement assistance to transport the patient
How does respiration differ from ventilation?
Respiration is the process of gas exchange, whereas ventilation is the movement of air between the lungs and the environment.
Which artery supplies blood to the right atrium, the right ventricle, and part of the left ventricle?
Right coronary
Shortly after assisting a 65-year-old male with his prescribed nitroglycerin, he begins complaining of dizziness and experiences a drop of 30 mm Hg in his systolic blood pressure. The patient remains conscious and his breathing is adequate. This was most likely caused by the patient previously taking which of the following medications?
Sildenafil
What is the area of conduction in the heart where normal electrical impulses originate?
Sinus node
Which of the following clinical signs would necessitate the administration of naloxone (Narcan) in a suspected narcotic overdose?
Slow respirations
A choking patient presents with severe partial upper airway obstruction. What type of lung sounds would you anticipate hearing?
Stridor
Which of the following abnormal breath sounds indicates obstruction of the upper airway?
Stridor
Which of the following conditions often requires transport to a hospital with specialized capabilities that may not be available at the closest hospital?
Stroke and heart attack
Which of the following questions represents cardiac output?
Stroke volume x heart rate
A 19-year-old male was playing collegiate football and was slow to get up following a hard tackle. He reports he felt dizzy after the tackle, which is why he was slow to rise. He denies having lost consciousness. He does not want to transport to a hospital and instead wants to return to play. Which of the following is the most appropriate action?
Strongly encourage the patient to be transported to a hospital for further evaluation
Insulin is administered by which route?
Subcutaneous
While interviewing a patient, she says she is 2 months pregnant. Where would you document this information when using the SOAP method?
Subjective
Which of the following routes should you use to administer nitroglycerin?
Sublingual
A 55-year-old male is unresponsive. He has coffee-ground emesis pooled in his mouth and nose. He has a history of peptic ulcer disease. Vitals signs are P 130, R 8 gurgling. What should you do?
Suction the airway
The head of a newborn infant has just been delivered, and the face is covered with a thick greenish-black substance. You hear gurgling. What should you do first?
Suction the newborn's mouth and then nose
Which of the following statements regarding suctioning of a newborn's mouth and oropharynx is correct?
Suctioning is indicated prior to cutting the cord if respiratory distress is present.
Which of the following is an appropriate fatigue management strategy?
Take 20- to 30-minute naps when able during the shift.
You are on the way to a CPR call. Your crew consists of you and two additional EMTs. What action can you take to improve how the resuscitation goes?
Talk with your team to agree upon what roles everyone will perform.
Which of the following is NOT a component of the verbal report for the transfer of patient care?
Team debrief
You have recently been working with a partner who makes negative comments about responding to calls for nonacute patients. The negative comments are elevating your stress level when you are performing your duties. Which of the following would be the LEAST appropriate way to handle this situation?
Tell others about the comments, so they will use peer pressure to get your partner to stop complaining.
A newborn has four anatomic abnormalities of the heart. What prefix is used to describe this?
Tetra-
Which of the following is an example of a rules-based medication error?
The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director.
Which of the following statements regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is correct?
The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream.
Which of the following statements regarding gunshot wounds is correct?
The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
What is the purpose of the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT)?
To form a general impression of the patient without touching him or her
What is the most common airway obstruction in the unresponsive patient?
Tongue
A 75-year-old female has left-side weakness and facial droop that resolve on their own in less than 24 hours. Vital signs are Bp 180/110, P 88, R 18, and SpO2 96%. What should you suspect?
Transient ischemic attack
You arrive at the scene of a motor-vehicle versus-pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do?
Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital.
During a delivery, the first thing to present is a prolapsed umbilical cord. What should you do?
Transport the mother while pushing the fetus's head away from the cord.
You are caring for a patient who has had an amputation of the left hand. The hand is not currently present with the patient. The patient is showing signs of hypovolemic shock. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to take?
Transport the patient immediately and request other responders still on the scene to attempt to locate the hand
A 71-year-old female slipped on a rug and fell. She is conscious but confused and complains of severe pelvic pain. Her respirations are 22 breathes/min, and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. What should you do?
Treat her for possible shock
A 70-year-old male complains of shortness of breath. During your assessment, you note that he has bilateral hearing aids. When you ask him questions related to his chief complaint, he does not answer you. You can hear a whistling sound coming from his hearing aids. You should:
Try repositioning the hearing aid or remove it and turn down the volume
What is the primary cause of a dissecting aneurysm?
Uncontrolled hypertension
Which of the following statements regarding the unified command system is correct?
Under the unified command system, plans are drawn up in advance by all cooperating agencies that assume shared responsibility for decision making.
During your assessment of a patient with a chest injury, you note that only one side of his chest moves when he breathes. How should you describe his chest movement?
Unilateral
What is the main cause of death in children?
Unintentional injuries
You arrive at the scene of a bike accident. A 45-year-old man is lying on the ground. He is unresponsive and has multiple scrapes and cuts on his arms and legs. You note that the patient has strong pulses but labored, snoring respirations. What should you do?
Use the jaw-thrust maneuver to open the patient's airway
At the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you determine that a second ambulance is needed. You attempt to contact the dispatcher with your portable radio, but you are unsuccessful. What should you do?
Use the radio in the ambulance to contact dispatch.
You and your partner are caring for a patient and it is your turn to be the primary care provider. You and your EMT partner have a difference of opinion regarding the best technique for splinting a fracture. Your partner is adamant about wanting to use her technique. The proposed technique does seem like it will accomplish successful splinting of the injury. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to take?
Use your partner's technique because you believe it will be successful and you don't want to argue in front of the patient.
You have assisted with the delivery of a baby and have stimulated, warmed, and dried him. Despite this, he is not breathing adequately. What should you do next?
Ventilate him with a bag-valve mask
You respond to a 6-year-old male who struck the handlebars of his bicycle. You note a bruise on his abdomen. Which of the following anatomical terms would be appropriate to describe the location of this injury?
Ventral
An automated external defibrillator is designed to detect and defibrillated which rhythm?
Ventricular fibrillation
What heart rhythm is a disorganized, ineffective quivering of the ventricles and does not pump blood through the body?
Ventricular fibrillation
Which of the following is an example of an open-ended question?
What did this feel like when it happened before?
Which sign or symptom is associated with anaphylaxis?
Wheezing
A 20-year-old female was sexually assaulted. Her lip is lacerated from being punched. She wants to sit down and "have a glass of water." What should you do?
Withhold food and drink until she is at the hospital
What does the W stand for in the acronym ROWS?
Worst-case
You and your partner are out past the end of you scheduled shift and driving the ambulance back to base when you come upon a car accident. Do you have a legal duty to act?
Yes, because you are still an on-duty EMT, you have a legal and ethical obligation to stop and assist.
You are assessing a 33-year-old male who complains of severe abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea. He tells you that he was gathering wood to build a fire when he felt a sudden, sharp pain on the back of his hand. Your assessment reveals that the patient's abdomen is rigid and painful to palpation. You should suspect:
a black widow spider bite
A 75-year-old male with type 1 diabetes presents with chest pain and a general feeling of weakness. He tells you that he took his insulin today and ate a regular meal approximately 2 hours ago. You should treat this patient as though he is experiencing:
a heart attack
Common signs and symptoms of a serious head injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a rapid, thready pulse.
You are assessing a 49-year-old man who, according to his wife, experienced a sudden, severe headache and then passed out. He is unresponsive and has slow, irregular breathing. His blood pressure is 190/94 mm Hg, and his pulse rate is 50 beats/min. His wife tells you that he has hypertension and diabetes. He has MOST likely experienced:
a ruptured cerebral artery
Which of the following MOST accurately describes a focal-onset aware seizure?
a seizure that begins in one extremity
You are dispatched to a residence for a 40-year-old female who complains of lower abdominal pain, fever and chills, and a foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Which of the following additional assessment findings would increase your index of suspicion for pelvic inflammatory disease?
a shuffling gait when walking
Meningitis in a 6-year-old child is characterized by:
a sore neck and high fever
A sign of respiratory distress seen in the neck is:
accessory muscle use
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.
You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should suspect:
acute pulmonary embolism
A 4-year-old, 15-kg male ingested an unknown quantity of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The child's mother states that she does not know when the ingestion occurred. The child is conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. The EMT should:
administer 15 g of activated charcoal
A 10-year-old female has a swollen tongue and lips. She was exposed to a known allergen, and her parents administered an EpiPen 5 minutes prior to your arrival. Vital signs are BP 88/60, P 130, R 34 with wheezing, and SpO2 76%. What should you do?
administer an additional epinephrine dose
While assisting a paramedic in the attempted resuscitation of a 55-year-old male in cardiac arrest, you should expect the paramedic to:
administer drugs via the IV route to achieve the fastest effect.
A 26-year-old female presents with heavy vaginal bleeding. She is conscious, but restless. Her blood pressure is 84/54 mm Hg, her pulse is 120 beats/min and weak, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth. She tells you that she inserted a tampon about 2 hours ago. You should:
administer high-flow oxygen, place a sterile pad over her vagina, keep her warm, elevate her lower extremities, and transport without delay
After being stung on the leg by a jellyfish, a man complains of severe pain to his leg, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. He has a red rash covering his trunk and his blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. The EMT should:
administer oxygen and epinephrine and prepare for rapid transport
While jogging, a 19-year-old male experienced an acute onset of shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. He is conscious and alert with stable vital signs. Your assessment reveals that he has diminished breath sounds over the left side of the chest. You should:
administer oxygen and transport to the hospital
Your primary assessment of an elderly woman reveals that she is conscious and alert, but is experiencing difficulty breathing. She has a history of emphysema, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. As you assess the patient's circulatory status, you should direct your partner to:
administer oxygen with the appropriate device
You are dispatched to a residence for a child with respiratory distress. The patient, an 18-month-old female, is tachypneic, has sternal retractions, and is clinging to her mother. Her skin is pink and dry, and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. The MOST appropriate treatment for this child includes:
administering blow-by oxygen and transporting the child with her mother
A specific legal document that directs relatives and caregivers regarding the medical treatment that may be given to patients who cannot speak for themselves is called a(n):
advance directive
After taking diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for an allergic reaction, a person begins experiencing drowsiness and a dry mouth. These findings are an example of a(n):
adverse effect.
You have just delivered a major trauma patient to the hospital. Shortly after departing the hospital, dispatch advises you of another call. The back of the ambulance is contaminated with bloody dressings and is in disarray, and you are in need of airway equipment and numerous other supplies. You should:
advise the dispatcher that you are out of service
The determination of whether a medical patient is a high-priority or low-priority transport is typically made:
after the primary assessment has been completed
When assessing an 80-year-old patient in shock, it is important to remember that:
age-related changes in the cardiovascular system might make the patient less able to compensate for decreased perfusion.
A 37-year-old male was pinned between a flatbed truck and a loading dock. On exam, you find bruising to the chest, distended neck veins, bilaterally diminished breath sounds, and bilateral scleral hemorrhaging. You should:
aggressively manage his airway.
An elderly patient has fallen and hit her head. You assess her level of consciousness as unresponsive using the AVPU scale. Your initial care should focus on:
airway, breathing, and circulation.
Braxton-Hicks contractions are characterized by:
alleviation of pain with movement or changing positions
During your assessment of 20-year-old man with a severe headache and nausea, you ask him when his headache began, but he does not answer your question immediately. You should:
allow him time to think about the question and respond to it.
Pain that is localized to the lower back and/or lower abdominal quadrants is MOST suggestive of:
an aortic aneurysm
An open fracture is MOST accurately defined as a fracture in which:
an external wound is present over the fracture site
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
A construction worker's arm was severed just above the elbow when a steel girder fell on it. The stump is covered with a blood soaked towel. The patient's skin is cool, clammy, and pale. The EMT should:
apply a tourniquet just below the shoulder
You are dispatched to a convenience store, where the clerk sustained a laceration to the side of his neck during a robbery attempt. During your assessment, you not bright red blood spurting from the laceration. You should:
apply direct pressure above and below the wound
EMTs are dispatched for a patient whose central venous catheter is malfunctioning. When they arrive and assess the patient, they find bleeding from the tubing attached to the line. The EMTs should:
apply direct pressure to the tubing and transport.
An unresponsive trauma patient has a large open abdominal wound with massive external bleeding. You should:
apply direct pressure to the wound
After direct trauma to the left upper back, a 44-year-old male presents with diaphoresis and restlessness. His blood pressure is 100/50 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 120 beats/min and weak, and his respirations are 24 breaths/min and labored. Your assessment reveals abrasions and contusions over the left scapula. You should:
apply high-flow oxygen, consider spinal precautions, and transport without delay.
A 76-year-old male experienced sudden pain to his left thigh when he was standing in line at the grocery store. Your assessment reveals ecchymosis and deformity to the distal aspect of his left femur, just above the knee. Distal circulation and sensory and motor functions are intact. You should:
apply padded board splints to both sides of the leg
A 54-year-old male experienced an avulsion to his penis when his foreskin got caught in the zipper of his pants. He was able to unzip his pants and remove the foreskin prior to your arrival. Your assessment reveals that he is in severe pain and that the avulsion is bleeding moderately. The MOST appropriate treatment for his patient includes:
applying direct pressure with a dry, sterile dressing.
Regarding musculoskeletal injuries, the zone of injury is defined as the:
area of soft-tissue damage surrounding the injury
A 4-year-old boy had an apparent seizure. He is conscious and calm and is sitting on his mother's lap. His father is sitting in a nearby chair. The child's mother suddenly begins crying uncontrollably, which causes the child to start crying. You should:
ask the father to hold the child so you can assess him while your partner tries to calm the mother
When interacting with an intellectually disabled patient, the best approach is to:
ask your team members to wait until you can establish a rapport with the patient
You receive a call to a local gymnasium for a basketball player with a dislocated shoulder. Upon arrival, you find the patient, a 17-year-old male, sitting on the ground. He is holding his left arm in a fixed position away from his body. There is an obvious anterior bulge to the area of injury. You should:
assess distal pulse, motor, and sensory functions.
A young male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during an altercation. As your partner is assessing and managing his airway, you should control the obvious bleeding and then:
assess for an exit wound
You are assessing a 25-year-old woman who is 39 weeks pregnant. She is experiencing regular contractions that are approximately three minutes apart and states that her amniotic sac broke two hours ago. After taking the standard precautions, you should:
assess her for crowning
Five minutes after restraining a violent, combative patient he becomes unresponsive to voice. You should:
assess his airway and breathing
You receive a call for a 70-year-old female with respiratory distress. Her husband tells you that she has congestive heart failure; however, he does not think that she has been taking her medications as prescribed. The patient is laboring to breathe, appears tired, and has cyanosis around her lips. You should:
assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device
A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has not taken any. After administering supplemental oxygen, if needed, and contacting medical control, you should:
assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
You respond to a skate park where a 10-year-old male fell from his skateboard and struck his head on the ground; he was not wearing a helmet. He is responsive to painful stimuli only and has a large hematoma to the back of his head. After your partner stabilizes his head and opens his airway, you assess his breathing and determine that it is slow and irregular. His pulse is slow and bounding. You should:
assist his ventilations, be prepared to suction his mouth if he vomits, apply full spinal precautions, and prepare for immediate transport to a trauma center
During your assessment of a patient with blunt chest trauma, you note that the patient has shallow breathing and paradoxical movement of the left chest wall. You should:
assist ventilations with a bag valve mask.
Law enforcement has summoned you to a nightclub, where a 22-year-old female was found unconscious in an adjacent alley. Your primary assessment reveals that her respirations are rapid and shallow and her pulse is rapid and weak. She is wearing a medical alert bracelet that identifies her as an epileptic. There is an empty bottle of vodka next to the patient. You should:
assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport
You and your paramedic partner are caring for a patient who ingested codeine, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and hydrocodone (Vicodin). The patient is unresponsive, his breathing is slow and shallow, and his pulse is slow and weak. Treatment for this patient should include:
assisted ventilation and naloxone (Narcan)
A construction worker fell approximately 30 feet. He is semiconscious with rapid, shallow respirations. Further assessment reveals deformity of the thoracic region of his spine. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 66 beats/min and weak, and his skin is warm and dry. In addition to spinal immobilization and rapid transport, the MOST appropriate treatment for this patient includes:
assisted ventilation, thermal management, and elevation of the lower extremities.
A proximal humeral fracture is one that is located:
at the upper part of the humerus.
Multiple people in a small town begin experiencing abdominal cramps, excessive salivation and urination, and muscle twitching shortly after a small crop duster plane made several passes over the community. As you are assessing the patients, you further determine that most of them are bradycardic and have miosis. In addition to high-flow oxygen, the MOST appropriate treatment for these patients includes:
atropine and pralidoxime chloride.
You respond to a college campus for a young male who is acting strangely. After law enforcement has secured the scene, you enter the patient's dorm room and find him sitting on the edge of the bed; he appears agitated. As you approach him, you note that he has dried blood around both nostrils. He is breathing adequately, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is 200/110 mm Hg. Treatment for this patient includes:
attempting to calm him and giving him oxygen if tolerated
A young female experienced a laceration to her left eyeball from flying glass when her boyfriend broke a soda bottle against a wall. There is moderate bleeding and the patient states that she cannot see out of the injured eye. You should:
avoid applying pressure to the globe when you are covering the eye.
You are assessing a 440-lb man who complains of shortness of breath and lower back pain. The patient is conscious and alert, his blood pressure is 148/98 mm Hg, and his heart rate is 120 beats/min. Your MOST immediate action should be to:
avoid placing him in a supine position if possible and administer oxygen
A man jumped from the roof of his house and landed on his feet. He complains of pain to his heels, knees, and lower back. This mechanism of injury is an example of:
axial loading
An EMT might injure his or her back, even if it is straight, if the:
back is bent forward at the hips.
As you enter the residence of a patient who has possibly overdosed, you should:
be alert for personal hazards.
When you shine a light into one pupil, the normal reaction of the other pupil should be to:
become smaller.
Your primary goal when responding to a suspected SIDS patient who has no signs of postmortem changes is to:
begin resuscitation
When faced with a situation in which a patient is in cardiac arrest, and a valid living will or DNR order cannot be located you should:
begin resuscitation at once
The medical director instructs you to administer nitroglycerin 0.4 mg SL. You repeat the order, and the medical director confirms that it is correct. This is an example of:
closed-loop communication.
A 21-year-old male was thrown over the handlebars of his motorcycle when he rear- ended a car that was stopped at a red light. He was wearing a helmet, which he removed prior to your arrival. He is conscious, but restless, and has closed deformities to both of his femurs. His skin is pale, his heart rate is rapid and weak, and his respirations are rapid and shallow. In addition to applying high-flow oxygen and protecting his spine, you should:
bind his legs together on the backboard, keep him warm, and transport without delay.
Activated charcoal is given to patients who have ingested certain substances because it:
binds to the substances and prevents absorption.
A patient has bilateral femur fractures. This means that:
both femurs are fractured
A person's bones will become brittle if he or she is deficient in:
calcium
A 40-year-old male intentionally cut his wrist out of anger after losing his job. Law enforcement has secured the scene prior to your arrival. As you enter the residence and visualize the patient, you can see that he has a towel around his wrist and a moderate amount of blood has soaked through it. You should:
calmly identify yourself to the patient.
The volume of blood that passes through the heart in 1 minute is known as the:
cardiac output
An oropharyngeal airway should not be used in children who have ingested a caustic or petroleum-based product because it may:
cause the child to vomit
The areas of the spinal column, in descending order, are:
cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx.
In addition to looking for severe bleeding, assessment of circulation in the conscious patient should involve:
checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of the skin.
When you begin an oral report, you should state the patient's age, sex, and:
chief complaint
The respiratory distress that accompanies emphysema is caused by:
chronic stretching of the alveolar walls.
You are transporting a patient with blunt abdominal trauma. The patient is unstable and is experiencing obvious signs and symptoms of shock. Your estimated time of arrival at the hospital is less than 10 minutes. After treating the patient appropriately, you should:
closely monitor him and reassess him frequently
When assessing a patient with a possible fracture of the leg, the EMT should:
compare it to the uninjured leg
Your EMS system uses a computerized PCR in which you fill in the information electronically and then send it to the emergency department via a secure Internet server. The PCR has a comprehensive series of drop-down boxes, which are used to identify your assessment findings and specify the treatment that you provided; it also has a section for your narrative. When completing your PCR after a call, you should:
complete a thorough and accurate narrative because drop-down boxes cannot provide all of the information that needs to be documented.
Rapid deceleration of the head, such as when it impacts the windshield, causes:
compression injuries or bruising to the anterior portion of the brain and stretching or tearing to the posterior portion of the brain.
You are treating a middle-aged man with chest discomfort. He has a history of three previous heart attacks and takes nitroglycerin as needed for chest pain. You have standing orders to administer aspirin to patients with suspected cardiac-related chest pain or discomfort. While your partner is preparing to give oxygen to the patient, you should:
confirm that the patient is not allergic to aspirin, give him the appropriate dose of aspirin, and document the time and dose given.
When you inspect a patient's pupils with a penlight, the pupils should normally react to the light by:
constricting
You are dispatched to a movie theater for a 39-year-old female with signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. As you are assessing her, she pulls an epinephrine auto-injector out of her purse and hands it to you. After confirming the drug's name and expiration date, you should:
contact medical control
A 4-year-old male ate berries from a bush in his yard. He is pale and complaining of a stomachache. You should:
contact poison control
While transporting a stable patient with chest pain to the hospital, you come across a major motor vehicle crash involving several critically injured patients. You should:
continue transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash.
Your presence is requested by law enforcement to assess a 33-year-old female who was sexually assaulted. The patient is conscious and obviously upset. As you are talking to her, you note an impressive amount of blood on her clothes in the groin area. Her blood pressure is 98/58 mm Hg, her pulse is 130 beats/min, and her respirations are 24 breaths/min. You should:
control any external bleeding, administer oxygen, and transport at once.
All of the following snakes are pit vipers, EXCEPT for the:
coral snake
When palpating a patient's pulse, you note that it is grossly irregular. You should:
count the pulse rate for a full minute to obtain an accurate reading.
A 40-year-old male was in his woodworking shop when he felt a sudden, sharp pain in his left eye. Your assessment reveals a small splinter of wood embedded in his cornea. You should:
cover both of his eyes and transport to the hospital
A man has a large laceration across his lower abdominal wall and a loop of bowel is protruding form the wound. He is conscious and alert and there is minimal bleeding from the wound. You should:
cover the exposed bowel with a moist sterile dressing and then secure it in place with a dry bandage.
You and your partner are the first to arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. As you approach the scene, you can see multiple patients, some walking and others who are still in their vehicles. You should:
declare a multiple-casualty incident and request additional resources.
A 50-year-old man with diabetes has an altered mental status and is unable to tell you when he last ate or took his insulin. Your glucometer keeps malfunctioning, and you are unable to determine his blood glucose level. Which of the following clinical signs would MOST likely lead you to the correct diagnosis?
deep and rapid breathing
A young female is unconscious after ingesting a large amount of aspirin. You will MOST likely find her respirations:
deep and rapid.
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.
A 49-year-old male presents with confusion, sweating, and visual hallucinations. The patient's wife tells you that he is a heavy drinker and that he might have had a seizure shortly before your arrival. The patient is MOST likely experiencing:
delirium tremens
The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function is know as:
dementia
A 50-year-old male is found unconscious in his car. There were no witnesses to the event. When gathering medical history information for this patient, the EMT should:
determine if the patient has a medical alert bracelet or wallet card.
A 29-year-old male complains of a severe headache and nausea that has gradually worsened over the past 12 hours. He is conscious, alert, and oriented and tells you that his physician diagnosed him with migraine headaches. He further tells you that he has taken numerous different medications, but none of them seems to help. His blood pressure is 132/74 mm Hg, his pulse is 110 beats/min and strong, and his respirations are 20 breaths/min. Treatment should include:
dimming the lights in the back of the ambulance and transporting without lights and siren
The brain connects to the spinal cord through a large opening at the base of the skull called the:
foramen magnum
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
Insulin functions in the body by:
enabling glucose to enter the cells.
The compliance monitoring component of an infection control plan should:
ensure that employees understand what they should do and why it is important.
You are dispatched to an office building for a 49-year-old male with chest pain. When you arrive at the scene, you find the patient to be conscious and alert but in obvious pain. He tells you that he did not call 911; a coworker did. He further states that he does not want to be treated or transported to the hospital. You should:
ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care.
When approaching a 32-year-old male who is complaining of traumatic neck pain, you should:
ensure that the patient can see you approaching him.
The structure located superior to the larynx is called the:
epiglottis
All of the following are signs of inadequate breathing EXCEPT:
equal breath sounds.
When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to:
exercise reasonable care and act prudently.
The exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the alveoli is known as:
external respiration.
Two of the MOST common mechanisms of injury for blunt trauma are:
falls and motor vehicle collisions
The official transfer of patient care does not occur until the EMT:
gives and oral report to the emergency room physician or nurse.
A 40-year-old male presents with severe abdominal pain after blunt trauma. He is diaphoretic, intensely thirsty, and has a weak and rapid pulse. Appropriate treatment for this patient includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
giving him small sips of plain water.
You should suspect that a patient is experiencing respiratory failure if he or she:
has bradycardia and diminished muscle tone.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:
have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased
A toddler who fell from the balcony onto a patio below should be assessed completely, with particular attention paid to potential injuries to the child's:
head
You suspect that a 75-year-old man has internal injuries after he fell and struck his ribs and abdomen on the corner of a table. When assessing and treating an injured patient of this age, you must recall that:
his ability to physiologically compensate for his injury might be impaired due to an inability to increase cardiac output.
CRM was developed to minimize problems primarily caused by:
human error.
The _________ deals with the well-being of the EMT, career progression, and EMT compensation.
human resources department
You are assessing a 70-year-old female who complains of intense thirst, frequent urination, and dizziness. She has a history of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Her blood glucose reads "high." She is conscious but confused. Her blood pressure is 92/52 mm Hg, her pulse rate is 130 beats/min and weak, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min and shallow. This patient's clinical presentations is MOST consistent with:
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
Advil, Nuprin, and Motrin are brand (trade) names for the generic medication:
ibuprofen
During your secondary assessment of a 19-year-old female with multiple traumas, you note bilateral humeral deformities and a deformity to the left midshaft femur. Her skin is diaphoretic and her pulse is rapid and weak. Your partner has appropriately managed her airway and is maintaining manual stabilization of her head. The MOST appropriate treatment for this patient includes:
immobilizing her to a backboard and rapidly transporting
Shivering is a mechanism in which the body generates heat by:
increasing the metabolic rate
What does the suffix "-itis" mean?
inflammation
A 78-year-old female presents with an acute change in her behavior. The patient's son tells you that his mother has type 2 diabetes and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 6 months ago. The patient's speech is slurred, and she is not alert to her surroundings. You should:
inquire about the possibility of head trauma
A 16-year-old female complains of vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping that began several hours ago. During your assessment interview, you should:
inquire about the possibility of pregnancy in private, if possible.
You are transporting a 42-year-old male who experienced blunt abdominal trauma. He is receiving oxygen at 12 L/min via a nonrebreathing mask, and full spinal precautions have been applied. During your reassessment, you note his level of consciousness has decreased and his respirations have become shallow. You should:
insert an airway adjunct if he will tolerate it and begin assisting his ventilations with a bag valve mask.
You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient exhales, and before inhaling, the patient should put his or her lips around the inhaler, take a deep breath, and depress the inhale. You should:
instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can.
In contrast to viral hepatitis, toxin-induced hepatitis:
is not a communicable disease
By placing one hand on top of your head and the other hand over your abdomen, you are asking a hearing-impaired patient if he or she:
is sick
Early signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis include all of the following, EXCEPT:
jaundice and abdominal pain
When carrying a patient on a backboard up or down stairs:
keep the head end elevated.
You arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The patient, a 50-year-old female, was removed from her vehicle prior to your arrival. Bystanders who removed her state that she was not wearing a seatbelt. The patient is unresponsive, tachycardic, and diaphoretic. Your assessment reveals bilaterally clear and equal breath sounds, a midline trachea, and collapsed jugular veins. You should be MOST suspicious that this patient has experienced a:
laceration of the aorta
A 29-year-old male has an anterior nosebleed after he was accidentally elbowed in the nose. He is conscious and alert with adequate breathing. The MOST appropriate care for this patient includes:
leaning him forward and pinching his nostrils together
While assessing a 21-year-old female who struck a tree head-on with her small passenger car, you note that her air bag deployed. You should:
lift the airbag and look for deformity to the steering wheel.
The proper technique for using the power grip is to:
lift with your palms up.
Law enforcement personnel request your assistance for a 30-year-old man who was pulled over for erratic driving. The patient became acutely violent while he was being questioned, which required one of the officers to subdue him with a Taser. When you arrive and assess the patient, you find that he is very agitated and is experiencing apparent hallucinations. His skin is flushed and diaphoretic. You should:
limit physical contact with the patient as much as possible and avoid interrupting him if he is attempting to communicate with you.
A 40-year-old male presents with pain to the right upper quadrant of his abdomen. He is conscious and alert with stable vital signs. During your assessment, you note that his skin and sclera are jaundiced. You should suspect:
liver dysfunction.
Your patient is a 53-year-old diabetic male. His wife tells you that he had been mowing the lawn in the heat for the past 3 hours. The patient is confused and has hot, moist skin. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, and his pulse is weak and thready. You should:
load him into the ambulance and begin rapid cooling interventions.
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 her radial pulse is absent. You should:
maintain spinal stabilization as she is extricated
You and your EMT partner arrive at the residence of a 50-year-old man who complains of weakness. Your primary assessment reveals that he is critically ill and will require aggressive treatment. The closest hospital is 25 miles away. You should:
manage all threats to airway, breathing, and circulation and consider requesting an ALS unit.
The use of lights and siren on an ambulance:
signifies a request for other drivers to yield the right of way.
Prevention of cardiac arrest in infants and small children should focus primarily on:
managing the airway and providing adequate ventilation
The person who is responsible for authorizing EMTs to perform emergency medical care in the field is the:
medical director
As an EMT, you may be authorized to administer aspirin to a patient with chest pain based on:
medical director approval.
Talking about an elderly patient in front of him or her to other members of the family:
might cause the patient to think that he or she has no say in making decisions
If a person is partially immune to a particular disease, he or she:
might develop illness from germs that lie dormant from the initial infection.
Your unit is dispatched to the county jail for an intoxicated inmate. Upon arrival, you find the patient, a 33-year-old male, lying supine in a jail cell. He is responsive to painful stimuli only and has slow, shallow respirations. You should be MOST concerned that this patient:
might vomit and aspirate
A frostbitten foot can be identified by the presence of:
mottling and blisters
You and your partner are standing by at a large social event at a river resort when a frantic woman tells you that she found a young male floating face-down in the water. Nobody claims to have witnessed the event. After you and your partner enter the water and reach the patient, you should:
move him as a unit to a supine position
You are dispatched to a local high school track and field event for a 16-year-old who fainted. The outside temperature is approximately 95 F (35 C) with high humidity. Upon your arrival, the patient is conscious, alert, and complains of nausea and a headache. His skin is cool, clammy, and pale. You should:
move him into the cooled ambulance.
Tidal volume is defined as the volume of air that:
moves into or out of the lungs in a single breath.
As a triage supervisor, you:
must not begin treatment until all patients have been triaged
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: He develops cardiac arrest and dies at the hospital. This scenario is an example of:
negligence
In the recovery position, the patient is:
on his or her side
A patient lacerated the dorsal aspect of his hand. This means that the injury is:
on the back of the hand
The greatest danger in displaying a personal bias or "labeling" a patient who frequently calls EMS is:
overlooking a potentially serious medical condition
The left side of the heart receives ________ through the __________.
oxygen-rich blood, pulmonary vein
When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning at the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
An outbreak that occurs on a global scale is called a(n):
pandemic
You have sealed the open chest wound of a 40-year-old male who was stabbed in the anterior chest. Your reassessment reveals that he is experiencing increasing respiratory distress and tachycardia, and is developing cyanosis. You should:
partially remove the dressing
For every emergency request, the dispatcher should routinely gather and record all of the following information, EXCEPT the:
patient's medical history.
The MOST effective way to determine whether your patient's problem is medical or traumatic in origin is to:
perform a careful and thorough assessment
You respond to the scene of a motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, you find the driver, a young female, sitting on the curb. She is confused, is in obvious respiratory distress, and has pale, moist skin. As your partner manually stabilizes her head, you perform a primary assessment. After performing any immediate livesaving treatment, you should:
perform a detailed head-to-toe exam and prepare for immediate transport.
When a person is exposed to a cold environment:
peripheral vessels constrict and divert blood away from the skin.
After applying a pressure dressing to a laceration on a patient's arm, you notice that blood is slowly beginning to saturate it. You should:
place additional dressings over the wound
Your patient is an older woman who has fallen and now complains of back pain. She has severe kyphosis. You should:
place blankets behind the patient's head
A 77-year-old woman slipped and fell on a throw rug and landed on her left hip. She denies striking her head or losing consciousness. Assessment of her left leg reveals that it is shortened and externally rotated. Distal pulses, sensory, and motor functions are intact. You should:
place her onto a scoop stretcher, pad around her left hip with pillows, and secure her to the scoop with straps.
How should you maintain neutral airway alignment for a 1-year-old infant who is lying in the supine position?
place padding behind her torso
When moving a conscious, weak patient down a flight of stairs, you should:
place the wheeled stretcher at the bottom of the stairs and carry the patient down the stairs with a stair chair.
A 67-year-old female presents with difficulty breathing and chest discomfort that awakened her from her sleep. She states that she has congestive heart failure, has had two previous heart attacks, and has been prescribed nitroglycerin. She is conscious and alert with adequate breathing. Her blood pressure is 94/64 mm Hg, and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. Treatment for this patient includes:
placing her in an upright position
Your patient has a wound on the bottom of his left foot. In your report, you document the wound as being on the _________ surface of the foot.
plantar
Respiratory distress caused by infection of the lung tissues is most likely from:
pneumonia
Patients develop septic shock secondary to:
poor vessel function and severe volume loss
You are assessing a 72-year-old man with abdominal pain. The patient is sitting in a chair; he is conscious, alert, and calm. As you are talking to the patient, your partner discreetly directs your attention to a handgun, which is located on a nearby table. You should:
position yourself between the patient and the gun and ask your partner to request law enforcement assistance.
A 45-year-old female was the unrestrained passenger of a small car that rear-ended another vehicle at a moderate rate of speed. She is conscious and alert but complains of pain to both of her knees. There is visible damage to the dashboard on the passenger's side of the vehicle. In addition to fractures or dislocations of the knees, you should be MOST suspicious for:
posterior hip fracture
A 28-year-old male was struck in the chest with a baseball bat during an altercation. He is conscious and alert and complains of severe chest pain. Your assessment reveals a large area of ecchymosis over the sternum and a rapid, irregular pulse. In addition to providing supplemental oxygen, you should:
prepare for immediate transport
A 50-year-old male presents with altered mental status. His wife tells you that he had a "small stroke" 3 years ago but has otherwise been in good health. The patient is responsive but unable to follow commands. After administering oxygen if needed, you should:
prepare for immediate transport.
You have just completed your primary assessment of a 48-year-old man with crushing chest pain. The patient has been given 324 mg of aspirin and is receiving high-flow oxygen via nonrebreathing mask. As you begin your secondary assessment, you note that his mental status has deteriorated and he is now bradycardic. You should:
prepare the patient for immediate transport
A palpable pulse is created by:
pressure waves through the arteries caused by cardiac contraction.
Aspirin is beneficial to patients suspected of having a heart attack because it:
prevents the aggregation of platelets.
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 a middle school for a 16-year-old female experiencing an asthma attack. She is conscious and alert but in severe respiratory distress. The school nurse informs you that she tried several times to contact the patient's parents but has not been successful. You should:
provide treatment up to your level of training and transport the child at once
Following blunt trauma to the chest, an 18-year-old female presents with respiratory distress, shallow breathing, and cyanosis. Her blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg and her pulse is 130 beats/min and thready. You should:
provide ventilation assistance with a bag valve mask
Deoxygenated blood leaves the right ventricle via which blood vessel(s)?
pulmonary arteries
A blood clot lodged in the pulmonary artery is referred to as a:
pulmonary embolism.
When activated, the sympathetic nervous system produces all of the following effects, EXCEPT:
pupillary constriction
You are dispatched to an apartment complex to respond to 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 the patient.
The bones of the forearm are called the:
radius and ulna
A 6-year-old female was riding her bicycle and struck a clothesline with her throat. She is breathing but with obvious difficulty. Your assessment reveals a crackling sensation in the soft tissues of her neck and facial cyanosis. In addition to the appropriate airway management, the intervention that will MOST likely improve her chance of survival is:
rapidly transporting her to the hospital
Early signs and symptoms of smallpox include all of the following, EXCEPT:
skin blisters
A 74-year-old woman complains of heaviness in her chest, nausea, and sweating that suddenly began about an hour ago. She is conscious and alert, but anxious. Her blood pressure is 144/84 mm Hg and her heart rate is 110 beats/min. She took two of her prescribed nitroglycerin (0.4-mg tablets) before your arrival but still feels heaviness in her chest. You should:
recall that geriatric patients often take multiple medications and that interactions can occur with potentially negative effects.
When an elderly patient presents you with multiple over-the-counter medications that he or she is taking, it is MOST important to:
recall that the patient is at risk for negative medication interactions
You are caring for a 68-year-old man with sudden onset of left-sided paralysis and slurred speech. His airway is patent, his respirations are 14 breaths/min with adequate depth, and his oxygen saturation is 98%. Treatment for this patient should include:
recovery position and transport.
If a patient develops difficulty breathing after your primary assessment, you should immediately:
reevaluate his or her airway status.
You have a critically injured patient in the back of your ambulance, ready to be transported. There are other injured patients at the scene and it will be approximately 10 minutes before other ambulances will arrive. Law enforcement personnel are at the scene. You should:
remain at the scene until at least one other ambulance arrives.
While providing CPAP to a patient in severe respiratory distress, you note that his heart rate has increased by 20 beats/min. He is conscious, but is no longer following verbal commands. You should:
remove the CPAP device and ventilate him with a bag-mask device.
A 19-year-old female is found unconscious by her roommate. Your primary assessment reveals that her breathing is inadequate. You insert an oropharyngeal airway, she begins to gag violently. You should:
remove the airway and be prepared to suction her oropharynx.
You are assessing the arm drift component of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale on a 60-year-old woman. When she holds both of her arms out in front of her and closes her eyes, both of her arms immediately fall to her sides.
repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.
You and you partner respond to the scene of a 49-year-old male with acute abdominal pain. As you enter his residence, you find him lying on the floor in severe pain. He is conscious and alert. The patient appears to weigh in excess of 350 pounds. Your FIRST action should be to:
request additional personnel before making any attempts to life him.
The amount of air that remains in the lungs simply to keep them open is called the:
residual volume
A patient who moves and cries out only when you pinch his or her trapezius muscle is said to be:
responsive to painful stimuli.
A 38-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia is reported by neighbors to be screaming and throwing things in his house. You are familiar with the patient and have cared for him in the past for unrelated problems. Law enforcement officers escort you into the residence when you arrive. The patient tells you that he sees vampires and is attempting to ward them off by screaming and throwing things at them. He has several large lacerations to his forearms that are actively bleeding. The MOST appropriate way to manage the situation is to:
restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to treat his injuries.
When working at the scene of a motor vehicle crash at night, you should NOT use:
road flares
You have inserted an oral airway and are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-mask device. She suddenly begins regurgitating large amounts of vomit. You should:
roll her onto her side and remove the oral airway.
Signs and symptoms of exposure to a nerve agent include:
salivation, pinpoint pupils, and diarrhea.
The care that an EMT is able to provide is most commonly defined as a:
scope of practice
Because a tracheostomy tube bypasses the nose and mouth:
secretions can build up in and around the tube
Eclampsia is best defined as:
seizures that result from severe hypertension
The cervical spine is composed of _________ vertebrae.
seven
A generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure is characterized by:
severe twitching of all the body's muscles
The risk of bleeding in the skull, which increases with age, is MOST directly related to:
shrinkage of the brain
Central chemoreceptors located in the medulla provide feedback to increase the rate and depth of breathing when they sense:
slight increases in carbon dioxide or a decrease in the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid.
You are dispatched to a call for a 4-month-old infant with respiratory distress. While you prepare to take care of this child, you must remember that:
small infants are nose breathers and require clear nasal passages at all times.
An important aspect in the assessment of a patient who experienced a previous brain injury involves:
speaking with the patient and family to establish what is considered normal for the patient.
Significant trauma to the face should increase the EMT's index of suspicion for a(n):
spinal column injury
A 31-year-old male fell and landed on his left elbow. Your assessment reveals that the elbow is grossly deformed, his forearm is cool and pale, and the distal pulse is barely palpable. His vital signs are stable and he denies any other injuries. Your transport time to the closest appropriate hospital is approximately 12 minutes. You should:
splint the elbow in the position found and transport
A 15-year-old female was struck by a small car while riding her bicycle. She was wearing a helmet and was thrown to the ground, striking her head. In addition to managing problems associated with airway, breathing, and circulation, it is MOST important for you to:
stabilize her entire spine.
A 22-year-old female was ejected from her car after striking a tree head-on. As you approach her, you note obvious closed deformities to both of her femurs. She is not moving and does not appear to be conscious. You should:
stabilize her head and perform a primary assessment
During your secondary assessment of a 30-year-old male who fell 25 feet, you note crepitus when palpating his pelvis. Your partner advises you that the patient's blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak. After completing your assessment, you should:
stabilize the pelvis with a pelvic binder and protect the spine
You respond to the residence of a 62-year-old male who is unresponsive. Your primary assessment reveals that he is apneic and pulseless. You should:
start CPR and attach the AED as soon as possible.
A critical function of the safety officer is to:
stop an emergency operation whenever a rescuer is in danger.
You and your partner are preparing to apply a traction splint to a patient's deformed thigh. As you apply manual traction, the patient resists your efforts and states that the pain is getting worse. You should:
stop and splint the leg in the deformed position
A 72-year-old male presents with sudden onset of slurred speech that began 4 hours ago. Vital signs are BP 180/102, P 68 and irregular, and R 16. What should you suspect?
stroke
A crackling sound produced by air bubbles under the skin is called:
subcutaneous emphysema
After performing a head tilt-chin lift maneuver to open the airway of an unresponsive patient who has a pulse, you should:
suction as needed and insert an airway adjunct.
A 30-year-old female was robbed and assaulted as she was leaving a nightclub. She has massive facial trauma and slow, gurgling respirations. As your partner manually stabilizes her head, you should:
suction her oropharynx
You respond to a local lake where a diver complains of difficulty breathing that occurred immediately after rapidly ascending from a depth of approximately 30 feet. On assessment, you note that he has cyanosis around his lips and has pink froth coming from his nose and mouth. You should:
suction his mouth and nose, apply high-flow oxygen, monitor the patient's breath sounds for a pneumothorax, and contact medical control regarding transport to a recompression facility.
Common signs of a skull fracture include all of the following, EXCEPT:
superficial scalp lacerations
A 31-year-old male was bitten on the leg by an unidentified snake. The patient is conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. Your assessment of his leg reveals two small puncture marks with minimal pain and swelling. In addition to administering oxygen and providing reassurance, further care for this patient should include:
supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
A 42-year-old male is found unresponsive on his couch by a neighbor. During your assessment you find no signs of trauma, and the patient's blood glucose level is 75 mg/dL. His blood pressure is 168/98 mm Hg, his heart rate is 45 beats/min and bounding, and his respirations are 8 breaths/min and irregular. The patient is wearing a medical alert bracelet that states he has hemophilia. You should:
suspect that he has intracranial bleeding, assist his ventilations, and transport rapidly to an appropriate hospital
You respond to a call at a long-term care facility for an 86-year-old patient who is complaining of breathing difficulty. When you palpate his pulse, it is very fast. When you call the emergency room, you report that the patient is experiencing:
tachycardia
When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to:
take all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient are report
When restraining a combative patient, you should:
talk calmly to the patient
The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid indicates:
that the baby's airway might be obstructed
The third stage of labor begins when the:
the baby is expelled from the vagina
A unique consideration when dealing with a hybrid vehicle is that:
the battery has higher voltage than a traditional vehicle battery.
With increasing age, the heart must work harder to move the blood effectively because:
the blood vessels become stiff.
Heatstroke occurs when:
the body's heat-eliminating mechanisms are overwhelmed.
When caring for a geriatric patient with a traumatic brain injury, it is important to consider:
the injury might have been preceded by a medical condition
A 77-year-old female presents with an acute onset of altered mental status. Her son is present and advises that she has a history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, and glaucoma. He further advises that she takes numerous medications and is normally alert. When you assess this patient, it is important to note that:
the patient is experiencing delirious behavior, which suggests a new health problem.
Abruptio placenta occurs when:
the placenta prematurely separates from the uterine wall.
Supine hypotensive syndrome occurs when:
the pregnant uterus compresses the inferior vena cava
The term "bloody show" is defined as:
the small amount of pink-tinged mucus that is discharged from the vagina after expulsion of the mucous plug.
A pediatric patient weighing 36 pounds with no indication of needing spinal immobilization should be transported in a car seat in the ambulance secured:
to the stretcher
Most of the serious injuries associated with scuba diving are caused by:
too rapid of an ascent
When assessing a 62-year-old female with crushing chest pain, you note that her pulse is rapid and irregular. You should administer supplemental oxygen if needed and then:
transport at once and consider requesting a paramedic unit.
A 4-year-old female has a peanut lodged in the external auditory canal of her right ear. You should:
transport her to the emergency department.
A 22-year-old male was kicked in the abdomen several times. You find him lying on his left side with his knees drawn up. He is conscious and alert and complains of increased pain and nausea when he tries to straighten his legs. His blood pressure is 142/82 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 110 beats/min and strong, and his respirations are 22 breaths/min and regular. In addition to administering high-flow, you should:
transport him in the position in which you found him.
A 64-year-old female has weakness in her right arm and leg. You note a facial droop. Viral signs are BP 160/100, P 62 and irregular, R 16, and SpO2 95%. What should you do?
transport immediately
You receive a call to a residence for an apneic 2-month-old male. When you arrive at the scene, the infant's mother tells you that her son was born prematurely and that his apnea monitor has alarmed four times in the past 30 minutes. Your assessment of the infant reveals that he is conscious and active. His skin is pink and dry, and he is breathing at an adequate rate and with adequate tidal depth. His oxygen saturation reads 98% on room air. You should:
transport the infant to the hospital and bring the apnea monitor with you
You and your partner are dispatched to a residence for an "ill person." When you arrive, you find the that the patient, a 44-year-old man, does not speak English. There are no relatives or bystanders present who can act as an interpreter. You should:
use short, simple questions and point to specific parts of your body to try to determine the source of the patient's complaint.
When communicating information over the radio, you should:
use the words "affirmative" and "negative" instead of "yes" or "no."
Removal of a tick should be accomplished by:
using tweezers to pull it straight out of the skin
The physical act of moving air into and out of the lungs is called:
ventilation.
Gloves, a mask, eye protection, and a face shield should be used:
when performing endotracheal intubation
Supplemental oxygen without assisted ventilation would most likely be administered to patients:
with difficulty breathing and adequate tidal volume.
Ten days after treating a 34-year-old patient with tuberculosis, you are given a tuberculin skin test, which yields a positive result. This MOST likely indicates that:
you were exposed to another infected person prior to treating the 34-year-old patient.
