Ch 12 EMT: Primary Assessment

Which of the following differences should be expected when assessing a pediatric​ patient, as compared to an adult​ patient? A. Capillary refill is not as reliable an indicator of circulatory status. B. The normal respiratory rate is faster. C. The normal pulse rate is slower. D. An​ adult's tongue is proportionally larger than that of a child and should always be considered as a potential airway obstruction.

B. The normal respiratory rate is faster.

Which of the following is the purpose of the primary​ assessment? A. To find all of the​ patient's signs and symptoms B. To detect and treat immediately​ life-threatening problems C. To discover trends of improvement or deterioration in the​ patient's condition D. To detect dangers to the patient​ and/or EMS crew

B. To detect and treat immediately​ life-threatening problems

Your patient is a​ 42-year-old woman who fell two feet from a ladder and is complaining of pain in her ankle. Which of the following are you unable to determine from the information​ given? A. General impression B. Transport priority C. Chief complaint D. Airway status

B. Transport priority

A patient with an open but endangered airway​ is: A. a patient choking on vomit. B. a patient lying faceup. C. a patient telling you to step back. D. a patient sobbing uncontrollably.

B. a patient lying faceup.

You are approaching a young adult male lying supine on the ground with his eyes closed. You​ should: A. feel for a pulse. B. ask him if he is okay. C. expose his chest. D. open his airway.

B. ask him if he is okay.

A​ 66-year-old female has been found apneic and pulseless. You should​ immediately: A. insert an OPA. B. begin chest compressions. C. initiate positive pressure ventilations. D. open the​ patient's airway.

B. begin chest compressions.

A​ 37-year-old female complains of dyspnea. You note that she has a patent airway but severe respiratory distress. She has tight wheezes and diminished air movement. She is cyanotic and confused. You should​ first: A. suction the airway. B. initiate positive pressure ventilations. C. assess for a radial pulse. D. apply supplemental oxygen.

B. initiate positive pressure ventilations.

You are approaching an adult female lying supine on the ground with snoring respirations. You​ should: A. ventilate with a​ bag-valve mask. B. open her airway with a​ jaw-thrust maneuver. C. insert a nasopharyngeal airway. D. insert an oropharyngeal airway.

B. open her airway with a​ jaw-thrust maneuver.

You enter a room to find a​ 16-year-old female sitting upright in a chair with her back​ straight, leaning​ forward, and her arms supporting her. She is having a hard time talking to you. You should​ suspect: A. chest discomfort. B. respiratory distress. C. abdominal pain. D. allergic reaction.

B. respiratory distress.

During your primary​ assessment, you note blood in the​ patient's mouth and hear gurgling. You should​ next: A. form a general impression of the patient. B. suction the airway and clear any secretions. C. evaluate the​ patient's circulation. D. evaluate the​ patient's breathing.

B. suction the airway and clear any secretions.

For which of the following patients would capillary refill be a reliable sign of circulatory​ status? A. 24-year-old homeless man who has spent the night outside in the rain B. 92-year-old man complaining of weakness on his right side C. 3-year-old child with a fever and cough D. 50-year-old woman complaining of chest pain

C. 3-year-old child with a fever and cough

Which of the following patients is a high priority for​ transport? A. Adult male with dull abdominal pain B. Adult male with a headache C. Adult male with difficulty breathing D. Adult male with sharp lower back pain

C. Adult male with difficulty breathing

You check for a pulse in an unconscious​ 12-year-old patient. What would cause you​ concern? A. A pulse above normal B. A pulse on the low or high side of normal C. Any pulse outside of normal D. A pulse below normal

C. Any pulse outside of normal

A​ 30-year-old male has been struck by a vehicle at moderate speed and is now unconscious. You initiate a primary assessment and identify that he has blood in his​ airway, rapid and labored​ breathing, and absent breath sounds. You note that he is cyanotic. Which of these problems should be managed​ first? A. Diminished mental status B. Absent lung sounds C. Blood in the airway D. Inadequate ventilations

C. Blood in the airway

Which of the following best describes an EMS​ provider's "sixth​ sense"? A. Diagnostic ability B. General impression C. Clinical judgment D. Scene safety

C. Clinical judgment

Which of the following is the correct manner for checking for responsiveness in an apparently unresponsive​ infant? A. Shaking the child B. Pinching the earlobe C. Flicking the soles of the feet D. Rubbing the sternum with your knuckles

C. Flicking the soles of the feet

Which of the following represents the correct order of assessment for the EMT during the primary assessment from start to​ end? A. Mental​ status, general​ impression, airway,​ breathing, circulation, patient priority B. Patient​ priority, general​ impression, mental​ status, airway,​ breathing, circulation C. General​ impression, mental​ status, airway,​ breathing, circulation, patient priority D. None of the above

C. General​ impression, mental​ status, airway,​ breathing, circulation, patient priority

Which of the following conditions must be managed during the primary​ assessment? A. A fractured extremity B. Capillary bleeding C. Open chest wounds D. Internal injuries to the abdomen

C. Open chest wounds

The mnemonic AVPU is used to evaluate which of the​ following? A. Patient's chief complaint B. Patient's transport priority C. Patient's level of responsiveness D. EMT's general impression of the​ patient's condition

C. Patient's level of responsiveness

Which of the following is the proper position for maintaining the airway in a child with a decreased level of​ consciousness? A. Flexing the neck to place the chin on the​ chest; placing a folded towel under the back of the head if necessary B. Hyperextension of the​ neck; placing a pillow under the back if necessary C. Placing the head and neck in a neutral​ position; using a folded towel under the shoulders if necessary D. Using a cervical collar to keep the chin elevated

C. Placing the head and neck in a neutral​ position; using a folded towel under the shoulders if necessary

Which of the following presentations would be considered normal during the breathing phase of the primary​ assessment? A. Respiratory rate of 28 with adequate depth B. Respiratory rate of 16 with altered mental status C. Respiratory rate of 12 with adequate depth D. Respiratory rate of 6 with shallow depth

C. Respiratory rate of 12 with adequate depth

How would you assess the mental status of an infant who appeared​ unresponsive? A. Do a light sternal rub to elicit a painful response. B. Ask the caregiver whether the infant is alert. C. Speak as a verbal stimulus and flick the feet as a painful stimulus. D. Shake the infant and shout.

C. Speak as a verbal stimulus and flick the feet as a painful stimulus.

In the primary​ assessment, which of the following is not an acceptable method of assessing the​ patient's circulatory​ status? A. Looking for serious bleeding B. Checking a radial pulse C. Taking a blood pressure reading D. Assessing the​ patient's skin color

C. Taking a blood pressure reading

In​ EMS, which of the following best describes the term intervention​? A. Decreasing the​ EMT's liability for negligence B. Determining if there is a problem C. Taking steps to correct a problem D. Creating a permanent record of patient care

C. Taking steps to correct a problem

A​ 13-year-old male has crashed an ATV. He was not wearing a​ helmet, and was found unconscious. His airway is patent and he is breathing​ adequately, but you hear rales in his chest and diminished lung sounds in his right chest. You assess this​ patient's priority for transport as high. What is one​ reason? A. The patient crashed an ATV. B. The​ patient's airway is patent. C. The patient is unconscious. D. The patient was not wearing a helmet.

C. The patient is unconscious.

Which of the following is true concerning the primary​ assessment? A. Manual airway maneuvers must be performed on all patients. B. External bleeding will be obvious as you enter the room and initially see the patient. C. The primary assessment begins by just observing the patient as you enter the room. D. The EMT should perform a sternal rub on all patients to test for response to painful stimuli.

C. The primary assessment begins by just observing the patient as you enter the room.

Which of the following is not assessed during the breathing phase of the primary​ assessment? A. The depth of respiration B. The presence of respirations C. The pulse oximetry reading D. The respiratory rate

C. The pulse oximetry reading

You are responding to a patient who has sustained a​ blunt-force blow to the side of the head. Which of the following would you use to determine the​ patient's mental​ status? A. Determining priority for transport B. Assessing the airway C. Voice commands D. A pulse reading

C. Voice commands

Which of the following questions will most likely elicit your​ patient's chief​ complaint? A. Do you have any medical​ problems? B. How have you been feeling​ lately? C. What made you call 911 this​ evening? D. Have you been drinking​ today?

C. What made you call 911 this​ evening?

An​ 18-year-old male has been involved in an altercation with another person. During the​ fight, he was stabbed in the thigh. As you​ approach, you note the patient to be awake with minor bleeding from a laceration on his leg. You should​ first: A. apply direct pressure to his leg wound. B. administer​ high-concentration oxygen. C. assess his airway. D. assess his radial pulse.

C. assess his airway.

During the primary​ assessment, an example of a life threat to circulation that must be managed right away would​ be: A. a throbbing headache. B. nausea and stomach pain. C. external arterial bleeding. D. very​ cold, pale skin.

C. external arterial bleeding.

Mental status is the level of a​ patient's: A. verbal acuity. B. knowledge. C. responsiveness. D. pain threshold.

C. responsiveness.

A​ 25-year-old male was shot in the leg. He has visibly lost a lot of​ blood, and when assessing this​ patient's circulation, you determine that this patient has​ life-threatening bleeding. You should control the bleeding​ and: A. suction the​ patient's airway. B. open the​ patient's airway. C. treat for shock. D. place an oral or nasal airway.

C. treat for shock.

Which of the following indicates a possible circulatory​ problem? A. Rapid pulse B. Slow pulse C. Weak, thready pulse that is normal in rate D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following techniques is used when formulating the general​ impression? A. Detecting odors B. Listening for unusual sounds C. Looking for visual clues D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Your patient is a​ middle-aged man who appears to be in distress and is clutching his chest. These observations lead you to suspect which type of​ problem? A. Digestive B. Choking C. Anaphylaxis D. Cardiac

D. Cardiac

Which of the following is not true regarding a patient who has a mental status of less than​ alert? A. He may not have adequate blood circulation. B. He requires​ high-concentration oxygen. C. His brain may not be getting enough oxygen. D. He is in a state of rapid eye movement sleep.

D. He is in a state of rapid eye movement sleep.

Your patient is a​ 33-year-old man who has been ejected from his vehicle during a​ high-speed collision. During your primary assessment it is discovered that he is not​ moving, does not appear to have adequate​ respirations, and has suffered moderate external bleeding. Which of the following should be done​ first? A. Begin​ bag-valve-mask ventilations. B. Check the​ patient's carotid pulse. C. Control the bleeding with direct pressure. D. Open the airway.

D. Open the airway.

You have arrived on the scene at a high school football field where a​ 17-year-old male is lying on the ground. He is unresponsive and​ cyanotic, and he is making obvious respiratory effort without moving adequate amounts of air. Which of the following should be done​ first? A. Assist ventilations with a​ bag-valve-mask device and supplemental oxygen. B. Insert a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal airway. C. Apply​ high-concentration oxygen by nonrebreather mask. D. Open the​ patient's airway using a manual maneuver.

D. Open the​ patient's airway using a manual maneuver.

Which of the following is not part of the general​ impression? A. Position in which the patient is found B. Patient's age and sex C. Patient's facial expression D. Patient's past medical history

D. Patient's past medical history

If a patient is alert and breathing adequately but exhibits cyanotic​ skin, then which intervention is most​ appropriate? A. Provide positive pressure ventilations with​ 100% oxygen. B. Assist the​ patient's ventilations with​ 100% oxygen. Synchronize your ventilations with the​ patient's own respirations so they are working​ together, not against each other. C. Perform rescue breathing. D. Provide oxygen based on the​ patient's need as determined by your​ examination, the​ patient's complaint and level of​ distress, and the pulse oximetry readings.

D. Provide oxygen based on the​ patient's need as determined by your​ examination, the​ patient's complaint and level of​ distress, and the pulse oximetry readings.

Which of the following is the most reliable means of determining whether a patient has any immediately​ life-threatening conditions? A. Obtaining a detailed medical history B. Use of intuition C. Thorough scene​ size-up D. Systematic approach to assessment

D. Systematic approach to assessment

During your assessment of a patient who is suspected of having had a​ stroke, you have to pinch his nail beds for him to respond. Which of the following would best categorize this​ patient's mental​ status? A. The patient responds to verbal stimuli. B. The patient is alert. C. The patient is unresponsive. D. The patient responds to painful stimuli.

D. The patient responds to painful stimuli.

An unstable patient​ is: A. a patient with slightly depressed vital signs. B. a patient who is responsive to commands. C. a patient sitting up and breathing slowly. D. a patient who appears to be catatonic.

D. a patient who appears to be catatonic.

As you interview a patient with a medical​ complaint, the reason why EMS was called is often referred to as​ the: A. mechanism of injury. B. physical examination. C. SAMPLE history. D. chief complaint.

D. chief complaint.

You are approaching a​ 16-year-old male with bright red spurting blood coming from his leg. He is screaming and he begs you to help him. You​ should: A. assess his airway. B. apply oxygen. C. ask him to calm down. D. control the bleeding.

D. control the bleeding.

You are called to a scene of a fall and find the patient unconscious with a twisted leg. A general impression of this patient would​ be: A. determining whether the patient is breathing and that the level of breathing is adequate. B. opening the​ patient's airway and suctioning the​ airway, if necessary. C. checking whether the patient has a pulse and is displaying signs of shock. D. deciding that the​ patient's fall was severe and injured the​ patient's leg.

D. deciding that the​ patient's fall was severe and injured the​ patient's leg.

During the primary​ assessment, you would focus exclusively​ on: A. hazards of the scene. B. mechanism of injury. C. nature of illness. D. life threats.

D. life threats.

When performing a primary assessment on a​ patient, you are most​ commonly: A. packaging the patient for transport. B. conducting a detailed physical examination. C. taking the​ patient's medical history. D. looking for immediate life threats.

D. looking for immediate life threats.

A​ 45-year-old female is found unconscious. She is not breathing but has a pulse. You should​ next: A. administer supplemental oxygen. B. initiate chest compressions. C. apply an AED. D. perform rescue breathing.

D. perform rescue breathing.

A patient whose mental status can be described as verbal is able​ to: A. tell you his or her​ name, his or her​ location, and what day it is. B. respond only to a stimulus such as the EMT rubbing his sternum with his knuckles. C. talk spontaneously and respond to the​ EMT's questions. D. respond to speaking or shouting by opening the eyes.

D. respond to speaking or shouting by opening the eyes.

You find a teenage male lying supine in his bedroom. You hear gurgling sounds from the​ patient's mouth and see vomit with pill fragments on the floor. You​ should: A. ventilate with oxygen. B. identify the pills. C. perform chest thrusts. D. suction the airway.

D. suction the airway.

A​ 56-year-old male has fallen off a​ 12-foot ladder. After ensuring scene safety and completing the scene​ size-up, you should​ next: A. assess baseline vital signs. B. assess the​ patient's airway. C. question bystanders. D. take manual cervical spine precautions.

D. take manual cervical spine precautions.

You are conducting a primary assessment. You find that your patient will open the eyes when you call the​ patient's name, but does not acknowledge your presence. You determine that the​ patient's mental status​ is: A. "V" for verbal. B. "P" for painful. C. "A" for alert. D. "U" for unresponsive.

A. "V" for verbal.

Which of the following acronyms may be used in assessing the​ patient's level of​ responsiveness? A. AVPU B. SAMPLE C. ABC D. C-A-B

A. AVPU

Your patient is a​ 72-year-old female who has​ "twisted her​ ankle" coming down some steps. She is alert and complaining of pain in her right​ ankle, but she jokes about her​ "clumsiness." Which of the following should you do​ next? A. Ask if the patient has pain anywhere beside her ankle. B. Administer​ high-concentration oxygen by nonrebreather mask. C. Take immediate manual control of the​ patient's cervical spine. D. Determine the presence of a carotid pulse.

A. Ask if the patient has pain anywhere beside her ankle.

During the primary assessment of a responsive adult​ patient, where should the pulse be​ checked? A. At the radial artery B. At the brachial artery C. At the femoral artery D. At the carotid artery

A. At the radial artery

A​ 56-year-old male patient had a syncopal episode in church. Dispatch notes that he has an altered mental​ status, and bystanders are concerned about his breathing. As you approach the​ patient, you say hello and ask how he is feeling. He​ replies, "I'm​ fine, thanks." Which of the following would be the most appropriate statement about the​ patient's airway​ status? A. Because the patient is able to​ speak, the airway is patent. B. The​ patient's airway is most likely obstructed. C. The​ patient's altered mental status is threatening his airway. D. The patient evidently does not have a patent airway.

A. Because the patient is able to​ speak, the airway is patent.

What is the first thing the EMT does during the primary​ assessment? A. Forms a general impression B. Opens the airway C. Determines transport priority D. Assesses mental status

A. Forms a general impression

Which term refers to the​ EMT's initial sense of the​ patient's condition, based on immediate assessment of the​ patient's environment,​ appearance, and chief​ complaint? A. General impression B. Secondary assessment C. Primary assessment D. Scene​ size-up

A. General impression

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the primary​ assessment? A. Life-threatening conditions that are identified during the primary assessment must be treated immediately as found. B. You will assess each patient in​ A-B-C order:​ airway, breathing, and circulation. C. You cannot gain enough information about the patient during the primary assessment to make a transport decision. D. The main purpose of the primary assessment is to perform a​ head-to-toe physical examination to discover injuries.

A. Life-threatening conditions that are identified during the primary assessment must be treated immediately as found.

Which of the following is not performed during the airway phase of the primary​ assessment? A. Obtaining the respiratory rate B. Head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver C. Suctioning D. Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway

A. Obtaining the respiratory rate

Which of the following findings is generally not used to assess an​ adult's circulation? A. Patient's capillary refill time B. Patient's distal pulse rate C. Evaluation for bleeding D. Patient's skin​ color, temperature, and condition

A. Patient's capillary refill time

Which of the following is a good indication of a partially occluded​ airway? A. The patient has snoring respirations. B. The patient is crying loudly. C. The patient is speaking clearly. D. The patient is alert.

A. The patient has snoring respirations.

In​ EMS, what does mental status refer​ to? A. The​ patient's level of awareness of his surroundings B. Any history of mental illness that the patient may have C. The​ patient's general level of intelligence D. None of the above

A. The​ patient's level of awareness of his surroundings

A​ 64-year-old male complained of chest pain. Minutes before your​ arrival, he lost consciousness and fell to the floor. As you​ approach, he is not responsive to your​ voice, and he does not respond when you gently shake him. You should​ next: A. assess for a carotid pulse. B. open his airway manually. C. deliver two rescue breaths. D. question bystanders.

A. assess for a carotid pulse.

You arrive on the scene of an automobile collision and find one of the drivers suffering from multiple injuries and an altered level of consciousness. You should​ first: A. complete a primary assessment. B. initiate immediate transport. C. complete a detailed physical examination. D. obtain a SAMPLE history for secondary assessment.

A. complete a primary assessment.

​Generally, the sixth and last part of a primary assessment​ is: A. determining the priority of the patient for treatment and transport. B. performing a scene​ size-up. C. forming a general impression of the patient. D. assessing the​ patient's mental status.

A. determining the priority of the patient for treatment and transport.

When you report to your partner that the patient is a​ 46-year-old male trauma patient with leg​ pain, you have provided​ the: A. general impression. B. transport priority. C. primary assessment. D. secondary assessment.

A. general impression.

What is a normal capillary refill time in a pediatric​ patient? A. less than 2 seconds B. 5 seconds C. 3 seconds D. 1 minute

A. less than 2 seconds

You find a​ middle-aged unresponsive man lying prone on the ground near a ladder. You​ should: A. manually immobilize his head. B. roll him over to a supine position. C. pick him up with a scoop stretcher. D. move the ladder out of the way.

A. manually immobilize his head.

A​ 34-year-old male is unconscious in bed. Which of the following should be done​ first? A. Assess respiratory rate. B. Assess circulation. C. Auscultate lung sounds. D. Obtain baseline vital signs.

B. Assess circulation.

During the primary assessment of an unresponsive​ two-month-old infant, which pulse should be​ palpated? A. Carotid B. Brachial C. Radial D. Umbilical

B. Brachial

Which of the following would be the best method to open the airway on an unresponsive trauma​ patient? A. Suctioning the airway B. Jaw-thrust maneuver C. ​Head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver D. Inserting an oropharyngeal airway

B. Jaw-thrust maneuver

Which of the following interventions should be performed with both responsive and unresponsive trauma​ patients? A. Head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver B. Manual stabilization of the head and neck C. High-concentration oxygen D. Jaw-thrust maneuver

B. Manual stabilization of the head and neck

You are at the scene where a​ 19-year-old female college student has been drinking large quantities of alcohol throughout the evening. On your​ arrival, the patient is lying on her back with no signs of​ trauma; has​ vomited; and has​ slow, wet sounding respirations. Which of the following should you do​ next? A. Assist respirations with a​ bag-valve-mask device. B. Open the​ patient's airway using a​ head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver. C. Determine the respiratory rate. D. Check for carotid and radial pulses.

B. Open the​ patient's airway using a​ head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver.

Which of the following describes the chief​ complaint? A. Events immediately preceding the call for EMS B. Reason why the patient summoned EMS C. Overall impression of the​ patient's condition D. All of the above

B. Reason why the patient summoned EMS