Ch 33

A person's ability to shiver is lost when his or her body temperature falls below: b) 92°F (33°C). d) 95°F (35°C). a) 90°F (32°C). c) 94°F (34°C).

a) 90°F (32°C).

Which of the following statements regarding lightning strikes is correct? b) The tissue damage pathway caused by lightning usually occurs through the skin. c) Victims who are struck by lightning often experience severe full-thickness burns. d) Cervical spine fractures are the most common cause of lightning-related deaths. a) Lightning strikes might cause cardiac dysrhythmias that spontaneously resolve.

a) Lightning strikes might cause cardiac dysrhythmias that spontaneously resolve.

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: b) an allergic reaction. d) Rocky Mountain spotted fever. c) exposure to poison ivy. a) Lyme disease.

a) Lyme disease.

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: a) administer oxygen and epinephrine and prepare for rapid transport. d) apply warmth to the sting area and cover it with a dry sterile dressing. b) remove the stingers from his leg by scraping them with a stiff object. c) begin transport and immerse his leg in hot water to help reduce pain.

a) administer oxygen and epinephrine and prepare for rapid transport.

Covering a patient's _________ will significantly minimize radiation heat loss. d) extremities b) chest c) abdomen a) head

a) head

To obtain the most accurate reading of a patient's core body temperature, you should place a special hypothermia thermometer: b) under the patient's tongue. c) behind the patient's knee. d) under the patient's armpit. a) into the patient's rectum.

a) into the patient's rectum.

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: d) open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver. a) move him as a unit to a supine position. c) immediately secure him to a longboard. b) begin ventilations with a barrier device.

a) move him as a unit to a supine position.

High air temperature reduces the body's ability to lose heat by: b) convection. c) conduction. d) evaporation. a) radiation.

a) radiation.

You are assessing a man with suspected hypothermia. The patient is conscious, alert, and actively shivering. His respiratory rate is increased, but his breathing is unlabored, and the pulse oximeter reads 72%. The pulse oximetry reading is most likely: b) a direct reflection of his increased respiratory rate. c) accurate because he has signs of respiratory failure. d) accurate because shivering affects hemoglobin binding. a) secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities.

a) secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities.

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 pink froth coming from his nose and mouth. You should: d) position him supine with his head elevated 30°, suction his mouth and nose, hyperventilate him with a bag-valve mask, and contact medical control for further guidance. a) 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. b) place him in a semi-sitting position, suction his mouth and nose, apply a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, and transport to the closest emergency department. c) suction his mouth and nose, keep him supine and elevate his legs to prevent air bubbles from entering his brain, administer high-flow oxygen, and transport to a hyperbaric chamber.

a) 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.

Heat loss from the body through respiration occurs when: b) the core body temperature is greater than 98°F (37°C). d) air temperature is greater than body temperature. c) cool air is inhaled and displaces warm air. a) warm air is exhaled into the atmosphere.

a) warm air is exhaled into the atmosphere.

Which of the following most accurately describes hyperthermia? b) The body is exposed to more heat than it can lose. d) The body eliminates more heat than it can generate. a) The core body temperature exceeds 99.5°F (37°C). c) Heat evaporates a significant amount of body water.

b) The body is exposed to more heat than it can lose.

When a warm hand is immersed in water that is 70°F (21°C), heat is transferred from the hand to the water through a process called: c) convection. a) radiation. b) conduction. d) evaporation.

b) conduction.

Drowning is most accurately defined as: b) death from suffocation after submersion in water. c) water in the lungs following submersion in water. a) temporary survival after submersion in water. d) death beyond 24 hours after submersion in water.

b) death from suffocation after submersion in water.

The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to the: b) nervous system. d) cardiovascular system. c) respiratory system. a) renal system.

b) nervous system.

Your assessment of a 23-year-old female reveals a core body temperature of 93.4°F (34°C). She is conscious, answers your questions appropriately, is shivering, and complains of nausea. Her skin is cold and pale, her muscles appear rigid, and her respirations are rapid. You should: d) sit her up and give her small sips of warm water to drink, place heat packs to her axillae and groin, and cover her with blankets. b) place heat packs to her groin, axillae, and behind her neck; cover her with warm blankets; and avoid rough handling. a) apply the automated external defibrillator in case she develops cardiopulmonary arrest, cover her with layers of blankets, and transport carefully. c) cover her with warm blankets and let her move about on the stretcher to generate body heat and increase her temperature.

b) place heat packs to her groin, axillae, and behind her neck; cover her with warm blankets; and avoid rough handling.

Breath-holding syncope is caused by a decreased stimulus to breathe and occurs when: c) a swimmer hyperventilates prior to entering the water. d) a diver holds his or her breath for a long period of time. b) a diver holds his or her breath during a staged ascent. a) a swimmer breathes shallowly before entering the water.

c) a swimmer hyperventilates prior to entering the water.

To assess a patient's general body temperature, pull back on your glove and place the back of your hand on his or her skin at the: b) chest. a) neck. d) forehead. c) abdomen.

c) abdomen.

The transfer of heat to circulating air, such as when cool air moves across the body's surface, is called: c) convection. d) evaporation. a) radiation. b) conduction.

c) convection.

All of the following snakes are pit vipers, except for the: d) cottonmouth. a) copperhead. b) rattlesnake. c) coral snake.

c) coral snake.

A frostbitten foot can be identified by the presence of: c) mottling and blisters. b) soft, smooth skin. a) gross deformity. d) blanching of the skin.

c) mottling and blisters.

The most prominent symptom of decompression sickness is: b) difficulty with vision. a) tightness in the chest. c) dizziness and nausea. d) abdominal or joint pain.

d) abdominal or joint pain.

A dysbarism injury refers to the signs and symptoms related to changes in: d) barometric pressure. b) rapid descent. c) decompression. a) rapid ascent.

d) barometric pressure.

Hypothermia can worsen internal bleeding secondary to: d) blood-clotting abnormalities. a) cardiac arrhythmias. c) severe muscular rigidity. b) a decreased heart rate.

d) blood-clotting abnormalities.

The venom of a brown recluse spider is cytotoxic, meaning that it: c) weakens the structure of the bones. b) destroys the body's red blood cells. a) suppresses the respiratory drive. d) causes severe local tissue damage.

d) causes severe local tissue damage.

When the body loses sweat, it also loses: a) plasma. d) electrolytes. c) erythrocytes. b) nutrients.

d) electrolytes.

High humidity reduces the body's ability to lose heat through: c) conduction. a) radiation. d) evaporation. b) convection.

d) evaporation.

Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following, except: a) nausea. c) tachycardia. d) hot, dry skin. b) dry tongue and thirst.

d) hot, dry skin.

You are dispatched to a local high school track and field event for a 16-year-old male 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: b) administer 100% supplemental oxygen. d) move him into the cooled ambulance. c) apply chemical ice packs to his axillae. a) give him a liquid salt solution to drink.

d) move him into the cooled ambulance.

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: c) elevating the lower extremities and giving antivenin. a) applying ice to the wound and transporting quickly. d) supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting. b) transporting only with close, continuous monitoring.

d) supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.

Most of the serious injuries associated with scuba diving are caused by: d) too rapid of an ascent. a) cold water temperature. b) too rapid of a descent. c) alcohol consumption.

d) too rapid of an ascent.