EMT-B Midterm review 1-23
Which of the following glands regulates the function of all other endocrine glands in the body?
Pituitary
Which of the following is the MOST accurate guide to palpating a pulse?
Place the tips of your index and long fingers over the pulse point.
Which of the following are noticeable characteristics of a 9-month-old infant?
Places objects in the mouth, pulls himself or herself up
Which of the following statements regarding plasma is correct?
Plasma transports the blood cells and nutrients
Which of the following is a metabolic cause of a seizure?
Poisoning
When performing a rapid exam on a supine patient, what part of the body is typically assessed last?
Posterior
Which of the following drugs is commonly referred to as "roofies"?
Rohypnol
Which of the following is considered a type of motor vehicle collision?
Rollover
Which types of motor vehicle collisions present the greatest potential for multiple impacts?
Rotational and rollover
Victims of inhaled poisoning will require which of the following?
Transport to an emergency department for evaluation
Which of the following negative effects of anaphylaxis will be the MOST rapidly fatal if not treated immediately?
Upper airway swelling
Which of the following is correct about the secondary assessment for a high-priority patient?
You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment.
Situations in which you should use the rapid extrication technique include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a patient who can be properly assessed while still in the vehicle.
Information included in a radio report to the receiving hospital should include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one:
a preliminary diagnosis of the patient's problem.
When using the pulse oximeter as part of your assessment of a patient, it is important to remember that:
any situation that causes vasoconstriction or loss of red blood cells, such as anemia or bleeding, may result in an inaccurate or misleading value.
The major artery that supplies all other arteries with blood is the:
aorta
A 60-year-old female presents with a tearing sensation in her lower back. Her skin is sweaty and she is tachycardic. The EMT should suspect:
aortic aneurysm.
When assessing the pulse of an unresponsive infant, you should palpate the ________ artery.
brachial
When auscultating the blood pressure in a patient's upper extremity, you should place the head of the stethoscope over the _________ artery.
brachial
The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of the:
brain and spinal cord.
The _________ is the best-protected part of the CNS and controls the functions of the cardiac and respiratory systems.
brain stem
The inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart from all of the following areas, EXCEPT the:
brain.
A fracture is MOST accurately defined as a(n):
break in the continuity of the bone.
When caring for a patient with a possible fracture of the scapula, the EMT should:
carefully assess the patient for breathing problems.
Upon arriving at the scene of a possible hazardous materials (HazMat) incident involving several patients, you should:
carefully assess the situation.
General treatment for a woman with vaginal bleeding and shock following sexual assault includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
carefully removing any foreign bodies from the vagina.
The spread of HIV and hepatitis in the health care setting can usually be traced to:
careless handling of sharps.
The head and brain receive their supply of oxygenated blood from the:
carotid arteries
Clouding of the lenses of the eyes is called:
cataracts.
A temporary loss or alteration of part or all of the brain's abilities to function without physical damage to the brain MOST accurately describes a(n):
cerebral concussion.
The MOST common and serious complication of a significant head injury is:
cerebral edema.
Interruption of cerebral blood flow may result from all of the following, EXCEPT:
cerebral vasodilation.
The _________ contain(s) about 75% of the brain's total volume.
cerebrum
The largest portion of the brain is the ___________, which is commonly referred to as the "gray matter."
cerebrum
It is especially important for EMS personnel to develop nonadversarial relationships with their coworkers because they:
depend on one another for their safety.
The frontal and parietal bones of the skull are especially susceptible to:
depressed skull fractures.
Without practice, your CPR skills will __________.
deteriorate over time
Capnography is used to:
determine how much carbon dioxide is being exhaled.
The MOST common error associated with the use of the AED is:
failure of the EMT to ensure the battery is charged.
Neurogenic shock occurs when:
failure of the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation.
It would be MOST appropriate to perform a focused secondary assessment on a patient who:
fainted and fell to the ground from a standing position
The sperm typically fertilizes the egg in the _________.
fallopian tube
The _____________ connect(s) each ovary with the uterus.
fallopian tubes
A blood pressure cuff that is too small for a patient's arm will give a:
falsely high systolic and diastolic reading.
Risk factors for AMI that cannot be controlled include:
family history
The hepatitis B vaccine program, a component of the infection control plan, addresses all of the following issues, EXCEPT:
family history of hepatitis.
When considering his or her personal life, it is important for the EMT to realize that:
family or friends may not understand the stress associated with EMS.
Ketone production is the result of:
fat metabolization when glucose is unavailable.
Enlargement of the liver is called:
hepatomegaly.
As a woman approaches menopause:
her menstrual periods may become irregular and vary in severity.
In a patient with a head injury, hypertension, bradycardia, and Biot respirations indicate:
herniation of the brain stem.
The elbow is an example of a ____________ joint.
hinge
Epinephrine acts as a specific antidote to:
histamine
Urticaria is the medical term for:
hives.
Peritonitis usually occurs when:
hollow abdominal organs are damaged and spill their contents into the peritoneal cavity
The ability of a person's cardiovascular system to compensate for blood loss is MOST related to:
how rapidly he or she bleeds.
Common causes of seizures in children include all of the following, EXCEPT:
hyperglycemia.
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 presentation is MOST consistent with:
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome.
Common side effects of nitroglycerin include all of the following, EXCEPT:
hypertension.
The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is:
hypertension.
Major risk factors for AMI include all of the following, EXCEPT:
hypoglycemia.
The medical term for an extremely low blood glucose level is:
hypoglycemia.
In an acute injury setting, neurogenic shock is commonly accompanied by:
hypothermia.
Your patient has a chronic respiratory condition. His stimulus to breathe is triggered by low oxygen levels in the blood. This is known as the ___________.
hypoxic drive
The body's backup system of respiratory control, which is based on low concentrations of oxygen in the blood, is called the:
hypoxic drive.
Advil, Nuprin, and Motrin are trade names for the generic medication:
ibuprofen.
The continuous quality improvement (CQI) process is designed to:
identify areas of improvement and provide remedial training if needed.
After performing a primary assessment, a rapid exam of the body should be performed to:
identify less-obvious injuries that require immediate treatment.
For a patient with a gastrointestinal complaint, it is MOST important for the EMT to _________.
identify whether the patient requires rapid transport
When obtaining a SAMPLE history from a patient with diabetes, it would be MOST important to determine:
if he or she has had any recent illnesses or excessive stress
Gastric distention will MOST likely occur:
if you ventilate a patient too quickly.
Several attempts to adequately open a trauma patient's airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver have been unsuccessful. You should:
if you ventilate a patient too quickly.
The pelvic bones are formed by the fusion of the:
ilium, ischium, and pubis.
The effectiveness of positive-pressure ventilations when treating a head-injured patient can ONLY be determined by:
immediate reassessment following the intervention.
If you cannot palpate a pulse in an unresponsive patient whose collapse was not witnessed, you should:
immediately begin CPR.
Of the four avenues of poisoning, generally ___________ is the most worrisome in terms of treatment to the EMS provider.
injection
The mental status of a patient who has experienced a generalized seizure:
is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes
In contrast to viral hepatitis, toxin-induced hepatitis:
is not a communicable disease.
Chronic renal failure is a condition that:
is often caused by hypertension or diabetes.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm:
is often the result of hypertension and atherosclerosis.
In many states, a minor may be treated as an adult for the purpose of consenting to or refusing medical treatment if the minor:
is self-supporting and lives by him- or herself.
The _______ is a structured assessment tool that allows you to rapidly form a general impression of the pediatric patient's condition without touching him or her.
pediatric assessment triangle
With regard to the pediatric rule of nines, the:
legs are proportionately smaller than an adult's.
Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
lie on their side with their knees drawn into the abdomen.
When prioritizing care for the victim of a sexual assault, the EMT should focus on _________ first.
life-threatening injuries
Bones are connected to other bones by bands of tough fibrous tissues called:
ligaments.
The EMT should use an AED on a child between 1 month and 8 years of age if:
pediatric pads and an energy-reducing device are available.
It is especially important to assess pulse, sensation, and movement in all extremities as well as pupillary reactions in patients with a suspected ___________ problem.
neurologic
The MOST common and significant complication associated with fractures or dislocations of the knee is:
neurovascular compromise.
When approaching a helicopter, whether the rotor blades are moving or not, you should:
never duck under the body or the tail boom because the pilot cannot see you in these areas.
Basic life support (BLS) is defined as:
noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
A patient with an altered mental status is: S
not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused.
Immediately upon arriving at the scene of an emergency call involving a traumatic injury, you should notify the dispatcher of your arrival and then:
observe the scene for safety hazards.
Upon arrival at a trench rescue operation, you should _________.
park at least 500 feet from the incident
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.
Anterior to the knee is a specialized bone called the:
patella.
When assessing an elderly patient who fell, it is important to remember that:
osteoporosis can cause a fracture as a result of a fall from a standing position. C. bilateral hip fra
A fracture caused by minimal force that is associated with diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis is called a __________ fracture.
pathologic
You are encouraging a patient to go to the hospital by ambulance. You know that a transport will keep you on duty several hours after your regular quitting time. This is an example of __________.
patient advocacy
The type and severity of wounds sustained from incendiary and explosive devices primarily depend on the:
patient's distance from the epicenter of the explosion.
For every emergency request, the dispatcher should routinely gather and record all of the following information, EXCEPT the:
patient's medical history.
With regard to the assessment of a patient's cardiovascular status, capillary refill time is MOST reliable in:
patients who are younger than 6 years of age.
The systematic head-to-toe assessment should be performed on:
patients with a significant MOI and unresponsive medical patients.
Hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils would be expected following an overdose of:
oxycodone (Percocet).
In order for efficient pulmonary gas exchange to occur:
oxygen and carbon dioxide must be able to freely diffuse across the alveolar capillary membrane
Children not only have a higher metabolic rate, but also a higher ______ which is twice that of an adult.
oxygen demand
Early signs and symptoms of intra-abdominal bleeding include:
pain and distention.
Common signs and symptoms of AMI include all of the following, EXCEPT:
pain exacerbated by breathing.
While triaging patients at the scene of a motor-vehicle crash, you encounter a 5-year-old child who is unresponsive and apneic. After positioning his airway, you should:
palpate for a carotid pulse.
When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
The exocrine gland of the pancreas secretes:
pancreatic juice
A spinal cord injury at the level of C7 would MOST likely result in:
paralysis of the intercostal muscles.
An EMS provider who has extensive training in various aspects of advanced life support (ALS) is called a(n):
paramedic.
Cardiac monitoring, pharmacologic interventions, and other advanced treatment skills are functions of the:
paramedic.
Burns to pediatric patients are generally considered more serious than burns to adults because:
pediatric patients have more surface area relative to total body mass.
In ___________ administration, you are administering medication to yourself or your partner.
peer-assisted
Poor maintenance of home, poor personal care, and dietary neglect are all possible indicators of ____________ elder abuse.
physical
Menstrual flow will typically last approximately _________.
1 week
Femoral shaft fractures can result in up to _____ mL of internal blood loss.
1,000
At what age does separation anxiety typically peak in infants and small children?
10 to 18 months
What is the minimum number of chest compressions that should be delivered per minute to a 4-month-old infant?
100
At rest, the normal adult heart rate should not exceed:
100 beats/min.
Trench collapses usually involve large areas of falling dirt that weigh approximately _______ per cubic foot.
100 lb
An infant with a total blood volume of 800 mL would start showing signs of shock when as little as ______ of blood is lost.
100 mL
While the ages can vary, women typically experience menstruation from approximately _________ to ____________ years of age.
11; 50
Infants begin saying their first word, sitting without support, and teething at 6 to ______months.
12
The peripheral nervous system has _______ pairs of spinal nerves.
31
When assisting ventilations in a newborn with a bag-valve mask, the rate is _____ breaths/min.
40 to 60
Normal respiratory rates should not exceed _______ breaths per minute in toddlers and _______ breaths per minute in infants.
40, 60
Which of the following is LEAST important when obtaining a medical history from a patient complaining of chest discomfort?
Family history of hypertension
What is the most common misconception surrounding mental illness? .
Feeling "bad" or "depressed" means that you must be "sick."
Which of the following are central pulses?
Femoral and carotid
Together, the right and left lungs contain how many lobes?
Five
What should an EMT do to limit errors in the field?
Follow the agency's written protocols
Which of the following is bacterium resistant to most antibiotics and causes skin abscesses?
MRSA
The two basic categories of diagnosis that a physician will use for behavioral crises or psychiatric emergencies are ____________.
physical and psychological
To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should: .
provide competent care that meets current standards.
A patient who presents with profound cyanosis following a chest injury:
requires prompt ventilation and oxygenation.
The amount of air that remains in the lungs simply to keep them open is called the:
residual volume.
Most AEDs are set up to adjust the voltage based on the impedance, which is the:
resistance of the body to the flow of electricity.
You and your partner are both male and are attending to a 28-year-old female patient complaining of diffuse abdominal pain. The patient is 34 weeks pregnant with her first child. The patient refuses to allow you to examine her, and her husband informs you that their culture does not allow males to examine or care for pregnant women. You should:
respect the patient's wishes, ensure that the appropriate documentation is completed, and transport the patient.
When the level of arterial carbon dioxide rises above normal: .
respirations increase in rate and depth.
In most cases, cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children is caused by:
respiratory arrest.
End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitoring is clearly indicated for patients who present with:
respiratory distress.
"PASTE" is an alternate assessment tool for ___________.
respiratory patients
The presence of tachycardia following a significant abdominal injury:
should be assumed to be a sign of shock
The MOST serious consequence of drug or alcohol abuse among EMS personnel is:
substandard or inappropriate patient care.
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.
The EMT should ensure that vaginal bleeding is _________.
taken seriously and the patient is transported for gynecologic evaluation
Symptomatic hypoglycemia will MOST likely develop if a patient:
takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin.
When assessing an 8-year-old child, you should:
talk to the child, not just the caregiver.
When caring for a patient who is visually impaired, it is important to:
tell him or her what is happening, identify noises, and describe the situation and surroundings.
While you are on duty, your partner asks you out on a date and touches you in an inappropriate location without your consent. You should:
tell your partner to stop and report the incident to your supervisor.
The _____ regions of the cranium are located on the lateral portion of the head.
temporal
Skeletal muscle is attached to the bone by tough, ropelike, fibrous structures called:
tendons.
Returning the emergency unit to service is part of the _________.
termination phase
At present, the likelihood of a nuclear attack against the United States is very low because:
terrorist nations do not have the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon via missile or bomb.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommended immunizations and tests include a:
tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster every 10 years.
The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid indicates:
that the baby's airway may be obstructed.
When the myocardium requires more oxygen:
the arteries supplying the heart dilate
Hypovolemic shock occurs when:
the body cannot compensate for rapid blood loss.
In contrast to younger patients, older patients are more prone to a decrease in blood pressure (BP) upon standing because:
the body is less able to adapt the BP to rapid postural changes.
As time progresses following a significant injury:
the body's ability to compensate for shock decreases.
Heat stroke occurs when:
the body's heat-eliminating mechanisms are overwhelmed.
When treating a patient with chest pain, you should assume that he or she is having an AMI because:
the cause of the pain cannot be diagnosed in the field.
When forming your general impression of a patient with a medical complaint, it is important to remember that:
the conditions of many medical patients may not appear serious at first.
An air embolism associated with diving occurs when:
the diver holds his or her breath during a rapid ascent.
The ideal procedure for moving an injured patient from the ground to a backboard is:
the four-person log roll.
When the parasympathetic nervous system is activated:
the heart rate decreases and the blood vessels dilate.
To protect vital organs, the body compensates by directing blood flow away from organs that are more tolerant of low flow, such as:
the skin.
When you are performing a scene assessment at an incident involving SIDS, you should focus your attention on all of the following, EXCEPT:
the temperature of the room.
Whether you are using a commercial device or a stick and triangular bandage as a tourniquet, it is important to remember that:
the tourniquet should only be removed at the hospital because bleeding may return if the tourniquet is released.
The Adam's apple is:
the upper part of the larynx that is formed by the thyroid cartilage.
The main advantage of the Venturi mask is:
the use of its fine adjustment capabilities in the long-term management of physiologically stable patients.
When the shoulder girdle is aligned over the pelvis during lifting:
the weight is exerted straight down the vertebrae.
Breath sounds in the pediatric population are more easily heard because:
their chest walls are thinner.
Children are often "belly breathers" because _______.
their intercostal muscles are not developed
Infants are often referred to as "belly breathers" because:
their rib cage is less rigid and the ribs sit horizontally.
Cardiac output may decrease if the heart beats too rapidly because:
there is not enough time in between contractions for the heart to refill completely.
When transporting a patient with a facial injury, it is MOST important to be as descriptive as possible with the hospital regarding the patient's injuries because:
they may need to call a specialist to see the patient.
A nasopharyngeal airway is inserted:
with the bevel facing the septum if inserted into the right nare.
Urinary tract infections are more common in ____________.
women
Force acting over a distance is the definition of:
work.
The carpal bones form the:
wrist.
The inferior cartilaginous tip of the sternum is called the:
xiphoid process.
Twelve pairs of ribs attach to which section of the spinal column?
Thoracic
Which of the following signs/symptoms are indicative of respiratory involvement of an allergic reaction?
Tightness in the chest or throat
As an EMT, the performance of your duties will be compared to that of:
another EMT.
The femoral head forms a ball-and-socket joint with the:
antebellum
Points of distribution (PODs) are strategically placed facilities where:
antidotes, antibiotics, and vaccines are distributed
Pupillary response in pediatric patients may be abnormal in the presence of all of the following, EXCEPT:
anxiety
An adult patient who is NOT experiencing difficulty breathing will:
be able to speak in complete sentences without unusual pauses.
As you enter the residence of a patient who has possibly overdosed, you should:
be alert for personal hazards.
Bone marrow produces:
blood cells
Intrapulmonary shunting occurs when: Select one:
blood coming from the right side of the heart bypasses nonfunctional alveoli and returns to the left side of the heart in an unoxygenated state.
Patients with generalized hypothermia are at an increased risk of a local cold injury because:
blood is shunted away from the extremities to the body's core.
When assessing a patient with signs and symptoms of shock, it is important to remember that:
blood pressure may be the last measurable factor to change in shock.
Contraction of the right ventricle causes: Select one:
blood to flow into the pulmonary circulation.
Pale skin in a child indicates that the:
blood vessels near the skin are constricted.
Cerebral palsy is characterized by poorly controlled ________ movement.
body
The left cerebral hemisphere controls:
the right side of the body.
You are assessing a man with suspected hypothermia. The patient is conscious and alert, and is 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:
secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities.
Functions of the liver include:
secretion of bile and filtration of toxic substances.
Because a tracheostomy tube bypasses the nose and mouth:
secretions can build up in and around the tube.
Typical components of an oral patient report include all of the following, EXCEPT:
the set of baseline vital signs taken at the scene.
A 60-year-old man complains of chest pain. He is conscious and 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 medical history questions would be of LEAST pertinence in an acute situation?
"Does your mother have diabetes?"
Which of the following questions is of LEAST pertinence when determining whether a mother will deliver her baby within the next few minutes?
"Have you had a sonogram?"
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 patient responses would establish the "E" in the SAMPLE history?
"I was mowing the lawn when the pain began."
Which of the following statements is MOST consistent with the bargaining phase of the grieving process?
"I will be compliant with all my medications if I can just see my grandson graduate."
You are caring for a 52-year-old man who complains of chest discomfort. The patient is a retired paramedic and is very anxious because he thinks he is having a heart attack. Which of the following statements would be appropriate?
"It is possible that you are experiencing a heart attack. I am going to give you four baby aspirin to chew and swallow."
Which term of the following statements would NOT be appropriate to say to the family of a dying patient?
"Things will get better in time."
Which of the following questions is used to determine a patient's chief complaint?
"What seems to be the matter?"
Common questions asked by patients with a serious illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:
"Which hospital am I going to?"
A behavioral crisis interferes with which of the following?
- Activities of daily living - Behavior that is acceptable to the community - Dressing, eating, or bathing
What mechanism(s) does the body use to control bleeding?
- Clotting - Coagulation - Vasoconstriction
Patients may experience allergic reactions to which of the following substances?
- Food and medications - Insect or animal bites and stings - Plant material
If applying a dressing to control the bleeding of a patient's arm, the EMT should ________.
- apply direct pressure first - use large or small gauze pads or dressings depending upon the size of the wound - cover the entire wound, above and below, with the dressing
While assisting with respirations, you note gastric distention. In order to prevent or alleviate the distention, you should:
- ensure that the patient's airway is appropriately positioned. - ventilate the patient at the appropriate rate. - ventilate the patient at the appropriate volume.
Anaphylaxis caused by stinging insects is typically an allergic reaction to ____________ rather than the bite or sting itself.
- injected poison - irritating toxin - deadly venom
When a foreign substance invades the body, the body will __________.
- protect itself - go on alert - attempt to inactivate the foreign substance
Splinting an extremity even when there is no fracture can help to: Select one:
- reduce pain - minimize damage to an already-injured extremity. - make it easier to move the patient.
The mastoid process is located approximately:
1 inch posterior to the external opening of the ear.
The effects of epinephrine are typically observed within _________ following administration.
1 minute
The primary function of the right atrium is to: Select one:
. pump blood to the pulmonary artery.
From a mental health standpoint, an abnormal or disturbing pattern of behavior is a matter of concern if it lasts for at least:
. 1 month.
A 30-year-old male was rescued after being lost in the woods for approximately 18 hours. The outside temperature is 30°F (-1°C). He is immediately placed in the warmed ambulance, where you perform a primary assessment. He is unresponsive, pale, and apneic. You should:
. assess for a carotid pulse for up to 60 seconds.
Hypothermia can worsen internal bleeding secondary to:
. blood-clotting abnormalities.
Closed chest injuries are typically caused by _______.
. blunt trauma
Everyone exhibits some signs and symptoms of mental illness at some point in life ____________.
. but that does not mean a person is mentally ill
A 54-year-old male accidentally shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun. Your assessment reveals a small entrance wound to the medial aspect of his right leg. The exit wound is on the opposite side of the leg and is actively bleeding. The patient complains of numbness and tingling in his right foot. You should:
. control the bleeding and cover the wound with a sterile dressing.
A simple pneumothorax:
. is commonly caused by blunt chest trauma.
In pediatric patients, the liver and spleen are _______.
. larger in proportion to the abdomen
The physical examination of a sexual assault victim should be:
. limited to a brief survey for life-threatening injuries
You are transporting a 28-year-old man with a frostbitten foot. The patient's vital signs are stable and he denies any other injuries or symptoms. The weather is treacherous and your transport time to the hospital is approximately 45 minutes. During transport, you should:
. protect the affected part from further injury
High air temperature reduces the body's ability to lose heat by:
. radiation.
The adult epinephrine auto-injector delivers ______ mg of epinephrine, and the infant-child auto-injector delivers ______ mg.
0.3; 0.15
A 29-year-old male with a head injury opens his eyes when you speak to him, is confused as to the time and date, and is able to move all of his extremities on command. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is:
13
A mother who is pregnant with her first baby is typically in the first stage of labor for approximately:
16 hourS.
By ___ to 24 months, toddlers begin to understand cause and effect.
18
A 21-year-old male was working in an auto repair shop and sustained radiator burns to the anterior aspect of both arms and to his anterior chest. According to the rule of nines, this patient has burns that cover _____ of his BSA.
18%
You are dispatched to a residence where a middle-aged man was found unconscious in his front yard. There are no witnesses who can tell you what happened. You find him in a prone position; his eyes are closed and he is not moving. Your FIRST action should be to:
1og roll him as a unit to a supine position.
During a 30-minute transport of a stable patient, you should reassess him or her at least ________ times.
2
By the end of pregnancy, the pregnant patient's heart rate increases up to 20%, or about ____ beats more per minute.
20
When a patient has a chemical burn to the eye, you should irrigate the eye for at least 5 minutes; however, if the burn was caused by an alkali or strong acid, you should irrigate for:
20 minutes.
Significant vital sign changes will occur if the typical adult acutely loses more than ______ of his or her total blood volume.
20%
A person is said to be obese when he or she is ________ over his or her ideal weight.
20% or more
The incubation period for Ebola can be up to:
21 days
Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing?
24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin
A patient with a head injury presents with abnormal flexion of his extremities. What numeric value should you assign to him for motor response?
3
Determine the Apgar score in the following scenario: You arrive at the scene of a home delivery. Upon entering the scene, the father appears upset and hands you a limp baby. The child has a weak cry, is completely cyanotic, and has a pulse of 70 beats/min. Respirations are slow.
3
Hydroplaning of the ambulance on wet roads would MOST likely occur at speeds of greater than _____ mph.
30
In supine patients with a head injury, the head should be elevated _____ to help reduce intracranial pressure.
30 degrees
Which of the following interventions may be used to help reduce intracranial pressure?
30-degree elevation of the head
What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR?
30:2
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
Kidney function declines by _________________ between the ages of 20 and 90 years.
50%
The average adult has approximately ___________ of blood in his or her vascular system.
6 L
After ___________ minutes without oxygen, brain damage is very likely.
6 to 10
For an adult, the normal resting pulse should be between:
60 and 100 beats/min.
In the adult, bradycardia is defined as a pulse rate less than _______ beats/min, and tachycardia is defined as a heart rate greater than _______ beats/min.
60, 100
During each heartbeat, ___________ of blood is ejected from the adult heart, an amount called the stroke volume.
70 to 80 mL
A critical incident stress debriefing should be conducted no more than ________ hours following the incident. Select one:
72
In preparing for a disaster, EMS systems should have enough supplies for at least a ______ period of self-sufficiency.
72-hour
If a baby is born at 7:52, the second Apgar score should be calculated at:
7:57.
Your patient opens his eyes, moans, and pulls away from you when you pinch his trapezius muscle. You should assign a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of:
8
The JumpSTART triage system is intended to be used for children younger than _____ years or who appear to weigh less than _____.
8; 100 lb
Your patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13, a systolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg, and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. His Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is:
9
The anterior fontanelle fuses together between the ages of:
9 and 18 months
The anterior fontanelle fuses together between the ages of:
9 and 18 months.
With a good mask-to-face seal and an oxygen flow rate of 15 L/min, the nonrebreathing mask is capable of delivering up to ______% inspired oxygen.
90
In toddlers, the pulse rate is ___ beats/min.
90-150
A person's ability to shiver is lost when his or her body temperature falls below:
90°F (32°C).
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below:
95°F (35°C).
Which of the following would provide the EMT with the BEST cover in a situation involving active gunfire?
A concrete barricade
Which of the following patients would MOST likely have a delayed onset of an allergic reaction?
A 45-year-old male who ingested penicillin
Which of the following scenarios involves the administration of ALS?
A 48-year-old patient whose airway is secured with a supraglottic device
You are triaging four patients who were involved in a head-on motor vehicle crash. Which of the following patients should be assigned the highest (red) triage category?
A 49-year-old female with diabetes and difficulty breathing
In which of the following situations is a pertinent negative identified? S
A 59-year-old man complains of crushing chest pain but denies shortness of breath.
Which of the following destinations is most appropriate for a 41-year-old male patient who was involved in a rollover motor vehicle collision and is unconscious and unresponsive, assuming that travel times to each is equal?
A Level I or Level II trauma center
To which of the following diabetic patients should you administer oral glucose?
A confused 55-year-old male with tachycardia and pallor
Which of the following patients has decision-making capacity and can legally refuse emergency medical treatment?
A conscious and alert woman with severe abdominal pain
In which of the following situations would a direct ground lift be the MOST appropriate method of moving a patient?
A conscious patient complaining of abdominal pain
Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following, EXCEPT:
A hot, dry skin.
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.
Which of the following is probably NOT a multiple-casualty incident?
A motor vehicle crash with two critically injured patients and two ambulances
Which of the following statements regarding smooth muscle is correct?
A person has no voluntary control over smooth muscle.
Which of the following is an example of a psychiatric emergency?
A person violently attacking family members
In which of the following patients should you remove an impaled object?
A pulseless and apneic patient with a knife impaled in the back
Which of the following is NOT a common sign or symptom associated with malfunction of an implanted cardiac pacemaker?
A rapid heart rate
Which of the following statements regarding the scoop stretcher is NOT correct? Select one:
A scoop stretcher will provide adequate immobilization of a patient's spinal column.
Which of the following MOST accurately describes a simple partial seizure?
A seizure that begins in one extremity
Which of the following descriptions MOST accurately portrays emergency medical services (EMS)?
A team of health care professionals who are responsible for providing emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured
Which section of the heart receives deoxygenated blood?
Right
Which of the following must be assessed in every respiratory patient?
Lung sounds
Which of the following open soft-tissue injuries is limited to the superficial layer of the skin and results in the least amount of blood loss?
Abrasion
A patient tells you that he has a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Which of the following conditions should you suspect that he has experienced?
Acute myocardial infarction
Which of the following statements regarding the one-person bag-valve mask technique is correct?
Adequate tidal volume is often difficult to achieve when one EMT is operating the bag-valve mask.
A 37-year-old male is having a severe allergic reaction to penicillin. He does not have an epinephrine auto-injector and your protocols do not allow you to carry epinephrine on the ambulance. How should you proceed with the treatment of this patient?
Administer oxygen, transport at once, and request a paramedic intercept.
Which of the following statements regarding agonal respirations is correct?
Agonal respirations are ineffective and need to be assisted.
Which of the following splinting devices would be MOST appropriate to use for a patient who has an open fracture of the forearm with external bleeding?
Air splint
General adaptation syndrome is characterized by which of the following phases?
Alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery
Causes of vaginal bleeding include which of the following?
All of these answers are correct.
During gynecologic emergencies, in addition to the standard SAMPLE questions, the EMT should attempt to determine which of the following?
All of these answers are correct.
In cases of sexual assault, it is important to ensure that you do which of the following?
All of these answers are correct.
In what area of the lungs does respiration occur?
Alveoli
Which of the following is considered an organic brain syndrome?
Alzheimer dementia
Which of the following scenarios is an example of informed consent?
An EMT advises a patient of the risks of receiving treatment.
Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reaction?
An EMT becomes distracted at the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving the same type of car in which a child was previously killed.
Which of the following statements regarding the EMS medical director and an EMT's scope of practice is correct? Select one:
An EMT's scope of practice may be expanded by the medical director after proper training and state approval.
Which of the following statements regarding an infant's vital signs is correct?
An infant's normal body temperature is typically higher than a preschooler's.
Which of the following statements regarding anaphylaxis is correct?
Anaphylaxis is characterized by airway swelling and hypotension
You and your partner respond to the residence of a 66-year-old male with shortness of breath. As you are assessing the patient, his wife tells you that he was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. The patient is verbally abusive and tells you that failure of the health care system caused his disease. Which stage of the grieving process is this patient's behavior consistent with?
Anger
Which of the following organs or structures does NOT reside within the mediastinum?
Lungs
A pediatric patient with a fever, pain on palpation of the right lower quadrant, and rebound tenderness is likely suffering from ____
Appendicitis
During your visual inspection of a 25-year-old woman in labor, you see the baby's head crowning at the vaginal opening. What should you do?
Apply gentle pressure to the baby's head as it delivers.
Which of the following musculoskeletal injuries would pose the greatest threat to a patient's life?
Pelvic fracture with hypotension
Care for a victim of an immunologic emergency who is severely hypotensive should include which of the following?
Apply high-flow oxygen therapy, place the patient in a shock position, and help maintain the patient's body temperature.
The ____ and pia mater are the inner two layers of the meninges and are much thinner than the dura mater.
Arachnoid
Under what circumstances is a left ventricular assist device used?
As a bridge to heart transplantation while a donor heart is being located
Which of the following injuries would MOST likely occur as a direct result of the third collision in a motor vehicle crash?
Aortic rupture
Which of the following is most likely to cause immediate death?
Aortic rupture
What is "vital capacity"?
The volume of air moved during the deepest points of respiration
When a psychiatric emergency arises, a patient is most likely to exhibit which of the following behaviors?
Any behaviors that are a violent threat to the patient, EMTs, or others
You are assessing a 45-year-old female who is severely depressed. She states that it seems as though her entire world is crashing down around her. She further states that she has had frequent thoughts of suicide, but is not sure if she can actually go through with it. How should you manage this situation?
Ask the patient if she has developed a suicidal plan.
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
According to the START triage system, what should you do if a patient is found to have a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min?
Assess for bilateral radial pulses.
Which of the following is the MOST reliable method of estimating a patient's cardiac output?
Assess the heart rate and strength of the pulse.
Which of the following situations requires you to notify the appropriate authorities?
Attempted suicide
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
Which of the following skills or interventions is included at every level of prehospital emergency training?
Automated external defibrillation
Which of the following interventions is used by all levels of EMS providers?
Automated external defibrillator
Which of the following is a good guideline for physical examination of any patient?
Avoid touching without permission.
Which of the following statements regarding HIV is correct?
There is no vaccine against HIV infection.
Which of the following sets of vital signs would the EMT MOST likely encounter in a patient with acute cocaine overdose?
BP, 200/100 mm Hg; pulse, 150 beats/min
The mesentery is:
a membranous fold that attaches the intestines to the walls of the body.
When caring for the parents of a child who has died of leukemia, the EMT should:
Backnowledge the death of their child in private.
Which of the following MOST accurately describes septic shock?
Bacterial damage to the vessel wall, leaking blood vessels, and vasodilation
Which of the following statements regarding nervous system control of the cardiovascular system is correct?
Baroreceptors located throughout the body provide information to the brain regarding the blood pressure.
An infant's lungs are fragile, and providing bag-valve mask ventilations that are too forceful can result in trauma from pressure, or ---
Barotrauma
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. She also tells you that she takes medication for hypertension. Her breath sounds do not reveal any wheezing, her breathing is unlabored, and her blood pressure is 154/94 mm Hg. What should you do if you are not able to make contact with medical control?
Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route.
____________ is what you can see of a person's response to the environment.
Behavior
Which of the following skills would a layperson MOST likely be trained to perform before arrival of EMS?
Bleeding control using a tourniquet
Which of the following statements regarding gastrointestinal bleeding is correct?
Bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract is a symptom of another disease, not a disease itself
Which of the following assessments would be the MOST useful in determining the possible cause of a patient's altered mental status?
Blood glucose level Correct
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.
A 5-year-old child has had severe vomiting and diarrhea for 4 days. Which of the following assessment findings would be the MOST indicative of decompensated shock?
Blood pressure of 70/40 mm Hg
Which of the following oxygen flowmeters is NOT affected by gravity and can be used in any position when attached to an oxygen cylinder?
Bourdon-gauge flowmeter
All critical life functions are coordinated in which part of the brain?
Brain stem
How do poisons typically act to harm the body?
By changing the normal metabolism of cells or by destroying them
If you are exposed to a patient's blood or other bodily fluid, your first action should be to:
C
Hyperventilation could be associated with all of the following, EXCEPT:
a narcotic overdose.
You arrive at an accident scene to find an alternative-fuel vehicle leaking an unknown substance. You should immediately _________.
C. call for additional resources and keep bystanders away from the vehicle
Which of the following statements regarding motor nerves is correct?
They carry information from the CNS to the muscles.
Which part of the central nervous system is responsible for coordinating bodily movements such as writing or sewing?
Cerebellum
The phrenic nerves control the diaphragm and exit the spinal cord at:
C3, C4, and C5.
Which of the following is NOT a BLS intervention?
Cardiac monitoring
Which of the following injuries would MOST likely cause obstructive shock?
Cardiac tamponade
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 malfuction
Which of the following techniques should you use to dislodge a foreign body airway obstruction in a patient who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy or who is very obese?
Chest thrusts
Which of the following conditions would MOST likely lead to pelvic inflammatory disease if left untreated?
Chlamydia
Which of the following is a severe burn in a 35-year-old patient?
Circumferential partial-thickness burn to the chest
What is typically the most important intervention that an EMT can provide to the victim of sexual assault?
Comfort and reassurance
Which of the following statements regarding interaction with the caregiver of a child or adult with special health care needs is correct?
Communication with the patient's caregiver or family members is important because they are the most familiar with the patient's condition.
The ability to understand others and have them understand you is known as __________.
Communications
Which of the following statements regarding compartment syndrome is correct?
Compartment syndrome typically develops within 6 to 12 hours after an injury.
Which of the following statements regarding crush syndrome is correct?
Compromised arterial blood flow leads to crush syndrome and can occur when an area of the body is trapped for longer than 4 hours.
Which of the following MOST accurately describes what the patient will experience during the postictal state that follows a seizure?
Confusion and fatigue
Which of the following nerves allow sensory and motor impulses to be sent from one nerve directly to another?
Connecting
Which of the following findings is LEAST suggestive of child abuse?
Consistency in the method of injury reported by the caregiver
Which of the following is NOT a function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Constriction of blood vessels in the muscles
As you approach a patient lying at the side of the roadway, you observe severe bleeding from the leg. What should your first action be?
Control the bleeding.
Significant blood loss demands your immediate attention as soon as the _____ has been managed.
Controlling major external bleeding is always the priority.
A compression injury to the anterior portion of the brain and stretching of the posterior portion is called a(n) ____ BRAIN INJURY
Coup-contrecoup
A 33-year-old male sustained an abdominal evisceration to the left lower quadrant of his abdomen after he was cut with a large knife. After appropriately managing his ABCs and assessing him for other life-threatening injuries, how you should care for his wound?
Cover it with moist, sterile gauze and secure with an occlusive dressing.
Which type of stress reaction occurs when an EMT is exposed to many insignificant stressors over a period of several months or years?
Cumulative stress reaction
Which of the following is a late sign of hypoxia?
Cyanosis
Which of the following is a genetic disorder that predisposes the patient to repeated lung infections?
Cystic fibrosis
Hyperventilation could be associated with all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A
a narcotic overdose.
The EMT should expect that a patient who was exposed to cyanide will have:
a normal pulse oximetry reading
Anaphylaxis is MOST accurately defined as a(n):
extreme allergic reaction that may affect multiple body systems.
When performing a full body scan, you should assess for ________.
DCAP-BTLS
Which of the following statements regarding sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is correct?
Death as a result of SIDS can occur at any time of the day or night
Which of the following is the ONLY action that can prevent eventual death from a tension pneumothorax?
Decompression of the injured side of the chest
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of epinephrine?
Decreases heart rate and blood pressure
Which of the following statements regarding anterior nosebleeds is correct?
They usually originate from the septum area and bleed slowly.
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
Which of the following would MOST likely occur as the direct result of the second collision in a motor vehicle crash?
Deformed steering wheel
A 40-year-old man is in cardiac arrest. Your partner is performing CPR. You are attaching the AED when the patient's wife tells you that he has an automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator (AICD). The AED advises that a shock is indicated. What should you do?
Deliver the shock followed by immediate resumption of CPR.
Which of the following signs is commonly observed in patients with right-sided heart failure?
Dependent edema
Which of the following findings would be LEAST suggestive of the presence of high-energy trauma?
Deployment of the air bag
Which of the following is an effective stress management strategy?
Developing a social network outside of EMS
Which of the following MOST accurately defines negligence?
Deviation from the standard of care that may result in further injury
Which of the following medications blocks the release of histamines?
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
You are transporting a veteran whose legs were amputated in the war. When calling your radio report to the emergency department, which of the following words would be the MOST appropriate to use when describing the patient?
Disabled
Your partner, a veteran EMT with whom you have worked regularly for the past 4 years, seems unusually agitated during a call involving an elderly patient. Upon arrival back at your station, you note the obvious smell of alcohol on his breath. What should you do?
Discreetly report your suspicions to your supervisor.
Which of the following musculoskeletal injuries would MOST likely result in deformity?
Displaced fracture
Which of the following medications increases a person's risk of a heat-related emergency?
Diuretics
Which is the MOST appropriate method to use when moving a patient from his or her bed to a wheeled stretcher?
Draw sheet method
Which of the following is an example of regional equipment or supplies?
DuoDote Auto-Injector
Prehospital patient care decisions should be based on __________.
EMS research
The determination that prompt surgical care in the hospital is more important than performing time-consuming procedures in the field on a major trauma patient is based MOSTLY on:
EMS research.
Which of the following courses requires about 150 hours of training?
EMT
Why might EMTs encounter a larger proportion of violent patients than the population at large?
EMTs respond to patients who, by definition, are having an emergency.
Which of the following areas of the body has the thinnest skin?
Ears
_____ is heralded by the onset of convulsions, or seizures, resulting from severe hypertension in the pregnant woman.
Eclampsia
Which of the following is NOT a common exposure when dealing with pediatric burns?
Electrocution from poor wiring
When should nonlifesaving interventions be performed for your multisystem trauma patient?
En route to the hospital
A 12-year-old male jumped approximately 12 feet from a tree and landed on his feet. He complains of pain to his lower back. What injury mechanism is MOST likely responsible for his back pain?
Energy transmission to the spine
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
What should you do before attempting to access a patient trapped in a vehicle?
Ensure the vehicle is stable.
Which of the following statements regarding electrical burns is correct?
Entrance wounds are small relative to the amount of internal tissue damage.
What layer of the skin forms a watertight, protective seal for the body?
Epidermis
Which of the following head injuries would cause the patient's condition to deteriorate MOST rapidly?
Epidural hematoma
Which of the following structures is contained within the mediastinum?
Esophagus
While obtaining a 12-lead ECG prior to ALS arrival, you note the presence of artifacts on the tracing. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this?
Excessive movement of the patient
You are approaching an overturned tanker truck to assess the driver, who appears to be unresponsive. As you get closer to the vehicle, you note the smell of noxious fumes and find that you are in the midst of a vapor cloud. What should you do?
Exit the area immediately and gather information for the HazMat team.
Based on current guidelines, in which of the following situations should supplemental oxygen be administered?
Exposure to carbon monoxide and an oxygen saturation of 95%
Which of the following duties or responsibilities does NOT fall within the realm of the medical branch of the incident command system?
Extrication
You respond to a 25-year-old man who has cut his arm with a circular saw. The bleeding appears to be bright red and spurting. The patient is alert and oriented and converses with you freely. He appears to be stable at this point. What is your first step in controlling his bleeding?
Following standard precautions
_____ burns may involve the subcutaneous layers, muscle, bone, or internal organs.
Full-thickness
__________ rays easily penetrate through the human body and require lead or several inches of concrete to prevent penetration.
Gamma
Which organ or organ system has the greatest tolerance for lack of perfusion (shock)?
Gastrointestinal system
What medication form does oral glucose come in?
Gel
A 71-year-old female slipped on a rug and fell. She is conscious and alert and complains of severe pelvic pain. Her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. Which of the following is NOT indicated for this patient?
Gentle palpation of the pelvis
Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct?
Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily absorbed by the bloodstream.
Which of the following infections, when left untreated, may lead to infection of the blood and brain?
Gonorrhea
The EMT is legally obligated to protect a patient's privacy according to _____________.
HIPAA
Which of the following has the weakest transmission signal and, as a result, is LEAST likely to be heard by the party being called?
Hand-held portable radio
A 30-year-old male experienced a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure, which stopped before you arrived at the scene. The patient is conscious, is answering your questions appropriately, and refuses EMS transport. Which of the following would be the MOST compelling reason to disagree with his refusal of transport?
He is currently not prescribed any medications
What are the three components of the "perfusion triangle"?
Heart, blood vessels, blood
Which of the following statements regarding hepatitis A is correct? Select one:
Hepatitis A can only be transmitted by a patient who has an acute infection.
You receive a call for a domestic dispute. When you arrive at the scene, you find a young male standing on the front porch of his house. You notice that an adjacent window is broken. The patient has a large body, is clenching his fists, and is yelling obscenities at you. Which of the following findings is LEAST predictive of this patient's potential for violence?
His large body size
___________ pressure is the pressure exerted by a liquid that occurs when blood moves through an artery at relatively high pressures.
Hydrostatic
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to increase a person's risk of hypothermia?
Hyperglycemia
Which of the following is NOT a common cause of altered mental status in pediatric patients?
Hypertension
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Hypovolemia
Which of the following statements regarding secondary brain injury is correct?
Hypoxia and hypotension are the two most common causes of secondary brain injury.
A type _____ ambulance features a conventional, truck cab-chassis with a modular ambulance body that can be transferred to a newer chassis as needed.
I
Which of the following medications would the EMT be LEAST likely to administer to a patient with a medical complaint?
Ibuprofen
In which of the following situations should the EMT splint an injured limb in the position of deformity?
If resistance is encountered or the patient experiences severe pain
You have two patients who were involved in a motor vehicle crash when their SUV struck a tree—one with neck and back pain, and the other with a deformed left femur. The patient with the deformed femur states that he does not want to be placed on a hard board, nor does he want a collar around his neck. What is the MOST appropriate and practical method of securing these patients and placing them into the ambulance?
Immobilize the patient with neck and back pain on a long backboard and place him on the wheeled stretcher; place the patient with the deformed femur on a folding stretcher secured to the squad bench.
Which of the following is the MOST significant factor in determining whether a person will become ill from certain germs?
Immunity
Compression injury is most likely due to which of the following?
Improperly placed lab belt
Which of the following statements regarding oxygenation and ventilation is correct?
In mines or confined places, where oxygen levels are low, ventilation may continue despite adequate oxygenation.
Which of the following statements regarding sickle cell disease is correct?
In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells are abnormally shaped and are less able to carry oxygen.
Which of the following would cause an increase in the amount of exhaled carbon dioxide?
Increased cardiac output
While providing care to a patient, blood got onto the ambulance stretcher. Because the stretcher was not properly cleaned afterward, a virus was transmitted to another emergency medical technician (EMT) several days later. Which route of transmission does this scenario describe?
Indirect contact
What is the function of platelets?
Initial formation of a blood clot
Which of the following is true regarding injury to the kidneys?
Injury to the kidneys usually indicates injury to other organs.
_____ bleeding is any bleeding in a cavity or space inside the body.
Internal
What is the route of administration for the EpiPen auto-injector?
Intramuscular
Which of the following medication routes would be the MOST appropriate to use in an unresponsive patient when intravenous access cannot be obtained?
Intraosseous
Upon arriving at the scene of a patient with difficulty breathing, you determine that the scene is safe. You enter the residence and find the patient sitting in a chair in respiratory distress. Your first action should be to:
Introduce yourself to the patient.
Which of the following breathing patterns is MOST indicative of increased intracranial pressure?
Irregular rate, pattern, and volume of breathing with intermittent periods of apnea
Which of the following signs would indicate that your partner is experiencing significant stress?
Isolation from the rest of the crew
Which of the following statements regarding striated muscle is correct?
It forms the major muscle mass of the body and usually crosses at least one joint.
You come upon an unresponsive patient who is not injured and is breathing on her own with a normal rate and an adequate tidal volume. What would be the advantage of placing her in the recovery position?
It helps to maintain a clear airway
Which of the following statements regarding the vitreous humor is correct?
It is a clear, jellylike fluid near the back of the eye that cannot be replaced if it is lost.
Which of the following statements regarding stridor is correct?
It is a high-pitched, crowing upper airway sound.
What is the function of the left atrium?
It receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
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 organs is NOT part of the digestive system?
Kidney
Which of the following organs or structures lies within the retroperitoneal space?
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.
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 organs would MOST likely bleed profusely when injured?
Liver
Which of the following is an early sign of pit viper envenomation?
Local swelling and ecchymosis
Which of the following may help reduce your patient's nausea?
Low-flow oxygen
Which of the following statements regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is correct?
MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections and is resistant to most antibiotics.
Which of the following is NOT a function of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)?
Maintaining communications equipment on the ambulance
A 29-year-old pregnant woman has had severe vomiting for the last 2 days. Today, she is vomiting large amounts of blood. Her skin is cool and pale and she is tachycardic. The EMT should suspect:
Mallory-Weiss tear.
Which of the following is required for an EMT to administer a drug to a patient?
Medical direction approval
Which of the following statements regarding autism is correct?
Most cases of autism are diagnosed by 3 years of age.
Which of the following is NOT a symptom of a concussion?
Muscle tremors
EMT training in nearly every state meets or exceeds the guidelines recommended by the:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
When gathering a patient's medications, you find the following: Isordil, Lasix, Nexium, and digoxin. Which of these medications can be obtained over-the-counter (OTC)?
Nexium
Which of the following statements regarding nitroglycerin is correct? Select one:
Nitroglycerin usually relieves anginal chest pain within 5 minutes
In which of the following situations would the EMT be the LEAST likely to immobilize a patient's spine?
No distracting injuries or evidence of intoxication
Which of the following statements regarding the hepatitis B vaccine is correct?
OSHA requires that your employer offer you the vaccine free of charge.
Which of the following is NOT performed immediately following delivery of the infant?
Obtain an Apgar score.
Patient complaints of pain during intercourse, lower abdominal discomfort, and nausea may be indicative of which of the following?
Pelvic inflammatory disease
When should you visually inspect the external genitalia on your patient?
Only when there is a complaint of severe pain or other injury
As an EMT, you may be authorized to administer aspirin to a patient with chest pain based on:
Opinion from care groups of cardiologists
Which of the following medication routes has the slowest rate of absorption?
Oral
You respond to a construction site and find a worker lying supine in the dirt. He has been hit by a heavy construction vehicle and flew more than 15 feet (4.6 m) before landing in his current position. There is discoloration and distention of his abdomen about the right upper quadrant. He is unconscious and his respirations are 10 breaths/min and shallow, with noisy gurgling sounds. What method will you use to keep his airway open?
Oropharyngeal airway
What is (are) the primary female reproductive organ(s) called?
Ovaries
Which of the following statements regarding pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is correct?
PID can scar the fallopian tubes, which increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?
Pancreas
Which of the following statements regarding parenteral medications is correct?
Parenteral medications are absorbed more quickly than enteral medications.
Which of the following is a severe burn in a 65-year-old patient?
Partial-thickness burn to 20% of the BSA
Which of the following statements regarding dialysis is correct?
Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness.
Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is correct?
Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously.
Which of the following statements regarding patients with intellectual disabilities is correct?
Patients with intellectual disabilities are susceptible to the same disease processes as other patients.
Which of the following patient populations typically require a modified drug dose?
Pediatric patients
By what mechanism is a person injured when he or she falls from a significant height?
Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy; the kinetic energy is then converted into the work of bringing the body to a stop.
CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman. Shortly after manually displacing her uterus to the left, return of spontaneous circulation occurs. Which of the following would MOST likely explain this?
Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved chest compression effectiveness.
At 0500 hours, you respond to the home of a 76-year-old man complaining of chest pain. Upon arrival, the patient states that he had been sleeping in the recliner all night due to indigestion, when the pain woke him up. He also tells you he has taken two nitroglycerin tablets. His vital signs are as follows: respirations, 16 breaths/min; pulse, 98 beats/min; blood pressure, 92/76 mm Hg. He is still complaining of chest pain. What actions should you take to intervene?
Provide high-flow oxygen.
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 interventions is the MOST critical to the outcome of a patient with multisystem trauma?
Rapid transport to a trauma center
You and your partner enter the residence of an elderly couple, both of whom are found unconscious in their bed. There is no evidence of trauma. As you begin your assessment, you and your partner notice the smell of natural gas in the residence. Which of the following should be your MOST appropriate action?
Rapidly remove the patients from their residence using a blanket or clothes drag.
Which portion of the blood carries oxygen to and wastes away from body tissues?
Red blood cells
Which of the following conditions would MOST likely affect the entire brain?
Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest
Which type of communications equipment functions as a radio receiver and searches across several frequencies?
Scanner
Which of the following signs of respiratory distress is seen MOST commonly in pediatric patients?
Seesaw breathing
Which of the following signs of respiratory distress is typically unique to infants and children?
Seesaw respirations
Which of the following conditions would MOST likely be encountered in a patient with cerebral palsy?
Seizure disorder
Upon completion of spinal immobilization, reassessment of pulse, motor, and ______ function in each extremity is necessary.
Sensory
Which of the following nerves carry information from the body to the brain via the spinal cord?
Sensory
Which set of nerves is responsible for carrying information from the body to the central nervous system?
Sensory
Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to result in hypoxia?
Severe anxiety
Which of the following situations or conditions warrants immediate transport?
Severe chest pain and cool, pale skin
Which of the following factors will cause a decreased minute volume in an adult?
Shallow breathing
_____ is inadequate tissue perfusion.
Shock
Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) would MOST likely be contraindicated in which of the following situations?
Shortness of breath and a blood pressure of 76/56 mm Hg
Assuming that no obvious signs of intra-abdominal injury are present, which of the following injuries would MOST likely cause an injury to the liver or spleen to be overlooked?
Shoulder fracture
Which of your senses can be safely used to identify a HazMat incident?
Sight and sound
Which of the following types of muscle is under direct voluntary control of the brain?
Skeletal
Which of the following organs can tolerate inadequate perfusion for 2 to 3 hours?
Skeletal muscle
Which of the following joints allows no motion?
Skull sutures
Which of the following clinical signs would necessitate the administration of naloxone (Narcan)?
Slow respirations
What type of muscle contracts and relaxes to control the movement of the contents within its structures?
Smooth
Which of the following statements regarding blast injuries is correct?
Solid organs are relatively protected from shock wave injury but may be injured during the secondary or tertiary blast phase.
What part of the nervous system controls the body's voluntary activities?
Somatic
____is a developmental defect in which a portion of the spinal cord protrudes outside the vertebrae.
Spina bifida
Which of the following helps filter the blood and has no digestive function?
Spleen
Which of the following organs assists in the filtration of blood, serves as a blood reservoir, and produces antibodies?
Spleen
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this patient's condition?
Spontaneous peumothorax
Which of the following abnormal breath sounds indicates obstruction of the upper airway?
Stridor
Which of the following sounds indicates swelling of the upper airway?
Stridor
Neck rigidity, bloody cerebrospinal fluid, and headache are associated with what kind of bleeding in the brain?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Which layer of the skin is composed of fatty tissue and serves as an insulator for the body?
Subcutaneous
How is nitroglycerin usually given by the EMT?
Sublingually
Which of the following statements regarding anaphylactic shock is correct?
Subsequent exposure after sensitization often produces a more severe reaction.
Which of the following signs/symptoms is considered particularly significant in gynecological emergencies?
Syncope
Which of the following infectious diseases confers no protection from reinfection after exposure?
Syphilis
Which of the following would be the LEAST likely to occur in a patient with a core body temperature of between 89°F (32°C) and 92°F (33°C)?
Tachycardia
Which of the following statements regarding epinephrine administration via the intramuscular (IM) route is correct?
The 1:1000 concentration should be used.
Which of the following statements regarding the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is correct?
The ADA prohibits employers from failing to provide full and equal employment to those who are disabled.
Which of the following statements regarding the AED and defibrillation is correct?
The AED will not analyze the rhythm of a moving patient.
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.
In which of the following situations would the EMTs MOST likely utilize a police escort?
The EMTs are unfamiliar with the location, but the police officer knows the area.
Which of the following statements regarding the NREMT is correct?
The NREMT provides a national standard for EMS testing.
Which of the following statements regarding the Salmonella bacterium is correct?
The Salmonella bacterium itself causes food poisoning.
A young boy was riding his bicycle down the street when he hit a parked car. What was the second collision?
The bike rider hitting his bike or the car
Which of the following MOST accurately describes hyperthermia?
The body is exposed to more heat than it can lose.
Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct?
The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen.
Which of the following statements regarding the dermis is correct?
The dermis contains hair follicles, sweat glands, and nerve endings.
Which of the following would MOST likely provide clues regarding the source of a patient's allergic reaction?
The environment in which the patient is found
Which of the following statements regarding the heart is correct?
The heart is under the control of the autonomic nervous system.
Which of the following processes occurs during the inflammation phase of the healing process?
The immune system releases histamines, which cause vasodilation and increased capillary permeability, resulting in local redness and swelling.
Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?
The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague and poorly localized.
Which of the following statements is NOT true? Select one:
The leading cause of abruptio placenta is an ectopic pregnancy.
What is an EMT's primary service area?
The main area in which the EMS agency operates
Which of the following statements regarding the medulla oblongata is correct?
The medulla is sensitive to pH changes and sends messages via the phrenic nerve to contract the diaphragm.
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
Which of the following is a specific example of the Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) model?
The paramedic administers a patient's flu vaccination
Which of the following findings would be the MOST significant when assessing a patient with possible internal bleeding?
The patient takes rivaroxaban (Xeralto).
Which of the following observations or statements represents the "E" in the GEMS diamond?
The patient's residence is cold due to a malfunctioning heater.
Which of the following statements regarding abdominal eviscerations is correct?
The protruding organs should be kept warm and moist
Which of the following statements regarding gunshot wounds is correct?
The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced.
Which of the following statements regarding the different stages of the grieving process is correct?
The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously.
Which of the following would be the MOST practical method of communicating with a hearing-impaired patient until his or her hearing aids can be located?
Using a piece of paper and writing utensil to ask questions
From what internal female organ is the fetus expelled during delivery?
Uterus
Which of the following statements regarding ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) is correct?
V-fib results in an absence of forward blood flow.
Which of the following cardiac dysrhythmias has the greatest chance of deteriorating into a pulseless rhythm?
Ventricular tachyardia
Which of the following signs or symptoms would the EMT MOST likely encounter in a patient with new-onset type 1 diabetes?
Weight loss and polyuria
You are attending to a 32-year-old male patient. The patient's wife tells you that he returned from Afghanistan last year. While he initially seemed fine, lately he has become withdrawn and distanced himself from his family and friends. He does not talk about it, but she knows that he has been having terrible nightmares that wake him up. The most appropriate question to ask regarding his experience in Afghanistan is:
Were you shot at or under fire?
Which of the following clinical signs is unique to anaphylactic shock?
Wheezing
Which of the following is NOT a sign or symptom of a laryngeal injury?
Wheezing
When questioning the parent of a child who ingested a poisonous substance, which of the following questions would be of LEAST pertinence initially?
Why did your child ingest the poison?
Which of the following questions would be LEAST pertinent during the initial questioning of a patient who ingested a substance?
Why was the substance ingested?
Which of the following statements regarding positive-pressure ventilation is correct?
With positive-pressure ventilation, more volume is required to have the same effects as normal breathing.
Spina bifida is defined as:
a birth defect caused by incomplete closure of the spinal column.
Following blunt trauma to the face, a 21-year-old male complains of a severe headache and decreased ability to move his eyes. This patient's clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:
a blowout fracture.
Most prehospital cardiac arrests occur as the result of:
a cardiac dysrhythmia.
Age-related changes in the renal system result in:
a decreased ability to clear wastes from the body and a decreased ability to conserve fluids when needed.
During the natural process of aging, the number of functional cilia in the respiratory system decreases, resulting in:
a decreased ability to cough.
The MOST reliable sign of a head injury is: Select one:
a decreased level of consciousness.
A patient who is complaining of seeing flashing lights, specks, or "floaters" in his or her field of vision has MOST likely experienced:
a detached retina.
Negative-pressure breathing involves:
a drop in pressure within the chest cavity.
Most patients with an infectious disease will have _________.
a fever
You should suspect a kidney injury anytime the patient presents with _______.
a hematoma in the flank region
An infectious disease is MOST accurately defined as:
a medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body.
Neurogenic shock is caused by:
a radical change in the size of the vascular system.
At the site of the injury, signs and symptoms of an animal or insect bite or sting may include pain, localized heat, and a wheal, which appears as __________.
a raised, well-defined area of the skin
An indicator of an expanding intracranial hematoma or rapidly progressing brain swelling is:
a rapid deterioration of neurologic signs.
Common signs and symptoms of a serious head injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a rapid, thready pulse.
Signs of adequate breathing in the adult include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a reduction in tidal volume.
Compared to adults, infants and children are at higher risk for hypothermia for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT
a relatively small surface area.
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.
Continual reassessment of the scene at a suspected terrorist or weapon of mass destruction incident is MOST important because:
a secondary explosive device may detonate
A flail chest occurs when:
a segment of the chest wall is detached from the thoracic cage.
When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, you should be MOST alert for:
a seizure.
A reflex arc occurs when:
a sensory nerve detects an irritating stimulus and bypasses the brain by sending a direct message to the motor nerve.
Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system would result in:
a slower heart rate
An 84-year-old male fell a week ago and has been bedridden since then. Today, he presents with an altered mental status. His skin is pale and cold and his respirations are rapid and shallow. The EMT should suspect:
a systemic infection.
If direct pressure fails to immediately stop severe bleeding from an extremity, you should apply:
a tourniquet proximal to the injury.
Down syndrome is a genetic defect that occurs as the result of:
a triplication of chromosome 21
CPR should be initiated when:
a valid living will is unavailable.
A raised, swollen, well-defined area on the skin that is the result of an insect bite or sting is called:
a wheal.
When a child is struck by a car, the area of greatest injury depends MOSTLY on the:
age of the child and the size of the car that struck him or her.
When, for a brief period of time, heart tissues do not get enough oxygen, the pain is called:
angina.
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: Select one:
abdomen
A pediatric patient involved in a drowning emergency may present with:
abdominal distention.
The MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness is:
abdominal or joint pain.
A patient with pelvic inflammatory disease will typically complain of _________.
abdominal pain associated with menstruation
Blood stasis, changes in the vessel wall, and certain medications affect the:
ability of the blood to effectively clot.
When auscultating the lungs of a patient with respiratory distress, you hear adventitious sounds. This means that the patient has:
abnormal breath sounds
Premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus is known as:
abruptio placenta.
Clinical signs of compensated shock include all of the following, EXCEPT:
absent peripheral pulses.
An infant with severe dehydration would be expected to present with:
absent urine output.
The final stage of death and dying MOST commonly takes the form of:
acceptance.
Equipment and supplies that are carried on an ambulance should be stored:
according to the urgency and frequency of their use.
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:
aceration of the aorta.
You are transporting an elderly woman who has possibly experienced a stroke. She is obviously scared but is unable to talk and cannot move the entire right side of her body. In addition to providing the medical care that she needs, you should:
acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her.
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
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that circulates in between each meningeal layer:
acts as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord.
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.
Most treatments provided in the prehospital setting are intended to _________.
address the patient's symptoms
An alert patient presents with a regular pattern of inhalation and exhalation and breath sounds that are clear and equal on both sides of the chest. These findings are consistent with:
adequate air exchange.
Gas exchange in the lungs is facilitated by: Select one:
adequate amounts of surfactant.
Pain that moves from its point of origin to another body location is said to be:
adiating.
When administering supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient with a chronic lung disease, you should:
adjust the flow rate accordingly until you see symptom improvements, but be prepared to assist is or her ventilations
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.
You are dispatched to a state park for a young female experiencing an allergic reaction. Your assessment reveals that her breathing is severely labored and her blood pressure is very low. You carry epinephrine auto-injectors on your ambulance and have been trained and approved by your medical director to administer them. As your partner gives the patient supplemental oxygen, you attempt to contact medical control but do not have a signal from your cell phone. You should:
administer epinephrine to the patient, begin immediate transport, and attempt to contact medical control en route to the hospital.
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.
A 39-year-old male was struck in the head by a baseball during a game. He is confused and has slurred speech. He has a large hematoma in the center of his forehead and cannot remember the events preceding the injury. After manually stabilizing his head and assessing his airway, you should:
administer high-flow oxygen.
A 59-year-old male presents with sudden-onset severe lower back pain. He is conscious and alert, but very restless and diaphoretic. Your assessment reveals a pulsating mass to the left of his umbilicus. You should:
administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport.
A 19-year-old female was stung multiple times on the legs by fire ants. She states that she is allergic to fire ants, but does not carry her own epinephrine. The patient is conscious and alert and complains of pain to the area of the bites. Her blood pressure is 122/70 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and strong, and her respirations are 18 breaths/min and unlabored. You should:
administer oxygen and transport her to the hospital.
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.
A 73-year-old man presents with a generalized rash, which he thinks may have been caused by an antibiotic that he recently began taking. He has a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and emphysema. He is conscious and alert, his blood pressure is 144/94 mm Hg, and his pulse is 64 beats/min and regular. You auscultate his breath sounds and hear scattered wheezing, although he is not experiencing respiratory distress. You should:
administer oxygen if needed, transport the patient, and monitor him for signs of deterioration.
A 51-year-old female presents with a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She is conscious and alert and able to speak in complete sentences. Her respirations are 22 breaths/min and regular. You should:
administer oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.
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.
A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest pressure of 2 hours' duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and irregular, her respirations are 22 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 92%. The patient does not have prescribed nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should:
administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
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.
The MOST appropriate treatment for a patient with a mild upper airway obstruction includes:
administering oxygen and transporting immediately.
The process of binding or sticking to a surface is called:
adsorption.
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.
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 and to send another unit.
A 15-year-old boy was killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle. He has numerous disfiguring injuries and has been placed in the back of the ambulance to shield him from curious bystanders. When the child's parents arrive at the scene, they demand to see him. You should:
advise them that their son had severely disfiguring injuries and ask them if there is anyone they would like you to contact first.
When immobilizing a seated patient with a short backboard or vest-style immobilization device, you should apply a cervical collar:
after assessing distal neurovascular functions.
When functioning at the scene of a motor vehicle crash in which a patient will require complex extrication, you should enter the vehicle and provide care to the patient:
after receiving approval from the incident commander.
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.
Vector-borne transmission of an infectious organism occurs via:
animals or insects.
When assessing an 80-year-old patient in shock, it is important to remember that:
age-related changes in the cardiovascular system may 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.
A(n) ______ results when an open vein sucks air into it and the air travels to the heart.
air embolism
An open pneumothorax occurs when:
air enters the pleural space from outside the body.
Crackles (rales) are caused by _________.
air passing through fluid
The MOST significant complication associated with facial injuries is:
airway compromise.
According to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA):
all health care facilities must provide a medical assessment and required treatment, regardless of the patient's ability to pay.
The foreign substance responsible for causing an allergic reaction is called a(n):
allergen.
Palliating factors regarding a patient's pain involve those that:
alleviate the pain.
Between each chest compression, you should __________.
allow full chest recoil
When decontaminating the back of your ambulance after a call, you should:
allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions
The purpose of the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) is to:
allow you to rapidly and visually form a general impression of the child.
As the bronchus divides into smaller bronchioles, the terminal ends of these smaller passages form the:
alveoli
Common causes of depression in the elderly include all of the following, EXCEPT:
an acute onset of dementia.
An open neck injury may result in _____ if enough air is sucked into a blood vessel.
an air embolism
In addition to severe bleeding, the MOST life-threatening complication associated with an open neck injury is:
an air embolism
A history of pelvic inflammatory disease or tubal ligations increases a woman's risk for:
an ectopic pregnancy.
A patient's refusal of EMS treatment and/or transport must be:
an informed refusal.
Erosion of the protective layer of the stomach or duodenum secondary to overactivity of digestive juices results in:
an ulcer.
Foods, medications, and insects are common causes of ________.
anaphylactic shock
Noncardiovascular causes of shock include respiratory insufficiency and:
anaphylaxis.
A 62-year-old man with a history of congestive heart failure presents with severe respiratory distress and with an oxygen saturation of 82%. When you auscultate his lungs, you hear widespread rales. He is conscious and alert, is able to follow simple commands, and can only speak in two- to three-word sentences at a time. You should:
apply a CPAP device, monitor his blood pressure, and observe him for signs of improvement or deterioration.
An unrestrained patient is sitting in his car after an automobile crash. He is conscious and alert, has no visible trauma, and is complaining of neck and back pain. Before removing him from his car, you should: Select one:
apply a cervical collar and immobilize him with a vest-style device
A patient is bleeding severely from a severed femoral artery high in the groin region. Which of the following would MOST likely control the bleeding?
apply a topical hemostatic agent with direct pressure
A 20-year-old male has a large laceration to his wrist. He is holding a blood-soaked towel over the wound, but it continues to bleed rapidly. You should:
apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
You respond to a residence for a patient with a severe leg injury following an accident with a chainsaw. When you arrive, you find the patient, a 44-year-old male, lying supine in the backyard. He has a partial amputation of his right lower leg that is actively bleeding. The patient is conscious and breathing adequately; however, he is restless and his skin is diaphoretic. You should:
apply direct pressure to the wound.
During your assessment of a 29-year-old female with significant deformity to her left elbow, you are unable to palpate a radial pulse. Your transport time to the hospital is approximately 40 minutes. You should:
apply gentle manual traction in line with the limb and reassess for a pulse.
Following 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.
External bleeding from an extremity can usually be controlled initially by:
applying direct pressure
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 this patient includes:
applying direct pressure with a dry, sterile dressing.
A short backboard or vest-style immobilization device is indicated for patients who:
are in a sitting position and are clinically stable.
The MOST common reason that many people experiencing AMI do not seek immediate medical attention is because they:
are in denial.
Injuries to the external male genitalia _______.
are rarely life-threatening
Febrile seizures:
are usually benign but should be evaluated.
With regard to musculoskeletal injuries, the zone of injury is defined as the:
area of soft-tissue damage surrounding the injury.
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess:
eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.
You respond to a 71-year-old woman who is unresponsive. You try to get her to respond but have no success. Her airway is open, and she is breathing at a rate of 14 breaths/min. What structure on her neck should you locate to take a pulse?
arotid arteries
In moving joints, the ends of the bones are covered with:
articular cartilage.
Poor peripheral circulation will cause the skin to appear:
ashen.
You are attempting to gain access to a patient who was injured when his truck struck another vehicle from behind. The patient is conscious and alert, but is screaming in pain. You try to open the door, but it is locked. You should:
ask the patient if he can unlock the door.
When assessing for arm drift of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should:
ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment
You have applied a dressing and roller-gauze bandage to a laceration on the arm of a young female. During transport, she begins to complain of numbness and tingling in her hand. You should:
assess distal circulation and readjust the bandage as needed.
After your partner assumes manual in-line stabilization of the patient's head, you should:
assess distal neurovascular status in the extremities.
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.
You receive a call to a daycare center for an unresponsive 8-month-old infant. Upon arrival, you perform an assessment and determine that the infant is not breathing. Your next action should be to:
assess for a brachial pulse for 5 to 10 seconds.
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.
A 49-year-old male presents with an acute onset of crushing chest pain and diaphoresis. You should:
assess the adequacy of his respirations
Upon arriving at the residence of a patient with a possible cardiac problem, it is MOST important to:
assess the scene for potential hazards.
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 AED as soon as possible.
A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should:
assess whether the patient's mental condition is impaired.
Common factors that influence how a patient reacts to the stress of an illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:
assessment by the EMT.
While triaging patients at the scene of a building collapse, you encounter a young child who is conscious, alert, and breathing; has bilateral radial pulses; and has a severely angulated leg, which is not bleeding. According to the JumpSTART triage system, you should:
assign him a delayed (yellow) category and continue triaging the other patients
During your assessment of a young female with nontraumatic vaginal bleeding, you note that her level of consciousness is decreased, her respirations are rapid and shallow, her skin is cool and moist, and her pulse is rapid and weak. You should:
assist her ventilations with a BVM.
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.
After eating at a local restaurant, a 20-year-old male complains of blurred vision, difficulty speaking, and difficulty breathing. He is conscious; however, his respirations are profoundly labored and producing minimal tidal volume. You should:
assist his ventilations with high-flow oxygen.
A young male was shot in the abdomen by an unknown type of gun. He is semiconscious, has shallow breathing, and is bleeding externally from the wound. As you control the external bleeding, your partner should:
assist the patient's ventilations.
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
An organ or tissue may be better able to resist damage from hypoperfusion if the:
body's temperature is considerably less than 98.6°F (37.0°C)
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 37-year-old male is found unresponsive in his car. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and labored. As you and your partner are assessing and treating the patient, a police officer hands you a medication named Alupent, which he found in the backseat of the patient's car. This medication suggests that the patient has a history of:
asthma.
A general impression of the patient is formed by an EMT:
at a distance when the patient is first seen.
Unless he or she is critically ill or injured, you should generally begin your assessment of a toddler:
at the feet.
The decline in cardiac function that commonly occurs in late adulthood is MOST often related to:
atherosclerosis.
Multiple people in a small town began 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
Because of the complexity of the older patient and the vagueness of his or her complaint, you should:
attempt to differentiate between chronic and acute problems.
Both areas of the pons are used to:
augment respirations during emotional or physical stress
An EMT may administer aspirin to a patient if:
authorization from medical control has been obtained.
The electrical stimulus that originates in the heart's primary pacemaker is controlled by impulses from the brain that arrive by way of the:
autonomic nervous system
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.
To avoid injury when pushing a patient or other object, you should:
avoid pushing the patient with your elbows fully extended.
An injury that separates various layers of soft tissue, resulting in complete detachment or a flap of skin, is called a(n):
avulsion.
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.
The musculoskeletal system refers to the:
bones and voluntary muscles of the body.
Initial treatment to dislodge a severe foreign body airway obstruction in a responsive infant involves:
back slaps
A 47-year-old male presents with severe abdominal pain of 3 hours' duration. His abdomen is distended and guarded. Your MOST important consideration for this patient should be to:
be alert for signs and symptoms of shock.
Your documentation on a sexual assault victim should _______.
be objective and factual
In anticipation of receiving a fertilized ovum, the lining of the uterine wall:
becomes engorged with blood.
A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:
begin CPR until an AED is available.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a middle-aged man who collapsed about 5 minutes ago. He is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. Bystanders are present, but have not provided any care. You should:
begin high quality CPR and apply the AED as soon as possible
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.
Following proper decontamination, a 30-year-old male is brought to you. He is semiconscious and has rapid, shallow respirations. A quick visual assessment reveals no obvious bleeding. You should:
begin some form of positive-pressure ventilation.
When you and your partner arrive at the residence of a man in cardiac arrest, you immediately recognize the patient as the drunk driver who killed your brother several years earlier. A backup ambulance is en route to the scene. You should:
begin two-rescuer CPR and apply the AED as soon as possible.
You and your partner are caring for a critically injured patient. Your partner is controlling severe bleeding from the patient's lower extremities as you attempt ventilations with a bag-valve mask. After repositioning the mask several times, you are unable to effectively ventilate the patient. You should:
begin ventilations using the mouth-to-mask technique.
You are dispatched to a residence for a 56-year-old male with an altered mental status. Upon arrival at the scene, the patient's wife tells you that he complained of chest pain the day before, but would not allow her to call EMS. The patient is semiconscious; has rapid, shallow respirations; and has a thready pulse. You should:
begin ventilatory assistance.
When a patient is dying, he or she may experience regression. This is MOST accurately defined as: Select one:
behavior consistent with an earlier developmental stage
The posterior tibial pulse can be palpated:
behind the medial malleolus, on the inside of the ankle.
By the 20th week of pregnancy, the uterus is typically at or above the level of the mother's:
belly button.
When worn properly, a seatbelt should lie:
below the anterior superior iliac spines of the pelvis and against the hip joints.
Activated charcoal is given to patients who have ingested certain substances because it:
binds to the substance and prevents absorption.
Carbon monoxide blocks the ability of the blood to oxygenate the body because it:
binds with the hemoglobin in red blood cells.
An epidural hematoma is MOST accurately defined as:
bleeding between the skull and dura mater.
Alkalosis is a condition that occurs when:
blood acidity is reduced by excessive breathing.
His parents tell you that their son has had a chest infection for the past two days and when they took him to their family doctor, they were told it was likely due to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). They have kept him well hydrated, but the infection seems to have gotten worse. On auscultation, you hear decreased air entry bilaterally with fine expiratory wheezes and the occasional coarse wet crackle. Based on this information, your patient is most likely suffering from:
bronchiolitis
When performing the secondary assessment on a trauma patient, you note the presence of Battle sign. This is defined as:
bruising behind the ear.
When caring for a patient whose arm is covered with a dry chemical, you should:
brush away the chemical before flushing with water.
You are off duty at a park when you witness an apparently healthy 12-year-old child suddenly collapse. There are no bystanders around and your mobile phone is in your car. After confirming that the child is in cardiac arrest, you should: .
call 9-1-1 and then return to begin CPR on the child.
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.
In contrast to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever:
can cause paralysis and cardiorespiratory collapse.
The exchange of oxygen and nutrients for waste products of metabolism occurs at the cellular level in the:
capillaries.
Medications encased in a gelatin shell that are taken by mouth are called: .
capsules.
The primary waste product of aerobic metabolism is:
carbon dioxide
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is a product of:
cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance.
A 56-year-old male is found semiconscious by his wife. Your assessment reveals that his respirations are rapid and shallow, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is low. The patient's wife states that he complained of left arm pain and nausea the day before, but would not allow her to call 9-1-1. The MOST likely cause of this patient's present condition is:
cardiogenic hypoperfusion.
Your patient has a decreased cardiac output and poor myocardial contractility. This will likely lead to ___________.
cardiogenic shock
Pulmonary edema and impaired ventilation occur during:
cardiogenic shock.
When assessing an elderly male who complains of nausea and generalized weakness, you find that he takes atorvastatin (Lipitor) and amlodipine (Norvasc). These medications suggest a history of:
cardiovascular disease.
The three major parts of the brain are the:
cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.
Injury to the head and neck may indicate injury to the:
cervical spine.
The areas of the spinal column, in descending order, are:
cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx.
When treating an 80-year-old patient who is in shock, it is important to remember that:
changes in gastric motility may delay gastric emptying, which increases the risk for vomiting.
Your assessment of an unresponsive patient reveals that her breathing is inadequate. Your MOST immediate action should be to:
check her airway for obstructions.
If a technical rescue team is required at the scene, but is not present when you arrive, you should:
check with the incident commander to ensure that the team is en route.
It would be MOST appropriate for a patient to take his or her prescribed nitroglycerin when experiencing:
chest pain that does not immediately subside with rest.
The EMT should assess for hypoglycemia in small children with a severe illness or injury because:
children cannot store excess glucose as effectively as adults.
Your patient complains of abdominal pain that occurs mostly at night or after eating fatty foods. You should suspect ____________.
cholecystitis
The MOST commonly fractured bone(s) in the body is/are the:
clavicle.
The process of removing dirt, dust, blood, or other visible contaminants from a surface or equipment is called: S
cleaning
A 39-year-old female experienced a severe closed head injury. She is unresponsive with her eyes slightly open; her pupils are bilaterally dilated and slow to react. In addition to managing problems with airway, breathing, and circulation, you should:
close her eyes and cover them with a moist dressing.
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.
The most distal four spinal vertebrae, which are fused together, form the:
coccyx
A surgical procedure that creates an opening between the intestine and the surface of the body that allows for elimination of waste products is called a(n):
colostomy
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.
Covering a patient's _________ will significantly minimize radiation heat loss.
head
You are attending to a 27-year-old male driver of a car. According to his passenger, the patient had been acting strangely while driving, then slumped forward against the steering wheel, apparently unconscious. The car drove off the road and struck a telephone pole. The patient remains unconscious, and physical assessment reveals only a large hematoma on his right forehead with no other physical signs. Your patient is a diabetic who had been under a lot of stress lately and may have missed meals. This is an example of a:
combination of a medical and trauma emergency.
The descending aorta branches into the:
common iliac arteries
Your patient is in shock, but the body's defense mechanisms are currently able to maintain adequate circulation. This is called ___________.
compensated shock
The use of special tools to remove an entrapped patient from a vehicle is known as _________.
complex access
You should deliver chest compressions to an unresponsive adult patient in cardiac arrest by:
compressing the sternum between the nipples.
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.
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:
conduction.
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.
Immediately after being dispatched to a residence for an elderly patient with diabetic complications, you should:
confirm with dispatch that you received the call information.
Rapid, labored breathing in a patient with signs and symptoms of AMI should make you suspicious for:
congestive heart failure.
The inner surface of the eyelids and the exposed surface of the eye itself are covered by a delicate membrane called the:
conjunctiva.
A 30-year-old female presents with redness, inflammation, and pain to her left eye. During your assessment, you note that she is having difficulty keeping her eyes open. You should suspect that she is experiencing:
conjunctivitis.
When you inspect a patient's pupils with a penlight, the pupils should normally react to the light by:
constricting
The skin regulates temperature in a cold environment by:
constricting the blood vessels.
Stimulation of alpha-adrenergic receptors results in:
constriction of the blood vessels
While transporting a woman with diabetes, you inadvertently give her oral glucose even though her blood glucose level was high. You reassess the patient and note that her condition did not change; she remained stable. You should:
contact medical control and notify them of the error.
Dead space is the portion of the respiratory system that:
contains no alveoli and does not participate in gas exchange.
An appropriate demonstration of professionalism when your patient is frightened, demanding, or unpleasant is to:
continue to be nonjudgmental, compassionate, and respectful.
You are attending to a 23-year-old female patient who is 16 weeks pregnant with her second child. The patient has apparently fallen and sustained an injury to her upper right arm. When you ask about the incident history, the patient is reluctant to explain what happened and becomes very quiet. Based on this information, you should:
continue your care in a private area, document any details regarding the scene and the incident, and reassure her as you provide care.
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.
A closed soft-tissue injury characterized by swelling and ecchymosis is called a(n):
contusion.
During the transport phase of an ambulance call, it is MOST important to:
converse with the patient and provide reassurance.
A 2-year-old female has experienced a seizure. When you arrive at the scene, the child is conscious, crying, and clinging to her mother. Her skin is hot and moist. The mother tells you that the seizure lasted approximately 5 minutes. She further tells you that her daughter has no history of seizures, but has had a recent ear infection. You should:
cool the child with tepid water and transport to the hospital
Common signs and symptoms of severe hyperglycemia include all of the following, EXCEPT:
cool, clammy skin
Classic signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
cool, clammy skin; weakness; tachycardia; and rapid respirations.
To select the proper size oropharyngeal airway, you should measure from the:
corner of the mouth to the earlobe.
The myocardium receives oxygenated blood from the __________, which originate(s) from the __________.
coronary arteries, aorta
Patients with tuberculosis pose the greatest risk for transmitting the disease when they:
cough.
The phenomenon of pressure waves emanating from the bullet, causing damage remote from its path, is known as:
coughing up blood.
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
You are assessing a woman who was thrown from a horse. She is located in a large field and you can see that a thunderstorm is rapidly approaching. Suddenly, you feel your skin begin to tingle and the hair on your arms stands on end. The ambulance is located about 30 yards away. You should:
crouch down in a position so that only your feet are touching the ground.
Inflammation and swelling of the pharynx, larynx, and trachea resulting in a "seal bark" cough are typically caused by:
croup
A viral infection that may cause obstruction of the upper airway in a child is called:
croup.
When dealing with an avulsed tooth, handle it by its ____
crown
A(n) _____ occurs when a great amount of force is applied to the body for a long period of time.
crushing injury
When assessing the skin of an unresponsive patient, you note that it has a bluish tint to it. This finding is called:
cyanosis.
A patient's short-term memory is MOST likely intact if he or she correctly answers questions regarding:
date and event.
Drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
death from suffocation after submersion in water.
Significant clues to the possibility of severe injuries in motor vehicle collisions include:
death of a passenger.
Air bags are designed to:
decrease the severity of deceleration injuries.
Ischemic heart disease is defined as:
decreased blood flow to one or more portions of the myocardium.
Cyanosis of the skin is caused by:
decreased blood oxygen.
Cardiogenic shock following AMI is caused by:
decreased pumping force of the heart muscle.
Common signs and symptoms of a sprain include all of the following, EXCEPT:
deformity
All of the following are signs of hypoxia, EXCEPT:
dehydration.
The MOST significant hazard associated with splinting is:
delaying transport of a critically injured patient.
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 she thinks he had a seizure shortly before your arrival. This patient is MOST likely experiencing:
delirium tremens.
You are dispatched to a residence for a 40-year-old female who fainted. Upon your arrival, the patient is conscious and alert, and states that she is fine. Her husband tells you that she fainted after receiving news that her sister was killed in a car crash. You offer oxygen to the patient, but she refuses to accept it. At this point, your primary concern should be to:
determine if she was injured when she fainted.
A patient with an altered mental status; high blood glucose levels; and deep, rapid breathing may have a condition known as __________.
diabetic ketoacidosis
Signs of excited delirium include:
diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hallucinations.
A patient with profuse sweating is referred to as being:
diaphoretic.
Difficulty breathing and a sunken appearance of the anterior abdominal wall is MOST indicative of a ruptured:
diaphragm
Inhalation occurs when the:
diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract and cause a decrease in intrathoracic pressure.
The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the: Select one:
diaphragm.
The phase of the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles fill with blood is called:
diastole
Oxygen and carbon dioxide pass across the alveolar membrane in the lungs through a process called:
diffusion
A percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) restores blood flow to the ischemic myocardium by:
dilating the affected coronary artery with a small inflatable balloon
Nitroglycerin relieves the squeezing or crushing pain associated with angina by:
dilating the arteries to increase the oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
Nitroglycerin relieves cardiac-related chest pain by:
dilating the coronary arteries and improving cardiac blood flow
Bleeding from soft-tissue injuries to the face is MOST effectively controlled with:
direct pressure using dry, sterile dressings.
A 19-year-old female has just been extricated from her severely damaged car. She is on a long backboard and has been moved to a place of safety. As your partner maintains manual stabilization of her head, you perform a rapid assessment. The patient is unresponsive, has slow and shallow respirations, and has bilaterally closed femur deformities. You should:
direct your partner to begin ventilatory assistance.
A 13-year-old child is on a home ventilator. The parents called because the mechanical ventilator is malfunctioning and the child has increasing respiratory distress. You should:
disconnect the ventilator and apply a tracheostomy collar.
During the alert and dispatch phase of EMS communications, the dispatcher's responsibilities include all of the following, EXCEPT:
discouraging the caller from providing care until the EMS unit arrives.
The means by which a terrorist will spread a particular agent is called:
dissemination
A supracondylar or intercondylar fracture is also known as a fracture of the:
distal humerus.
A Colles fracture involves a fracture of the:
distal radius.
Accumulation of blood in the abdominal cavity will MOST likely cause:
distention.
Common factors that influence how a patient reacts to the stress of an illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one:
distrust of EMTs.
In nontrauma patients, an early indicator of internal bleeding is:
dizziness upon standing.
The Centennial Park bombing during the 1996 Summer Olympics is an example of:
domestic terrorism
The artery that can be palpated on the anterior surface of the foot is the:
dorsalis pedis.
The amount of medication that is given is known as the _________.
dose
Infection should be considered a possible cause of an airway obstruction in an infant or child, especially if he or she presents with:
drooling or congestion.
Prior to attaching the AED to a cardiac arrest patient, the EMT should: Select one: A. pe
dry the chest if it is wet.
Common signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction include all of the following, EXCEPT:
drying of the eyes.
The tough, fibrous outer meningeal layer is called the:
dura mater.
A patient whose speech is slurred and difficult to understand is experiencing:
dysarthria.
Work, family, and stress best describe the life stage known as:
early adulthood
The leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester is internal hemorrhage into the abdomen following rupture of a(n) ____
ectopic pregnancy
When the body loses sweat, it also loses:
electrolytes.
Your conscious patient has a mild partial airway obstruction. You should:
encourage the patient to cough.
During the primary assessment of a semiconscious 70-year-old female, you should:
ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed.
The compliance-monitoring component of an infection control plan should:
ensure that employees understand what they should do and why it is important
The rescue team is in the process of extricating a 40-year-old male from his truck. The patient's wife, who was uninjured in the crash, is calmly observing the extrication and asks you if her husband will be all right. You should:
ensure that she is in a safe area, away from the scene.
Upon arriving at a potentially unsafe scene, you should:
ensure that you are safe.
When immobilizing a patient on a long backboard, you should:
ensure that you secure the torso before securing the head.
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a fire at a large office complex. Witnesses tell you that they heard a loud explosion shortly before the building caught fire. You should:
ensure that your ambulance is parked upwind and uphill from the building.
The MOST important consideration at the scene of a hazardous materials incident is:
ensuring your personal safety.
Burns in children are commonly caused by all of the following, EXCEPT:
entrapment in a structural fire.
The leaf-shaped flap of cartilage that prevents food and liquid from entering the trachea during swallowing is called the:
epiglottis.
A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear wheezing over all the lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:
epinephrine
Key hormones of the sympathetic nervous system include:
epinephrine and norepinephrine
The hormone responsible for the actions of the sympathetic nervous system is:
epinephrine.
A(n) __________ fracture occurs in the growth section of a child's bone and may lead to bone growth abnormalities.
epiphyseal
Hemoglobin is a molecule that attaches to ___________ and carries oxygen.
erythrocytes
The two main types of cells contained in blood are called _________.
erythrocytes and leukocytes
The body's natural cooling mechanism, in which sweat is converted to a gas, is called:
evaporation
High humidity reduces the body's ability to lose heat through:
evaporation.
American Heart Association protocols are based on __________.
evidence-based research
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience polyuria because:
excess glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys.
It is common for young females who experience their first menstrual period to:
experience abdominal cramping, which may be misinterpreted.
You are assessing a middle-aged man with chest pain that you suspect is caused by a cardiac problem. The patient tells you that he does not want to go to the hospital and insists that you leave him alone. You should:
explain the seriousness of the situation to him, but avoid causing undue alarm.
To date, the preferred weapons of mass destruction for terrorists have been:
explosive weapons.
You are dispatched to a convenience store for a patient who passed out. Upon arriving at the scene, you find two off-duty EMTs performing CPR on the patient, a 58-year-old male. Your initial action should be to:
feel for a pulse while compressions are ongoing.
Traction splints are used primarily to immobilize and secure fractures of the:
femur.
Following delivery of a full-term baby, you have properly cared for the baby and have clamped and cut the umbilical cord. During transport, you note that the mother is experiencing moderate vaginal bleeding. You should:
firmly massage the uterine fundus with a circular motion.
Signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis typically include _________.
fishy," foul-smelling discharge
Blood that is ejected from the right ventricle:
flows into the pulmonary arteries.
A pleural effusion is MOST accurately defined as:
fluid accumulation outside the lungs
Peritonitis may result in shock because:
fluid shifts from the bloodstream into body tissues.
Most cases of anthrax begin with:
flulike symptoms
When performing a secondary assessment on a conscious patient with nontraumatic abdominal pain and stable vital signs, you should:
focus on his or her chief complaint.
A 39-year-old male sustained a large laceration to his leg during an accident with a chainsaw and is experiencing signs and symptoms of shock. You should first:
follow appropriate standard precautions.
The brain connects to the spinal cord through a large opening at the base of the skull known as the:
foramen magnum.
Signs of a sudden severe upper airway obstruction include all of the following, EXCEPT:
forceful coughing.
You should not attempt to lift a patient who weighs more than 250 lb with fewer than _______ rescuers, regardless of individual strength.
four
The term used when individual units or different organizations make independent, and often inefficient, decisions regarding an incident is called:
freelancing.
The direct carry is used to transfer a patient:
from a bed to the ambulance stretcher.
All of the following terms refer to a body part that is cold but not frozen, EXCEPT:
frostbite.
A 52-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her face when her truck collided with another vehicle. She has obvious swelling to her face and several dislodged teeth. A visual exam of her mouth reveals minimal bleeding. She is conscious and alert with a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg, a pulse of 110 beats/min, and respirations of 22 breaths/min with adequate tidal volume. You should:
fully immobilize her spine, attempt to locate the dislodged teeth, suction as needed, and transport.
Bile is produced by the liver and concentrated and stored in the:
gallbladder.
Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the following, EXCEPT:
gastric distention.
The leading cause of death in the geriatric patient is:
heart disease.
A 67-year-old male presents with weakness, dizziness, and melena that began approximately 2 days ago. He denies a history of trauma. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his pulse is 120 beats/min and thready. You should be MOST suspicious that this patient is experiencing:
gastrointestinal bleeding.
Placards and labels on a storage container are intended to:
give a general idea of the hazard inside that particular container.
The official transfer of patient care does not occur until the EMT:
gives an oral report to the emergency room physician or nurse.
The eyeball itself is referred to as the:
globe
You are standing by at the scene of a hostage situation when the incident commander advises you that one of his personnel has been shot. The patient is lying supine in an open area and is not moving. As the SWAT team escorts you to the patient, you should:
grab him by the clothes and immediately move him to safety.
The bony prominence on the lateral/superior aspect of the thigh is called the:
greater trochanter
Contraction or tensing of the abdominal muscles in an effort to ease pain is called:
guarding
When a patient stiffens the muscles of the abdomen, it is known as _______.
guarding.
Hyperextension injuries of the spine are MOST commonly the result of:
hangings.
According to the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), an adult trauma patient should be transported to the highest level of trauma center if he or she:
has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism attributed to trauma.
You are assessing a 59-year-old male and note that his pupils are unequal. He is conscious and alert. When obtaining his medical history, it is MOST pertinent to ask him if he:
has a history of eye surgeries.
A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT eligible for thrombolytic (fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she:
has bleeding within the brain.
A supervisor who has more than seven people reporting to him or her:
has exceeded an effective span of control and should divide tasks and delegate the supervision of some tasks to another person.
When caring for a female child who has possibly been sexually abused, you should:
have a female EMT remain with her if possible.
Vaccination against the hepatitis A virus is unnecessary if you:
have been infected with hepatitis in the past.
Signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency would MOST likely be delayed in patients who:
have chronic hypertension.
To minimize distractions and confusion when assessing an older patient, you should:
have only one EMT speak to the patient at a time.
Common safety equipment carried on the ambulance includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
hazardous materials gear.
During your assessment of a 19-year-old male, you are told that he is being treated with factor VIII. This indicates that:
he has hemophilia
You and your partner are EMTs who have been dispatched to stand by at the scene of a residential fire. While standing next to the ambulance observing the firefighters, you see a woman frantically moving around in her burning house. You should:
immediately notify the incident commander or safety officer.
You respond to a residence for a 40-year-old female who was assaulted by her husband; the scene has been secured by law enforcement. Upon your arrival, you find the patient lying supine on the floor in the kitchen. She is semiconscious with severely labored breathing. Further assessment reveals a large bruise to the left anterior chest, jugular venous distention, and unilaterally absent breath sounds. As your partner is supporting her ventilations, you should:
immediately request ALS support.
Upon arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you can see three patients, one who is entrapped in his car and two who have been ejected from their vehicle. You should:
immediately request additional resources.
After the AED has delivered a shock, the EMT should:
immediately resume CPR
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.
Asthma is caused by a response of the:
immune system
When splinting an injury of the wrist, the hand should be placed:
in a functional position.
The LEAST practical place to store a portable oxygen cylinder is:
in the driver's compartment.
In the eyes of the courts, an incomplete or untidy patient care form indicates:
inadequate patient care was administered.
Without adequate oxygen, the body's cells:
incompletely convert glucose into energy, and lactic acid accumulates in the blood.
Diastolic blood pressure tends to _______________ with age.
increase
Breathing occurs as the result of a(n):
increase in carbon dioxide, which decreases the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid.
Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing in an adult?
increase in carbon dioxide, which decreases the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid.
You respond to a 38-year-old man who fell while rock climbing. He is unconscious with an open airway. The respiration and pulse rates are within normal limits. His distal pulses are intact. You check his pupils and find that they are unequal. You know this could be a sign of:
increased intracranial pressure.
Factors that contribute to a decline in the vital capacity of an elderly patient include all of the following, EXCEPT:
increased surface area available for air exchange.
In late adults, the amount of air left in the lungs after expiration of the maximum amount of air:
increases, which hampers diffusion of gases because of the stagnant air that remains in the alveoli.
The _____ is your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying and unseen injuries or illnesses.
index of suspicion
Awareness of and concern for potentially serious obvious and underlying injuries is referred to as the:
index of suspicion.
Obtaining continuing medical education is the responsibility of the:
individual EMT.
Abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever are most likely due to _______.
infection
Deoxygenated blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and lower extremities is returned to the right atrium via the:
inferior vena cava.
Most poisonings occur via the __________ route.
ingestion
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract during:
inhalation.
You are dispatched to a residence for a 66-year-old male who, according to family members, has suffered a massive stroke. Your primary assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. You should:
initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible.
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. You should:
insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation.
According to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, an EMT would require special permission from the medical director and the state EMS office to:
insert a peripheral intravenous catheter.
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 BVM.
You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient takes a deep breath and depresses the inhaler, you should:
instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can
The amniotic fluid serves to:
insulate and protect the fetus.
When caring for a known alcoholic patient with severe trauma to the chest and abdomen, you should be concerned that:
internal bleeding may be profuse because prolonged alcohol use may impair the blood's ability to clot.
The MOST common and usually the most serious ambulance crashes occur at:
intersections.
To obtain the MOST accurate reading of a patient's core body temperature, you should place a special hypothermia thermometer:
into the patient's rectum
During your assessment of a patient who experienced blunt trauma to the abdomen, you notice bruising around the umbilicus. This is a sign of:
intra-abdominal bleeding.
Bleeding within the brain tissue itself is called a(n):
intracerebral hematoma.
Following a blunt injury to the head, a 22-year-old female is confused and complains of a severe headache and nausea. On the basis of these signs and symptoms, you should be MOST concerned with the possibility of:
intracranial bleeding.
CPR retraining is the MOST effective when it:
involves hands-on practice.
In contrast to a cerebral concussion, a cerebral contusion:
involves physical injury to the brain tissue.
A factory worker was splashed in the eyes with a strong acid chemical. He complains of intense pain and blurred vision. Your ambulance does not carry bottles of sterile saline or water. You should:
irrigate both eyes continuously for 20 minutes with plain water.
A laceration:
is a jagged cut caused by a sharp object or blunt force trauma.
In contrast to inhalation, exhalation:
is a passive process caused by increased intrathoracic pressure.
The diaphragm is unique because it:
is both a voluntary and an involuntary muscle.
A driver involved in a rollover motor vehicle crash will MOST likely experience serious injuries or death if he or she:
is ejected or partially ejected.
A patient is sitting in a chair, leaning forward on his outstretched arms. His head and chin are thrust forward. This position indicates that he:
is experiencing difficulty breathing.
In contrast to the brown recluse spider, the black widow spider:
is large and has a red-orange hourglass mark on its abdomen.
In contrast to the parietal peritoneum, the visceral peritoneum:
is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which are less able to localize pain or sensation.
The cricoid cartilage:
is the only complete circular cartilage of the trachea.
A nuchal cord is defined as an umbilical cord that:
is wrapped around the baby's neck.
Because the stinger of a honeybee remains in the wound following a sting:
it can continue to inject venom for up to 20 minutes.
Once a cervical collar has been applied to a patient with a possible spinal injury, it should not be removed unless:
it causes a problem managing the airway.
A tight-fitting motorcycle helmet should be left in place unless:
it interferes with your assessment of the airway.
In order for sweating to be an effective cooling mechanism:
it must be able to evaporate from the body.
When a light is shone into the pupil:
it should become smaller in size.
The superficial temporal artery can be palpated:
just anterior to the tragus.
A 17-year-old female dislocated her patella while playing soccer. Her knee is flexed and she complains of severe pain. You should:
keep her knee flexed and secure it with padded board splints.
Maintaining a cushion of safety when operating an ambulance means:
keeping a safe distance between your ambulance and the vehicles in front of you and remaining aware of vehicles potentially hiding in your mirrors' blind spots.
Care for a patient with a fractured tibia and suspected compartment syndrome includes:
keeping the leg at the level of the heart.
As you and your partner report for duty, you check your ambulance and begin talking about the possibility of a terrorist attack. The MOST effective and appropriate way to determine the likelihood of this happening is to:
know the current threat level issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
The stooped posture of some older people, which gives them a humpback appearance, is called:
kyphosis.
The __________ and _________ are folds of tissue that surround the urethral and vaginal openings.
labia majora; labia minora
The vocal cords are located in the:
larynx
Approximately 25% of severe injuries to the aorta occur during:
lateral collisions.
Injury to a hollow abdominal organ would MOST likely result in:
leakage of contents into the abdominal cavity
When caring for a patient with an altered mental status and signs of circulatory compromise, you should: .
limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible.
The impedance threshold device (ITD) may improve circulation during active compression-decompression CPR by:
limiting the amount of air that enters the lungs during the recoil phase between chest compressions, which results in negative intrathoracic pressure and improved cardiac filling.
Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the:
liver
An overdose of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, will MOST likely cause:
liver failure.
Bruising to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen following blunt trauma is MOST suggestive of injury to the:
liver.
You receive a call to a residence for a sick patient. Upon your arrival, you find the patient, a 53-year-old diabetic male, lying down on his front porch. 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 pulse is weak and thready, and his blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. You should:
load him into the ambulance and begin rapid cooling interventions.
The goal of the systematic head-to-toe exam that is performed during the secondary assessment is to:
locate injuries not found in the primary assessment.
A strangulated hernia is one that:
loses its blood supply due to compression by local tissues
A decrease in blood pressure may indicate:
loss of vascular tone.
The hypoxic drive is influenced by:
low blood oxygen levels
A person who experiences a calcaneus fracture after jumping and landing on his or her feet would MOST likely experience an accompanying fracture of the:
lumbar spine.
Complications associated with using a manually triggered ventilation device include:
lung tissue injury and gastric distention.
You are dispatched to the scene of a crash involving a large tanker truck. While you are en route, dispatch advises you that there are multiple patients and that the fire department is en route as well. As you approach the scene, you should:
maintain a safe distance and try to read the placard with binoculars.
You arrive at the residence of a 33-year-old woman who is experiencing a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure. She has a small amount of vomitus draining from the side of her mouth. After protecting her from further injury, you should:
maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen.
The main function of the endocrine system is to _________.
maintain homeostasis
As you assess the head of a patient with a suspected spinal injury, your partner should:
maintain stabilization of the head.
Continuing education in EMS serves to:
maintain, update, and expand the EMT's knowledge and skills.
Calming and reassuring an anxious patient can be facilitated by:
maintaining eye contact with the patient whenever possible.
nd her physician stated that she would probably die within the next few hours; a valid do not resuscitate (DNR) order is presented to you. When caring for this patient, you should:
make her comfortable and provide emotional support
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 lower jawbone is called the:
mandible.
The most superior section of the sternum is called the:
manubrium.
At the scene of an automobile crash, a utility pole has been broken and power lines are lying across the car. The patients inside the car are conscious. You should:
mark off a danger zone around the downed lines.
The upper jawbones are called the:
maxillae.
In contrast to bleeding caused by external trauma to the vagina, bleeding caused by conditions such as polyps or cancer:
may be relatively painless.
Talking about an elderly patient in front of him or her to other members of the family:
may cause the patient to think that he or she has no say in making decisions.
Placing a pregnant patient in a supine position during the third trimester of pregnancy:
may decrease the amount of blood that returns to the heart.
A patient with vaginal bleeding _________.
may not have obvious signs of shock even if she has experienced significant blood loss
When a person is lying supine at the end of exhalation, the diaphragm:
may rise as high as the nipple line.
The distal aspect of the tibia forms the:
medial malleolus.
If fertilization has not occurred in approximately 14 days postovulation:
menstruation will begin.
Among elderly persons ___ function in the 5 years preceding death is presumed to decline.
mental
According to the terminal drop hypothesis: Select one:
mental function is presumed to decline in the 5 years preceding death.
The diastolic blood pressure represents the: Select one:
minimum amount of pressure that is always present in the arteries.
A 45-year-old male was working on his roof when he fell approximately 12 feet, landing on his feet. He is conscious and alert and complains of an ache in his lower back. He is breathing adequately and has stable vital signs. You should:
mmobilize his spine and perform a focused secondary exam.
You arrive at a local grocery store approximately 5 minutes after a 21-year-old female stopped seizing. She is confused and disoriented; she keeps asking you what happened and tells you that she is thirsty. Her brother, who witnessed the seizure, tells you that she takes valproate (Depakote) for her seizures, but has not taken it in a few days. He also tells you that she has diabetes. In addition to administering oxygen, you should:
monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.
After administering 0.3 mg of epinephrine via auto-injector to a 22-year-old woman with an allergic reaction, you note improvement in her breathing and dissipation of her hives. However, she is still anxious and tachycardic. You should:
monitor her closely but recall that anxiety and tachycardia are side effects of epinephrine.
You are dispatched to a public park in the middle of a sprawling subdivision for an arm injury. You arrive to find a crying 5-year-old boy cradling his swollen and deformed left forearm. His friends tell you that he was holding onto the bars of the play structure and that his arm "snapped" when he jumped into the sand below. You would expect this boy's pulse to be:
most likely above 90 beats/min.
The FIRST step in the START triage system is to:
move all walking patients to a designated area.
While rescuer one is finishing his or her fifth cycle of 30 comressions, rescuer two should:
move to the opposite side of the patient's chest.
Atrophy is a condition that occurs when: Select one:
muscle decreases in size and function.
The _____ only require(s) a minimal blood supply when at rest.
muscles
If a patient with a chest injury is only able to inhale small amounts of air per breath, he or she:
must increase his or her respiratory rate to maintain adequate minute volume.
As a triage supervisor, you:
must not begin treatment until all patients have been triaged.
Angina pectoris occurs when:
myocardial oxygen demand exceeds supply.
The muscle tissue of the heart is called the:
myocardium.
EMTs respond to a known heroin abuser who is unresponsive. If they give naloxone (Narcan) to this patient, the EMTs should recall that:
naloxone administration could cause seizures in this patient.
Assessment of the medical patient is usually focused on the _________. Select one:
nature of illness
While en route to a major motor vehicle crash, an on-scene police officer advises you that a 6-year-old male who was riding in the front seat is involved. He further states that the child was only wearing a lap belt and that the air bag deployed. On the basis of this information, you should be MOST suspicious that the child has experienced:
neck and facial injuries.
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 and he develops cardiac arrest and dies at the hospital. This scenario is an example of:
negligence.
The first month of life after birth is referred to as the:
neonatal period.
The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to the:
nervous system.
Assessment of a patient's blood pressure with an automatic BP cuff reveals that it is 204/120 mm Hg. The patient is conscious and alert and denies any symptoms. The EMT should:
obtain a manual blood pressure.
Trauma to the __________ lobe of the brain would likely result in visual disturbances.
occipital
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, an employer must:
offer a workplace environment that reduces the risk of exposure.
Prescription glasses do not provide adequate eye protection because they:
offer little or no side protection
In contrast to AMI, a dissecting aortic aneurysm:
often presents with pain that is maximal from the onset
Unlike a multiple-casualty incident, a natural disaster:
often requires personnel to remain on scene for several days.
When preparing a pregnant patient for delivery, you should position her:
on a firm surface with her hips elevated 2 to 4 inches.
When preparing to obtain a 12-lead ECG, the V1 and V2 electrodes should be placed:
on either side of the sternum
When preparing to obtain a 12-lead ECG, the "LL" and "RL" electrodes should be placed: Select one: A. on either side of the chest. B. anywhere on the arms. C D. on the lower abdomen.
on the thighs or ankles.
The proper depth of chest compressions on a 9-month-old infant is:
one-third the diameter of the chest, or about 1½ inches.
As you approach a young male who was involved in an industrial accident, you note that his eyes are closed and that he is not moving. You can see several large contusions to his arms, a laceration to his forehead with minimal bleeding, and a closed deformity to his right leg. You should:
open his airway and assess his breathing status.
A 40-year-old male crashed his motorcycle into a tree. He is semiconscious, has snoring respirations, and has a laceration to the forearm with minimal bleeding. You should:
open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver.
Heroin is an example of a(n):
opioid.
The ___________ is made up of the maxilla and zygoma, as well as the frontal bone of the cranium.
orbit
Inserting a(n) ______in a responsive patient may cause a spasm of the larynx and result in vomiting.
oropharyngeal airway
Your patient complains of chronic "burning" stomach pain that improves after eating. You should suspect:
peptic ulcer disease.
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 life-saving treatment, you should:
perform a detailed head-to-toe exam and prepare for immediate transport.
Once entrance and access to the patient have been provided, you should:
perform a primary assessment.
A 71-year-old male is semiconscious following a sudden, severe headache. There is vomit on his face and his respiration are slow and shallow. The EMT must immediately:
perform oropharyngeal suctioning.
Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the cells' oxygen, nutritional, and waste-removal needs is termed _______.
perfusion
The circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the cells' current needs is called:
perfusion
The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system and the:
peripheral nervous system.
You suspect your patient is in shock. You note the patient's skin is pale. This is likely due to ___________.
peripheral vasoconstriction
When a hollow organ is punctured during a penetrating injury to the abdomen:
peritonitis may not develop for several hours.
The EMT's first priority is __________.
personal safety
An absence seizure is also referred to as a:
petit mal seizure
The bones that constitute the fingers and toes are called:
phalanges.
Relative to an adult's airway anatomy, the child's:
pharynx is smaller and less deeply curved.
Online medical control requires __________.
phone or radio contact with the medical director
The ________ nerves control the diaphragm.
phrenic
A 43-year-old man is experiencing a severe nosebleed. His blood pressure is 190/110 mm Hg and his heart rate is 90 beats/min and bounding. Preferred treatment for this patient includes:
pinching the patient's nostrils and having him lean forward.
Normal skin color, temperature, and condition should be:
pink, warm, and dry.
When caring for a female patient who has been sexually assaulted, you should:
place any bloodstained clothing or other articles in separate paper bags.
When immobilizing a patient with a kyphotic spine to a long backboard, the EMT would MOST likely have to:
place blankets behind the patient's head.
Shortly after assisting a 65-year-old female with her prescribed nitroglycerin, she begins complaining of dizziness and experiences a drop of 30 mm Hg in her systolic blood pressure. The patient remains conscious and her breathing is adequate. You should:
place her in a supine position.
A 26-year-old female who is 34 weeks pregnant is experiencing a seizure. Her husband tells you that her blood pressure has been high and that she had been complaining of a headache for the past few days. You should:
place her on her side, administer high-flow oxygen, and transport.
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.
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 22-year-old patient is in active labor. Upon visual inspection, you note that the infant's leg is protruding from the vagina. Appropriate management of this situation includes:
placing the mother supine with her head down and pelvis elevated.
The development of an incident action plan is the responsibility of the:
planning section.
Hypovolemic shock caused by severe burns is the result of a loss of:
plasma.
Sedentary behavior while healing from a hip fracture would MOST likely predispose the older patient to:
pneumonia.
In order to avoid exacerbating a patient's injury, it is especially important to use extreme caution when providing positive-pressure ventilation to patients with a:
pneumothorax.
Excessive eating caused by cellular "hunger" is called:
polyphagia
When arriving at the scene of an overturned tractor-trailer rig, you note that a green cloud is being emitted from the crashed vehicle. The driver is still in the truck; he is conscious but bleeding profusely from the head. After notifying the hazardous materials team, you should:
position the ambulance upwind.
Crepitus and false motion are:
positive indicators of a fracture.
Common interventions used to stimulate spontaneous respirations in the newborn include all of the following, EXCEPT:
positive-pressure ventilations.
The EMT must assume that any unwitnessed water-related incident is accompanied by:
possible spinal injury.
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 dislocation.
A pregnant trauma patient may lose a significant amount of blood before showing signs of shock because:
pregnant patients have an overall increase in blood volume.
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
You are dispatched to the county jail for an inmate who is "sick." When you arrive, you find the patient, a 33-year-old male, unresponsive. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and shallow. Your initial action should be to:
provide assisted ventilation.
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" three 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: S
prepare for immediate transport.
The function of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is to:
prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents.
Upon arrival at a search-and-rescue incident, the EMS crew should _________.
prepare the equipment to carry to the patient
The purpose of a ventricular peritoneum shunt is to:
prevent excess cerebrospinal fluid from accumulating in the brain
Immediately life-threatening chest injuries must be found and managed during the _______.
primary assessment
When assessing a patient who experienced a blast injury, it is important to remember that:
primary blast injuries are the most easily overlooked.
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
Because the depth of an open abdominal wound is often difficult to determine:
prompt transport to the hospital is essential.
CPR will NOT be effective if the patient is:
prone.
The criteria to be licensed and employed as an EMT include:
proof of immunization against certain communicable diseases.
Immediately after giving an epinephrine injection, you should:
properly dispose of the syringe.
A 30-year-old woman with a history of alcoholism presents with severe upper abdominal pain and is vomiting large amounts of bright red blood. Her skin is cool, pale, and clammy; her heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak; and her blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg. Your MOST immediate action should be to:
protect her airway from aspiration.
When removing a critically injured patient from his or her vehicle, you should:
protect the cervical spine during the entire process.
Law enforcement personnel request your assistance to assess a 31-year-old female who was sexually assaulted. When you arrive at the scene, you find the patient sitting on a curb outside her apartment. She is conscious, alert, and crying. When you ask her what happened, she tells you that she does not want to be treated or transported to the hospital. She further tells you that all she wants to do is clean up. You should:
provide emotional support and visually assess her for obvious trauma.
An important aspect in the treatment of a patient with severe abdominal pain is to:
provide emotional support en route to the hospital.
National guidelines for EMS care are intended to __________.
provide more consistent delivery of EMS care across the United States
A "hip" fracture is actually a fracture of the:
proximal femur.
A patient complaining of chest tightness, coughing up blood, and subcutaneous emphysema following an explosion may be suffering from a: Select one:
pulmonary blast injury.
A man called EMS 12 hours after injuring his chest. Your assessment reveals a flail segment to the right side of the chest. The patient is experiencing respiratory distress and his oxygen saturation is 78%. His breath sounds are equal bilaterally and his jugular veins are normal. You should suspect:
pulmonary contusion.
Three days after delivering her baby, a 30-year-old woman complains of a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. Her level of consciousness is decreased and she is tachycardic. The EMT should suspect:
pulmonary embolism.
The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the:
pulmonary veins
Observations made when forming a general impression of a patient would include all of the following, EXCEPT:
pulse strength.
The left ventricle has the thickest walls because it:
pumps blood into the aorta and systemic circulation.
When treating a patient who is trapped in a vehicle and covered with broken glass, it is BEST to wear:
puncture-proof leather gloves over your latex gloves.
When activated, the sympathetic nervous system produces all of the following effects, EXCEPT:
pupillary constriction.
A patient in cardiac arrest is wearing an external defibrillator vest, which is interfering with effective chest compressions. The EMT should:
remove the battery from the monitor and then remove the vest
Upon arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you note that two small cars collided head-on; the occupants are still in their vehicles. The fire department is in the process of stabilizing the vehicles and law enforcement personnel are directing traffic. After parking the ambulance at a safe distance, you and your partner should:
put on high-visibility safety vests.
When the speed of a motor vehicle doubles, the amount of kinetic energy:
quadruples
You are dispatched to an apartment complex for 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 and treat the patient.
When an allergic reaction proceeds to life-threatening anaphylaxis, it will usually do so __________.
quickly, within 30 minutes.
In responsive patients who are older than 1 year of age, you should palpate the pulse at the ________ artery.
radial
The bones of the forearm are called the:
radius and ulna
When palpating a patient's pulse, you note that there is a short interval between pulsations. This indicates that the pulse is:
rapid.
If the level of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood rises above normal, the patient breathes:
rapidly and deeply.
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.
When assessing an unresponsive diabetic patient, the primary visible difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia is the:
rate and depth of breathing.
The AED has delivered a shock to an elderly male in cardiac arrest. Following 2 minutes of CPR, you re-analyze the patient's cardiac rhythm and receive a "no shock advised" message. After further resuscitation, you restore a palpable carotid pulse. Your next action should be to:
reassess airway and breathing and treat accordingly.
You are transporting a 33-year-old male who was involved in a major motor vehicle crash. You have addressed all immediate and potentially life-threatening conditions and have stabilized his condition with the appropriate treatment. With an estimated time of arrival at the hospital of 20 minutes, you should
reassess his condition in 5 minutes.
After assisting your patient with prescribed nitroglycerin, you should:
reassess his or her blood pressure within 5 minutes to detect hypotension.
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 MDI, you should:
reassess the patient and document her response to the medication.
Your partner is performing one-rescuer CPR on a middle-aged woman in cardiac arrest. When you apply the AED pads, you note that she has a medication patch over the same area where one of the AED pads will be placed. You should:
remove the medication patch, wipe away any medication residue, and apply the AED pads.
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 have slower absorption and elimination times, which may necessitate modification of the dosing of certain drugs.
An EMT's primary responsibility to the patient who has been poisoned is to:
recognize that a poisoning occurred.
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.
When transporting a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity, place the patient in a:
recumbent position with the paralyze side down
Early bruising following abdominal trauma often manifests as:
red areas of skin.
If a patient develops difficulty breathing after your primary assessment, you should immediately:
reevaluate his or her airway status.
Pain that may be perceived at a distant point on the surface of the body, such as the back or shoulder, is called:
referred pain.
A pulse with a consistent pattern is considered to be:
regular.
General guidelines for safe ambulance driving include all of the following, EXCEPT:
regularly using the siren as much as possible.
Nitroglycerin, when given to patients with cardiac-related chest pain:
relaxes the walls of the coronary arteries.
When assessing a patient with a closed soft-tissue injury, it is MOST important to:
remain alert for more severe underlying injuries.
At a scene with downed electrical lines, the EMT should _________.
remain outside the danger (hot) zone
While staged at the scene of a structure fire, the EMT should _________.
remain with the ambulance
When a motor vehicle strikes a tree while traveling at 40 mph, the unrestrained occupant:
remains in motion until acted upon by an external force.
When caring for an occupant inside a motor vehicle equipped with an air bag that did not deploy upon impact, you should:
remember that it could still deploy and seriously injure you.
Extrication is defined as:
removal from a dangerous situation or position.
If an object is visible in the unconscious patient's airway, you should __________.
remove it
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-valve mask.
You are assessing a 49-year-old man who complains of chest pressure that began the night before. He is conscious, but anxious, and tells you he has a history of angina and hypertension. After applying high-flow oxygen, you expose his chest to auscultate his lungs and note that he has a nitroglycerin patch on his right upper chest. His skin is cool and pale, his blood pressure is 78/50 mm Hg, and his pulse is 110 beats/min and irregular. You should:
remove the nitroglycerin patch, place him in a supine position and elevate his lower extremities, and prepare for immediate transport.
The kidneys help to regulate blood pressure by:
removing sodium and water from the body.
Blood levels of medications may rise in the elderly, sometimes to toxic levels. This is MOST likely due to:
renal insufficiency.
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. You should:
repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.
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.
Reassessment of a patient with a medical complaint should begin by:
repeating the primary assessment.
A 56-year-old male has an incomplete avulsion to his right forearm. After controlling any bleeding from the wound, you should:
replace the avulsed flap to its original position and cover it with a sterile dressing.
An 8-year-old male was bitten by a stray dog. He has a large laceration to the back of his left hand, which your partner covered with a sterile dressing and bandage. In addition to transporting the child to the hospital, you should:
report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
After assessing a patient's blood glucose level, you accidentally stick yourself with the contaminated lancet. You should:
report the incident to your supervisor after the call.
If gastric distention begins to make positive-pressure ventilation difficult, you should:
reposition the patient's airway.
You have administered one dose of epinephrine to a 40-year-old female to treat an allergic reaction that she developed after being stung by a scorpion. Your reassessment reveals that she is still having difficulty breathing, has a decreasing mental status, and has a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg. You should:
request permission from medical control to give another dose of epinephrine.
You have been working at the scene of a major building collapse for 8 hours. Many injured people are still being removed, and everyone is becoming frustrated and losing focus. This situation is MOST effectively managed by:
requesting a CISM team to provide on-scene peer support.
Quid pro quo, a type of sexual harassment, occurs when the harasser:
requests sexual favors in exchange for something else.
Unlike viral agents, bacterial agents:
respond to antibiotics
You are assessing a 13-month-old female who is running a fever and has been vomiting. While you are performing your physical examination on this child, you will MOST likely find that she:
responds to her name but is fearful of your presence.
A patient who does not respond to your questions, but moves or cries out when his or her trapezius muscle is pinched, 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 this situation is to:
restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to treat his injuries.
Your ability to remain awake is a function of the:
reticular activating system.
The optic nerve endings are located within the: Select one:
retina.
The systemic veins function by:
returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
Deoxygenated blood from the body returns to the:
right atrium.
A 58-year-old man complains of chest discomfort and nausea. He is conscious and alert; his blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, his pulse is 104 beats/min, and his respirations are 16 breaths/min. Your partner has applied supplemental oxygen. Prior to assisting the patient with one of his prescribed nitroglycerin tablets, you ask him if he takes medication to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and he tells you that he does. You should:
right ventricle and inferior wall of the left ventricle.
The right coronary artery supplies blood to the:
right ventricle and inferior wall of the left ventricle.
The part of the brain that controls the left side of the body is the:
right-side cerebrum
Common complications associated with central venous catheters include all of the following, EXCEPT:
rupture of a central vein
When assessing a patient with a head injury, you note the presence of thin, bloody fluid draining from his right ear. This indicates:
rupture of the tympanic membrane following diffuse impact to the head.
The ___________ portion of the spinal column is joined to the iliac bones of the pelvis.
sacrum
The recommended treatment for absorbed or contact poisons includes _________.
safely removing or diluting the poisonous substance
All of the following are vesicant agents, EXCEPT:
sarin
The skin covering the _____ is quite thick.
scalp
The large, flat, triangular bone that overlies the posterior thoracic wall is called the:
scapula
The white portion of the eye is called the:
sclera.
The stinger from a honeybee should be:
scraped away from the skin.
You arrive at the scene of a domestic violence situation. As you approach the doorway of the apartment, you hear screaming and the statement "He has a gun!" Your MOST appropriate action should be to:
seek a safe place and request law enforcement assistance.
In an apparent suicide attempt, a 19-year-old female ingested a full bottle of amitriptyline (Elavil). At present, she is conscious and alert and states that she swallowed the pills approximately 30 minutes earlier. Her blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, her pulse is 140 beats/min and irregular, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth. When transporting this patient, you should be MOST alert for:
seizures and cardiac arrhythmias.
The ability to take appropriate action with little direction is known as __________.
self-motivation
A 20-year-old male collided with another player during a hockey game and complains of severe pain to the left shoulder. Assessment reveals that the clavicle is bulging anteriorly at the shoulder. The EMT should suspect:
separation of the acromioclavicular joint.
Shock due to severe infection is called ________.
septic shock
A 70-year-old female was recently discharged from the hospital following a total hip replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure of 100/64 mm Hg. Her skin is hot and moist. You should be MOST suspicious that she is experiencing:
septic shock.
Chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, and gonorrhea are all examples of _________.
sexually transmitted diseases
Clinical signs of labored breathing include all of the following, EXCEPT:
shallow chest movement.
Patients who become dependent upon EMS personnel or other health care providers often feel:
shamed
When a female has reached menarche:
she is capable of becoming pregnant.
During your treatment of a woman in cardiac arrest, you apply the AED, analyze her cardiac rhythm, and receive a "no shock advised" message. This indicates that:
she is not in ventricular fibrillation.
Inadequate circulation of blood throughout the body is called ________.
shock
Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as:
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
During your assessment of a patient who was shot in the abdomen, you notice a large entrance wound with multiple small puncture wounds surrounding it. This wound pattern is MOST consistent with a:
shotgun.
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?
shuffling gait when walking
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):
side effect.
The use of lights and siren on an ambulance:
signifies a request for other drivers to yield the right of way.
An attack on an abortion clinic would MOST likely be carried out by a(n):
single-issue group.
The electrical impulse generated by the heart originates in the:
sinoatrial node
The electrical impulse of the heart normally begins at the:
sinoatrial node.
Jugular venous distention suggests a problem with blood returning to the heart if the patient is:
sitting up at a 45° angle.
The axial skeleton is composed of the:
skull, face, thorax, and vertebral column
Some women experience ___________ during ovulation.
slight cramping
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 should be MOST suspicious that a patient has experienced a significant head injury if his or her pulse is:
slow.
If carbon dioxide levels drop too low, the person automatically breathes:
slower and less deeply.
In contrast to the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system:
slows the heart and respiratory rates.
Activities such as walking, talking, and writing are regulated by the:
somatic nervous system.
The spinal cord is encased in and protected by the:
spinal canal.
Significant trauma to the face should increase the EMT's index of suspicion for a(n):
spinal column injury.
You are called to a construction site where a 27-year-old worker has fallen from the second floor. He landed on his back and is drifting in and out of consciousness. A quick assessment reveals no bleeding or blood loss. His blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg with a pulse rate of 110 beats/min. His airway is open and breathing is within normal limits. You realize the patient is in shock. The patient's shock is due to an injury to the:
spinal cord.
Worn-out blood cells, foreign substances, and bacteria are filtered from the blood by the:
spleen
All of the following are hollow abdominal organs, EXCEPT the:
spleen.
Following blunt trauma to the abdomen, a 21-year-old female complains of diffuse abdominal pain and pain to the left shoulder. Your assessment reveals that her abdomen is distended and tender to palpation. On the basis of these findings, you should be MOST suspicious of injury to the:
spleen.
Internal bleeding into a fractured extremity is MOST often controlled by:
splinting the extremity.
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.
The EMT should perform a "rapid scan" to determine if the patient is __________ during the __________.
stable or unstable; primary assessment
While eating dinner, your partner suddenly grabs his throat and has a panicked look on his face. He has a weak cough, faint inspiratory stridor, and cyanosis around the lips. You should:
stand behind him and administer abdominal thrusts.
When assessing for fluid collection in the lungs during auscultation of lung sounds, you should:
start at the lower lung fields and determine at which level you start hearing clear breath sounds.
When determining the frequency of contractions, you should time the contractions from the:
start of one to the start of the next.
The standards for prehospital emergency care and the individuals who provide it are typically regulated by the:
state office of EMS.
You are attending to a 27-year-old patient with a history of depression. The patient's family tells you that she has been openly talking about harming herself and suicide, and they got scared when she tried to overdose on some medications. The patient did not take the pills and is alert and oriented. Despite all of your best efforts to convince her, the patient refuses to go to hospital for treatment. Based on this information, you should:
stay with the patient while you arrange for other transport options as a potentially life-threatening emergency exists.
A _____ is an opening that connects the trachea directly to the skin.
stoma
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.
While en route to a call for a patient in cardiac arrest, you approach a stopped school bus with its red warning lights flashing. You should:
stop and wait until the warning lights stop flashing.
The purpose of defibrillation is to:
stop the chaotic, disorganized contraction of the cardiac cells
Cardiac output (CO) is affected by:
stroke volume and heart rate
A crackling sound produced by air bubbles under the skin is called:
subcutaneous emphysema.
When assessing a patient's abdomen, you will evaluate for all of the following, EXCEPT:
subcutaneous emphysema.
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.
During your primary assessment of a 19-year-old unconscious male who experienced severe head trauma, you note that his respirations are rapid, irregular, and shallow. He has bloody secretions draining from his mouth and nose. You should:
suction his oropharynx for up to 15 seconds.
Once the infant's head has been delivered:
suction the infant's mouth, then the nose.
Proper technique for suctioning the oropharynx of an adult patient includes:
suctioning while withdrawing the catheter from the oropharynx.
When caring for a patient experiencing excited delirium, the EMT should remember that:
sudden death can occur if the patient's violence is not controlled.
Signs and symptoms of meningitis in the infant or child include all of the following, EXCEPT:
sunken fontanelles.
A burn that is characterized by redness and pain is classified as a:
superficial burn.
Burns associated with lightning strikes are typically:
superficial.
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.
When stabilizing a large foreign object in the eye, you should first cover the eye with a moist dressing, then:
surround the object with a doughnut-shaped collar made from gauze.
If one or more occupants in the same vehicle are killed in a crash, the EMT should:
suspect that all living occupants experienced the same serious trauma.
The two MOST efficient ways for the body to eliminate excess heat are:
sweating and vasodilation.
Deformity caused by a fracture would MOST likely be masked by:
swelling.
Which of the following terms applies to a state of delusion in which the patient is out of touch with reality?
sychosis
Epinephrine stimulates the ________ response, increasing blood pressure and relieving bronchospasm.
sympathetic
The severity of bleeding should be based on all of the following findings, EXCEPT:
systolic blood pressure.
When you use the palpation method to obtain a blood pressure, the measurement you obtain is the:
systolic blood pressure.
The pressure exerted against the walls of the artery when the left ventricle contracts is called the:
systolic pressure.
Patients with chest injuries will often present with _______.
tachypnea
The EMT should suspect left-sided heart failure in the geriatric patient who presents with:
tachypnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.
Common signs and symptoms of acute hyperventilation syndrome include:
tachypnea and tingling in the extremities.
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 care report.
A dissecting aortic aneurysm occurs when: Select one: A. B. the aorta ruptures, resulting in profound bleeding. C. a weakened area develops in the aortic wall. D. all layers of the aorta suddenly contract.
the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
Elevation of the rib cage during inhalation occurs when:
the intercostal muscles contract.
You and your partner respond to a patient who has had his hand nearly severed by a drill press. As you approach, you note that the patient is pale and there appears to be a lot of blood on the floor. The wound continues to bleed copiously. After applying a tourniquet, you write _____ and _____ on a piece of adhesive tape and apply it to the patient's forehead.
the letters "TK"; the exact time applied
An infant or small child's airway can be occluded if it is overextended or overflexed because:
the occiput is proportionately large and the trachea is flexible.
An open fracture is MOST accurately defined as a fracture in which:
the overlying skin is no longer intact.
You should gently palpate a patient's pelvis only if:
the patient does not complain of pelvic pain.
When immobilizing a trauma patient's spine, the EMT manually stabilizing the head should not let go until:
the patient has been completely secured to the backboard.
If a dislocated shoulder has spontaneously reduced before your arrival, the only way to confirm the injury is by noting:
the patient history
In general, musculoskeletal injuries should be splinted before moving the patient unless:
the patient is clinically unstable.
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 that she 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.
Prompt transport of a patient with a suspected AMI is important because:
the patient may be eligible to receive thrombolytic therapy.
EMTs receive a call for a possible sexual assault. The patient is a young female who is conscious and alert and has no apparent injuries. She states, "I cannot remember anything, but I know I was raped." The EMTs should suspect that:
the patient was given a drug prior to the incident.
A patient with atherosclerotic heart disease experiences chest pain during exertion because:
the ragged edge of a tear in the coronary artery lumen causes local blood clotting and arterial narrowing.
You are caring for a driver who struck a light pole. She admits to drinking alcohol but orders you not to tell anyone. You should report the information to __________.
the receiving nurse or doctor
After primary triage, the triage supervisor should communicate all of the following information to the medical branch officer, EXCEPT:
the recommended transport destination for each patient.
You respond to a house fire with the local fire department. They bring a 48-year-old woman out of the house. She is unconscious but her airway is open. Her breathing is shallow at 30 breaths/min. Her pulse is 110 beats/min, strong and regular. Her blood pressure is 108/72 mm Hg. She has been burned over 40% of her body. The burned area appears to be dry and leathery. It looks charred and has pieces of fabric embedded in the flesh. You know that this type of burn is considered a:
third-degree burn.
Your BEST protection against legal liability when a patient with decision-making capacity refuses EMS care and transport is to:
thoroughly document the entire event.
A fall from more than _____ times the patient's height is considered to be significant.
three
When a patient's respirations are shallow: Select one:
tidal volume is markedly reduced.
The ability to handle multiple tasks based on their priority is called __________.
time management
A person who routinely misuses a substance and requires increasing amounts to achieve the same effect is experiencing:
tolerance.
Most of the serious injuries associated with scuba diving are caused by:
too rapid of an ascent.
______________ may be a cause of vaginal bleeding in a patient who states that she is NOT pregnant.
topic pregnancy
The act of pulling on a body structure in the direction of its normal alignment is called:
traction.
According to the Association of Air Medical Services, you should consider air medical transport of a trauma patient if:
traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best clinical outcome
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.
You respond to a residence for a child who is having a seizure. Upon arrival at the scene, you enter the residence and find the mother holding her child, a 2-year-old male. The child is conscious and crying. According to the mother, the child had been running a high fever and then experienced a seizure that lasted approximately 3 minutes. You should:
transport the child to the hospital and reassure the mother en route.
The MOST important treatment for a patient with severe abdominal pain and signs of shock is:
transporting the patient without delay.
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.
You are attending to a 54-year-old female patient in a homeless shelter. The patient tells you that she had the flu a couple of weeks ago, and she has not gotten over it. She has been tired and keeps waking up at night, sweating. She has been coughing up green sputum occasionally and has been experiencing episodes of chest pain that get worse when she breathes. Based on this information, your patient is most likely suffering from:
tuberculosis
The smooth muscles that cause the artery to contract are found in the:
tunica media.
A properly sized blood pressure cuff should cover:
two thirds the length from the armpit to the crease at the elbow.
The descending aorta divides into the two iliac arteries at the level of the:
umbilicus
Abdominal thrusts in a conscious child or adult with a severe upper airway obstruction are performed:
until he or she loses consciousness.
The goal of invaders such as bacteria and viruses is to __________.
use a human body as a home
If the victim of a toxicologic emergency vomits, an EMT should _________.
use appropriate personal protective equipment and examine the vomitus for pill fragments or other clues for patient care.
At the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you determine that there are two critically injured patients and that another ambulance is needed. You attempt to contact the dispatcher with your portable radio but are unsuccessful. You should:
use the mobile radio in the ambulance to contact dispatch.
A medical transport helicopter is incoming and you are responsible for setting up the landing zone (LZ). You should:
use weighted cones to mark all four corners of the LZ.
General guidelines for effective radio communications include all of the following, EXCEPT:
using 10 codes to ensure radio traffic confidentiality.
In an otherwise healthy adult, blood loss would cause:
vascular constriction and tachycardia
The body's natural protective mechanisms against heat loss are:
vasoconstriction and shivering.
You receive a call to a residence where a man found his wife unresponsive on the couch. The patient's respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min, her breathing is shallow, her heart rate is 40 beats/min, and her pulse is weak. The husband hands you an empty bottle of hydrocodone (Vicodin), which was refilled the day before. You should: .
ventilate her with a BVM.
A young male is unresponsive after overdosing on an opioid. He is not breathing and his pulse is weak. The EMT should immediately:
ventilate with a BVM.
A female patient with a suspected head injury has slow, shallow breathing. The MOST appropriate treatment for her includes:
ventilation assistance to maintain an ETCO2 of 30 to 35 mm Hg.
While evaluating a patient with chest pain, your partner tells you that the patient's blood pressure is 140/94 mm Hg. The lower number represents the pressure from the: .
ventricles relaxing.
Sudden death following AMI is MOST often caused by:
ventricular fibrillation.
You are attending to a 3-year-old male patient who is presenting with severe shortness of breath. His parents report that he has had a cough and cold with a low grade fever for the past two days. They became worried today, as his level of distress has increased dramatically. On assessment, the patient is sitting upright and making high-pitched noises with each breath. Based on this information, the patient is most likely suffering from:
viral infection of the upper respiratory tract
Pleural fluid is contained between the:
visceral and parietal pleurae.
If your patient swallows blood following facial trauma, there is an increased risk of ________.
vomiting
The EMT's responsibility during search-and-rescue operations is to _________.
wait at the staging area until the patient is located
The parietal peritoneum lines the:
walls of the abdominal cavity.
Heat loss from the body through respiration occurs when:
warm air is exhaled into the atmosphere.
The simplest, yet most effective method of preventing the spread of an infectious disease is to:
wash your hands in between patient contacts.
If you use a waterless handwashing substitute in the field, it is important to:
wash your hands with soap and water at the hospital
Capillary sphincter closure during internal or external bleeding is detrimental because:
waste products are not removed and nutrients are not delivered to the cells
The sebaceous glands produce sebum, a material that:
waterproofs the skin and keeps it supple.
In older patients, the first indicator of nontraumatic internal bleeding may be:
weakness or dizziness.
The MOST effective way to preserve your own body heat when functioning in cold, wet weather is to:
wear at least three layers of clothing.
When caring for a patient with an open facial injury, the EMT's immediate priority should be to:
wear gloves and facial protection.
In determining the potential for a terrorist attack, you should routinely observe all of the following on every call, EXCEPT:
weather conditions
Critical incident stress management (CISM) can occur at an ongoing scene in all of the following circumstances, EXCEPT:
when patients are actively being assessed or treated.
Gloves, a mask, eye protection, and a face shield should be used:
when performing endotracheal intubation.
When you are obtaining medical history from the family of a suspected stroke patient, it is MOST important to determine:
when the patient last appeared normal.
Nitroglycerin is contraindicated in patients:
who have experienced a head injury.
Distributive shock occurs when:
widespread dilation of the blood vessels causes blood to pool in the vascular beds
When assessing motor function in a conscious patient's lower extremities, you should expect the patient to:
wiggle his or her toes on command.
The extremity lift would NOT be appropriate to use on a patient:
with a deformed humerus.
Supplemental oxygen without assisted ventilation would MOST likely be administered to patients:
with difficulty breathing and adequate tidal volume.
When performing CPR on a child, you should compress the chest:
with one or two hands.
The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
While trying to make a family member feel better after a loved one has died, your partner states, "I know how you are feeling." The family members may view this as:
your partner's attempt to diminish their grief.