EMT Chapter 32 - Environmental Emergencies Quiz
A person's ability to shiver is lost when his or her body temperature falls below: A. 90°F (32°C). B. 92°F (33°C). C. 94°F (34°C). D. 95°F (35°C).
A
Burns associated with lightning strikes are typically: Select one: A. superficial. B. third-degree. C. full-thickness. D. partial-thickness.
A
Covering a patient's _________ will significantly minimize radiation heat loss. A. head B. chest C. abdomen D. extremities
A
Heat loss from the body through respiration occurs when: A. warm air is exhaled into the atmosphere. B. the core body temperature is greater than 98°F (37°C). C. cool air is inhaled and displaces warm air. D. air temperature is greater than body temperature.
A
High air temperature reduces the body's ability to lose heat by: A. radiation. B. convection. C. conduction. D. evaporation.
A
Patients with generalized hypothermia are at an increased risk of a local cold injury because: A. blood is shunted away from the extremities to the body's core. B. peripheral vasodilation brings warm blood to the skin's surface. C. the major muscles of the body become rigid during hypothermia. D. the patient is usually unable to escape the cold ambient temperature.
A
The organs most severely affected by air embolism are the: Select one: A. brain and spinal cord. B. brain and heart. C. heart and lungs. D. brain and lungs.
A
To obtain the MOST accurate reading of a patient's core body temperature, you should place a special hypothermia thermometer: A. into the patient's rectum. B. under the patient's tongue. C. behind the patient's knee. D. under the patient's armpit.
A
Which of the following is an early sign of pit viper envenomation? Select one: A. Local swelling and ecchymosis B. General weakness and diaphoresis C. Syncope and bleeding at distal sites D. Signs and symptoms of hypoperfusion
A
Which of the following statements regarding the brown recluse spider is NOT true? Select one: A. It is larger than the black widow spider. B. It lives mostly in the southern and central parts of the country. C. Its venom is not neurotoxic. D. Bites rarely cause systemic signs and symptoms
A
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: Select one: A. suction his mouth and nose, apply high-flow oxygen, monitor the patient's breath sounds for a pneumothorax, and contact medical control regarding transport to a recompression facility. B. place him in a semi-sitting position, suction his mouth and nose, apply a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, and transport to the closest emergency department. C. suction his mouth and nose, keep him supine and elevate his legs to prevent air bubbles from entering his brain, administer high-flow oxygen, and transport to a hyperbaric chamber. D. position him supine with his head elevated 30°, suction his mouth and nose, hyperventilate him with a bag-valve mask, and contact medical control for further guidance.
A
All of the following terms refer to a body part that is cold but not frozen, EXCEPT: Select one: A. frostnip. B. frostbite. C. trench foot. D. immersion foot.
B
An air embolism associated with diving occurs when: A. the diver hyperventilates prior to entering the water. B. the diver holds his or her breath during a rapid ascent. C. the alveoli completely collapse due to high pressure. D. high water pressure forces air into the mediastinum.
B
Compared to adults, infants and children are at higher risk for hypothermia for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT: A. a decreased ability to shiver. B. a relatively small surface area. C. a smaller amount of body fat. D. a smaller overall muscle mass.
B
Drowning is MOST accurately defined as: Select one: A. temporary survival after submersion in water. B. death from suffocation after submersion in water. C. water in the lungs following submersion in water. D. death beyond 24 hours after submersion in water.
B
Heatstroke occurs when: A. a person's core body temperature rises above 103°F (39°C). B. the body's heat-eliminating mechanisms are overwhelmed. C. a person becomes dehydrated secondary to excess water loss. D. the ambient temperature exceeds 90°F (32°C) and the humidity is high.
B
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below: Select one: A. 98°F (37°C). B. 95°F (35°C). C. 90°F (32°C). D. 88°F (31°C).
B
In contrast to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Select one: A. may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis. B. can cause paralysis and cardiorespiratory collapse. C. presents with flu-like symptoms and a bull's-eye rash. D. causes painful joint swelling after a few days or weeks.
B
In contrast to the brown recluse spider, the black widow spider: A. is very small and has a violin-shaped marking on its back. B. is large and has a red-orange hourglass mark on its abdomen. C. has a bite that is typically painless until a blister develops. D. has a bite that usually produces local pain but no systemic signs or symptoms.
B
In order for sweating to be an effective cooling mechanism: A. several layers of clothing must be worn. B. it must be able to evaporate from the body. C. the relative humidity must be above 90%. D. the body must produce at least 1 L per hour.
B
The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to the: Select one: A. renal system. B. nervous system. C. respiratory system. D. cardiovascular system.
B
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: Select one: A. radiation. B. conduction. C. convection. D. evaporation.
B
Which of the following MOST accurately describes hyperthermia? Select one: A. The core body temperature exceeds 99.5°F (37°C). B. The body is exposed to more heat than it can lose. C. Heat evaporates a significant amount of body water. D. The body eliminates more heat than it can generate.
B
The EMT must assume that any unwitnessed water-related incident is accompanied by: Select one: A. an air embolism. B. alcohol intoxication. C. possible spinal injury. D. cold-water immersion.
C
The two MOST efficient ways for the body to eliminate excess heat are: A. respiration and bradycardia. B. perspiration and tachycardia. C. sweating and dilation of skin blood vessels. D. hyperventilation and tachycardia.
C
To assess a patient's general temperature, pull back on your glove and place the back of your hand on his or her skin at the: A. neck. B. chest. C. abdomen. D. forehead.
C
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to increase a person's risk of hypothermia? A. hypoperfusion B. severe infection C. hyperglycemia D. spinal cord injury
C
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: A. immediately begin CPR on the unresponsive patient, but cease resuscitation efforts if there is no response after 5 minutes of treatment. B. focus your initial treatment efforts on the patients who are conscious because the unresponsive patient is likely in irreversible cardiac arrest. C. assess the unresponsive patient's pulse, begin CPR starting with chest compressions if he is pulseless, and attach the AED as soon as possible. D. recognize that the patients who are conscious are at high risk for developing cardiac arrest and quickly assess them for potentially life-threatening injuries.
C
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: Select one: A. perform a head-to-toe assessment and look for signs of trauma. B. place him in a sitting position and have him drink 1 L of water. C. load him into the ambulance and begin rapid cooling interventions. D. administer one tube of oral glucose and reassess his mental status.
C
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: Select one: A. applying ice to the wound and transporting quickly. B. transporting only with close, continuous monitoring. C. elevating the lower extremities and giving antivenin. D. supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
D
Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A. nausea. B. headache. C. tachycardia. D. hot, dry skin.
D
Hypothermia can worsen internal bleeding secondary to: A. cardiac arrhythmias. B. a decreased heart rate. C. severe muscular rigidity. D. blood clotting abnormalities.
D
Most of the serious injuries associated with scuba diving are caused by: Select one: A. cold water temperature. B. too rapid of a descent. C. alcohol consumption. D. too rapid of an ascent.
D
The MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness is: Select one: A. tightness in the chest. B. difficulty with vision. C. dizziness and nausea. D. abdominal or joint pain.
D
The body's natural cooling mechanism, in which sweat is converted to a gas, is called: Select one: A. radiation. B. convection. C. conduction. D. evaporation.
D
The body's natural protective mechanisms against heat loss are: A. shivering and vasodilation. B. vasodilation and respiration. C. respiration and vasoconstriction. D. vasoconstriction and shivering.
D
Treatment of drowning or near drowning begins with: Select one: A. opening the airway. B. ventilation with 100% oxygen via bag-mask device. C. suctioning the lungs to remove the water. D. rescue and removal from the water.
D
When the body loses sweat, it also loses: A. plasma. B. nutrients. C. erythrocytes. D. electrolytes.
D
Which of the following medications increases a person's risk of a heat-related emergency? A. Motrin B. Tylenol C. Aspirin D. diuretics
D
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)? A. bradypnea B. confusion C. stiff muscles D. tachycardia
D
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: A. accurate because shivering affects hemoglobin binding. B. a direct reflection of his increased respiratory rate. C. accurate because he has signs of respiratory failure. D. secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities
D
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: Select one: A. rewarm his foot in 102°F to 104°F (38.9°C to 40°C) water. B. administer oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. C. cover his foot with chemical heat compresses. D. protect the affected part from further injury.
D
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.
