EMT Practice: Systems, Safety and Care Part 3
This flashcard set breaks down critical EMT knowledge into easy-to-review questions and answers. Covers EMS structure, legal responsibilities, medical control, and field protocols.
Why is a neonate's head more "moldable"?
- Calcium growth in bones has not yet begun.
- Fontanelles have not yet fused to form the skull.
- The brain stem is less rigid.
- There is more space between the skull and the brain.
Fontanelles have not yet fused to form the skull.
Key Terms
Why is a neonate's head more "moldable"?
- Calcium growth in bones has not yet begun.
- Fontanelles have not yet fused to form the skull.
- The brain stem is less rigid.
- There is more space between the skull and the brain.
Fontanelles have not yet fused to form the skull.
Congenital abnormalities are the leading cause of death in which age group?
- Toddlers
- Adolescents
- Older adults
- Neonates
Neonates
At what stage do vital signs begin to level off within adult ranges?
- Neonate
- Preschool
- School-age
- Adolescent
Adolescent
Which of the following conditions is an infant most likely to have?
-Disk compression in the spinal column
- Loss of passive immunity
- Airway obstruction
- Atherosclerosis
Airway obstruction
Which age group is most likely to suffer from diabetes?
- Infants
- Adolescents
- Middle adults
- Older adults
Older adults
Which of the following statements is true about the physiology of older adults?
- Older adults require more sleep than younger adults.
- The filtration function of the kidneys decreases and the size of the kidney increases.
- The metabolic rate in the older brain does not change.
- Vital capacity is at its highest in older adults.
The metabolic rate in the older brain does not change.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Why is a neonate's head more "moldable"? | Fontanelles have not yet fused to form the skull. |
Congenital abnormalities are the leading cause of death in which age group? | Neonates |
At what stage do vital signs begin to level off within adult ranges? | Adolescent |
Which of the following conditions is an infant most likely to have? | Airway obstruction |
Which age group is most likely to suffer from diabetes? | Older adults |
Which of the following statements is true about the physiology of older adults? | The metabolic rate in the older brain does not change. |
Which of the following should be expected when you assess a 76-year-old patient's pupils? | Slower pupillary reaction |
Which of the following affects vital signs the most in older adults? | Overall health of the patient |
Which life stage is apt to be characterized by antisocial behavior and peer pressure? | Adolescent |
Changes in which of the following body systems can result in the most debilitating of age-related illnesses? | Nervous |
You are called to a scene where a 40-year-old man was clearing trees in a remote area and was struck by a falling tree. When you arrive, he is conscious but the tree is laying across his lower legs. How should you remove the victim once the tree is removed? | Direct lift |
When lifting the patient, it is imperative to use which proper body mechanics? | Hold your back in an upright position |
When lifting a backboard, you should use which of the following? | Diamond carry |
The scoop stretcher is also known as what? | Orthopedic stretcher |
To avoid the strain of unnecessary lifting and carrying, which of the following should you use when moving a patient from the ground onto a stretcher? | Draw sheet method |
You are dispatched to a house where an 80-year-old woman has fallen in an upstairs bathroom and hit her head on the sink. When you arrive she is unconscious. Which is the best equipment to use to move her to the ambulance? | Backboard |
When carrying a patient down a flight of stairs on a backboard, which person should be at the head end of the backboard? | Doug, who is 5'8" and a weightlifter |
Which of the following is an example of an urgent move? | Rapid extrication technique |
You are responding to an accident where a 25-year-old female fell 15 feet while rock climbing. The terrain is steep and there is not much space to work. Which device should you use? | Flexible stretcher |
You are transporting a 50-year-old patient who reports respiratory distress but has no other indications of other injury or illness. What is the best position in which to place this patient? | Fowler/semi-fowler |
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: | apply a cervical collar and immobilize him with a vest-style device. |
Which of the following statements regarding an emergency patient move is correct? | An emergency move is performed before the primary assessment and treatment. |
Which of the following statements regarding the scoop stretcher is NOT correct? | A scoop stretcher will provide adequate immobilization of a patient's spinal column. |
In most instances, you should move a patient on a wheeled ambulance stretcher by: | pushing the head of the stretcher while your partner guides the foot. |
The extremity lift would NOT be appropriate to use on a patient: | with a deformed humerus. |
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 |
You are attending to a 34-year-old male patient who requires transport to the hospital for assessment of his chronic back pain. The patient weighs over 750 pounds. Your bariatric stretcher has a wider surface area to allow for: | increased patient comfort and dignity. |
You are attending to a 26-year-old female who is 34 weeks pregnant with her first child. Your patient has been having lower abdominal pains and cramping for the past two hours. In placing your patient on the stretcher and preparing for transport, you should place her: | on her left side |
Which is the MOST appropriate method to use when moving a patient from his or her bed to a wheeled stretcher? | Draw sheet method |
When pulling a patient, you should extend your arms no more than ________ in front of your torso. | 15 to 20 inches |
The direct carry is used to transfer a patient: | from a bed to the ambulance stretcher. |
The _________ is both the mechanical weight-bearing base of the spinal column and the fused central posterior section of the pelvic girdle. | sacrum |
When carrying a patient up or down stairs, you should avoid: | using a wheeled stretcher whenever possible. |
Upon arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you find a single patient still seated in his car. There are no scene hazards. As you approach the vehicle, you note that the patient is semiconscious and has a large laceration to his forehead. You should: | direct your partner to apply manual in-line support of the patient's head. |
An EMT may injure his or her back, even if it is straight, if the: | back is bent forward at the hips. |
To protect a restrained patient and prevent him from using leverage to break free, the EMT should secure __________. | one arm above the head |
You should not attempt to lift a patient who weighs more than 250 lb with fewer than _______ rescuers, regardless of individual strength. | four |
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. |
The MOST serious consequence of a poorly planned or rushed patient move is: | injury to you or your patient. |
It is essential that you ____________ your equipment to prevent the spread of disease. | decontaminate |
What is the first concern when entering a scene? | scene safety |
You respond to a home where a 25-year-old woman is lying in bed. She is semiconscious but opens her eyes when you speak to her, and is lethargic. How do you rate her on the AVPU scale? | - responsive to verbal stimuli |
Which of the following terms would be used to describe the patient's pulse rate of 140 beats/min? | tachycardia |
What is a pertinent negative? | A negative finding that requires no further care or intervention |
What is the purpose of the primary assessment? | To identify and begin to treat immediate life threats |
At what point in the patient assessment process do you investigate the chief complaint? | History taking |
When treating a 6-year-old, you note a brassy crowing sound, especially when she breathes in. What is this? | Stridor |
In what phase of patient assessment do you determine MOI/NOI? | Scene size-up |
What is the primary purpose of standard precautions? | Infection prevention |
Which of the following devices would you use to measure a patient's ventilation, circulation, and metabolism? | Capnography |
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 |
An elderly patient has fallen and hit her head. Your initial care should focus on: | airway, breathing, and circulation |
For an adult, the normal resting pulse should be between: | 60 and 100 beats/min. |
If a patient develops difficulty breathing after your primary assessment, you should immediately: | reevaluate his or her airway status. |
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 chief complaint is MOST accurately defined as the: | most serious thing the patient is concerned about. |
When auscultating the blood pressure in a patient's upper extremity, you should place the head of the stethoscope over the _________ artery. | brachial |
A decrease in blood pressure may indicate: | loss of vascular tone. |
Which of the following scenarios does NOT involve the presence of any symptoms? | A 61-year-old female who is unconscious with facial cyanosis |
Which of the following 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 questions would you ask a patient to ascertain the "M" in the SAMPLE history? | "How much Tylenol do you take each day?" |
When approaching a 32-year-old male who is complaining of traumatic neck pain, you should: | ensure that the patient can see you approaching him. |
Treatment and transport priorities at the scene of a mass-casualty incident should be determined after: | all the patients have been triaged. |
Which of the following actions would NOT be performed during the scene size-up? | Rapidly assessing a patient's respiratory status |
Poor peripheral circulation will cause the skin to appear: | ashen |
What part of the patient assessment process focuses on obtaining additional information about the patient's chief complaint and any medical problems he or she may have? | History taking |
During an EMS call, you should take standard precautions: | before exiting the ambulance and before actual patient contact. |
A 39-year-old male sustained a stab wound to the groin during an altercation at a bar. As you approach the patient, you note that he is conscious. He is screaming in pain and is attempting to control the bleeding, which is bright red and spurting from his groin area. You should: | apply direct pressure to the wound. |
You are assessing a 72-year-old man with abdominal pain. The patient is sitting in a chair; he is conscious, alert, and calm. As you are talking to the patient, your partner discreetly directs your attention to a handgun, which is located on a nearby table. You should: | position yourself in between the patient and the gun and ask your partner to request law enforcement assistance. |
In patients with deeply pigmented skin, changes in color may be apparent only in certain areas, such as the: | lips or oral mucosa. |
You answer a call to a restaurant where you find an unresponsive 50-year-old woman laying on the floor. She appears cyanotic and you do not detect chest rise and fall. There are no signs of traumatic injury. What should you do first? | insert an oral airway and begin ventilations with a BVM |
You are assessing ventilations with a BVM and notice the patient's chest does not rise and fall with each ventilation. What should you do? | reposition the airway by bringing the head back to a neutral position, then reopen the airway and attempt to ventilate |
How can gastric distention be prevented when performing artificial ventilations? | provide slow, gentle breaths during artificial ventilation over 1 second |
Which of the following is contraindicted in a patient who has sustained a head injury? | insertion of a nasal airway |
While you are performing artificial ventilations on a patient, he vomits. What should you do? | roll the patient onto his side to allow for drainage of emesis |
What is respiration? | the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli and tissues |
Excellent indicators of respiration include level of consciousness and what else? | skin color |
What is the preferred method of ventilating a patient? | mouth-to-mask with one-way valve |
What is the main problem with positive-pressure ventilation? | cardiac output drops |
Which of the following is an indication of poor air exchange? | stridor |
You are performing mouth-to-mask ventilations with oxygen connected and set at a flow rate of 15 L/min. What percentage of oxygen is your patient receiving? | 55% |
What occurs when a patient is breathing very rapidly and shallowly? | air moves primarily in the anatomic dead space and does not participate in pulmonary gas exchange |
Which of the following structures is NOT found in the upper airway? | bronchus |
The physical act of moving air into and out of the lungs is called: | ventilation |
How does CPAP improve oxygenation and ventilation in patients with certain respiratory problems? | it forces the alveoli open and pushes oxygen across the alveolar membrane |
Irregular respirations characterized by an increasing rate and depth of breathing followed by periods of apnea are called: | Cheyne-Stokes respirations |
Which of the following patients should you place in the recovery position? | a 31-year-old semiconscious male with low blood sugar and adequate breathing |
Which of the following statements regarding oxygen is correct? | Oxygen supports the combustion process and may cause a fire. |
The nasopharyngeal airway is MOST beneficial because it: | can maintain a patent airway in a semiconscious patient with a gag reflex. |
When testing a mechanical suctioning unit, you should turn on the device, clamp the tubing, and ensure that it generates a vacuum pressure of more than: | 300 mm Hg. |
A patient who is suspected of being hypoxic and is breathing adequately should be given supplemental oxygen with a: | nonrebreathing mask. |
In which of the following patients would the head tilt-chin lift maneuver be the MOST appropriate method of opening the airway? | A 37-year-old female who is found unconscious in her bed |
A 19-year-old female is found unconscious by her roommate. Your primary assessment reveals that her breathing is inadequate. As you insert an oropharyngeal airway, she begins to gag violently. You should: | remove the airway and be prepared to suction her oropharynx. |
Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator of adequately performed bag-valve mask ventilations in an apneic adult with a pulse? | Adequate rise of the chest when squeezing the bag |
Which of the following statements regarding normal gas exchange in the lungs is correct? | Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the alveolar walls and capillaries. |
You are ventilating a patient with a stoma; however, air is escaping from the mouth and nose. To prevent this, you should: | seal the mouth and nose. |
Which of the following statements regarding breathing adequacy is correct? | Patients breathing shallowly may require assisted ventilation despite a normal respiratory rate. |
During your assessment of a patient with respiratory distress, you hear wheezing when listening to breath sounds. This indicates: | a lower airway obstruction. |
Which of the following patients is breathing adequately? | A conscious male with respirations of 19 breaths/min and pink skin |
A man was found unresponsive in his bed at home. There is no evidence of injury and the patient's medical history is not known. The patient's face is cyanotic, yet the pulse oximeter reads 98%. Which of the following would MOST likely explain this? | Carbon monoxide poisoning |