EMT Practice: Systems, Safety and Care Part 7
Designed for EMT certification exam prep, this flashcard set includes vital facts on EMS systems, patient privacy, emergency care, and workplace safety.
You are assessing a 28-year-old patient and you notice he has pinpoint pupils. You suspect a drug overdose. What drug is the likely cause of this phenomenon?
- Methamphetamine
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Heroin
Heroin
Key Terms
You are assessing a 28-year-old patient and you notice he has pinpoint pupils. You suspect a drug overdose. What drug is the likely cause of this phenomenon?
- Methamphetamine
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Heroin
Heroin
Which of the following might make it difficult for you to establish an IV access in a patient with a drug abuse problem?
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Venous scarring
Venous scarring
You are assessing a patient who presents with slurred speech, hypoventilation, and hypotension. Which of the following might the patient have taken?
- Diazepam
- Pilocarpine
- Diphenhydramine
- Albuterol
Diazepam
What is the most common route of poisoning?
- Injection
- Absorption
- Ingestion
- Inhalation
Ingestion
What should you give a patient displaying respiratory depression and hypotension?
- Phenobarbital
- Codeine
- Activated charcoal
- Naloxone
Naloxone
Which of the following is a CNS stimulant?
- Sedative-hypnotics
- Alcohol
- Sympathomimetics
- Opiates
Sympathomimetics
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
You are assessing a 28-year-old patient and you notice he has pinpoint pupils. You suspect a drug overdose. What drug is the likely cause of this phenomenon? | Heroin |
Which of the following might make it difficult for you to establish an IV access in a patient with a drug abuse problem? | Venous scarring |
You are assessing a patient who presents with slurred speech, hypoventilation, and hypotension. Which of the following might the patient have taken? | Diazepam |
What is the most common route of poisoning? | Ingestion |
What should you give a patient displaying respiratory depression and hypotension? | Naloxone |
Which of the following is a CNS stimulant? | Sympathomimetics |
Antihistamines are an example of which of the following? | Anticholinergic agent |
You can use the mnemonic DUMBELS to remember the signs and symptoms of which of the following? | Cholinergic agents |
Which of the following types of food poisoning results from an organism? | Salmonella |
For which of the following would you use a DuoDote Auto-Injector? | Sarin gas attack |
An overdose of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, will MOST likely cause: | liver failure. |
Hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils would be expected following an overdose of: | oxycodone (Percocet). |
A person who routinely misuses a substance and requires increasing amounts to achieve the same effect is experiencing: | tolerance. |
Heroin is an example of a(n): | opioid. |
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. |
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. |
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). |
As you enter the residence of a patient who has possibly overdosed, you should: | be alert for personal hazards. |
How do poisons typically act to harm the body? | By changing the normal metabolism of cells or by destroying them |
Activated charcoal is given to patients who have ingested certain substances because it: | binds to the substance and prevents absorption. |
Most poisonings occur via the __________ route. | ingestion |
Which of the following statements regarding the Salmonella bacterium is correct? | The Salmonella bacterium itself causes food poisoning. |
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 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 |
Victims of inhaled poisoning will require which of the following? | Transport to an emergency department for evaluation |
The recommended treatment for absorbed or contact poisons includes _________. | safely removing or diluting the poisonous substance |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Of the four avenues of poisoning, generally ___________ is the most worrisome in terms of treatment to the EMS provider. | injection |
What should the EMT do immediately after physically restraining a violent patient? | Reassess the patient's airway and breathing. |
Where should you position yourself when beginning the primary assessment of a patient displaying a psychiatric issue? | At a distance |
When assessing a patient with a behavioral issue, you need to ask questions about three contributors: proper CNS functioning, whether the patient took hallucinogenic or other drugs or alcohol, and what else? | Significant life changes |
Why should a patient not be transported in a prone position with his/her hands tied behind the back? | Positional asphyxia could occur. |
Which of the following is a sign or symptom of PTSD? | Hypervigilance |
How is a behavioral crisis defined? | Any reaction to events that interferes with the activities of daily living |
Which of the following behavioral crises is most likely to lead to suicide? | Depression |
Which of the following statements is true regarding the returning combat veteran? | Diesel fumes can trigger PTSD in combat veterans. |
As an EMT, what is your main goal in a psychiatric emergency? | Defusing/controlling the situation and providing transport |
A patient with which of the following conditions is likely to have a flashback? | PTSD |
____________ is what you can see of a person's response to the environment. | Behavior |
A 22-year-old male with a history of clinical depression called 9-1-1 and stated that he has attempted to kill himself. Your unit and law enforcement officers arrive at the scene simultaneously. You find the patient lying supine on the living room floor. He is unresponsive and cyanotic. An empty bottle of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) is found on an adjacent table. You should: | open the patient's airway and assess his respirations. |
A 66-year-old male presents with bizarre behavior. His daughter states that he did not seem to recognize her and was very rude to her. The patient is conscious, and has a patent airway and adequate breathing. You should: | ask the daughter how her father normally behaves. |
A functional disorder is a: | physiological disorder in the absence of a structural abnormality. |
A patient with a history of schizophrenia called EMS because he was experiencing abdominal pain. When law enforcement arrived, the patient became violent, necessitating the placement of handcuffs. When you assess the patient, he tells you that killing someone will make his abdominal pain go away. His vital signs are stable. How should you manage this situation? | Request a police officer to accompany you in the ambulance |
A technique used to gain insight into a patient's thinking, which involves repeating in question form what the patient has said, is called: | reflective listening. |
General guidelines for managing a patient with a behavioral emergency include: | being prepared to spend extra time with the patient. |
Immediately after physically restraining a violent patient, the EMT should: | reassess the patient's airway and breathing. |
In addition to ensuring his or her own safety, the EMT's responsibility when caring for a patient with a behavioral emergency is to: | diffuse and control the situation and safely transport the patient. |
In contrast to a behavioral crisis, a psychiatric emergency occurs when a person: | becomes agitated or violent and is a threat to him- or herself or others. |
Organic brain syndrome is defined as: | a dysfunction of the brain caused by abnormal physical or physiological function. |
People at a higher risk for suicide include all of the following, EXCEPT: | married males older than 30 years. |
The first step in assessing a patient with a behavioral emergency is to: | ensure your safety. |
The single most significant factor that contributes to suicide is: | depression. |
When assessing a patient with a behavioral crisis, you should: | be direct and clearly state your intentions. |
Which of the following conditions or factors would be the LEAST likely to result in a change in behavior? | Antihypertensive medications |
Which of the following conditions or situations would MOST likely make excited delirium worse? | Alcohol withdrawal |
Which of the following statements regarding the physical examination of a patient with a behavioral problem is correct? | Although the physical exam can be difficult, the patient's emotional state may be determined by noting facial expressions, pulse rate, and respirations. |
You are assessing a conscious 55-year-old male with a sudden change in behavior. Which of the following clinical findings would be MOST suggestive of dysfunction of this patient's central nervous system? | Rapid eye movement |
What is menarche? | The onset of menstruation, which usually occurs between ages 11 and 16 years |
Which of the following organs or structures controls the process of ovulation and menstruation? | Ovaries |
You are assessing a female patient who tells you she feels blood coming from her vaginal area. She gives you permission to look and you observe moderate bleeding from the vagina. What should you do to manage the bleeding? | Place a sanitary pad over the vaginal opening. |
If PID is not treated, what can occur? | Ectopic pregnancy |
You are assessing a 38-year-old woman who is reporting achy abdominal pain, burning on urination, and a slight fever. As you assist her to the ambulance, you notice that she has a shuffling gait. What condition does this indicate? | PID |
In the case of a sexual assault, what is your most important treatment option? | Psychologic support |
In addition to providing medical care to a rape victim, which of the following is the most critical thing you should do? | Move the patient to a private location. |
What should you do when a female patient has vaginal bleeding of unknown cause? | Treat for shock. |
What is an EMT's responsibility regarding evidence in the case of a sexual assault? | Preserve |
Why is it important to transport a sexual assault victim to the hospital even if she does not have any obvious injuries? | There may be injuries that were not detected in the field, such as internal bleeding, that have a delayed onset of symptoms. |
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 patient with pelvic inflammatory disease will typically complain of _________. | abdominal pain associated with menstruation |
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 anticipation of receiving a fertilized ovum, the lining of the uterine wall: | becomes engorged with blood. |