EMS Operations
ALS and Advanced Questions Only
Medical / Obstetrics / Gynecology
Cardiology and Resuscitation
Misc EMS
100
Which of the following is not routinely done by an ambulance crew? A) Washing the ambulance, B) Sterilizing non disposable equipment, C) Disinfecting the stretcher, D) Cleaning non disposable equipment,
What is Sterilizing non disposable equipment... Sterilization is not something done routinely by the ambulance crew. It is most often done at the hospital or by an outside agency.
100
How does a stroke happen? A) An artery in the brain is blocked B) A vein in the brain is weak C) An artery in the brain collapses D) None of the above
What is An artery in the brain is blocked... When a brain artery is blocked or damaged causing a rupture that cuts off oxygen supply, it is termed a stroke or cerebrovasular accident.
100
Generally, the thickest layer of skin tissue is the? A) Dermis B) Epidermis C) Muscle D) Subcutaneous layer
What is Subcutaneous layer... Generally, the subcutaneous layer is the thickest.
100
The three basic causes of shock are? A) Trauma, cardiac event, and seizure B) Poor perfusion, poor mentation, and poor respiratory function C) Vessel constriction, poor vessel function, and poor respiratory function D) Poor pump function, fluid loss, and vessel dilation
What is Poor pump function, fluid loss, and vessel dilation... The basic causes of shock are poor heart function, loss of blood and fluid, and dilation of vessels.
100
Respirations in a preschool aged child would be considered normal at? A) 16 breaths per minute B) 24 breaths per minute C) 32 breaths per minute D) 35 breaths per minute
What is 24 breaths per minute. 20-30 breaths per minute is normal in most children.
200
A prehospital care report is given _______________________. A) To the medical director during transport, B) Only to those above you in rank, C) In written form, D) If you have time,
What is In written form... The PCR is an important part of the care process ensuring that your patient has correct data about their prehospital care.
200
The second stage of shock is called? A) Compensated B) Reflex period C) Refractory stage D) Decompensated
What is Decompensated... Rationale: First stage is compensated, second is decompensated, and third is irreversible.
200
During an assessment, a person was found to have wet lung sounds. In what position should they be transported? A) Supine B) Trendelenburg C) Semi Fowler's D) Lateral recumbent
What is Semi Fowler's... Keeping the head and chest elevated will allow for better respiratory function in the patient with wet lung sounds. It will prevent pooling of the fluids in the lungs.
200
When the left ventricle contracts, it creates a pressure that is ___________ than the pressure in the aorta and pulmonary artery causing blood to____________________ A) Less / Fill the left atrium, B) Equal / Be forced into the right atrium, C) Greater / Be ejected from the heart, D) Greater / Be pushed into the pulmonary artery for oxygenation
What is Greater / Be ejected from the heart... The contraction of the left ventricle creates a pressure that is greater than that of the aorta and pulmonary artery which forces the blood out of heart, through the aorta, and into the arteries.
200
What is one part of a physical exam? A) Emaciation B) Prevention C) Cavitation D) Auscultation
What is Auscultation... Auscultation is the physical listening for sounds of the heart and lungs.
300
You are approaching an MVA involving one vehicle and a bear. Your primary concern should be? A) Scene safety. B) Calling fish and game. C) Making sure the bear is dead before entering the area. D) Getting the patient out of the car and away from the bear.
What is Scene safety... Scene safety above all else. Making sure the scene is free of dangerous things is your first priority.
300
Diabetes is a systemic disease affecting all body tissue, but a few systems are hit especially hard and more often. These are? A) The small arteries, skin disorders, and digestion B) Ears, appendix, and urinary tract C) The kidneys, eyes ,and peripheral nerves D) Central nervous system and the sympathetic system
What is...C Diabetes is capable of deteriorating any of the body's tissues but those hit especially hard are the kidneys, eyes, and peripheral nerves.
300
Which of the following is the most abundant neurotransmitter within the sympathetic nervous system? A) Insulin B) Norepinephrine C) Potassium D) Calcium
What is Norepinephrine... Norepinephrine or adrenaline is the most common in the sympathetic nervous system.
300
You arrived to find your patient pulseless and apneic. What is their GCS? A) 0 B) 3 C) 7 D) 10
What is 3... Even though they are pulseless and apneic, your patient would receive one point in each of the three categories for a total of 3.
300
The approximate minute volume for a healthy adult breathing 12 times a minute is? A) 10,000 mL/min B) 6,000 mL/min C) 1,200 mL/min D) 12,000 mL/min
What is 6,000 mL/min. Rationale: Minute volume (or minute ventilations) is the tidal volume times the number of breaths in a minute. This question assumes you know the average tidal volume for an adult is 500 mL - 600 mL. Even given any variation of tidal volume that texts may provide, all other choices are way out of range.
400
Most violent injuries to EMT's occur? A) At motor vehicle accidents. B) When a patient has a sudden behavioral change. C) At crime scenes. D) In the homes of gang members.
What is When a patient has a sudden behavioral change... Contrary to popular belief, most people think crime scene. However, it usually involves drugs or alcohol or behaviorally disturbed patients or bystanders.
400
Four things must be present for an EMT to be considered negligent. Which of the following is NOT one of those things? A) An injury must have occurred B) The action or lack of action must be outside the EMT's duty to act C) The action or lack of action must be the direct cause of the injury D) The action or lack of action must be below the EMT's standard of care
What is The action or lack of action must be outside the EMT's duty to act... The action or lack of action must be WITHIN the EMT's Duty to Act not outside.
400
Which part or phase of a seizure occurs when the patient's muscles tense down? A) Clonic B) Tonic C) Monic D) Sonic
What is Tonic... The tonic phase of a tonic clonic seizure is when the patient's muscles become rigid or tense down.
400
Without knowing anything else, what condition would you say the following patient is in? A 30 year old male with a pulse rate of 40, breathing at 10 breaths per minute, and a systolic BP of 90. A) Good B) Fair C) Moderate d0 Poor
What is Poor... A patient who has bradycardia (HR less than 60), slow respirations (below 12), and a systolic BP of less than 100 would most likely be in a very poor condition.
400
You are auscultating the lungs of a 23 year old female patient in good respiratory health. You would expect to find what type of lung sounds? A) Bronchovesicular breath sounds B) Bronchial breath sounds C) Moist breath sounds D) Vesicular breath sounds
What is Vesicular breath sounds... Normal breath sounds are vesicular when heard over the lungs. Auscultation over the anterior sternum will produce bronchial breath sounds in normal conditions but they are not normal over the lungs.
500
During an emergency call there are multiple ways to spread infectious diseases back and forth between patients and ambulances. Which of the following choices is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases? A) Spraying all surfaces in the ambulance with disinfectant B) Wearing an N95 mask and gloves during all patient contact C) Putting a mask on patients who are coughing D) Washing your hands with soap and water
What is Washing your hands with soap and water... Hand washing is the best thing you can do to prevent the spread of germs and other infectious substances. It is by far the single most important thing you can do to keep from cross contaminating.
500
Headache is a side effect of? A) Car wrecks B) Blunt head trauma C) Oxygen D) Nitroglycerin
What is Nitroglycerin... Nitroglycerin will cause headaches as a side effect. Car wrecks and trauma are causes not side effects.
500
Blood sugar levels change during carbohydrate metabolism as hormones interact. Which of the following answers correctly states a portion of that process? A) Insulin stimulates the release of glucagon from the liver when hypoglycemia is detected. This glucagon is then absorbed into the blood stream, B) Epinephrine helps lower the glucose level in the bloodstream by binding the glycogen together and slowing their absorption, C) Cortisol like epinephrine contributes to the lowering of blood sugar levels by binding glycogen molecules together which slows them down, D) The pancreas creates glucagon which stimulates the liver into converting stored glycogen into glucose and releasing it into the bloodstream
What is The pancreas creates glucagon which stimulates the liver into converting stored glycogen into glucose and releasing it into the bloodstream... Answer 2 incorrect as it is the pancreas that releases glucagon, not the liver. Glucagon makes the liver convert glycogen stores into glucose. Answer 3, epinephrine helps increase blood sugar levels, not lower them. It helps break glycogen down, not bind it together. Answer 4, same thing as answer 3.
500
You and your partner Abner are performing CPR on a 22 year old man who was in a motorcycle accident. Your CPR will utilize: A) Chest compressions at 30 a minute with one breath every 10 seconds B) About 6 breaths per minute with a tidal volume enough to give adequate chest rise C) Compressions one third to one half the depth of the chest with one breath every 3-5 seconds D) 12 to 20 breaths per minute with a tidal volume of 800ml each breath
What is About 6 breaths per minute with a tidal volume enough to give adequate chest rise... The second answer of 6 breaths per minute with a tidal volume of enough air to give adequate rise to the chest is correct according to AHA CPR guidelines. If it was rescue breathing with no compressions it would be 10-12 breaths per minute. Each of the other answers has one element incorrect.
500
A 20 yr old male has injured his back at a local swimming hole. You and your partner Missy arrive to find the man moaning and laying partially in the water next to a pile of rocks. Witnesses say he slipped while climbing a tree over the swimming hole and fell onto the rocks from about 30 ft up. The man is breathing at 12 breaths per minute and his respirations are very shallow with periods of apnea. His pulse is 72 beats per minute and his skin is slightly moist and pale. After taking c-spine precautions, what would be the most appropriate course of action? A) Assess airway, high flow O2 via NRB, assess circulation, and transport B) High flow O2 at 12-15LMP and a detailed physical exam C) Assist ventilations and elevate the man's legs D) Perform a focused physical exam looking for life threats and then transport
What is Assist ventilations and elevate the man's legs. Rationale: This man is in need of ventilatory support as his respiration rate AND depth are not sufficient. Treatment should include slight elevation of the legs in order to help treat for shock as well as blankets and possibly heat packs for warmth.
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