I'm in danger! (Scene Size-up)
Name all 6 parts of Scene Size-up.
Scene safety, PPE/BSI, # of patients, MOI/NOI, additional resources, consider c-spine
What is the first thing the EMT does during the primary assessment?
The general impression
You suspect a patient has a spinal injury after a fall. How should you open their airway?
The jaw-thrust maneuver.
What is the medical term for a respiratory rate that is slower than 12 breaths per minute in an adult?
Bradypnea
What acronym for history taking is most helpful for someone complaining of chest pain?
OPQRST
What is the difference between and sign and a symptom?
Symptom is what the patient is feeling
Sign is what you can see
What are the 4 components of a reassessment?
Primary assessment, chief complaint, vital signs, interventions
You are on scene of a MVA. What hazards are you looking for? Name at least 3.
Vehicle instability, traffic, downed poles/wires, leaking fluids, undeployed airbags, fire/smoke
What is the best way to determine if a patients breathing is adequate?
Watch the chest rise and fall
What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unresponsive patient?
The tongue.
If you shine a light into a patient's eyes and the pupils stay large and do not contract, how would you describe them?
Fixed (or non-reactive) and dilated
What does the acronym SAMPLE stand for?
Signs & symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events leading up to
If you see a bruise behind a patient's ear (Battle’s sign) or "raccoon eyes," what does this usually signify in a trauma patient?
A Basilar Skull Fracture
Which patients need to be reassessed?
ALL PATIENTS NEED TO BE REASSESSED
Name 5 additional resources you could potentially call.
Police, fire, animal control, hazmat, PSE&G, ALS, more BLS, God.
What do you call the reason the patient called 911, usually stated in their own words?
The Chief Complaint
When is the use of an NPA contraindicated?
A patient with any head/facial trauma
A blood pressure cuff that is too small for a patient's arm will likely result in a reading that is falsely ______?
High
True or False: If a patient is unresponsive, you cannot obtain any part of a SAMPLE history.
False. You can obtain history from family members, bystanders, or medical alert jewelry.
What is the term for "grating" or "crunching" sounds heard or felt when broken bone ends rub together?
Crepitus
How often should you reassess vital signs for a stable patient? How often for an unstable patient?
Stable patient = 15 minutes
Unstable patient = 5 minutes
You arrive at a residence and hear loud shouting and the sound of breaking glass from within, what is your immediate course of action?
Retreat to a safe distance and request law enforcement
True or False: You should obtain a full set of vital signs (blood pressure, pulse rate, etc.) as part of the Primary Assessment.
False
In what direction should you move the suction catheter while applying suction?
On the way out (withdrawing the catheter)
When the heart contracts and forces blood into the arteries, the pressure created is known as the:
Systolic blood pressure.
Should an EMT primarily use "Open-ended" or "Closed-ended" questions when starting a history?
Open-ended (e.g., "Tell me what's going on today?") to allow the patient to describe their condition in detail.
While assessing the chest, you notice a segment of the ribs moving in the opposite direction of the rest of the chest during breathing. What is this called?
Paradoxical Motion (indicating a Flail Chest)
WHY is it important to reassess patients, especially focusing on the chief complaint?
To see if the patient's condition is improving, worsening, or staying the same (identifying trends).
During a nighttime motor vehicle collision on a highway, what is the most important piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear before exiting the ambulance?
High-visibility safety vest
What is the main objective of the Primary Assessment?
To identify and treat immediate life threats.
You are managing the airway and breathing of a patient with dentures, what should you do with the dentures?
Leave them in place. Remove them only if they pose a hazard to keeping the airway open
The difference between the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure is called:
Pulse pressure
If a patient has chest pain but denies having any shortness of breath, what is the "shortness of breath" considered in your documentation?
A pertinent negative.
What does a "rigid, board-like" abdomen often indicate in a medical or trauma patient?
Internal bleeding or peritonitis (infection/irritation of the abdominal lining).
You're halfway through getting set of vital signs and your patient who was just talking to you suddenly changes from "Alert" to "Responsive to Pain," what do you immediately do?
Stop the assessment where you are and immediately redo the Primary Assessment