First Aid
Anatomy & Physiology
Vital Signs
Scene Safety & Smarts
EMS Vocabulary
100

What is the first step of stopping severe bleeding from an extremity wound?

What is direct pressure 

100

This large muscle separates the abdominal and thoracic cavities and is important for breathing?

What is diaphragm?

100
For a healthy adult at rest, a normal heart rate falls in this range.

What is 60-100 BPM?

100

An EMT must evaluate the scene and ensure this before approaching a patient.

What is scene safety?

100

In medical terminology, what common prefix means "fast" or "rapid"?

What is tachy-?

200

If a conscious adult or child is choking and is unable to cough, speak, or breathe, what maneuver should you perform to clear the airway?

What is abdominal thrusts?

200

The human spine is divided into major sections, what is the topmost region, containing 7 vertebrae called?

What is the cervical region (C-spine)?

200

For a healthy adult at rest, a normal breathing rate falls within this range.

What is 12-20 breaths/min?

200

When responding to a call involving possible bodily fluids or infectious disease, an EMT must apply this to ensure safety. 

What is PPE (personal protective equipment)?

200

What three letter abbreviation is fundamental to step-by-step life-support assessment and what does each letter stand for?

What is ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation)?

300

What device should be placed 2-3 inches above a severe, life-threatening bleed on an extremity?

What is tourniquet?

300

With altered mental status, EMTs assess blood glucose levels because this organ relies almost entirely on a continuous supply of glucose for proper function.

What is the brain?

300

In adults, a blood pressure reading with a top number of 120 and a bottom number of 80 is considered normal. These terms define the top and bottom values.

What is systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom)?

300

If multiple people on the same floor of a residence hall report sudden headaches, nausea, and dizziness, responders should immediately suspect this colorless, odorless gas and initiate an evacuation.

What is carbon monoxide (CO)?
300

If an EMT places a patient flat on their back, face up, what anatomical position is the patient in? 

What is supine?

400

During an active seizure, the correct first step is to protect them from injury, what position do you put the patient in once the seizing stops?

What is recovery position?

400

high levels of this gas in the blood triggers the breathing reflex.

What is carbon dioxide (CO2)?
400

When testing a patients blood glucose level, a reading in this range is considered normal for a non-diabetic adult.

What is 60-120 mg/dL?

400

During a crowded emergency, a large crowd can become an operational hazard. First responders perform this process using clear communication, barriers, and law enforcement to maintain the scene.

What is crowd/scene control?

400
If a patient is described as dyspneic, what are they experiencing?

What is difficulty breathing?

500

When treating an open chest wound ("sucking chest wound"), you should immediately cover it with what type of dressing to prevent air from entering the pleural space?

What is occlusive dressing?

500
These fragments are responsible for clotting to stop bleeding.

What are platelets (thrombocytes)?

500

Cushing's Triad is a vital sign pattern used to identify dangerously high intracranial pressure. These are the three characteristics that make up Cushing's Triad.

What is decreased/irregular respirations, bradycardia (slow heart rate), and hypertension (high blood pressure) with a widened gap?

500

When approaching a hazardous chemical spill, leak, or structure fire, first responders should always park in this location to avoid runoff or vapors.

What is upwind/uphill?

500

In trauma assessment, the pneumonic DCAP-BTLS stands for what?

What is deformities, contusions, abrasions, punctures/penetrations, burns, tenderness, lacerations, swelling?