Patient Treatment and Transport — All Questions

Which of the following best describes the general approach to treating a patient with an unknown medical emergency in the prehospital setting?

You respond to a 58-year-old male who is lethargic, has warm and flushed skin, and reports he has not been feeling well for several days. His blood pressure is 88/52 mmHg, pulse is 112 and weak, and respirations are 24. What is the most appropriate initial EMT action?

A 72-year-old female with a history of renal disease presents with generalized weakness, nausea, and an irregular pulse. She states she missed her dialysis appointment two days ago. Which finding would be MOST concerning and warrant the most urgent transport?

What is the EMT’s first action when an AED advises “no shock advised” on an unresponsive, pulseless patient?

You are treating a 64-year-old male complaining of substernal chest pressure radiating to his left arm. He has prescribed nitroglycerin. His blood pressure is 104/68 mmHg. He has already been given aspirin. He took one nitroglycerin tablet five minutes ago with no relief. Your local protocol requires medical control authorization for repeat nitroglycerin doses. What should you do next?

A 55-year-old female presents with chest discomfort, nausea, and shortness of breath. She denies taking any erectile dysfunction medications. She has no known allergies. Her blood pressure is 132/84 mmHg. Which combination of EMT interventions is most appropriate?

You arrive to find a 70-year-old male in cardiac arrest. Bystander CPR has been in progress for approximately 12 minutes. Your partner applies the AED, which delivers one shock. After two minutes of CPR, the patient has return of spontaneous circulation with a pulse of 68 and respirations of 6 per minute. What is the priority intervention?

Under traditional EMT assisted-medication protocols, which of the following is a contraindication for an EMT to assist a patient with a prescribed metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol?

A 42-year-old asthmatic female is sitting in a tripod position, speaking in two-word phrases, and has audible wheezing. Her oxygen saturation is 88%. She has her prescribed albuterol inhaler. After contacting medical control, what should you do?

You are called for a 68-year-old male with COPD who is on home oxygen at 2 LPM via nasal cannula. He is now in severe respiratory distress with cyanosis around his lips, a respiratory rate of 32, and oxygen saturation of 82%. He is becoming increasingly confused. What is the most appropriate action?

What is the appropriate oxygen delivery device for a patient experiencing a severe asthma attack who is alert and breathing adequately?

Which prehospital assessment tool evaluates facial droop, arm drift, and speech abnormalities to identify a possible stroke?

A 61-year-old female suddenly develops slurred speech and right-sided arm weakness. Her symptoms began 45 minutes ago. She is alert but confused. What is the most critical EMT action regarding transport?

You are treating a 35-year-old male who is having a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The seizure has been ongoing for approximately six minutes. Bystanders report he has no known seizure history. He is cyanotic around his lips. What is the EMT’s priority?

Which position is generally most appropriate for transporting a patient with severe abdominal pain?

A 45-year-old male presents with severe upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting blood. His skin is pale and diaphoretic, blood pressure is 92/60 mmHg, and pulse is 118. What should the EMT prioritize?

A 28-year-old female reports sudden onset of severe right lower quadrant abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding. She states her last menstrual period was eight weeks ago. Her blood pressure is 86/54 mmHg and pulse is 124. What condition should the EMT suspect, and what is the priority action?

Oral glucose is indicated for which of the following patients?

You respond to a 22-year-old female who is confused and diaphoretic. Her roommate states she is a Type 1 diabetic and has not eaten today. Her blood glucose reads 48 mg/dL. She is able to follow simple commands and swallow. What is the most appropriate EMT intervention?

A 50-year-old male with Type 2 diabetes is found unresponsive by his family. His skin is warm and dry, his breathing is deep and rapid, and there is a fruity odor on his breath. His blood glucose reads “HIGH” on the glucometer. What condition does the EMT suspect, and what is the appropriate treatment?

Which route of administration does an EMT use when assisting a patient with an epinephrine auto-injector?

A 30-year-old male was stung by a bee and now has generalized hives, facial swelling, and audible wheezing. He has a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector. His blood pressure is 78/50 mmHg. After obtaining medical control authorization, what is the EMT’s priority?

You treated a 25-year-old female for anaphylaxis with her epinephrine auto-injector ten minutes ago. Her wheezing initially improved, but she is now developing worsening stridor, and her blood pressure has dropped to 82/48 mmHg. She has a second auto-injector available. What should you do?

Which medication can an EMT administer to a patient with suspected opioid overdose?

You find a 19-year-old male unresponsive with pinpoint pupils and a respiratory rate of 4 breaths per minute. Drug paraphernalia is visible nearby. What is the EMT’s most important initial action?

A 32-year-old female is found agitated, tachycardic, hyperthermic, and diaphoretic at a music festival. Her pupils are dilated and she is grinding her teeth. Friends say she took “molly” approximately two hours ago. What is the greatest concern for this patient?

What is the most appropriate treatment for a patient with a core body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius)?

A 17-year-old football player collapses during summer practice. He is confused, has hot and dry skin, a rapid pulse of 128, and a core temperature reading of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. What is the priority EMT treatment?

A hiker is rescued after being lost overnight in freezing temperatures. He is responsive only to painful stimuli, has a pulse of 40, and his skin is cold and pale. You detect a faint, slow pulse. What should the EMT avoid doing with this patient?

When managing a patient experiencing a behavioral emergency, what is the EMT’s primary concern?

You are called for a 40-year-old male who is pacing, shouting, and threatening to harm himself. He has a knife in his hand. Law enforcement is en route. What should the EMT do?

A 35-year-old female is crying and states she wants to kill herself. She denies having a specific plan and has no weapons. The scene is safe. She is alert and oriented but refuses transport. What is the most appropriate course of action?

During a normal delivery, at what point should the EMT clamp and cut the umbilical cord?

You are assisting with a field delivery when you notice the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck after the head delivers. What should you do?

A 26-year-old female who is 36 weeks pregnant presents with heavy vaginal bleeding and reports severe abdominal pain. Her abdomen is rigid and tender. Her blood pressure is 80/50 mmHg and pulse is 130. What does the EMT suspect, and what is the priority?

What is the preferred method for controlling severe external hemorrhage from an extremity wound when direct pressure alone is insufficient?

A 24-year-old male was involved in a high-speed motor vehicle collision. He is alert and oriented, complaining of abdominal pain. His abdomen is distended and rigid. Blood pressure is 96/62 mmHg, pulse is 122, and respirations are 22. What is the most appropriate EMT action?

A 40-year-old female has a penetrating wound to the right upper chest. She has diminished breath sounds on the right side, jugular vein distention, and her trachea appears shifted to the left. Her blood pressure is 70/40 mmHg. What condition should the EMT suspect?

When splinting a suspected fracture, the EMT should immobilize which of the following?

A 50-year-old male fell from a ladder and has an obvious deformity to his left lower leg. There is no open wound, but the foot is pale and has no palpable pedal pulse. What should the EMT do?

A 30-year-old female has a suspected isolated mid-shaft femur fracture after a motorcycle crash. Her thigh is swollen and she is in severe pain. What type of splint is most appropriate for this injury?

When should an EMT apply spinal motion restriction to a trauma patient?

A 20-year-old male dove into a shallow pool and was pulled from the water by bystanders. He is conscious but reports he cannot feel or move his legs. What is the EMT’s priority?

A 45-year-old male fell 15 feet from a roof. He is alert but confused, with blood draining from his right ear and bruising behind both ears. His pupils are unequal. What do these findings suggest, and what should the EMT do?

How should an EMT manage an evisceration (abdominal organs protruding through an open wound)?

A construction worker has an impaled nail in his forearm. There is minimal bleeding around the object. What is the correct EMT treatment?

A patient has a large burn covering his entire anterior chest and abdomen. Using the Rule of Nines for an adult, approximately what percentage of body surface area is burned?

What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in pediatric patients?

A 3-year-old child is sitting upright, drooling, and has a high-pitched sound on inspiration. He has a fever of 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit and appears anxious. What should the EMT avoid doing with this patient?

You respond to a call for a 2-month-old infant who is limp and unresponsive. The infant has a respiratory rate of 8, a heart rate of 52, and is cyanotic. After opening the airway and providing ventilations with a BVM, the heart rate remains below 60. What is the next step?

When ventilating an infant with a BVM, what is a key difference compared to ventilating an adult?

Which of the following is a common reason that elderly patients may present atypically during a medical emergency?

An 82-year-old female fell at home and is complaining of hip pain. She is unable to bear weight and her left leg appears shortened and externally rotated. She is alert, her blood pressure is 136/80 mmHg, and she rates her pain as 8 out of 10. What is the appropriate EMT treatment?

A 78-year-old male presents with confusion that his wife says developed over the past two days. He has a history of heart failure and takes multiple medications. His temperature is 101.2 degrees Fahrenheit, blood pressure is 100/60 mmHg, and pulse is 102. His wife reports he has been urinating frequently and his urine has a strong odor. What is the most likely cause of his altered mental status?

Which of the following is NOT an EMT-level assisted medication?

A 60-year-old male with a history of angina is experiencing chest pain. He has his prescribed nitroglycerin tablets. He reports taking sildenafil (Viagra) this morning, approximately 6 hours ago. What should the EMT do regarding the nitroglycerin?

What is the correct dose of aspirin that an EMT typically administers to a patient with suspected acute coronary syndrome?

You are treating a patient with suspected anaphylaxis who does not have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector. Your service carries unit-dose epinephrine auto-injectors per local protocol. The patient has severe respiratory distress and hypotension. Medical control authorizes epinephrine. What is your next action?

Before and after applying a splint, the EMT should assess which of the following?

A patient has a suspected dislocation of the left elbow. The joint is locked in a flexed position. What is the correct splinting approach?

After applying a splint to a patient’s right forearm, you reassess and find that the radial pulse is absent and the hand is becoming pale and cool. What should the EMT do?

In which position should a conscious patient with difficulty breathing and no suspected spinal injury be transported?

You are transporting an unresponsive patient with adequate breathing and no signs of trauma. What is the most appropriate transport position?

A pregnant patient in her third trimester is being transported for abdominal pain. She has no signs of active labor or spinal injury. How should she be positioned on the stretcher?

You are on scene with a multi-system trauma patient who has a suspected pelvic fracture, bilateral femur fractures, and signs of shock. The nearest Level I trauma center is 25 minutes away, and the nearest community hospital is 20 minutes away but lacks surgical trauma capabilities. ALS backup is 15 minutes out. What is the best transport decision?

Which of the following signs is most indicative of poor perfusion in a medical patient?

What is the primary difference between a sign and a symptom?

Which of the following patients would be classified as having an altered mental status?

What does the “P” in the AVPU scale stand for?

Which position is most appropriate for a conscious patient experiencing difficulty breathing?

You respond to a 66-year-old female who is dizzy and reports her heart feels like it is racing. Her pulse is rapid and irregular at approximately 160 beats per minute. She is alert but anxious. Her blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg. What is the most appropriate EMT action?

A 48-year-old male presents with sudden onset of severe headache, stiff neck, and photophobia. He has a fever of 102.8 degrees Fahrenheit. What condition should the EMT suspect?

A 55-year-old male becomes unresponsive during transport. He has a palpable carotid pulse at 40 beats per minute and shallow respirations at 6 per minute. What is your priority?

A 70-year-old female with a history of atrial fibrillation suddenly develops weakness on her right side and difficulty speaking. Symptoms began 90 minutes ago. What should the EMT prioritize?

A 52-year-old male has a syncopal episode while standing in line at a store. When you arrive, he is alert, oriented, and states he feels fine. His vitals are normal. He wants to refuse transport. What is the most appropriate approach?

A 40-year-old male reports a sudden severe headache described as the worst headache of his life. He has no history of migraines. His blood pressure is 168/98 mmHg. What should the EMT suspect?

A 38-year-old female presents with weakness, fatigue, and dark tarry stools over three days. Her BP lying is 94/58 mmHg; sitting, it drops to 72/46 mmHg. Her pulse rises from 88 to 118 upon sitting. What does this positional change indicate?

A 60-year-old male collapsed while shoveling snow. He is responsive to verbal stimuli, has labored breathing at 28 per minute, and ashen gray skin. He has a history of heart failure. Which finding would MOST increase concern for imminent decompensation?

A 44-year-old male with no medical history becomes acutely short of breath during a long flight. He reports pleuritic chest pain on the right side and his SpO2 is 91%. He has mild swelling in his right calf. What condition should the EMT consider?

A 30-year-old female presents with bilateral hand tingling, perioral numbness, and carpopedal spasm. She reports feeling anxious and has been breathing very rapidly. Her SpO2 is 99%. What is the most likely cause?

You respond to a nursing facility for an 85-year-old resident found on the floor. He was fine two hours ago but is now confused with BP 88/52, pulse 110, warm flushed skin, and temperature 103.4 degrees Fahrenheit. What type of shock should you suspect?

What is the normal resting heart rate range for an adult?

What is the compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR?

At what depth should chest compressions be performed on an adult during CPR?

Which cardiac rhythm is most commonly associated with sudden cardiac arrest in adults?

What is the recommended rate for chest compressions during adult CPR?

Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR?

When using an AED on a child between 1 and 8 years of age, what is preferred?

A 58-year-old male describes squeezing chest pressure radiating to his jaw. He is diaphoretic and nauseated. He has no allergies and has not taken erectile dysfunction medications. After placing him on oxygen, what should you do next?

During two-rescuer CPR on an adult, the compressor has been performing compressions for two minutes. What should happen next?

A 72-year-old female with a pacemaker goes into cardiac arrest. The pacemaker is implanted in the left upper chest. How should you adjust AED pad placement?

You are performing CPR on a drowning victim pulled from a pool. After two minutes, the AED advises no shock. What distinguishes management of this cardiac arrest?

A 45-year-old male complains of chest tightness after using cocaine. BP is 190/110, pulse 140, and he is agitated. He has prescribed nitroglycerin. Should the EMT assist with nitroglycerin?

You respond to a 68-year-old male who woke with chest pressure, nausea, and shortness of breath 3 hours ago. He takes daily aspirin. Should you administer additional aspirin?

A patient in cardiac arrest has a medication patch on the chest where an AED pad needs to be placed. What should the EMT do?

A 50-year-old male is in cardiac arrest. You have been performing CPR for 8 minutes. The AED has delivered two shocks with no return of pulse. ALS is 15 minutes away. What is the most appropriate action?

An 80-year-old female complains of fatigue and lightheadedness. Pulse is 38 and regular. She denies chest pain. BP is 88/56. She takes atenolol. What is the most likely cause?

A 63-year-old male had a witnessed cardiac arrest. A bystander delivered one AED shock. You find pulse of 72 and respirations of 14. During transport, he becomes pulseless again. What is the immediate action?