Prehospital Emergency Care Chapter 42 Hazardous Materials

1) A small truck has gone over an embankment. The driver has a head injury, does not recall the crash, and is somewhat confused, but is able to tell you that he is hauling N-acetyl-paraaminophenol. Which resource would provide you with the best initial information about this chemical?

A) Emergency Response Guidebook

B) Medical direction

C) Truck driver

D) TREC-CHEM EMS Guidebook

Answer: A

2) An intoxicated male driver drove his car into the side of a slow-moving train, hitting a tanker car. You recognize the need to call CHEMTREC to get information on what is contained within the tanker. Which piece of information is it critical to provide to this agency so it can respond with helpful information?

A) Type of railroad car involved

B) Name of the railroad carrier

C) UN identification number

D) Accident location and train identification number

Answer: C

3) On the scene of a hazardous materials emergency, which individual is best suited to provide command and coordination of assets at the incident?

A) Fire service rescue technician

B) First responder operations

C) Hazardous materials technician

D) Hazmat materials specialist

Answer: D

4) You have been trained to the OSHA level of "First Responder Awareness." With this level of training, which activities are you qualified to perform?

A) Stop and patch a leak in a broken valve emitting an unknown gas

B) Recognize a potential hazardous materials emergency and call for the appropriate resources

C) Provide detailed instructions on how to contain a spill of an unknown liquid

D) Direct the operations at a hazardous materials emergency until the chemical is identified

Answer: B

5) You and your partner are the first emergency personnel on the scene of an overturned tanker truck. The driver appears motionless in the cab of the vehicle. You also note liquid leaking from the rear-valve assembly of the tanker trailer. After properly parking your ambulance, your immediate priority is to:

A) Assess the driver for life-threatening conditions.

B) Determine which chemical is contained in the tanker.

C) Evacuate people from cars near the tanker.

D) Provide manual cervical spine motion restriction for the driver.

Answer: C

6) On the National Fire Protection Association hazardous materials classification placard, the blue diamond represents:

A) Reactivity.

B) Health hazard.

C) Specific hazard.

D) Fire hazard.

Answer: B

7) If the red diamond on a National Fire Protection Association placard contains a "4," the EMT should recognize that the material within this container is:

A) Liquid.

B) Radioactive.

C) A gas.

D) Very flammable.

Answer: D

8) You have arrived on the scene of a chemical leak at an industrial park. The placard on the leaking container has a "1" in the blue diamond and a "4" in the red diamond, which means the material is:

A) Flammable but represents a low health hazard.

B) Explosive with a high health hazard associated.

C) A solid that is very flammable.

D) A flammable liquid with radioactive properties.

Answer: A

9) You are working the scene of a collision involving a tractor-trailer that is hauling an unknown chemical. After it has been determined that no material has been spilled, the rescue chief asks you to get the truck's shipping papers. Where would these papers most likely be located?

A) Shipping vault on the trailer

B) Cab of the truck

C) Rear compartment on the tanker

D) Electrical box between the tractor and the trailer

Answer: B

10) What is the level of training for those who respond to the release of hazardous materials so as to protect people, property, and the environment?

A) First Responder Awareness

B) First Responder Operations

C) Hazardous Materials Technician

D) Hazardous Material Specialist

Answer: B

11) Which statement demonstrates that the EMT has a proper understanding of basic operations at the scene of a hazardous materials emergency?

A) "Life or health of the EMS providers should never be risked if the threat is only to the environment."

B) "It is critical to remove the patients as quickly as possible from the incident site."

C) "If you cannot see or smell a chemical, the chance of one being present is very low."

D) "Identification of the material is not important, since the approach is the same for all materials."

Answer: A

12) At the scene of a hazardous materials emergency, you have been assigned to the cold zone. In this zone, which type of activities will you be performing?

A) Initial decontamination and triage

B) Rescue and initial decontamination

C) Removal of contaminated rescue gear

D) Triage, vital signs, and medical histories

Answer: D

13) When working in the "warm" zone, the EMT must remember that:

A) Contamination is no longer a threat in this zone.

B) Water used in this zone does not have to be contained.

C) Protective gear must be worn in this zone.

D) Patient care is not performed in this zone.

Answer: C

14) A train carrying radioactive materials has derailed. The radiation safety officer informs you that you will be transporting a 31-year-old male who was exposed to the radioactive waves emitted by the material. As such, you should recognize that:

A) The patient will require immediate decontamination.

B) The patient will be vomiting and will have lost his hair.

C) You will need special clothing to protect yourself from radiation.

D) The patient represents no contamination threat to you.

Answer: D

15) While a factory employee is moving a container of a radioactive liquid, some of the liquid splashes onto his arm. This situation is best described as:

A) Exposure.

B) Contamination.

C) Infection.

D) Contagion.

Answer: B

16) The driver of a truck carrying a radioactive substance accidentally came in contact with the material after getting into a crash on the freeway. You are first on the scene, and a quick observation indicates that the driver still has the powder on his arm. Your immediate action would be to:

A) Provide basic care, but avoid touching the patient's arm.

B) Place the patient in the ambulance, but avoid touching him en route to the hospital.

C) Instruct the patient to remain still and wait for the radiation safety officer.

D) Rinse the powder off the arm and wrap it with a sterile dressing and roller gauze.

Answer: C

17) You are at a scene where a radioactive material is emitting alpha rays. As a knowledgeable EMT, you recognize that the proper shielding from these rays can be achieved by:

A) Clothing.

B) Aluminum.

C) Concrete.

D) Lead.

Answer: A

18) You have arrived at the scene where a tractor-trailer overturned into a small ravine adjacent to the freeway. As you exit the ambulance and are donning your gloves, the driver of the truck approaches and informs you that he was hauling radioactive medical wastes and warns you that there is a car underneath the overturned trailer. Given this situation, what should you do immediately?

A) Move the ambulance upwind and uphill of the scene

B) Position the ambulance in front of the vehicle to block oncoming traffic

C) Attempt to identify the material and type of rays being emitted

D) Determine whether any radioactive material has been released

Answer: A

19) A worker has been exposed to beta rays given off by a radioactive material, but is not contaminated. He presents to you when the fire department carries him out from the industrial plant in which there was an explosion and partial building collapse. What should you do first?

A) Decontaminate the patient

B) Quickly assess for any radiation burns

C) Initiate your primary assessment

D) Determine the exact material to which he was exposed

Answer: C

20) The EMT would best describe a hazardous material as:

A) Any material capable of injuring more than 50 people.

B) Any material that poses a threat to life.

C) Any material that is explosive in nature.

D) Any material that can contaminate the environment.

Answer: B

21) What does the "M" in the mnemonic TRACEM stand for?

A) Machine

B) Maximum

C) Mechanical

D) Medical

Answer: C

22) Which mnemonic can be used to help remember the types of damage that can be caused by hazardous materials?

A) FMCSA

B) CHEMTREC

C) TRACEM

D) NFPA

Answer: C

23) What is the least reliable way to determine the presence of hazardous materials?

A) A placard on a container

B) You senses

C) Safety Data Sheets

D) WISER

Answer: B

24) When relying on your senses to determine whether a hazardous spill has occurred, you should:

A) Assume that the area around any leak is hazardous.

B) Not approach close enough to smell the material.

C) Approach the spill from upwind.

D) Approach the spill only to rescue a known victim.

Answer: A

25) A patient has received burns to his arm from a beta particle exposure. This type of damage would be classified as:

A) Radiation sickness.

B) Radiation injury.

C) Radiation poisoning.

D) Radiation exposure.

Answer: B

26) How long can a person who has radiation sickness expect to have symptoms?

A) Up to 7 or 8 weeks

B) A few days

C) Symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks are considered radiation poisoning

D) The symptoms do not typically resolve

Answer: A

27) What is one of the most common criminal uses of hazardous materials that the EMT is likely to encounter?

A) X-ray radiation

B) ANFO

C) A methamphetamine lab

D) A pressure cooker bomb

Answer: C

28) Where is an EMT at highest risk for exposure to phosphine gas?

A) A methamphetamine lab

B) A military base

C) A hardware store

D) A high pressure cylinder

Answer: A

29) Which class of chemicals would a terrorist likely use in an attack?

A) Class 4 Flammables

B) Class 8 Corrosives

C) Class 5 Oxidizers

D) Class 2 Gases

Answer: D

30) Which class of hazardous materials includes radioactive sources that may be exploited by terrorists in an attack?

A) Class 3

B) Class 1

C) Class 6

D) Class 7

Answer: D