EMT Operations Study Guide

Upon arrival for your shift, what should you do?

A. Repair broken equipment.

B. Check ambulance supplies.

C. Decontaminate ambulance.

D. Copy previous crew check list.

B. Check ambulance supplies.

You have just reported for duty with your ambulance company. You should

A. Do an inspection of your vehicle.

B. Do an inventory and equipment check.

C. Assign call duties with your partner.

D. Notify dispatch that you are in service.

A. Do an inspection of your vehicle

While responding to a call with lights and sirens, you approach a school bus that is

displaying its warning flashers. You should

A. Change the tone of the siren and drive around the bus with extreme caution.

B. Wait until the warning flashers are turned off and the bus pulls to the side of the

road.

C. Turn off your siren temporarily and proceed past the bus before activating it

again.

D. Announce on the PA speaker that you are going to pass the bus and then

proceed carefully.

B. Wait until the warning flashers are turned off and the bus pulls to the side of the

road.

Which patient would benefit the MOST from helicopter transport?

A. 15 year old female motor vehicle crash victim still trapped BP 78/42

B. 30 year old male pulseless and apneic with a history of asthma

C. 28 year old female in labor, crowning; the hospital is 45 minutes away

D. 38 year old male burn patient with first degree burns to 55% of his body

A. 15 year old female motor vehicle crash victim still trapped BP 78/42

What can an EMT do to improve radio communication?

A. Begin speaking immediately after clicking the transmit button.

B. Use codes.

C. Be brief and use simple language.

D. Hold the microphone close to his mouth.

C. Be brief and use simple language.

When considering scene safety, which of the following lists your priorities from most

important to least important?

A. Your crew, patient, equipment, other rescuers

B. The patient, your partner, you, bystanders

C. You, the patient, bystanders, other rescuers, equipment

D. You, your crew, other rescuers, bystanders, patient

D. You, your crew, other rescuers, bystanders, patient

When approaching an unsafe scene, you should

A. Leave on lights and sirens to scare off any perpetrators.

B. Park the ambulance so that you can easily make a quick retreat.

C. Stand in clear view so that you can be identified as medical personnel.

D. Wear a KEVLAR vest to reduce the threat of a gunshot wound or stabbing.

B. Park the ambulance so that you can easily make a quick retreat.

Your scene size-up starts

A. When you receive the call.

B. While you are enroute to the call.

C. When you arrive on scene.

D. When you can see your patient.

A. When you receive the call.

What organization is best suited to deal with a downed power line in front of a

construction site?

A. The fire department

B. The ambulance crew

C. The construction company

D. The electric company

D. The electric company

A patient is trapped in a vehicle upside down and is showing signs of hypoperfusion.

You can only access the left arm and head. Medical treatment of this patient should

begin after

A. A rapid trauma survey.

B. Determining the patient's Glasgow Coma Score.

C. Determining scene safety.

D. The patient is freed from the vehicle.

C. Determining scene safety.

A patient is being triaged using the START protocol. Upon opening his airway, he begins

breathing and is unresponsive. This patient should be classified

A. Immediate (RED).

B. Deceased (Black).

C. Delayed (Yellow).

D. Minor (Green).

A. Immediate (RED).

An unconscious patient is sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle that has just been in a

motor vehicle collision. The doors of the vehicle are locked, you have a simple tool kit,

and the rescue truck is 20 minutes away. You should

A. Use a hammer to break the rear passenger window.

B. Prepare your equipment while waiting for the rescue truck.

C. Use a hammer to break out the driver's side window.

D. Use a screwdriver and hammer to pry open the driver's side door.

A. Use a hammer to break the rear passenger window.

A school bus has crashed into a tree. 15 children are unharmed. 10 children have

abrasions and minor lacerations. 2 children are unconscious. What should you do?

A. Call for additional ambulances.

B. Contact the parents.

C. Relocate the unharmed children to a safe location.

D. Question the bus driver about the crash.

A. Call for additional ambulances.

What criteria does the START triage system use to determine patient priority?

A. Pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure

B. Mental status, pulse rate, and blood pressure

C. Respiratory rate, peripheral pulses, mental status

D. Blood pressure, mental status, and peripheral pulses

C. Respiratory rate, peripheral pulses, mental status

Your patient has several open sores on his arm. He states they haven't healed despite

taking antibiotics. You should

A. Apply a sterile dressing and bandage.

B. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula.

C. Don gloves and a gown immediately.

D. Have the patient wear a surgical mask.

C. Don gloves and a gown immediately.

Which of the following patient conditions should be corrected during the primary

survey?

A. A 28 year old male with a rapid pulse after being stung by several bees

B. A 12 year old female with difficulty breathing from an allergic reaction

C. A 22 year old with abdominal pain after being hit with a baseball bat

D. A 45 year old male with moderate chest pain and no palpable blood pressure

B. A 12 year old female with difficulty breathing from an allergic reaction

Which of the following scenes will require emergent response from additional EMS

resources?

A. A domestic assault patient reports that she has been raped

B. A COPD patient has run out of his home oxygen supply.

C. You need to carry a 75 kg patient down three flights of steps.

D. The wife of your cardiac arrest patient has just become pulseless.

D. The wife of your cardiac arrest patient has just become pulseless.

Following a motor vehicle collision, which patient requires an emergency move?

A. 53 year old male who complains of severe neck pain.

B. 24 year old female who complains of numbness in her extremities

C. 50 year old female who cannot be assessed in the position found

D. 64 year old male who states that he has a previous back injury

C. 50 year old female who cannot be assessed in the position found

When is it acceptable to disturb evidence at a crime scene?

A. When the investigator states it is permissible

B. When police have cleared the scene for safety

C. When it is necessary for proper patient care

D. When entering and exiting the crime scene

C. When it is necessary for proper patient care

Body Substance Isolation procedures

A. Do not include the wearing of a mask.

B. Are only required when blood is visible.

C. Are not required in the care of children.

D. Are the responsibility of each individual.

D. Are the responsibility of each individual.

When treating patients at an MCI, how should you report patient information to a

transporting ambulance?

A. Mechanism of injury and who was at fault.

B. Neurological status and current vital signs.

C. The patient's hospital preference.

D. Complete medical and SAMPLE history.

B. Neurological status and current vital signs.

A patient was shot in the head and displays no signs of life. You note brain matter on

the floor. You should:

A. Initiate resuscitative measures and transport.

B. Leave the scene untouched and notify the police.

C. Cover the patient with a sheet and contact the coroner.

D. Permit family members to view the patient and provide emotional support.

B. Leave the scene untouched and notify the police.

You are beginning to assess a 35 year old man with a cut wrist. He is reluctant to reveal

his past medical history. You should

A. Continue your assessment.

B. Take standard BSI precautions.

C. Take a set of vital signs and wait for an ALS squad to arrive.

D. Refuse to handle the patient until he answers your questions.

B. Take standard BSI precautions.

How should a used EpiPen be discarded?

A. Place in a trash can on the scene.

B. Place in a sharps container.

C. Place in a red biohazard bag.

D. Return it to the patient for disposal.

B. Place in a sharps container.

A 14 year old shooting victim is pulseless and apneic. Her pupils are fixed and lividity is

present. What should you do?

A. Protect against scene intrusion.

B. Search the patient for identification.

C. Perform a search for other victims.

D. Begin resuscitation efforts.

A. Protect against scene intrusion.

You should use restraints on patients when they

A. Are physically threatening you

B. Are a hazard to themselves or others

C. Refuse medical treatment

D. Have a known history of violence

B. Are a hazard to themselves or others

The most important component of the scene size-up is:

A. Identifying threats to the airway

B. Determining the number of patients

C. Assessing the mechanism of injury

D. Identifying any potential hazards

D. Identifying any potential hazards

A trauma patient has history of hepatitis. You should wear gloves,

A. N95 mask and Tyvek suit.

B. Gown and mask.

C. N95 mask and Level B suit.

D. Goggles and mask.

D. Goggles and mask.

After assessment, you determine that your patient is dead. Police suspect foul play.

You should:

A. Leave the area immediately.

B. Avoid disturbing the scene.

C. Take pictures for documentation.

D. Document the time of death.

B. Avoid disturbing the scene.

Upon arrival you find a large fight in progress. A bystander points towards a stab victim.

You should

A. Quickly load the patient in the ambulance and transport.

B. Drive away from the scene and stage.

C. Begin patient treatment and request ALS.

D. Begin patient treatment and request police.

B. Drive away from the scene and stage.

Upon entering the home of an elderly female who called 911 for chest pain you should

A. Check her blood pressure.

B. Form a general impression.

C. Load and go.

D. Collect her medications.

B. Form a general impression.

You are the first ambulance at a two vehicle collision. As you approach, you should

A. Assess for scene safety.

B. Request additional resources.

C. Determine mechanism of injury.

D. Count number of injured people

A. Assess for scene safety.

You need to access an unconscious patient inside a vehicle via the rear passenger

window. You should

A. Take an axe and work your way around the edges of the window.

B. Place a spring loaded window punch on a corner of the window.

C. Use a Halligan tool to pull out the window.

D. Use a hydraulic cutting tool to remove the rear door.

B. Place a spring loaded window punch on a corner of the window.

You arrive at the scene of a truck overturned and a down powerline leaning over the

vehicle, what is the first step that you should take?

A. Establish a safe perimeter around the scene.

B. Determine the number of victims.

C. Determine the content referenced by the placard.

D. Call for additional resources.

A. Establish a safe perimeter around the scene.

You are the first to arrive on the scene of a commuter train derailment. Using START

triage, you should identify patients who are

A. Ambulatory.

B. Deceased.

C. Unresponsive.

D. Breathing.

A. Ambulatory.

During a mass casualty incident, a patient asks for help. He is disoriented and breathing

32 times per minute. According to START, you should

A. Classify him as "immediate."

B. Classify him as "delayed".

C. Obtain vital signs.

D. Obtain further history.

A. Classify him as "immediate."

Which of the following scenarios should lead you to suspect a chemical weapon of mass

destruction?

A. 75 people become sick with a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea at a

parade.

B. 20 people come to you complaining of abdominal cramping at a triathlon.

C. You smell an unfamiliar bitter odor at the scene of a military vehicle

D. 100 people are evacuated with nausea from an office building with a new

furnace.

A. 75 people become sick with a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea at a

parade.

A 26 year old patient is complaining of chest pain, productive cough and not feeling well

over the last two days. He stated that "he just flew back from Africa last week." You

should

A. Put on your N95 mask.

B. Apply HEPA mask to the patient.

C. Listen to lung sounds.

D. Obtain baseline set of vital signs.

A. Put on your N95 mask.

39. While you are returning from lunch, a frantic woman flags you down. She states that

she just found a young child on the roadside who appears to have been hit by a car. She

is not sure if the child is breathing. You should

A. Grab the necessary equipment and have the woman show you to the child's

location.

B. Have dispatch call for ALS back-up and move to safety while awaiting their

arrival.

C. Advise dispatch that you have been flagged down for a possible emergency.

D. Calmly explain to the woman that you are currently off-duty and have her call

911.

C. Advise dispatch that you have been flagged down for a possible emergency.

A patient is coughing up bright red blood. Every time he yells or coughs, he spits up

secretions. In addition to a pair of gloves, which of the following would offer you the

most protection from this patient.

A. HEPA Mask

B. Face shield

C. Goggles

D. Protective gown

B. Face shield

An 18 year old gang member sustained a gunshot wound in the arm during fight. He

becomes increasingly anxious and pushes your hands away during your primary survey.

What should you do?

A. Obtain a set of baseline vitals and transport immediately.

B. Verify with law enforcement that he has been searched.

C. Continue with your primary survey away from police.

D. Reassess the scene for additional patients.

B. Verify with law enforcement that he has been searched.

What is the most effective way to control the spread of infectious disease?

A. Wear gloves with all patients.

B. Exercise good hand washing technique.

C. Avoid contact with all bodily fluids.

D. Wear a face shield on all calls.

B. Exercise good hand washing technique.

Which of the following is an example of definitive care?

A. A trauma patient going to surgery to repair a lacerated liver

B. A hypovolemic patient receiving IV fluid therapy en-route to the hospital.

C. A geriatric patient receiving oxygen therapy for respiratory difficulty

D. A pediatric patient receiving an X-ray for a possible femur fracture

A. A trauma patient going to surgery to repair a lacerated liver

Your patient has leukemia and is obviously near death. A valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

order is present. You should

A. Provide oxygen and any other indicated supportive care.

B. Attempt resuscitation if the patient appears to be viable.

C. Ask the family if they are sure about the DNR order.

D. Clear the scene after explaining that nothing can be done.

A. Provide oxygen and any other indicated supportive care.

A six year old child fell at the park. There is no adult with the child. What type of

consent covers our treatment of this child?

A. Expressed

B. Legal

C. Implied

D. Pediatric

C. Implied

A 67 year old patient complains of chest pain. You explain to the patient that he may be

having a "myocardial infarction." The patient does not wish to be transported. You

should

A. Explain consequence of refusing.

B. Have him sign a refusal form.

C. Provide treatment on scene.

D. Have your partner sign refusal form.

A. Explain consequence of refusing.

A 2 year old female has flu like symptoms. She is in the are of a babysitter. Her parents

cannot be reached by phone. What should you do?

A. Transport under implied consent.

B. Treat and release with babysitters consent.

C. Stay on scene until the parent have been contacted.

D. Contact law enforcement for temporary custody.

A. Transport under implied consent.

You are resuscitating a patient following a cardiac arrest when a family member asks

you to stop your efforts. You should

A. Immediately stop cardiopulmonary resuscitation and turn off the automatic

external defibrillator.

B. Ask a team member to call on-line medical direction for permission to stop

resuscitation.

C. Delay transport of the patient while the family member searches for the

advanced directive.

D. Continue resuscitation per protocol and ask to see the physician-signed DNR

document.

D. Continue resuscitation per protocol and ask to see the physician-signed DNR

document.

A valid patient refusal should be

A. Signed by a legally and mentally competent patient.

B. Co-signed by the primary care physician.

C. Signed by everyone present on the scene.

D. Signed by the patient and notarized by a witness.

A. Signed by a legally and mentally competent patient.

A patients wife has called you for a medical emergency. On your arrival, the patient is

upset and refusing care. He says he wants to go back to bed. You should

A. Advise her that you need his permission before you can treat.

B. Treat the patient according to his wife's wishes.

C. Evaluate the mental status of your patient.

D. Let the police handle this.

C. Evaluate the mental status of your patient.

When can you honor a "Do Not Resuscitate" order?

A. When family requests a "Do Not Resuscitate."

B. When give the appropriate paperwork.

C. When the patient's condition is irreversible.

D. When confirming with the patient's Physician.

B. When give the appropriate paperwork.

A hypoglycemic patient is confused and belligerent. What type of consent covers your

treatment?

A. Expressed

B. Implicit

C. Implied

D. Informed

C. Implied

An alert 67 year old male refuses care and requests to sign a release form. What should

you do

A. Request law enforcement to place the patient in protective custody.

B. Explain the risks of refusing treatment and benefits of care.

C. Provide supportive care and allow for refusal.

D. Physically restrain the patient and transport.

B. Explain the risks of refusing treatment and benefits of care.

A patient was dead when you arrived on scene. Rigor mortis had already set in. You

should

A. Have the family sign a refusal and clear the scene.

B. Tell the family the patient is dead and there is nothing you can do.

C. Direct the family to contact the coroner and clear the scene.

D. Tell the family the bad news and provide emotional support.

D. Tell the family the bad news and provide emotional support.

A pulseless, apneic infant has obvious rigor mortis. The infant is still dressed in

sleepwear. You should

A. Perform CPR and transport; the hospital staff will be better able to inform the

mother of her loss.

B. Tell the mother that there is nothing you an do and offer to call the funeral

home.

C. Question the mother about medical history and the age of the infant to rule out

SIDS

D. Offer the mother time alone with the infant while you contact the appropriate

agencies.

D. Offer the mother time alone with the infant while you contact the appropriate

agencies.

A dying patient has signed a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. You should

A. Contact medical control before providing any care.

B. Provide emotional support to the patient and family members.

C. Treat the patient since DNR orders only apply to hospital care.

D. Clear the scene once the order has been verified.

B. Provide emotional support to the patient and family members.

An 80 year old Spanish-speaking patient is not responding to your questions. He is alert

and appears to be choking. You should

A. Speak louder.

B. Check for hearing aids.

C. Use simple hand gestures.

D. Find an interpreter.

C. Use simple hand gestures.

A 58 year old male is having heavy chest pressure. He and his family ask you what is

causing this. You should respond with:

A. " I cannot explain anything because of HIPAA laws."

B. "The heart muscle may not be getting enough oxygen."

C. "he is having an acute coronary myocardial infarction."

D. "The staff at the hospital will help explain his condition to you."

D. "The staff at the hospital will help explain his condition to you."

What is the appropriate method to obtain a patient history?

A. Provide the patient choices following each question.

B. Stand over the patient and maintain an authoritative appearance.

C. Multitask while gathering information and asking questions.

D. Remain at eye level and use open-ended questions.

D. Remain at eye level and use open-ended questions.

What techniques should you use to communicate with a deaf-mute patient?

A. Request an interpreter respond.

B. Face the patient and speak loudly.

C. Write out questions on paper.

D. Speak slowly with exaggerated lip movements.

C. Write out questions on paper.

A 20 year old patient is reluctant to answer questions pertaining to her abdominal

discomfort. You should

A. Repeat the question in a firm but pleasant tone.

B. Reassure her that you are there to help her.

C. Ask family members about her history.

D. Advise her that she needs to be truthful.

B. Reassure her that you are there to help her.

An elderly patient cut her hand while preparing food. The bleeding is controlled. When

you ask questions, she speaks very slowly and often pauses while answering. Vital signs

are BP 110/80, P 64, R 14. What should you do?

A. Document that she has an altered mental status.

B. Direct your questioning to bystanders or a significant other.

C. Allow for adequate time to answer questions unless her condition worsens.

D. Ask simple yes-or-no questions that do not require lengthy explanation.

B. Direct your questioning to bystanders or a significant other.

Verbal consent to a treatment is called

A. Implied consent.

B. Expressed consent.

C. Legalized consent

D. Defined consent

B. Expressed consent.

Should a legal case be brought against you, what is your best defense in court?

A. A complete and thorough report.

B. Your immediate recollection of events.

C. Your partner's supporting testimony.

D. The dispatch records.

A. A complete and thorough report.

CPR is in progress when family member states the patient didn't wish to be revived. You

should

A. Continue with the resuscitation.

B. Call the patients physician.

C. Contact medical control.

D. Cease resuscitation efforts.

A. Continue with the resuscitation.

A medical director issues permanent written orders that allow you to treat patients

under certain circumstances. This is known as

A. A standing order.

B. A designated agent.

C. Online medical direction.

D. An advanced directive.

A. A standing order.

67. What is the process by which an agency in one state grants automatic certification to an

EMT from another state?

A. Transfer

B. Professional courtesy

C. Reciprocity

D. Reexamination

C. Reciprocity

After you finish a difficult call, you are very frustrated and write in your report that you

think the patient was "nuts" and that he had "something seriously wrong with him." In

this situation, you could be found guilty of

A. Libel

B. Slander

C. Perjury

D. Vilification

A. Libel

You need the patient's agreement in order to share treatment information when you

are

A. Speaking to a reporting agency about a victim of elder abuse.

B. Notifying a family member of the patient's location

C. Providing information to a hospital for treatment purposes.

D. Giving condition information to a patient's roommate.

D. Giving condition information to a patient's roommate.

While finalizing a written patient care report (PCR) you notice an incorrect pulse

reading. What should you do?

A. Submit it as is and provide a verbal report to the accepting nurse.

B. Rewrite that page of the report, mark it as the correct one, and attach to the

original one.

C. Draw a single horizontal line through it, write the correct reading and initial it.

D. Obscure the incorrect number, write in the correct one, and initial it.

C. Draw a single horizontal line through it, write the correct reading and initial it.

A 23 year old female had a sudden onset of difficulty breathing while gardening. Vital

signs are BP 90/60, P 144, R 26 and labored, wheezing in all lung fields. She has a

prescribed epinephrine auto-injector. What should you do?

A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula then reassess.

B. Assist her with a metered dose inhaler (MDI).

C. Administer oxygen and contact medical control.

D. Ask her if she knows what insect stung her.

C. Administer oxygen and contact medical control.

Two days after a call, you realize that you forgot to document that you checked a

patient's blood glucose prior to him refusing transport and signing the refusal form. You

should

A. Add an addendum to the report with the correct information, current date, and

your initials.

B. Complete a new refusal and return to the patient's residence to have him re-sign

the new form.

C. Disregard the mistake since the patient was not transported to the hospital and

medical direction knew about the reading.

D. Inform your supervisor of the error and let her know that this will not happen

again.

A. Add an addendum to the report with the correct information, current date, and

your initials.

73. Your partner often comes to work with a dirty uniform and leaves trash is the front cab

of the ambulance. How would you best describe these actions?

A. Unprofessional

B. Unethical

C. Dangerous

D. Negligent

A. Unprofessional

When using the patient care report (PCR) for research or quality assurance, it is

advisable to delete the

A. Treatments rendered.

B. Patient's name.

C. EMT's names.

D. Response times.

B. Patient's name.

A process in which teams of professional and peer counselors provide emotional and

psychological support is known as:

A. Peer psychiatric counseling.

B. Quality improvement conference.

C. Post traumatic incident review.

D. Critical incident stress management.

D. Critical incident stress management.