EMT test gemini made

Expressed Consent

Patient explicitly acknowledges they want care or transport after being informed of risks and benefits.

Implied Consent

Legal principle allowing treatment of an unconscious or severely altered patient when life is threatened.

Involuntary Consent

Consent obtained from a legal guardian for mentally ill, developmentally delayed, or behavioral crisis patients.

Patient Autonomy

The fundamental legal right of a patient to make independent decisions, including refusing treatment.

Decision-Making Capacity

The clinical ability of a patient to understand information and make an informed, rational choice.

Standard of Care

The manner in which an EMT must act based on protocols, training, and professional expectations.

Scope of Practice

State-defined legal boundaries outlining specific skills and interventions an EMT is permitted to perform.

Negligence

Failure to provide standard of care; requires duty, breach, damages, and proximate causation.

Abandonment

Termination of patient care without consent and without transferring care to equal or higher-trained medical professionals.

Patient Care Report (PCR)

A permanent legal document; the standard rule is "if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done."

Coronal Plane

An imaginary straight line dividing the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections.

Sagittal Plane

An imaginary straight line dividing the body into left and right sections.

Midsagittal Plane

The specific midline plane dividing the body into equal left and right halves.

Transverse Plane

An imaginary straight line dividing the body horizontally into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) sections.

Axial Skeleton

The central framework of the skeletal system: skull, facial bones, thoracic cage, and vertebral column.

Appendicular Skeleton

The skeletal system portion comprising upper/lower extremities, shoulder girdle, and pelvic girdle.

Foramen Magnum

The large opening at the base of the skull connecting the brainstem to the spinal cord.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain; responsible for higher-level functions, memory, thought, and voluntary control.

Cerebellum

The portion of the brain coordinating precise balance, muscle tone, and fine motor movement.

Brainstem

The lower brain portion controlling vital autonomic functions like heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.

Red Blood Cells

Erythrocytes; hemoglobin-containing cells responsible for carrying oxygen to tissues.

White Blood Cells

Leukocytes; blood components primarily responsible for defending the body against infection.

Platelets

Thrombocytes; cellular fragments essential for blood coagulation and clot formation.

Perfusion

Adequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues combined with efficient waste removal.

Shock

Hypoperfusion; a state of inadequate systemic cellular perfusion where oxygen demand exceeds delivery.

Diffusion

Passive process where molecules move from higher to lower concentration, such as oxygen crossing alveoli.

Bicarbonate

The chemical form (HCO₃⁻) in which most carbon dioxide waste is transported to the lungs.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the "fight-or-flight" response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the "rest-and-digest" response.

Alveoli

Microscopic, thin-walled air sacs at bronchiole termini where gas exchange occurs.

Newborn Vital Signs

Normal heart rate is 100-180 beats/min; normal respiratory rate is 30-60 breaths/min at birth.

Infant Airway Anatomy

Characterized by a proportionately larger tongue and narrower airway, increasing obstruction risk.

Nasal Congestion

A common respiratory vulnerability in infants under 6 months because they are obligatory nose breathers.

Moro Reflex

The startle reflex; characterized by throwing arms wide, spreading fingers, and grabbing.

Palmar Grasp

An infant reflex characterized by automatically grasping an object placed firmly in the palm.

Fontanelles

Soft spots on an infant's skull; sunken indicates dehydration, while bulging indicates increased ICP.

Anxious-Avoidant Attachment

Infant behavioral pattern from repeated rejection, showing isolated, detached behavior toward caregivers.

Middle Adulthood

Ages 41 to 60 years; characterized by stable health but high situational work/family stress.

Sandwich Generation

Middle adults facing dual burdens of raising children and caring for aging parents simultaneously.

Geriatric Respiratory Elasticity

Natural decline in lung elasticity and intercostal strength, making breathing more labor-intensive.

Scene Size-Up

Initial evaluation to ensure safety, determine patient count, identify MOI, and request resources.

Primary Assessment

Patient assessment step focused exclusively on identifying and treating immediate life threats (ABCs).

General Impression

Immediate visual assessment of age, sex, race, distress, and overall appearance on first approach.

AVPU Scale

Rapid mental status assessment tool categorizing alertness: Alert, Voice, Pain, or Unresponsive.

Orientation Assessment

Testing cognitive status by checking memory of Person, Place, Time, and Event (A&O x4).

Carotid Pulse

Central neck pulse; checked for up to 10 seconds in unresponsive adult patients.

Radial Pulse

Peripheral pulse at the lateral wrist; assessed in conscious adults to gauge heart rate.

Brachial Pulse

Pulse palpated on the medial upper arm; primary location used to check infant pulses.

Skin Signs

Assessment of color, temperature, moisture; pale, cool, clammy skin indicates systemic hypoperfusion.

Capillary Refill

Evaluation of peripheral perfusion by blanching nail bed; normal color return takes < 2 seconds.

Cyanosis

Bluish or gray skin discoloration resulting from a critical lack of blood oxygen saturation.

Jaundice

Yellowing of skin and sclera caused by liver dysfunction, leading to bilirubin buildup.

Flushing

Bright red skin discoloration commonly caused by vasodilation, fever, heat, or allergic reactions.

Mydriasis

The medical term for prolonged, fixed, or abnormal dilation of the pupils.

Miosis

The medical term for prolonged, fixed, or abnormal constriction of pupils, common in opioid overdoses.

Anisocoria

A naturally occurring or pathologically induced condition characterized by unequal pupil sizes.

Battle Sign

Ecchymosis behind the ear over the mastoid process; indicates a basilar skull fracture.

Raccoon Eyes

Bilateral ecchymosis surrounding the orbits of the eyes; indicates a basilar skull fracture.

Subcutaneous Emphysema

Crackling sensation felt during palpation caused by air escaping into subcutaneous tissues.

Paradoxical Motion

Chest wall segment sinking during inhalation and bulging during exhalation; diagnostic of flail chest.

Distention

Abnormal swelling of the abdomen, frequently caused by bleeding, gas, or fluid buildup.

Guarding

Involuntary tightening of abdominal muscles during palpation, indicating localized peritoneal irritation.

Priapism

Painful, persistent penile erection from loss of vascular control; indicates spinal cord injury.

PMS Assessment

Evaluating peripheral neurovascular status by testing Pulse, Motor, and Sensory function in extremities.

Trending

Systematic comparison of multiple vital sign sets over time to determine patient trajectory.

Upper Airway

Anatomical structures warming, filtering, and humidifying air: nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx.

Nasopharynx

Superior portion of the pharynx lined with ciliated mucous membrane to filter dust.

Oropharynx

Central portion of the pharynx posterior to oral cavity, bounded by soft palate and epiglottis.

Unresponsive Child Obstruction Sequence

Deliver 30 chest compressions, open the airway, look inside the mouth, and perform a finger sweep only if an object is visible[cite: 6].

Upper Airway Humidification

The process of warming and adding moisture to inhaled environmental air as it moves through the nasopharynx[cite: 7].

Nasopharynx Obstruction Filtering

The protective anatomical function of ciliated mucous membranes that traps airborne dust and particulates[cite: 7].

Laryngopharynx Junction

The specific point where the pharynx splits into the anterior larynx (trachea) and the posterior esophagus[cite: 3, 7].

Glottic Opening Border

The lateral vocal cords that define the structural boundaries of the glottis space[cite: 7].

C-Shaped Rings

Anterior cartilaginous structures that keep the trachea patent and prevent collapse during changes in respiratory pressure[cite: 7].

Potential Space

The anatomical description of the pleural space, which normally contains only a microscopic layer of serous fluid[cite: 7].

Negative Pressure Inhalation

The biomechanical active process where thoracic volume expansion sucks environmental air into the lungs[cite: 3, 7].

Diaphragm Relaxation

The primary biomechanical change that drives positive pressure exhalation as a passive respiratory process[cite: 3, 7].

Chemoreceptors

Specialized neurological sensors that monitor pH, hydrogen ions, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels within the blood and spinal fluid[cite: 7].

Oxygen Depletion

A clinical scenario where ventilation occurs normally but oxygenation fails due to a lack of environmental oxygen molecules[cite: 7].

Alveolar Capillary Perfusion

The continuous movement of blood through the pulmonary capillaries across the alveolar membrane to facilitate gas exchange[cite: 7].

Hypoxia Behavioral Tracking

Identifying combativeness, restlessness, and sudden anxiety as early clinical markers of declining tissue oxygenation[cite: 7].

Capnometry

The use of specialized devices to measure and display the quantitative digital value of end-tidal carbon dioxide[cite: 7].

Capnography

The continuous visual tracking of end-tidal carbon dioxide displayed as a waveform over time[cite: 7].

End-Tidal CO2 Normal Range

The physiological benchmark of 35 to 45 mm Hg maintained during adequate systemic ventilation and cell metabolism[cite: 7].

Low End-Tidal CO2 Causes

Clinical triggers including hyperventilation, hypothermia, decreased production at the cell level, or compromised pulmonary blood flow[cite: 7].

High End-Tidal CO2 Causes

Clinical indicators signaling hypoventilation, severe ventilatory inadequacy, respiratory depression, or therapeutic apnea[cite: 7].

Tongue Obstruction Mechanics

The passive relaxation of pharyngeal muscles that causes the tongue to fall backward against the posterior pharyngeal wall[cite: 7].

Supine Unit Alignment

The mandatory safety practice of log rolling an unconscious trauma patient as a single unit onto a backboard[cite: 1, 7].

Head Tilt-Chin Lift Indications

The baseline airway maneuver indicated for any patient who has no suspicion or mechanism of spinal trauma[cite: 7].

Jaw-Thrust Indications

The mandatory airway maneuver utilized when a patient presents with an altered level of consciousness and suspected cervical spine trauma[cite: 7].

Digital Airway Clearing

The specific manual practice of log rolling a patient and using a gloved index finger to sweep large debris or solid objects out of the mouth[cite: 7].

Suction Vacuum Baseline

The protocol requirement confirming that an operational suction device must generate a vacuum pressure of more than 300 mm Hg[cite: 7].

Frothy Secretion Protocol

An emergency airway management step requiring the rescuer to alternate 10 seconds of active suctioning with continuous ventilations[cite: 7].

Opharyngeal Airway Indications

An airway adjunct indicated strictly for apneic or unresponsive patients who lack an active gag reflex[cite: 7].

Nasopharyngeal Airway Contraindications

A protocol rule barring nasal adjunct use if the patient has sustained significant facial trauma or suspected basilar skull fractures[cite: 7].

Recovery Position

Placing an uninjured, unresponsively breathing patient on their side to maintain airway patency and allow natural drainage of fluids[cite: 7].

Medical Oxygen Labeling

The mandatory equipment step to verify that an operational cylinder is explicitly stamped and labeled for medical use[cite: 7].

Oxygen Missile Hazard

The severe safety risk associated with an unchained or unbacked compressed cylinder sustaining a regulator puncture[cite: 7].

Pin-Indexing System

A mechanical safety matching design that prevents an oxygen regulator from being attached to a non-oxygen gas cylinder[cite: 7].

Two-Rescuer Child CPR

The compression-to-ventilation ratio changes to 15:2 when a second rescuer is present.