EMT-105 Comprehensive Study Guide Flashcards

This set of 500 flashcards covers Chapters 9-16 of the EMT-105 curriculum, including Airway Management, Respiration & Ventilation, Scene Size-Up, Primary & Secondary Assessments, Vital Signs, Communication & Documentation, General Pharmacology, and Medical/Trauma Assessment Protocols. It also reinforces high-yield mnemonics like SAMPLE, OPQRST, AVPU, DCAP-BTLS, and PEARL. Each flashcard is presented in a question-and-answer format, designed to help EMT students review key concepts and prepare for exams by focusing on definitions, procedures, values, and indications.

What are the components of the upper airway?

Nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis

Which part of the upper airway is responsible for filtering and warming air?

Nose

Which part of the upper airway is a common passage for both food and air?

Pharynx

What flap of cartilage protects the trachea during swallowing?

Epiglottis

What are the components of the lower airway?

Larynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli

Which part of the lower airway is also known as the voice box?

Larynx

What is the main windpipe that extends from the larynx to the bronchi?

Trachea

What are the main air passages that branch off the trachea into the lungs?

Bronchi

What are the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs?

Alveoli

How does a pediatric airway differ from an adult airway?

Larger tongue, smaller airway, neutral sniffing position

What is a characteristic of a pediatric tongue compared to an adult's?

It is larger

What is a characteristic of a pediatric airway in terms of size?

It is smaller

What is the ideal position for opening the airway in a pediatric patient?

Neutral sniffing position

What are common causes of airway obstruction?

Tongue, swelling, vomit, blood

What sound indicates partial airway obstruction, often by the tongue?

Snoring

What sound indicates fluid in the airway?

Gurgling

What high-pitched sound indicates severe upper airway obstruction, typically in the larynx or trachea?

Stridor

What whistling sound indicates lower airway obstruction, often due to bronchoconstriction?

Wheezing

What maneuver is used to open the airway in a patient without suspected spinal trauma?

Head-tilt chin-lift

When is the head-tilt chin-lift maneuver contraindicated?

With suspected trauma

What maneuver is used to open the airway in a patient with suspected spinal trauma?

Jaw-thrust

What airway adjunct is used for unresponsive patients without a gag reflex?

Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA)

When should an OPA not be used?

If the patient has an intact gag reflex

What airway adjunct is used for patients with an intact gag reflex or facial trauma?

Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA)

What is the primary difference between ventilation and respiration?

Ventilation is the mechanical movement of air, while respiration is the exchange of gases

What is ventilation?

The mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs

What is respiration?

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the cellular level

What is oxygenation?

The process of delivering oxygen to the blood

What are signs of inadequate breathing?

Cyanosis, altered mental status (AMS), accessory muscle use

What is cyanosis a sign of?

Inadequate breathing/oxygenation

What does Altered Mental Status (AMS) indicate in the context of breathing?

Possible inadequate breathing

What suggests a patient is working hard to breathe?

Accessory muscle use

What device is commonly used for artificial ventilation?

Bag-Valve Mask (BVM)

What is the recommended oxygen flow rate for a BVM with a reservoir?

15 LPM

What is the recommended ventilation rate for an adult using a BVM?

10–12 bpm

What is the recommended ventilation rate for a child using a BVM?

12–20 bpm

What oxygen device delivers 1–6 LPM?

Nasal Cannula

What oxygen device delivers approximately 24–44% oxygen?

Nasal Cannula

What is the typical oxygen flow rate range for a Nasal Cannula?

1–6 LPM

What is the typical oxygen concentration delivered by a Nasal Cannula?

24–44%

What oxygen device delivers 10–15 LPM?

Non-rebreather mask (NRB)

What oxygen device delivers approximately 90% oxygen?

Non-rebreather mask (NRB)

What is the typical oxygen flow rate for a Non-rebreather mask (NRB)?

10–15 LPM

What is the typical oxygen concentration delivered by a Non-rebreather mask (NRB)?

~90%

What oxygen device delivers 15 LPM?

Bag-Valve Mask (BVM)

What oxygen device delivers approximately 100% oxygen?

Bag-Valve Mask (BVM)

What is the typical oxygen flow rate for a Bag-Valve Mask (BVM)?

15 LPM

What is the typical oxygen concentration delivered by a Bag-Valve Mask (BVM) with a reservoir?

~100%

What are the steps of scene size-up?

BSI, Scene Safety, MOI/NOI, Patient Count, Resources, Spinal Precautions

What is the first step in scene size-up for an EMT?

Body Substance Isolation (BSI)

What is the second most important step in scene size-up after BSI?

Scene Safety

What does MOI/NOI stand for in scene size-up?

Mechanism of Injury / Nature of Illness

What information should be gathered regarding the number of patients?

Patient Count

What should an EMT assess regarding additional help needed at a scene?

Resources

What preventative measure should EMTs consider early in a trauma scene?

Spinal Precautions

What are common mechanisms of injury in Motor Vehicle Collisions (MVCs)?

Up & Over, Down & Under, T-bone, Rollover, Ejection

What MVC mechanism involves the patient going over the steering wheel or dashboard?

Up & Over

What MVC mechanism involves the patient sliding under the dashboard?

Down & Under

What type of MVC impact is associated with lateral forces?

T-bone (side impact)

What type of MVC can cause multiple impacts and high risk of injury?

Rollover

What significantly increases the risk of severe injury and death in an MVC?

Ejection

What fall height is considered significant for an adult?

20 ft

What fall height is considered significant for a child?

10 ft or 2–3 times their height

What is the primary goal of the primary assessment?

Identify and correct life threats

What are the steps of the Primary Assessment?

General Impression, AVPU, CC, ABC/CAB, Transport Priority

What is the initial visual assessment of the patient?

General Impression

What mnemonic is used to assess a patient's level of consciousness?

AVPU

What does CC stand for in the primary assessment?

Chief Complaint

What sequence is followed for assessing airway, breathing, and circulation in medical patients?

ABC

What sequence is followed for assessing circulation, airway, and breathing in trauma patients with severe bleeding?

CAB (or XABC)

What decision is made at the end of the primary assessment based on patient condition?

Transport Priority

What are the immediate life threats to identify and correct during the primary assessment?

Exsanguination, Airway, Respiratory failure, Shock

What is the most immediate life threat to address according to the trauma protocol (XABC)?

Exsanguination (severe bleeding)

What is a major life threat related to the patient's ability to breathe?

Airway obstruction or compromise

What is a life threat where the lungs cannot adequately perform gas exchange?

Respiratory failure

What physiological state, characterized by inadequate tissue perfusion, is considered a life threat?

Shock

What is the normal adult pulse rate range?

60–100 bpm

What is the normal adult respiratory rate range?

12–20 breaths per minute (bpm)

What is the normal adult systolic blood pressure range?

90–140 mmHg

What is the normal adult SpO2 range?

95–100%

What are the ideal characteristics for patient skin?

Pink, warm, dry

What does PEARL stand for when assessing pupils?

Pupils Equal And Reactive to Light

Where is the pulse typically assessed in a conscious adult patient?

Radial pulse

Where is the pulse typically assessed in an unconscious adult patient?

Carotid pulse

What scale is used for neurological assessment to determine level of consciousness?

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

What type of assessment is performed for a stable patient in the secondary assessment?

Focused exam, SAMPLE, OPQRST

What type of assessment is performed for an unstable patient in the secondary assessment?

Rapid Trauma Exam, head-to-toe, repeat vitals every 5 mins

What mnemonic is used to check for injuries during a physical exam?

DCAP-BTLS

What does the 'D' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Deformities

What does the 'C' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Contusions (bruises)

What does the 'A' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Abrasions (scrapes)

What does the 'P' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Punctures

What does the 'B' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Burns

What does the 'T' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Tenderness

What does the 'L' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Lacerations (cuts)

What does the 'S' in DCAP-BTLS stand for?

Swelling

What information should be included in a radio report to receiving facility?

Age, Sex, Chief Complaint (CC), Vitals, Interventions

What patient demographic information is included in a radio report?

Age and Sex

What key information about the patient's condition is included in a radio report?

Chief Complaint (CC)

What physiological measurements are included in a radio report?

Vitals