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Questions and Answers
What is the index of suspicion?
What is the index of suspicion?
Your concern for potentially serious underlying conditions
When a motor vehicle strikes a tree while traveling 40 mph, what happens to the unrestrained occupant?
When a motor vehicle strikes a tree while traveling 40 mph, what happens to the unrestrained occupant?
Remains in motion until acted upon by an outside force
What is true about the first collision in a motor vehicle crash?
What is true about the first collision in a motor vehicle crash?
It is the most dramatic part of the collision and makes extrication difficult
In the event of a rollover motor vehicle crash, what is likely to happen to the driver?
In the event of a rollover motor vehicle crash, what is likely to happen to the driver?
What is the phenomenon of pressure waves emanating from a bullet that causes damage remote from its path known as?
What is the phenomenon of pressure waves emanating from a bullet that causes damage remote from its path known as?
Why might bleeding occur from even a minor injury during the normal wound healing process?
Why might bleeding occur from even a minor injury during the normal wound healing process?
What is a laceration?
What is a laceration?
What is the adam's apple?
What is the adam's apple?
Significant trauma to the face should increase the EMT's index of suspicion for what condition?
Significant trauma to the face should increase the EMT's index of suspicion for what condition?
What does hyphema refer to?
What does hyphema refer to?
What are the two main components of the CNS?
What are the two main components of the CNS?
The _____ nervous system consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
The _____ nervous system consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
What occurs during a reflex arc?
What occurs during a reflex arc?
The cervical spine is composed of ______ vertebrae.
The cervical spine is composed of ______ vertebrae.
The most common and most serious complication of a significant head injury is ______.
The most common and most serious complication of a significant head injury is ______.
What defines an epidural hematoma?
What defines an epidural hematoma?
How should you be suspicious of a significant head injury if the patient's pulse is:
How should you be suspicious of a significant head injury if the patient's pulse is:
What is the most reliable sign of a head injury?
What is the most reliable sign of a head injury?
What does hemoptysis refer to?
What does hemoptysis refer to?
What is pneumothorax?
What is pneumothorax?
What occurs during an open pneumothorax?
What occurs during an open pneumothorax?
What is a flail chest?
What is a flail chest?
Bruising to the RU quadrant following blunt trauma is MOST suggestive of an injury to the:
Bruising to the RU quadrant following blunt trauma is MOST suggestive of an injury to the:
What is the likely cause of abdominal distention?
What is the likely cause of abdominal distention?
What may occur when a hollow organ is punctured during a penetrating injury to the abdomen?
What may occur when a hollow organ is punctured during a penetrating injury to the abdomen?
Which organ is most at risk for injury as the result of a pelvic fracture?
Which organ is most at risk for injury as the result of a pelvic fracture?
What does the musculoskeletal system refer to?
What does the musculoskeletal system refer to?
Which of the following types of muscle is under direct voluntary control of the brain?
Which of the following types of muscle is under direct voluntary control of the brain?
Bone marrow produces:
Bone marrow produces:
A ______ is a musculoskeletal injury in which there is a partial or temporary separation of the bone end as well as partial stretching or tearing of the supporting ligaments.
A ______ is a musculoskeletal injury in which there is a partial or temporary separation of the bone end as well as partial stretching or tearing of the supporting ligaments.
What is the MOST reliable indicator of an underlying fracture?
What is the MOST reliable indicator of an underlying fracture?
What are crepitus and false motion indicators of?
What are crepitus and false motion indicators of?
Which of the following musculoskeletal injuries would pose the greatest threat to a patient's life?
Which of the following musculoskeletal injuries would pose the greatest threat to a patient's life?
What is the MOST significant hazard associated with splinting?
What is the MOST significant hazard associated with splinting?
All of the following are lines with mucous membranes EXCEPT for:
All of the following are lines with mucous membranes EXCEPT for:
What is the function of systemic veins?
What is the function of systemic veins?
What are the smaller vessels that carry blood away from the heart and connect the arteries to the capillaries called?
What are the smaller vessels that carry blood away from the heart and connect the arteries to the capillaries called?
The ability of a person's cardiovascular system to compensate for blood loss is MOST related to what?
The ability of a person's cardiovascular system to compensate for blood loss is MOST related to what?
Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is correct?
Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is correct?
Bleeding from the nose following head trauma is a sign of what?
Bleeding from the nose following head trauma is a sign of what?
What develops when large blood vessels beneath the skin are damaged?
What develops when large blood vessels beneath the skin are damaged?
When administering supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient with chronic lung disease, what should you do?
When administering supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient with chronic lung disease, what should you do?
Deoxygenated blood from the body returns to the:
Deoxygenated blood from the body returns to the:
What is the function of the left atrium?
What is the function of the left atrium?
In contrast to the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system:
In contrast to the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system:
What occurs during an acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
What occurs during an acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
What is angina pectoris?
What is angina pectoris?
What causes cardiogenic shock following AMI?
What causes cardiogenic shock following AMI?
Common signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency include:
Common signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency include:
When would it be most appropriate for a patient to take his or her prescribed nitroglycerin?
When would it be most appropriate for a patient to take his or her prescribed nitroglycerin?
What should the EMT do after an AED has delivered a shock?
What should the EMT do after an AED has delivered a shock?
What are the three major parts of the brain?
What are the three major parts of the brain?
What does the anterior aspect of the cerebrum control?
What does the anterior aspect of the cerebrum control?
What occurs during a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
What occurs during a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
What does it mean when a patient is experiencing aphasia?
What does it mean when a patient is experiencing aphasia?
Status epilepticus is characterized by:
Status epilepticus is characterized by:
What is the principal clinical difference between a stroke and hypoglycemia?
What is the principal clinical difference between a stroke and hypoglycemia?
Solid abdominal organs include:
Solid abdominal organs include:
Which of the following organs would MOST likely bleed profusely if injured?
Which of the following organs would MOST likely bleed profusely if injured?
What are the functions of the liver?
What are the functions of the liver?
What may peritonitis result in?
What may peritonitis result in?
Erosion of the protective layer of the stomach or duodenum secondary to overactivity of digestive juices results in:
Erosion of the protective layer of the stomach or duodenum secondary to overactivity of digestive juices results in:
What is a strangulated hernia?
What is a strangulated hernia?
What is the main difference in the management/control of diabetes between type I and type II?
What is the main difference in the management/control of diabetes between type I and type II?
Ketone production is a result of:
Ketone production is a result of:
Diabetic coma is a life-threatening condition that results from:
Diabetic coma is a life-threatening condition that results from:
What is sickle cell disease?
What is sickle cell disease?
What do Kussmaul respirations indicate?
What do Kussmaul respirations indicate?
Classic signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
Classic signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
What is hemoglobin responsible for?
What is hemoglobin responsible for?
What is urticaria?
What is urticaria?
What should be done if a stinger from a honeybee is encountered?
What should be done if a stinger from a honeybee is encountered?
Epinephrine is indicated for patients with an allergic reaction when:
Epinephrine is indicated for patients with an allergic reaction when:
What are signs of agitated delirium?
What are signs of agitated delirium?
How is body heat lost through radiation?
How is body heat lost through radiation?
How is body heat lost through convection?
How is body heat lost through convection?
How is body heat lost through conduction?
How is body heat lost through conduction?
In order for evaporation to be an effective cooling mechanism, what must occur?
In order for evaporation to be an effective cooling mechanism, what must occur?
High humidity reduces the body's ability to lose heat through:
High humidity reduces the body's ability to lose heat through:
Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following except:
Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following except:
What occurs during heatstroke?
What occurs during heatstroke?
Who typically regulates the standards for prehospital care and the individuals who provide it?
Who typically regulates the standards for prehospital care and the individuals who provide it?
Why do prescription glasses not provide adequate eye protection?
Why do prescription glasses not provide adequate eye protection?
CISM can occur at an ongoing scene in all of the following circumstances except:
CISM can occur at an ongoing scene in all of the following circumstances except:
To minimize the risk of litigation, what should the EMT always do?
To minimize the risk of litigation, what should the EMT always do?
In order for a DNR order to be valid, it must:
In order for a DNR order to be valid, it must:
What does putrefaction refer to?
What does putrefaction refer to?
What does the PCR ensure?
What does the PCR ensure?
The nose, chin, umbilicus, and spine are examples of _____ anatomic structures.
The nose, chin, umbilicus, and spine are examples of _____ anatomic structures.
The _____ plane separates the body into left and right halves.
The _____ plane separates the body into left and right halves.
In relation to the wrist, the elbow is:
In relation to the wrist, the elbow is:
What are examples of facial bones?
What are examples of facial bones?
The _____ is made up of the maxilla, zygoma, as well as the frontal bone of the cranium.
The _____ is made up of the maxilla, zygoma, as well as the frontal bone of the cranium.
What is the most superior portion of the sternum?
What is the most superior portion of the sternum?
A femoral head forms a ball-and-socket joint with the:
A femoral head forms a ball-and-socket joint with the:
Skeletal muscle is also called:
Skeletal muscle is also called:
What occurs during inhalation?
What occurs during inhalation?
What is the process called when oxygen and carbon dioxide pass across the alveolar membrane?
What is the process called when oxygen and carbon dioxide pass across the alveolar membrane?
Breathing occurs as a result of a(n) increase in carbon dioxide, which decreases the pH of the CSF.
Breathing occurs as a result of a(n) increase in carbon dioxide, which decreases the pH of the CSF.
Study Notes
Index of Suspicion
- Defined as concern for potentially serious underlying conditions in patients.
Motor Vehicle Collisions
- Unrestrained occupants in a collision continue moving until acted upon by an external force.
- The first collision in a crash is dramatic and can complicate extrication.
- Rollover crashes pose serious injury risks, especially if an occupant is ejected.
Wound and Injury Concepts
- Cavitation describes pressure waves from a bullet causing damage away from its direct path.
- During wound healing, minor injuries may bleed due to delicate new capillaries taking time to stabilize.
- A laceration is a jagged cut from sharp or blunt force trauma.
Anatomy Highlights
- The Adam's apple refers to the upper part of the larynx formed by the thyroid cartilage.
- Significant face trauma raises suspicion for spinal cord injury.
- Hyphema indicates blood in the anterior eye chamber and may arise from facial injury.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
- The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord.
- The peripheral nervous system includes 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
Reflexes and Vertebrae
- A reflex arc bypasses the brain, with a sensory nerve directly conveying a message to a motor nerve.
- The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae.
Head Injury Complications
- Cerebral edema is the most common and serious complication following a significant head injury.
- An epidural hematoma is bleeding between the skull and the dura mater.
Symptoms and Vitals
- A slow pulse in a patient may indicate a significant head injury.
- Decreased consciousness is the most reliable sign of head trauma.
Respiratory and Circulatory System Insights
- Hemoptysis signifies coughing up blood, while pneumothorax denotes air accumulation in the pleural space.
- An open pneumothorax involves air entering the pleural cavity from outside the body.
- Flail chest occurs when a chest wall segment detaches from the thoracic cage.
Organ Injury and Trauma
- Blunt trauma bruising in the right upper quadrant usually suggests liver injury.
- Abdominal cavity blood accumulation typically leads to distention.
- A punctured hollow organ can delay peritonitis development.
- The urinary bladder is most at risk during pelvic fractures.
Musculoskeletal System
- The musculoskeletal system encompasses bones and voluntary muscles.
- Skeletal muscle operates under direct voluntary control, unlike cardiac or smooth muscle.
- Bone marrow is responsible for blood cell production.
- A sprain involves partial separation of bone ends and ligament stretching.
Fractures and Signs
- Point tenderness is a key indicator of an underlying fracture.
- Crepitus and false motion are positive signs confirming fractures.
- Pelvic fractures accompanied by hypotension represent the greatest life threat among musculoskeletal injuries.
Circulatory Function
- Systemic veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart, while arterioles carry blood from arteries to capillaries.
- Acute myocardial infarction results from myocardial tissue dying due to lack of oxygen.
Hemorrhagic Conditions
- Hemophilia features spontaneous bleeding due to a lack of clotting factors, but not a total lack of platelets.
- A hematoma is formed when large blood vessels beneath the skin are damaged.
Diabetes Management
- Differences in diabetes management highlight that Type II does not typically require supplemental insulin.
- Ketones result from fat metabolism when glucose is unavailable, leading to diabetic coma through hyperglycemia and dehydration.
Environmental Factors and Thermoregulation
- Radiation is the most significant way body heat loss occurs without contact.
- Convection involves heat loss to moving cooler air, while conduction occurs through direct contact.
- Humidity impacts the body's ability to cool via evaporation.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
- DNR orders must explicitly state the patient's medical issues to be valid.
- Continuity of care is ensured by proper PCR documentation, while competent care minimizes litigation risks.
Anatomical Orientation
- Terms like midline, midsagittal, and distal help describe anatomical relationships and positions.
- Facial bones include the zygoma, mandible, maxillae, and orbits.
Respiratory Mechanisms
- The diaphragm works alongside intercostal muscles during inhalation, facilitating breathing through diffusion across alveolar membranes.
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Test your knowledge on crucial definitions and concepts in Emergency Medical Services with these flashcards. Each card presents important terms and their meanings, helping you understand the index of suspicion and the dynamics of motor vehicle collisions.
