EMS Ethics and Vital Signs Quiz

Practice Questions 2

• Improper behavior by EMS crew members includes discussing a recent case with non-EMS personnel. This breaches patient privacy and is unethical.

• Implied consent is the appropriate form of consent when treating an unconscious patient.

• Semi-Fowler's is another name for the left lateral position.

• Distal to the left elbow is the appropriate anatomical description for an injury located midway down the left forearm.

Additional Questions

• If a life-threatening problem is discovered during the initial assessment, transport the patient to the hospital immediately.

• Auscultation is the act of listening.

• The "A" in AVPU stands for Alert.

• An unconscious trauma victim responding to painful stimuli in both extremities suggests a possible spinal injury.

Vital Signs

• The purpose of the first set of vital signs is to establish a baseline for additional evaluations, determine necessities for the prehospital care report (PCR), accurately measure the patient's status, and fully assess the patient's condition.

• The alveoli in the lungs are in close contact with the pulmonary capillaries.

• The trachea carries air from the throat to the lungs.

• For correcting a tongue obstruction in an unconscious patient with suspected spinal trauma, slightly lifting the patient's neck is an acceptable method.

Airway Obstruction

• Patients making a crowing sound (stridor) while inhaling have a severe airway obstruction with poor air exchange.

• When performing abdominal thrusts on a conscious adult with a severe airway obstruction, place the thumb side of the hand between the sternum and the xiphoid process.

• If the patient’s chest does not rise completely during ventilation through a stoma, and escaping air is noted from the mouth or nose, reposition the head to re-ventilate, and manually seal the mouth and nose.

Additional Questions

• In the presence of a cord injury, special techniques should be used to open the airway without moving the spinal cord.

• When ventilating an infant with inadequate breathing, provide rescue breaths at a rate of one breath every two seconds.

• The liver is the organ most susceptible to damage if hands are placed on the xiphoid process during chest compressions.

• CPR should begin as soon as the pulseless, apneic patient is reached, in the water and supported.

Chest Compressions

• Effective chest compressions for adults must be hard and fast, with minimal interruptions, allowing for full chest recoil; pause to check the pulse every minute.

• When performing CPR while transporting, move the stretcher as rapidly as possible while maintaining effective CPR. Keep the stretcher high and the patient's head raised for easier ventilation.

Oxygen Utilization

• For a non-rebreather mask with oxygen reservoir, set the liter flow to 15 L/min.

• Nasopharyngeal airways are more likely to elicit a gag reflex than oropharyngeal airways; should be coated with lubricant before insertion and used in both nostrils.

• If an obstruction is encounter during nasopharyngeal airway insertion, switch to an oropharyngeal airway.

Patient Assessment and Interventions

• Excessive force during mouth-to-mask ventilation can distend the stomach, leading to difficulty in lung ventilation and increased likelihood of vomiting.

• When an unconscious trauma victim reacts to painful stimuli in both limbs, assume that there is a possible spinal injury.

• An unconscious patient with a penetrating chest wound and frothy, bright-red blood from the mouth should be immediately placed on the uninjured side.

• Administer high-concentration oxygen to an unconscious, breathing patient with a penetrating chest wound if a chest wall has been sealed.

• Signs of multiple broken ribs include unequal chest expansion, inadequate breathing, deformity, and pain, along with rapid breathing, cyanosis, and rapid weak pulse.

• If there is no suspected spinal injury in a patient with a chest injury, the appropriate transport position is prone with the head turned to the side.

Additional Topics

• A patient with a bleeding, depressed scalp wound should be treated with a loosely applied sterile dressing. This may be followed by a pressure dressing.

• For an unconscious patient with a suspected spinal trauma, the first step is to immobilize the entire spine before any other steps.

• The patient's condition, not discomfort, is the primary factor to determine when removing the straps on emotionally disturbed and potentially violent patients.

• The first step for a patient who has a penetrated wound in their cheek with severe bleeding should be to remove the glass, then dress both sides of the wound, and avoid removal of the glass if it affects breathing.

• Assess distal circulation for a patient who has suffered an injury to a distal body part by checking pulses, skin temperature, and skin color.

• Severe problems with a joint injury include nerve and blood supply damage and grotesque deformity requiring immobilization.

• Splinting the elbow in the position found, instead of straightening the joint directly, is vital to avoid injury.

• A patient needing an airway check because of suspected spinal trauma should have the airway opened using special techniques to avoid further injuries.

• If a victim is ejected from a vehicle, the first thing the EMS provider needs to do is establish a perimeter around the accident scene, then stabilize the vehicle using rescue personnel, determine the number of victims, and immediately assess the patient(s).

• Rapid triage should be performed immediately at multiple casualty incidents and victims need to be sorted according to injury severity. This is followed by assigning a staging zone, contacting nearby hospitals, contacting dispatch, and confirming the best route.

• A patient with a head injury may display changes in mental status and pupil reaction, and a respiratory rate and blood pressure should be recorded.

• Signs of a head injury can include sensation and motion problems, eye discoloration, and brief blackouts.

• During a delivery, if the umbilical cord is wound around the baby's neck, attempt to free it; if unsuccessful, clamp and cut the cord.

• Initial burn care involves stopping the burning process, alleviating pain, preventing infection, and excluding air from the burn area.

• In a hazardous material incident, the first step is to remove the injured from the immediate area and proceed with patient assessment, evaluate potential hazards to the rescuers, and initiate immediate life support procedures.

• Treatment for unconsciousness due to hypothermia involves preventing further heat loss while rapidly rewarming the patient using external heat sources or fluids with caffeine.

• Life-threatening signs of a heat emergency include high temperatures and dry skin or excessive perspiration. If unresponsive, ensure and rapid re-warming.

• When assessing a hypothermic patient, check the pulse for 15 seconds, and implement prompt transportation, move extremities, apply heat packs for rewarming, and avoid caffeine-related fluids.