Question 1

Tactical EMS requires special training and authorization. All of the following items are ways that TEMS differs from routine EMS EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

TEMS does not necessarily treat more medical patients than trauma patients. Instead, TEMS focuses on providing medical care in a high-risk environment, working closely with law enforcement and other specialist teams to ensure patients receive the necessary care despite dangerous surroundings. Treatment coordination with an incident commander is necessary to ensure patient and responder safety, and the removal of patients from hot zones is a priority. However, the use of chemical agents as defensive weapons is not a feature of TEMS but is instead a law enforcement consideration.

Question 2

You are on the scene of a patient with a gunshot wound to the chest. Which of the following describes the best action for dealing with the victim's shirt?

Accepted Answer

The shirt, especially around the bullet holes, can contain crucial forensic evidence. Therefore, preserving it and handing it over to the police at the scene is the best practice to ensure that evidence is not tampered with or lost. This can help in the investigation of the shooting.

Question 3

On average, how many youth homicides occur each day in the United States?

Accepted Answer

On average, 16 youth homicides occur each day in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Question 4

You have responded to a call of patient at a rural location with difficulty breathing. As memory serves you, the farmhouse you are responding to has been abandoned for years. As you approach on the main road, you see several vehicles parked around the house, although it is apparent that the house is not in livable condition. For which of the following should you maintain a high index of suspicion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have responded to a call of...

Question 5

You are dispatched to a residence for an unknown medical problem. The location is in an area of town known for gang activity and violent crimes. As you approach the scene, you see a residence that is poorly lit, with no lights on and no one visible nearby. Which of the following describes the safest approach to this situation?

Accepted Answer

Given the high-risk location, the safest approach would be to drive past the residence and stage around the corner until the police arrive. This allows for additional safety measures to be put in place before approaching the scene. Approaching the residence puts the EMS crew at greater risk of harm or violence.

Question 6

A woman has called 911 due to difficulty breathing. As you arrive at the scene, you observe a dilapidated home with all windows covered and several improvised vents in the roof. The woman comes outside as you approach and says "Don't go inside, let's just go to the hospital." As you are loading her into the ambulance you smell a strong chemical smell and see fumes leaving the rooftop vents. How should you proceed?

Accepted Answer

The safety of the patient is the first priority, so loading her into the ambulance and proceeding to the hospital is the appropriate initial action. However, the strong chemical smell and fumes leaving the rooftop vents are suspicious and may indicate the presence of a drug lab, which poses a significant risk to the public and first responders. Therefore, notifying dispatch of the suspected drug lab and requesting law enforcement to secure the scene is necessary to ensure the safety of all involved. Entering the house or asking the patient about the fumes may put responders in harm's way and should be avoided until law enforcement has secured the scene.

Question 7

When using a flashlight to approach a scene at night, which of the following is the best way to position the flashlight for safety?

Accepted Answer

Holding the flashlight off to one side of your body will provide better visibility of the surrounding area while also keeping the beam out of your eyes, reducing the risk of disorienting yourself or impairing your night vision.

Question 8

While caring for a victim of domestic violence, the patient's partner returns and charges into the house with a handgun. You should:

Accepted Answer

In situations where there is an immediate threat to life, such as someone entering a space with a handgun, the priority is personal safety. Fleeing immediately to seek cover is advised to minimize the risk of harm. Attempting to de-escalate the situation, using physical force, or staying in the area increases the risk of injury or death.

Question 9

Which of the following is a common critique of body armor and its use by EMS providers?

Accepted Answer

The common critique of body armor and its use by EMS providers is that it provides a false sense of security. This means that EMS providers may rely too heavily on the armor and fail to recognize other potential dangers or fail to take necessary precautions.

Question 10

You are caring for one of three people involved in a stabbing incident at a local bar. You move your patient into the back of the ambulance and begin care. Prior to leaving the scene, you find a knife in the patient's pocket. How should you proceed?

Accepted Answer

The best option is to ask your partner to get a law enforcement officer and have them retrieve the knife. As healthcare providers, we are not law enforcement and should not attempt to handle potentially incriminating evidence. It is important to involve the appropriate authorities to handle the situation properly.

Question 11

You are caring for a woman who was the victim of a drive-by shooting while in her apartment. There is a lot of clutter on the apartment floor, along with pools of blood. Which of the following is the BEST approach to this scene?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are caring for a woman who...

Question 12

You have responded to the parking lot of a high school for an assault. On arrival, there is a crowd of 20 to 25 emotional juveniles standing around the scene. Which of the following is the best way to protect yourself?

Accepted Answer

As the first responder on scene, it is important to prioritize your own safety. Monitoring the activity of the crowd and being aware of any signs of escalating violence allows you to quickly retreat to a safer area if necessary. It is important to assess and treat the patient, but not at the expense of your own safety. Ignoring the crowd or confronting them may provoke an already emotional situation. Notifying the school principal may be appropriate, but it should not be the first priority.

Question 13

You are transporting a patient to the hospital with a gunshot wound and are being accompanied in the patient compartment by a police officer. Just before going into cardiac arrest, the patient says, "It was Joey. Joey did this to me." The patient cannot be resuscitated and is pronounced dead in the emergency department. Which of the following is TRUE regarding the patient's dying declaration?

Accepted Answer

As a healthcare provider, it is important to accurately document any statements made by the patient, especially if it may be relevant to a criminal investigation. In this case, the patient's statement implicating Joey in their shooting should be recorded verbatim in the prehospital care report. This can potentially help law enforcement in their investigation and bring justice to the victim. Option A is not necessary, as the prehospital care report should suffice as a record of the incident. Option C is incorrect, as the patient technically did die in your care and documentation is still required. Option D is also incorrect, as healthcare providers are responsible for documenting the patient's medical information, not law enforcement.

Question 14

You are on the scene of a call for an injured woman. Your scene size-up did not reveal any indications of danger. On assessing the patient, she tells you that she was beaten with a telephone receiver by her estranged husband. Before you can request law enforcement assistance, the husband returns with a baseball bat and threatens to kill you if you don't leave the house and states, "She's staying here," in reference to the patient. The assailant is standing with the bat held above his shoulder, ready to swing. Which of the following is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

The safety of the EMS providers should be the first priority in any situation. If the husband is armed with a baseball bat and threatening to use it, the best course of action is to retreat and request law enforcement assistance. Leaving the patient behind is never an option, but the provider's safety is paramount in this situation. Once law enforcement arrives, they can secure the scene and protect the EMS personnel while they treat the patient.

Question 15

You have started an IV at the scene of a crime and left some blood on the floor. Which of the following best describes the reason that you should notify police?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have started an IV at the...

Question 16

According to the Division of Violence Prevention, arrest rates for violent crimes are highest among which age group?

Accepted Answer

According to the Division of Violence Prevention, arrest rates for violent crimes are highest among the age group of 15-34.

Question 17

You have responded to a report of an unresponsive person in a vehicle on a dark city street. On arrival, you note the vehicle described by dispatch, but there is no one around it. Which of the following applies in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have responded to a report of...

Question 18

You have just approached a residence for a report of an injured person. Which of the following safety measures should you take?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring that you have a clear path of egress - or a clear way out - at all times is important for your safety. This allows you to leave quickly in the event of an emergency or threat. Contacting dispatch to ask about violent crimes at the location may be helpful, but it should be done before approaching the residence. Staying at least 3 feet away from anyone on scene is a general guideline for COVID-19 precautions, but it may not always be possible or necessary. Telling your partner that it is their responsibility to protect you is not appropriate as both partners are responsible for each other's safety.

Question 19

Which of the following describes the BEST guideline for paramedics to follow to protect themselves from physical violence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following describes the BEST...

Question 20

You arrive at a residence for a call for an unknown problem. Outwardly, the scene appears safe. When you knock on the door, a distraught school-age child opens the door and says his father is holding his teenage sister and his mother hostage in a bedroom. Which of the following is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

The best course of action in this situation is to retreat with the child, request law enforcement, and stage around the corner from the residence until law enforcement notifies you that the scene is secure. This ensures that the safety of the child and the EMT is maintained, and that law enforcement can handle the situation with their training and resources. Trying to negotiate with the father or overpowering him could escalate the situation and put everyone involved in danger.

Quiz 5: Gynecology