Question 1

The purpose of manual stabilization of the cervical spine during the primary assessment of a trauma patient is to:
A) allow you to control the patient.
B) allow for easier airway manipulation.
C) prevent the patient from moving his neck.
D) help you avoid litigation.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of manual stabilization of the cervical spine during the primary assessment of a trauma patient is to prevent the patient from moving their neck, which can potentially worsen any spinal cord injury they may have sustained. It is not intended to control the patient, assist with airway manipulation, or avoid litigation.

Question 2

When responding to a domestic dispute, you should:
A) have your dispatcher tell the patient to come outside.
B) wait for law enforcement to arrive.
C) refuse the call unless law enforcement is on the scene.
D) determine whether or not the assailant is still on the scene.

Accepted Answer

It is important to wait for law enforcement to arrive to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including the responding EMS personnel. Domestic disputes can be volatile and potentially dangerous, and it is best to let law enforcement secure the scene before entering.

Question 3

After determining that a patient does not respond to verbal stimuli, your next action would be to:
A) place him in the recovery position.
B) pinch one of his fingernails.
C) insert an oropharyngeal airway.
D) apply manual cervical spine stabilization.

Accepted Answer

Pinching the fingernail is a painful stimulus that can elicit a response from an unresponsive patient. It is important to first try less invasive interventions before inserting an oropharyngeal airway or applying cervical spine stabilization. Placing the patient in the recovery position may not be necessary if the patient is already lying on their side.

Question 4

To assess an infant's airway, you should:
A) perform a tongue-jaw lift.
B) hyperextend the head and lift the chin.
C) perform a jaw-thrust maneuver.
D) carefully extend the head and neck.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To assess an infant's airway, you should:
A)...

Question 5

Which of the following best describes why you should call for additional assistance when dealing with multiple patients?
A) Risks to each provider decrease as more responders arrive on the scene.
B) You are responsible only for command and triage.
C) You cannot safely and effectively treat all the patients.
D) Fair distribution of workload is required by most unions.

Accepted Answer

It is not safe to treat multiple patients alone without assistance. Calling for additional help ensures that all patients receive the necessary care and attention, and reduces the risk of providing inadequate care.

Question 6

You respond to a scene where gunshots have been heard, and there is a report of a "man down." You should enter the scene when:
A) you arrive on the scene.
B) dispatch informs you the scene is safe.
C) you observe the gunman fleeing the scene.
D) police officers arrive and secure the scene.

Accepted Answer

It is always best to wait for police officers to arrive and secure the scene before entering. This ensures the safety of both yourself and any potential victims or suspects. Rushing into an unsecured scene can be dangerous and can potentially compromise any evidence that may be present.

Question 7

You are treating a 27-year-old asthmatic patient outside a bar when a growing crowd becomes hostile and unruly. To protect yourself, your crew, and your patient, you should:
A) move the patient into the bar.
B) use your vehicle to disperse the crowd.
C) exit the scene, leaving the patient behind.
D) remove yourselves and the patient from the scene.

Accepted Answer

The best choice in this situation is to remove yourselves and the patient from the scene, as it is not worth risking harm to yourself or the patient in this situation. Moving the patient into the bar could expose them to additional risks, and using your vehicle to disperse the crowd could escalate the situation further. Leaving the patient behind would also be unethical and potentially dangerous for them. Thus, leaving the scene and notifying the appropriate authorities if necessary is the safest and most responsible choice.

Question 8

To determine whether a patient is breathing, you should:
A) listen and feel for breathing at the mouth and nose.
B) observe for movement of the abdomen.
C) apply a pulse oximeter.
D) auscultate the chest.

Accepted Answer

Listening and feeling for breathing at the mouth and nose is the best method to determine whether a patient is breathing. Observing for movement of the abdomen may not be accurate as the patient may be breathing shallowly without visible abdominal movement. Applying a pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation, but does not indicate whether the patient is breathing. Auscultating the chest can help determine the quality of breathing, but may not be necessary to simply determine whether the patient is breathing or not.

Question 9

A patient with skin described as "clammy" has ________ skin.
A) cool and dry
B) warm and dry
C) warm and moist
D) cool and moist

Accepted Answer

"Clammy" skin is typically cool and moist to the touch.

Question 10

Which of the following statements regarding stridor is TRUE?
A) Stridor originates in the lower airways.
B) Stridor is seldom of clinical significance.
C) The correct treatment of stridor depends on the underlying problem.
D) The presence of stridor requires immediate intubation.

Accepted Answer

Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound caused by disrupted airflow in the upper respiratory tract. It can be a symptom of various underlying problems such as foreign body obstruction, respiratory infections, and certain airway abnormalities. The treatment of stridor depends on identifying and addressing the underlying problem. Immediate intubation may be necessary in cases of severe respiratory distress, but it is not always required. Stridor can be a serious medical emergency and should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

Question 11

You are assessing an adult patient. When you palpate her wrist to locate a pulse, you do not feel one. You should immediately palpate for a ________ pulse.
A) brachial
B) femoral
C) apical
D) carotid

Accepted Answer

If a pulse is not palpable at the wrist, the next best location to palpate for a pulse is at the carotid artery in the neck. The other options listed are not the next best alternative when unable to locate a pulse at the wrist. The brachial pulse is located in the upper arm, the femoral pulse is located in the groin area, and the apical pulse requires the use of a stethoscope to listen for the heartbeat at the apex of the heart.

Question 12

Which of the following senses should a paramedic use to recognize hazards at the scene of an emergency?
A) Smell
B) Hearing
C) Sight
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

A paramedic should use all of their senses to recognize hazards at the scene of an emergency. Smell can detect gas leaks or chemical odors, hearing can identify sounds of danger or warning (such as a hissing gas line), and sight can spot physical hazards or unsafe conditions. Using all senses helps ensure the safety of the paramedic, the patient, and any bystanders.

Question 13

The sound of gurgling associated with breathing usually indicates:
A) foreign body obstruction of the upper airway.
B) fluid in the upper airway.
C) thick mucus in the lower airways.
D) constriction of the bronchioles.

Accepted Answer

The sound of gurgling is typically caused by fluid in the upper airway, such as in cases of pulmonary edema or aspiration pneumonia.

Question 14

When assessing the airway, which of the following actions is NOT appropriate?
A) Look for chest rise and fall.
B) Feel for air movement.
C) Listen for airflow.
D) Count the number of breaths over a minute.

Accepted Answer

Counting the number of breaths over a minute is not part of assessing the airway, but rather part of assessing breathing. Assessing the airway involves looking for any obstructions, feeling for air movement, and listening for airflow.

Question 15

Steps in assessing circulation during a primary assessment include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) controlling major bleeding.
B) determining the blood pressure.
C) checking for skin signs.
D) checking for a radial pulse.

Accepted Answer

While determining blood pressure is important in assessing circulation, it is not typically done during a primary assessment as it requires additional equipment and time. The other options (controlling major bleeding, checking for skin signs, and checking for a radial pulse) are all crucial steps in assessing circulation during the primary assessment.

Question 16

You are assessing a 28-year-old man with multiple gunshots to his abdomen. You should expect his skin to be:
A) cool and moist.
B) hot and moist.
C) warm and dry.
D) cold and dry.

Accepted Answer

Multiple gunshot wounds can lead to hypovolemic shock, where the body is unable to maintain adequate tissue perfusion. As a result, the skin becomes cool and moist due to decreased blood flow and constriction of blood vessels.

Question 17

Forming a general impression as part of your primary assessment helps you to:
A) determine baseline mental status.
B) determine general clinical status and priority.
C) make a determination about stabilization of the cervical spine.
D) estimate vital signs.

Accepted Answer

Forming a general impression allows you to quickly assess the patient's overall clinical status and determine their priority for care. It includes evaluating their level of consciousness, assessing their airway, breathing, and circulation, and identifying any obvious life-threatening injuries or conditions. It does not provide enough information to determine baseline mental status, assess cervical spine stabilization, or estimate vital signs.

Question 18

Your patient appears awake, but barely looks at you when you call his name. His airway is open, and he is breathing at 34 times per minute. He appears cyanotic. Which of the following adjuncts is most appropriate at this point?
A) Nonrebreather mask
B) Bag-valve mask
C) Nasopharyngeal airway
D) Nasal cannula

Accepted Answer

The patient's respiratory rate is very high and he appears cyanotic, indicating potential respiratory distress. Therefore, the most appropriate adjunct at this point would be a bag-valve mask to assist with his breathing and provide supplemental oxygen. The other options are not appropriate for a patient experiencing potential respiratory distress. A nonrebreather mask would not be sufficient to assist the patient's breathing at such a high respiratory rate, a nasopharyngeal airway may not be necessary if the patient already has an open airway, and a nasal cannula may not provide enough oxygen supplementation for the patient's needs.

Question 19

Mottled, cyanotic, pale, or ashen skin color may indicate any of the following EXCEPT:
A) hypertensive crisis.
B) impaired blood flow to an extremity.
C) significant blood loss.
D) loss of spinal cord function.

Accepted Answer

Mottled, cyanotic, pale or ashen skin color indicate impaired blood flow or reduced oxygenation to tissues, such as in the case of impaired circulation or blood loss. Loss of spinal cord function may cause paralysis but skin color changes are unlikely to occur. However, hypertensive crisis may cause flushed or red skin color rather than mottled or pale skin.

Question 20

As the first unit on the scene of a mass-casualty incident, you and your partner should:
A) stay together, assuming a joint command role.
B) split up, with one assuming a command role, the other a triage role.
C) stay together, both locating and triaging patients.
D) split up, with both initiating patient triage.

Accepted Answer

In a mass-casualty incident, it's crucial for the first responders to establish both command and control, as well as initiate patient triage as soon as possible. By splitting up, one can take charge of the scene and start organizing additional resources and support, while the other begins the process of triaging patients. This approach ensures that both critical initial steps are addressed simultaneously, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the response.

Quiz 2: Scene Size-Up

The purpose of manual stabilization of the cervical spine during the primary assessment of a trauma patient is to:

When responding to a domestic dispute, you should:

After determining that a patient does not respond to verbal stimuli, your next action would be to:

To assess an infant's airway, you should:

Which of the following best describes why you should call for additional assistance when dealing with multiple patients?

You respond to a scene where gunshots have been heard, and there is a report of a "man down." You should enter the scene when:

You are treating a 27-year-old asthmatic patient outside a bar when a growing crowd becomes hostile and unruly. To protect yourself, your crew, and your patient, you should:

To determine whether a patient is breathing, you should:

A patient with skin described as "clammy" has ________ skin.

Which of the following statements regarding stridor is TRUE?

You are assessing an adult patient. When you palpate her wrist to locate a pulse, you do not feel one. You should immediately palpate for a ________ pulse.

Which of the following senses should a paramedic use to recognize hazards at the scene of an emergency?

The sound of gurgling associated with breathing usually indicates:

When assessing the airway, which of the following actions is NOT appropriate?

Steps in assessing circulation during a primary assessment include all of the following EXCEPT:

You are assessing a 28-year-old man with multiple gunshots to his abdomen. You should expect his skin to be:

Forming a general impression as part of your primary assessment helps you to:

Your patient appears awake, but barely looks at you when you call his name. His airway is open, and he is breathing at 34 times per minute. He appears cyanotic. Which of the following adjuncts is most appropriate at this point?

Mottled, cyanotic, pale, or ashen skin color may indicate any of the following EXCEPT:

As the first unit on the scene of a mass-casualty incident, you and your partner should: