Question 1

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

When approaching a potentially dangerous situation, it is crucial to prioritize safety. In this scenario, it is best to wait for law enforcement to arrive before approaching the residence. By staging around the corner, you are creating distance between yourself and any potential threats, while still maintaining visibility of the residence. This allows law enforcement to secure the scene before you approach. Parking in front of the residence or approaching the front door could put you in danger if there is an unseen threat waiting inside or nearby. Additionally, shouting "Paramedics!" while knocking on the front door can alert any potential threats to your presence and put you at risk.

Question 2

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 you and your partner should always be your top priority. In this situation, the assailant is armed with a deadly weapon and has already displayed aggression towards you. Reasoning with him is not likely to be effective, and attempting a takedown is risky and may result in further injury or death. The best course of action is to retreat from the residence, leaving the patient behind, and requesting law enforcement to handle the situation. Stay in a safe location until law enforcement arrives. It is important to remember that your safety is paramount and you cannot help the patient if you are injured or killed.

Question 3

Particulate evidence is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Particulate evidence refers to small physical items such as fibers, hairs, and other materials that may be found at a crime scene and can be collected as evidence.

Question 4

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 and EMS personnel is of utmost importance. Loading the patient into the ambulance and notifying dispatch of a suspected drug lab at the location, while requesting law enforcement aid, is the best course of action. It is not safe to enter a potentially dangerous environment, and notifying the authorities prior to approaching the property is crucial for the safety of all involved.

Question 5

You are on the scene of an assault. While you quickly assess the patient, your partner is observing the scene for danger. This is called the ________ approach.

Accepted Answer

The contact and cover approach involves one provider assessing and treating the patient while the other provider observes the surrounding area for potential threats or danger. This helps to ensure the safety of the providers and the patient during the assessment and treatment process.

Question 6

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 a clear path of egress at all times is critical for your safety, as you need to be able to quickly leave the scene in case of danger or other emergencies. Option A might not be necessary for every call and can be time-consuming. Option B is not applicable as you need to approach the injured person to provide medical aid. Option D is not acceptable as both partners have the responsibility to protect themselves and each other.

Question 7

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

The patient's statement should be recorded verbatim in the prehospital care report as a dying declaration. This statement may be relevant in a criminal investigation, and it is important to document it accurately.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Paramedics should prioritize their safety and retreat from a scene if threatened, as their safety is paramount and they are not equipped to handle violent situations.

Question 9

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 10

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

Approaching from the rear on the passenger's side allows for a safer assessment of the situation, while having your partner remain in the ambulance ensures that they can call for help or reposition the vehicle if needed.

Question 11

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 12

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

Accepted Answer

TEMS typically deals with more trauma patients than medical patients, so A is the incorrect statement. B, C, and D are all true statements about TEMS.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

One of the commonly cited critiques of body armor and its use by EMS providers is that it can provide a false sense of security, leading providers to take unnecessary risks or fail to recognize potentially dangerous situations outside of the protection of the armor. The other options listed (expense, training requirements, and limited protection) are also relevant considerations, but are not as commonly cited as the issue of a false sense of security.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average, there are 16 youth homicides (ages 0-19) each day in the United States.

Question 15

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

The best way to protect yourself in this situation is to monitor the activity of the crowd and retreat if the situation escalates. The safety of the first responder should always come first, and it is important to remain aware of your surroundings and the behavior of the crowd. Confronting or ignoring the crowd could potentially worsen the situation, and notifying the school principal may not be an immediate solution.

Question 16

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 presence of several vehicles around an abandoned and unlivable house raises suspicion that it may be used for illegal activities, such as a clandestine drug lab.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The Division of Violence Prevention states that arrest rates for violent crimes are highest among the age group of 15-34. This is a peak age range for criminal activity, which is often attributed to factors such as impulsivity, peer pressure, and a lack of fully developed decision-making skills.

Question 18

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 allows you to see the surroundings while also keeping the light out of your eyes and reducing the risk of temporarily blinding yourself. Additionally, switching the flashlight from hand to hand or holding it above your head can be awkward or tiring, while sweeping the beam from side to side can make it difficult to see the area directly in front of you.

Question 19

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 is to retreat with the child and request law enforcement. As a first responder, your safety is paramount, and responding to a potentially volatile situation without law enforcement present is not advised. Staging around the corner from the residence until law enforcement sets up a perimeter and notifies you that the scene is secure is the safest option.

Question 20

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.

Quiz 14: Crime Scene Awareness