West Coast EMT Block 4 Exam Study Guide Questions With Well Elaborated Solutions

West Coast EMT Block 4 Exam Study Guide Questions With Well Elaborated Solutions What's the most effective way to control arterial bleeds? - ANSWER -tourniquets precautions: - do not apply directly over a joint - make sure its tightly secured - never use narrow material that can cut skin - consider placing padding under it to protect skin - never cover it with a bandage - dp not loosen it after you have applied it - record exact time it was applied What is the rule of 9's in burn management? - ANSWER -9 head, 9 left arm, 9 right arm, 18 anterior torso, 18 posterior torso, 1 genitals What is the difference between the rule of 9's in children and adults? - ANSWER -Adults Head 9 back and torso 18 arms 9 leg 18 Children Head 12 arm 9 torso 18 leg 16.5 What is a 1st degree burn? - ANSWER -involves only the outer layer of the epidermis (NO blisters). What is a 2nd degree burn? - ANSWER -involves the epidermis and part of the dermis (blistered and weeping). What is a 3rd degree burn? - ANSWER -Extends into the subcutaneous tissue and may involve muscle and bone (hard, dry, leathery, no pain). What are electrical burns? - ANSWER -Result of intense heat generated from electric current. Will have an entrance and exit wound - Large amount of deep tissue injury, can reset heart What happens when a person is exposed to cold? - ANSWER -your skin will appear pale and hard with a waxy appearance. Other symptoms include: burning sensation and swelling that can last for weeks, blisters and black scab-like crusts that develop weeks after exposure to extreme cold. What is an avulsion? - ANSWER -Complete separation of a tendon or ligament from its bony attachment site. What is a sucking chest wound? - ANSWER -An open chest wound in which air is "sucked" into the chest cavity How to treat a sucking chest wound (open pneumothorax)? - ANSWER -After clearing and maintaining a patient's airway and providing oxygen, rapidly seal the wound with an occlusive dressing. What should you suspect with a patient who suffered a closed soft-tissue injury? - ANSWER -There is underlying damage to internal organs that may be overlooked. Remain alert for signs of shock. What is the mandible? - ANSWER -Lower jaw bone What is the mastoid process? - ANSWER -The prominent bony mass at the base of the skull about 1" posterior to the external opening of the ear. Where is the cricoid cartilage located? - ANSWER -Inferior to thyroid cartilage and superior to trachea. What is another name for your eyeball? - ANSWER -Globe What is the conjunctiva? - ANSWER -Thin layer of cells covering cornea What is the sclera of the eye? - ANSWER -White part of the eye How do you treat injuries to the eye? - ANSWER -When foreign objects are in the eye, flush the eye with saline or clean water inside out until the object is out of the eye. If the object is on the upper eyelid, use a cotton swab to fold the eyelid and use a moistened cotton swab to remove the object. If the foreign object is large and punctures the eye or area surrounding the eye, make a gauze donut to surround and secure the object by using roller bandage. With chemical burns, flush the eyes with saline or water for 20 minutes. Thermal burns are usually to the eyelid, you should apply moist sterile gauze over the eyes. Light burns can be treated with sterile moist gauze. WIth lacerations to the eye, a cup or protective shield should be applied to the eye and sterile moist gauze if the eye is exposed. Treat blunt trauma by covering both eyes to minimize movement. s/s of detached retina - ANSWER -- The retina is nourished by a layer of blood vessels between it and the sclera at the back of the globe, this layer is called the choroid - Sometimes happens where the retina detaches from the underlying choroid and sclera, the nerve endings are not nourished, and the patient experiences blindness - This may be partial blindness depending on how much of the retina is separated What are the steps for back boarding? - ANSWER -- BSI, scene safety, PPE - Have headman hold C-Spine - Check PMSC (both hands and feet) - Put on C-Collar - Show legman where to hold the patient (one hand at the hip and the other beneath the knee) - Then put pt's hands in a dabbing position - Put your hands on the shoulder and over the legman's arm right beneath the hip - Then advise board man to come at a 45 degree angle in a swooping or sweeping position and align the blue band with the pt's forehead and on headsman's count log roll the patient - Then on headman's count place down the patient on the backboard - Do a Z-drag if not fully on the board properly - Advise board man to step on the bottom of the board so the board doesn't slide - Then tell legman to place his hands on the pt's hips - Place your hands on the pt's shoulders and on headman's count push the pt down to the pt's left or right depending on where you need to put them - Then advise boardman to step on the top of the board for support - Tell legman to hold at the hips again you hold under the armpits