EMT Basic Practice Exam 1 Questions and Answers

EMT Basic Practice Exam 1 Questions and Answers EMTs should wear high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirators when they are in contact with contact with patients who have which of the following? A. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) B. Tuberculosis (TB) C. Open Wounds D. Hepatitis B -Answer-B. Tuberculosis HEPA respirators are worn when in contact with patients airborne infections such as TB. HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B are both blood-borne pathogens. Contaminants from open wounds would also be blood-borne. You are called to assist a 60-year-old female who complains of a severe headache. Upon entering the home, you smell a strong odor of natural gas. What is your first reaction? A. Check the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation. B. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assess vital signs. C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance. D. Open all windows and determine the source of the gas leak. -Answer-C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance. Your first action should be to remove your crew and the patient from the possible noxious gas and to notify the gas company of the leak. You may also be required to alert hazardous material response team. Treatment for the patient will begin with an ABC assessment and management of any problems you might encounter. The most common electrical rhythm disturbance that results in sudden cardiac arrest. A. Pulseless Electrical Activity B. Ventricular Fibrillation C. Ventricular Tachycardia D. Asystole -Answer-B. Ventricular Fibrillation Because ventricular fibrillation is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest., it is critical to apply an AED on an unconscious apneic and pulseless patient as quickly as possible. The other rhythms can also cause a patient to be in cardiac arrest, but they do not occur as frequently as "V-fib". Which of the following is the highest priority patient? A. 57-year-old male with chest pain and systolic blood pressure of 80. B. 40-year-old female with moderate pain from a leg injury. C. 75-year-old male who appears confused but responds to commands. D. 25-year-old female in labor with contractions six minutes apart. -Answer-A. 57-year- old male with chest pain and systolic blood pressure of 80. The patient with chest pain and systolic blood pressure less than 100 is the highest priority patient of the four. A leg injury may be life-threatening if the femoral artery is injured, but most often, a single extremity injury is not a threat to life. The elderly gentleman may be exhibiting his normal mental status, or he may be having problems due to an ongoing health problem. You need more information before you can make that determination, but he is not in any imminent danger right now. Labor with contractions 6 minutes apart is not considered imminent delivery. If you have any questions, however, you should continue assessing this patient as well by asking pertinent questions and checking for crowning. Of the following, which body fluid has the most potential to transmit blood-borne diseases? A. Nasal Discharge B. Vomitus C. Amniotic Fluid D. Feces -Answer-C. Amniotic Fluid Fluids containing blood have the highest potential for disease transmission. Your patient is an 11-month-old female. How can you determine if she has a decreased mental status and is responsive to verbal stimuli? A. She will be upset when you take her from her mother's arms. B. She will be unable to tell you how old she is if you ask her. C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they speak. D. She will try to pull away from a painful stimulus on her toe. -Answer-C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they speak. An infant who is alert to verbal stimuli will still try to locate the parents' voices; choice A describes an alert infant; choice D describes an infant who is responsive to painful stimuli; choice B is incorrect because infants of this age are not developed enough to tell you their age regardless of their mental status. What is the best method to assess circulation in an infant? A. Palpate the carotid pulse. B. Palpate the brachial pulse. C. Palpate the radial pulse. D. Observe capillary refill time. -Answer-B. Palpate the brachial pulse. Assess circulation in an infant by palpating the brachial pulse in the upper arm. The carotid and radial pulses are difficult to locate in infants. Capillary refill time shows that the patient has impaired circulation, but it is not the first tool to use in assessing circulation because it is affected by external factors (like the environment) as well as internal factors like poor perfusion. A 45-year-old male is experiencing chest discomfort. After placing him in his position of comfort, your next action should be? A. Ventilate the patient with a nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min. B. Ventilate the patient with the bag-valve mask at 15 L/min. C. Administer oxygen by rebreather mask at 15 L/min. D. Administer oxygen by the nasal cannula at 6 L/min. -Answer-C. Administer oxygen by rebreather mask at 15 L/min