Fisdap Medical Emergencies Practice
Quiz With Rationales Answers
A 20 y/o M is agitated and complains of nausea. He tells you, "I feel like my heart is
going to jump out of my chest." Vital signs are BP 142/90, P 140, R 24, and warm,
moist skin. Which drug should you suspect?
a. narcotics
b. opioids
c. alcohol
d. amphetamines - ANSWER-d. amphetamines
Amphetamines stimulate the central nervous system, causing an increase in all vital
signs. He is tachycardia, tachypneoic, and hypertensive.
An 83 y/o F is diaphoretic and has an altered mental status. Her caregiver states,
"She is more out of it than normal, and she slapped me." What should you suspect?
a. dementia
b. transient ischemic attack
c. hyperglycaemia
d. hypoglycaemia - ANSWER-d. hypoglycaemia
Which an abrupt change in mental status, you should suspect hypoglycaemia. She is
agitated with an altered mental status and she is diaphoretic. This is treatable in the
prehospital setting.
A 50 y/o M complains of a sudden onset of abdominal pain and appears pale and
weak. Vitals are BP 84/50, P 110, R 22. What should you suspect?
a. gastroenteritis
b. appendicitis
c. intestinal obstruction
d. GI bleed - ANSWER-d. GI bleed
He is hypotensive and tachycardic. He is showing signs and symptoms of shock. GI
bleeding can have an acute onset or be hidden and disguised for long periods of
time. A thorough history of the patient's bowel movements, frequency and colour
changes will help identify the location of the bleed within the abdomen.
An unresponsive 22 y/o M was found outside on a hot and humid day. His skin is hot
and moist. What should you do?
a. remove all of his clothing and wrap him in a dry sheet
b. administer cool fluids by mouth
, c. move him to the air-conditioned ambulance
d. begin actively cooling with cold packs around the groin - ANSWER-c. move him to
the air-conditioned ambulance
The first treatment option is to remove him from the environment that caused his
heat stroke. The longer he is exposed to the heat, the more severe he will become.
Once you have removed him from the hot environment, you can remove all clothing
and begin cooling procedures.
A 49 y/o M complains of severe right upper quadrant abdominal pain and nausea.
He has jaundice and is febrile. Vital signs are BP 98/60, P 92, R 16. What should
you suspect?
a. hepatitis
b. gall stones
c. gastric ulcers
d. pancreatitis - ANSWER-a. hepatitis
The liver is located in the RUQ of the abdomen. The body's response is a fever. He
is jaundiced, because of the excess bilirubin in his body. A normal functioning liver
excretes bilirubin as bile.
During cleanup operations after a house fire, a firefighter complains of a headache,
dizziness, and slight difficulty breathing. He reports not having worn his breathing
apparatus for the past 30 mins. What should you suspect?
a. CO poisoning
b. mild hyperventilation
c. acute hypoglycaemia
d. asthma exacerbation - ANSWER-a. CO poisoning
Indicated by difficulty breathing and dizziness. Can result from exposure to partial
combusted organic material. Because he was not wearing his mask, he breathed in
an excessive amount of smoke.
A confused 56 y/o F is complaining of a headache and presents with pale,
diaphoretic skin. She has had diarrhoea for 2 days. Vital signs are BP 80/40, P 120,
R 16. What is the most likely cause?
a. insulin shock
b. food poisoning
c. dehydration
d. diabetic ketoacidosis - ANSWER-c. dehydration
Diarrhoea inhibits food and nutrient exchange in the digestive tract. It also causes
fluid loss. Prolonged diarrhoea can cause hypovolemic shock and dehydration. He
needs medication to prevent fluid loss and to allow for fluid replacement.
Quiz With Rationales Answers
A 20 y/o M is agitated and complains of nausea. He tells you, "I feel like my heart is
going to jump out of my chest." Vital signs are BP 142/90, P 140, R 24, and warm,
moist skin. Which drug should you suspect?
a. narcotics
b. opioids
c. alcohol
d. amphetamines - ANSWER-d. amphetamines
Amphetamines stimulate the central nervous system, causing an increase in all vital
signs. He is tachycardia, tachypneoic, and hypertensive.
An 83 y/o F is diaphoretic and has an altered mental status. Her caregiver states,
"She is more out of it than normal, and she slapped me." What should you suspect?
a. dementia
b. transient ischemic attack
c. hyperglycaemia
d. hypoglycaemia - ANSWER-d. hypoglycaemia
Which an abrupt change in mental status, you should suspect hypoglycaemia. She is
agitated with an altered mental status and she is diaphoretic. This is treatable in the
prehospital setting.
A 50 y/o M complains of a sudden onset of abdominal pain and appears pale and
weak. Vitals are BP 84/50, P 110, R 22. What should you suspect?
a. gastroenteritis
b. appendicitis
c. intestinal obstruction
d. GI bleed - ANSWER-d. GI bleed
He is hypotensive and tachycardic. He is showing signs and symptoms of shock. GI
bleeding can have an acute onset or be hidden and disguised for long periods of
time. A thorough history of the patient's bowel movements, frequency and colour
changes will help identify the location of the bleed within the abdomen.
An unresponsive 22 y/o M was found outside on a hot and humid day. His skin is hot
and moist. What should you do?
a. remove all of his clothing and wrap him in a dry sheet
b. administer cool fluids by mouth
, c. move him to the air-conditioned ambulance
d. begin actively cooling with cold packs around the groin - ANSWER-c. move him to
the air-conditioned ambulance
The first treatment option is to remove him from the environment that caused his
heat stroke. The longer he is exposed to the heat, the more severe he will become.
Once you have removed him from the hot environment, you can remove all clothing
and begin cooling procedures.
A 49 y/o M complains of severe right upper quadrant abdominal pain and nausea.
He has jaundice and is febrile. Vital signs are BP 98/60, P 92, R 16. What should
you suspect?
a. hepatitis
b. gall stones
c. gastric ulcers
d. pancreatitis - ANSWER-a. hepatitis
The liver is located in the RUQ of the abdomen. The body's response is a fever. He
is jaundiced, because of the excess bilirubin in his body. A normal functioning liver
excretes bilirubin as bile.
During cleanup operations after a house fire, a firefighter complains of a headache,
dizziness, and slight difficulty breathing. He reports not having worn his breathing
apparatus for the past 30 mins. What should you suspect?
a. CO poisoning
b. mild hyperventilation
c. acute hypoglycaemia
d. asthma exacerbation - ANSWER-a. CO poisoning
Indicated by difficulty breathing and dizziness. Can result from exposure to partial
combusted organic material. Because he was not wearing his mask, he breathed in
an excessive amount of smoke.
A confused 56 y/o F is complaining of a headache and presents with pale,
diaphoretic skin. She has had diarrhoea for 2 days. Vital signs are BP 80/40, P 120,
R 16. What is the most likely cause?
a. insulin shock
b. food poisoning
c. dehydration
d. diabetic ketoacidosis - ANSWER-c. dehydration
Diarrhoea inhibits food and nutrient exchange in the digestive tract. It also causes
fluid loss. Prolonged diarrhoea can cause hypovolemic shock and dehydration. He
needs medication to prevent fluid loss and to allow for fluid replacement.
