EMS1055 Midterm Study Guide with
Complete Solutions
Normal vitals - ANS-R: 12-20
BP:<120/<80
P: 60-100
Temp: 98.6F or 37C
Know the medical legal responsibilities of an EMR, such as Duty to Act and Standard of
Care. - ANS-Duty to act: If you have been employed as an EMR and you are dispatched
to the scene of an accident or illness, you have the duty to act.
Standard of care: Treat the patient to the best of your ability & it must be the same
treatment that another reasonable person (with similar treatment) would, under the
same circumstances. Care should be up to STANDARD and CONSISTENT.
Scope of practice: Only perform the skills that you know exactly how to do.
Abandonment: Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has
been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
Negligence: Occurs when your lack of proper care causes more harm.
Good Samaritan Laws protect citizens from liability, but not medical professionals.
Know the levels of patient consent - ANS-Expressed consent: the patient lets you know,
either verbally or nonverbally, that they are willing to accept your care. They must be of
legal age and have the ability to make a rational decision.
Implied consent: the patient doesn't outright refuse emergency care, but they could be
unconscious.
Consent for minors: Either wait for the parent/legal guardian to give permission, but if it
cannot be quickly obtained, carry out treatment anyway. who giva shit
Consent for mentally ill patients: If the patient appears to be a threat to their own safety
or those of others, do not hesitate to provide care.
Refusal of care: Any mentally sound patient has the legal right to refuse care. You
should document this and make sure you explain the consequences of refusing care.
, Advance directives: A document that describes what a patient would have been wanted
if they are not actively able to make their own decisions (such as being in a coma). If
you cannot find out if this advance directive is legally valid, like a DNR (do not
resuscitate, such as perform CPR) just administer care anyway.
Dead at scene: You cannot assume the patient is dead at the scene unless they are
decapitated, have tissue decomposition, dependent lividity, or rigor mortis.
Most patient information is confidential and should only be shared with other medical
professionals as relevant.
Know the pulse points and what blood pressure is required for them to be palpated. -
ANS-Carotid: 60 mmHg (systolic pressure)
Fermoral: 70 mmHg
Radial: 80 mmHg
Pedal: 90-100 mmHg
Brachial: typically used for infants, upper arm
Take pulse by counting for 15 seconds and multiply the beats time 4.
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 systolic (contraction)) over diastolic (relaxation). The
auscultatory gap is the period between the systole and the diastole that is silent.
Standard heart rate is 60-90 in an adult. Over 100+ is tachycardia and under 60 is
brachycardia.
Normal respiration rate is 12-20 bpm.
Know how to assess an AVPU score. - ANS-A: alert, eyes are open. any patient who
fails at this stage this will get their airway checked.
V: verbal, patient responds to verbal stimuli (asking if they're okay)
P: pain, patient responds to painful stimiuli (responding to a sternum rub)
U: unresponsive, patient does not respond to any stimuli
Know how to open an airway and when you use each method. - ANS-Head tilt chin lift:
Place the patient on their back: one hand on their forehead, and use your other to gently
apply firm pressure backwards (fingers applied to bony part of lower jaw). DO NOT USE
THIS WITH SUSPECTED C-SPINE INJURY.
Jaw-thrust maneuver: If you suspect c-spine injury, use this method. Place the patient
on their back, place your fingers behind the lower jaw and move the jaw forwards, while
tilting the head back. Use your thumbs to pull down the lower jaw and leave enough
room in the mouth so they can breathe.
Clear possible obstructions. If you can talk to them, they have an airway. Must check for
an airway if they are not alert. Right bronchus is more likely to have an obstruction than
Complete Solutions
Normal vitals - ANS-R: 12-20
BP:<120/<80
P: 60-100
Temp: 98.6F or 37C
Know the medical legal responsibilities of an EMR, such as Duty to Act and Standard of
Care. - ANS-Duty to act: If you have been employed as an EMR and you are dispatched
to the scene of an accident or illness, you have the duty to act.
Standard of care: Treat the patient to the best of your ability & it must be the same
treatment that another reasonable person (with similar treatment) would, under the
same circumstances. Care should be up to STANDARD and CONSISTENT.
Scope of practice: Only perform the skills that you know exactly how to do.
Abandonment: Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has
been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
Negligence: Occurs when your lack of proper care causes more harm.
Good Samaritan Laws protect citizens from liability, but not medical professionals.
Know the levels of patient consent - ANS-Expressed consent: the patient lets you know,
either verbally or nonverbally, that they are willing to accept your care. They must be of
legal age and have the ability to make a rational decision.
Implied consent: the patient doesn't outright refuse emergency care, but they could be
unconscious.
Consent for minors: Either wait for the parent/legal guardian to give permission, but if it
cannot be quickly obtained, carry out treatment anyway. who giva shit
Consent for mentally ill patients: If the patient appears to be a threat to their own safety
or those of others, do not hesitate to provide care.
Refusal of care: Any mentally sound patient has the legal right to refuse care. You
should document this and make sure you explain the consequences of refusing care.
, Advance directives: A document that describes what a patient would have been wanted
if they are not actively able to make their own decisions (such as being in a coma). If
you cannot find out if this advance directive is legally valid, like a DNR (do not
resuscitate, such as perform CPR) just administer care anyway.
Dead at scene: You cannot assume the patient is dead at the scene unless they are
decapitated, have tissue decomposition, dependent lividity, or rigor mortis.
Most patient information is confidential and should only be shared with other medical
professionals as relevant.
Know the pulse points and what blood pressure is required for them to be palpated. -
ANS-Carotid: 60 mmHg (systolic pressure)
Fermoral: 70 mmHg
Radial: 80 mmHg
Pedal: 90-100 mmHg
Brachial: typically used for infants, upper arm
Take pulse by counting for 15 seconds and multiply the beats time 4.
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 systolic (contraction)) over diastolic (relaxation). The
auscultatory gap is the period between the systole and the diastole that is silent.
Standard heart rate is 60-90 in an adult. Over 100+ is tachycardia and under 60 is
brachycardia.
Normal respiration rate is 12-20 bpm.
Know how to assess an AVPU score. - ANS-A: alert, eyes are open. any patient who
fails at this stage this will get their airway checked.
V: verbal, patient responds to verbal stimuli (asking if they're okay)
P: pain, patient responds to painful stimiuli (responding to a sternum rub)
U: unresponsive, patient does not respond to any stimuli
Know how to open an airway and when you use each method. - ANS-Head tilt chin lift:
Place the patient on their back: one hand on their forehead, and use your other to gently
apply firm pressure backwards (fingers applied to bony part of lower jaw). DO NOT USE
THIS WITH SUSPECTED C-SPINE INJURY.
Jaw-thrust maneuver: If you suspect c-spine injury, use this method. Place the patient
on their back, place your fingers behind the lower jaw and move the jaw forwards, while
tilting the head back. Use your thumbs to pull down the lower jaw and leave enough
room in the mouth so they can breathe.
Clear possible obstructions. If you can talk to them, they have an airway. Must check for
an airway if they are not alert. Right bronchus is more likely to have an obstruction than
