West Coast EMT Block 3 Study Guide
Exam With Verified Answers
Medical Assessment Steps - ANSWER-1) Scene Size up: PENMAN
2) Primary Survey/Resuscitation: General impression, Consciousness (AVPU), Chief
complaint, ABC management
3) History Taking: OPQRST/SAMPLE
4) Secondary Assessment: Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Neurological, Musculoskeletal,
Integumentary, GI/GU, Reproductive, Psychological, Social
5) Vital Signs: BP, pulse, respiratory rate and quality, field impression of patient,
interventions/treatment
6) Reassessment: Verbal reports/Radio reports
O2 administration cheat sheet - ANSWER-1) Nasal Cannula: Normal/Regular breathing
(1-6 liters/min)
- Pattern and rate
2) Non-Rebreathable: Normal/Regular breathing (10-15 liters/min, high flow)
- Pattern and rate but borderline (10-20 RR)
3) Bag-valve mask: Abnormal/Irregular/Apneic/Absent (15-20 liters/min)
- Assist ventilations, artificial ventilations, > 8 or < 28 breaths/min
What part of the brain controls basic bodily functions like blood pressure, breathing,
heart rate, swallowing, etc)? - ANSWER-Brain Stem
Where does the spinal cord exit the brain? - ANSWER-Foramen magnum
TIA (transient ischemic attack) - ANSWER-- A transient ischemic attack which are
stroke-like symptoms that resolve on their own in less than 24 hours.
- These symptoms occur when blood flow to the brain is obstructed either through
atherosclerosis (build-up of calcium and cholesterol in blood vessels) or blood clotting
(embolus)
,Ischemic Stroke - ANSWER-The most common type of strokes caused by a
- blockage of blood flow to a particular part of the brain usually by a blood clot inside a
blood vessel.
Two types of blood clot that may cause the blockage are:
- thrombosis (blood clot formed at the site of blockage) embolus (blood clot formed
elsewhere and travels to the site of blockage)
- atherosclerosis (calcium and cholesterol build up in the blood vessels).
Hemorrhagic Stroke - ANSWER-- Occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.
- In this stroke the blood vessels ruptures and the accumulated blood then forms a clot
which compresses the brain tissue.
- The compression prevents oxygenated blood blood from getting into the area and the
brain cells begin to die. Often fatal.
- Commonly occurs in people experiencing stress or exertion, high blood pressure or
long term untreated elevated blood pressure.
Signs and Symptoms of a stroke - ANSWER-- Facial drooping
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, are, leg, or one side of the body
- Lack of muscle coordination or no balance
- Sudden vision impairment
- Difficulty swallowing and tongue deviation
- Speech disorders (Aphasia)
- Dysarthria (slurred speech)
- Confusion, dizziness, weakness, restlessness
- Coma
How long should it take for a patient to come out of the postictal state? What is a
postictal state? - ANSWER-A postictal state is a period following a seizure in which the
seizure episode has ended and the patient starts to regain consciousness and lasts
from 5 to 30 minutes (sometimes more).
, Know the risk factors for a seizure? - ANSWER-- Epileptic ----> Congenital origin
- Structural -----> Tumor, Infection, Head trauma, Strok
- Metabolic -----> Hypoxia, Abnormal blood chemical values, Hypoglycemia, poisoning,
Sudden withdrawal from drugs, alcohol, medication, etc.
- Febrile ----> Sudden high fever
What is a febrile seizure? - ANSWER-A seizure occurring from a sudden high fever
particularly in children.
What do we do for a patient who is having a seizure? What do we do once they come
out of the seizure? - ANSWER-- Maintain the ABCs
- Oxygen administration
- Call ALS
- Provide oral glucose for hypoglycemia according to the protocol
- Medications according to protocol
Know what the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke scale is and how we do it? - ANSWER--
Facial droop
normal: both sides of the face move equally
abnormal: one side of the face does not move at all
- Arm drift (ask the patient to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up)
normal: both arms move equally or not at all
abnormal: one arm drifts compared to the other
- Speech
normal: patient uses correct words with no slurring
abnormal: slurred or inappropriate words or mute
How do we transport a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity? - ANSWER-If
the extremities are paralyzed, they will require protection from injury because the patient
may not feel their extremities or move them out of harm's way as they are being moved.
Exam With Verified Answers
Medical Assessment Steps - ANSWER-1) Scene Size up: PENMAN
2) Primary Survey/Resuscitation: General impression, Consciousness (AVPU), Chief
complaint, ABC management
3) History Taking: OPQRST/SAMPLE
4) Secondary Assessment: Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Neurological, Musculoskeletal,
Integumentary, GI/GU, Reproductive, Psychological, Social
5) Vital Signs: BP, pulse, respiratory rate and quality, field impression of patient,
interventions/treatment
6) Reassessment: Verbal reports/Radio reports
O2 administration cheat sheet - ANSWER-1) Nasal Cannula: Normal/Regular breathing
(1-6 liters/min)
- Pattern and rate
2) Non-Rebreathable: Normal/Regular breathing (10-15 liters/min, high flow)
- Pattern and rate but borderline (10-20 RR)
3) Bag-valve mask: Abnormal/Irregular/Apneic/Absent (15-20 liters/min)
- Assist ventilations, artificial ventilations, > 8 or < 28 breaths/min
What part of the brain controls basic bodily functions like blood pressure, breathing,
heart rate, swallowing, etc)? - ANSWER-Brain Stem
Where does the spinal cord exit the brain? - ANSWER-Foramen magnum
TIA (transient ischemic attack) - ANSWER-- A transient ischemic attack which are
stroke-like symptoms that resolve on their own in less than 24 hours.
- These symptoms occur when blood flow to the brain is obstructed either through
atherosclerosis (build-up of calcium and cholesterol in blood vessels) or blood clotting
(embolus)
,Ischemic Stroke - ANSWER-The most common type of strokes caused by a
- blockage of blood flow to a particular part of the brain usually by a blood clot inside a
blood vessel.
Two types of blood clot that may cause the blockage are:
- thrombosis (blood clot formed at the site of blockage) embolus (blood clot formed
elsewhere and travels to the site of blockage)
- atherosclerosis (calcium and cholesterol build up in the blood vessels).
Hemorrhagic Stroke - ANSWER-- Occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.
- In this stroke the blood vessels ruptures and the accumulated blood then forms a clot
which compresses the brain tissue.
- The compression prevents oxygenated blood blood from getting into the area and the
brain cells begin to die. Often fatal.
- Commonly occurs in people experiencing stress or exertion, high blood pressure or
long term untreated elevated blood pressure.
Signs and Symptoms of a stroke - ANSWER-- Facial drooping
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, are, leg, or one side of the body
- Lack of muscle coordination or no balance
- Sudden vision impairment
- Difficulty swallowing and tongue deviation
- Speech disorders (Aphasia)
- Dysarthria (slurred speech)
- Confusion, dizziness, weakness, restlessness
- Coma
How long should it take for a patient to come out of the postictal state? What is a
postictal state? - ANSWER-A postictal state is a period following a seizure in which the
seizure episode has ended and the patient starts to regain consciousness and lasts
from 5 to 30 minutes (sometimes more).
, Know the risk factors for a seizure? - ANSWER-- Epileptic ----> Congenital origin
- Structural -----> Tumor, Infection, Head trauma, Strok
- Metabolic -----> Hypoxia, Abnormal blood chemical values, Hypoglycemia, poisoning,
Sudden withdrawal from drugs, alcohol, medication, etc.
- Febrile ----> Sudden high fever
What is a febrile seizure? - ANSWER-A seizure occurring from a sudden high fever
particularly in children.
What do we do for a patient who is having a seizure? What do we do once they come
out of the seizure? - ANSWER-- Maintain the ABCs
- Oxygen administration
- Call ALS
- Provide oral glucose for hypoglycemia according to the protocol
- Medications according to protocol
Know what the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke scale is and how we do it? - ANSWER--
Facial droop
normal: both sides of the face move equally
abnormal: one side of the face does not move at all
- Arm drift (ask the patient to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up)
normal: both arms move equally or not at all
abnormal: one arm drifts compared to the other
- Speech
normal: patient uses correct words with no slurring
abnormal: slurred or inappropriate words or mute
How do we transport a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity? - ANSWER-If
the extremities are paralyzed, they will require protection from injury because the patient
may not feel their extremities or move them out of harm's way as they are being moved.
