West Coast EMT Block 2 Study Guide
Questions with Verified Answers
A 20 year old male has a large laceration to his wrist. He is holding a blood- soaked
towel over the wound, but it continues to bleed rapidly. You should
A. Apply pressure to the brachial artery.
B. Administer high-flow supplemental oxygen
C. Apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist
D. Wrap the towel with pressure bandages - ANSWERSApply a tourniquet proximal to
the wrist
Patients develop septic shock secondary to:
A. poor vessel function and severe volume loss
B. weak vessel tone caused by nervous system damage
C. failures of the blood vessels to adequately dilate
D. an infection that weakens cardiac contractions - ANSWERSA. poor vessel function
and severe volume loss
A construction worker fell approximately 30 feet. He is semiconscious with rapid,
shallow respirations. Further assessment reveals deformity to the thoracic region of his
spine. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 66 beats/min and weak, and his
skin is warm and dry. In addition to spinal immobilization and rapid transport, the MOST
appropriate treatment for this patient includes:
A. oxygen via nonrebreathing mask, blankets for warmth, and elevation of his head
B. oxygen via nonrebreathing mask, thermal management, and elevation of his legs
C. assisted ventilation, preventing hyperthermia, and elevating his lower extremities
D. assisted ventilation, thermal management, and elevation of the lower extremities -
ANSWERSD. assisted ventilation, thermal management, and elevation of the lower
extremities
a 25-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car
hit a tree while traveling at a high rate of speed. she has signs and symptoms of shock,
which you suspect are the result of intrathoracic bleeding. which of the following
interventions will provide this patient with the greatest chance of survival
A. intravenous fluid administration
B. high-flow oxygen administration
C. full immobilization of her spine
D. rapid transport to a trauma center - ANSWERSD. rapid transport to a trauma center
,Temporary, widespread vasodilation and syncope caused by a sudden nervous system
reaction MOST accurately describes:
A. psychogenic shock
B. vasovagal shock
C. neurologic shock
D. psychogenic shock - ANSWERSD. psychogenic shock
when assessing a patient with signs and symptoms of shock, it is important to
remember that
A. multiple fractures are the most common cause of hypovolemic shock
B. blood pressure may be the last measurable factor to change in shock
C. the patient's respirations are deep during the early stages of shock
D. irreversible shock often responds well to a prompt blood transfusion - ANSWERSB.
blood pressure may be the last measurable factor to change in shock
A 70 year-old female was recently discharge from the hospital following a total hip
replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure
of 90/64 mm HG. her skin is hot and moist. You should be most suspicious that she is
experiencing:
A. decompensated shock
B. a local infection
C. septic shock
D. pump failure - ANSWERSC. septic shock
All of the following conditions should make you suspect shocked, EXCEPT:
A. severe infection
B. anaphylaxis
C. ischemic stroke
D. Spinal injury - ANSWERSC. ischemic stroke
Capillary sphincters are:
A. circular muscular walls that regulate blood flow through the capillaries
B. under complete control of the voluntary portion of the nervous system
C. capable of dilating in order to increase perfusion to crucial body organs
D. responsible for constricting to compensate for decreased cell perfusion -
ANSWERSA. circular muscular walls that regulate blood flow through the capillaries
cardiogenic shock may result from all of the following, EXCEPT
A. increased afterload
B. increased preload
,C. heart attack
D. poor contractility - ANSWERSB. increased preload
clinical signs of compensated shock include all of the following, except
A. restlessness or anxiety
B. rapid, shallow breathing
C. absent peripheral pulses
D. cool and clammy skin - ANSWERSC. absent peripheral pulses
Distributive shock occurs when
A. severe bleeding causes tachycardia in order to distribute blood to the organs faster
B. temporary but severe vasodilation causes a decrease in blood supply to the brain
C. widespread dilation of the blood vessels causes blood to pool in the vascular beds
D. an injury causes restriction of the heart muscle and impairs its pumping function -
ANSWERSC. widespread dilation of the blood vessels causes blood to pool in the
vascular beds
hypovolemic shock caused by severe burns is the result of a loss of
A. platelets
B. whole blood
C. plasma
D. red blood cells - ANSWERSC. plasma
In an acute injury setting, neurogenic shock is commonly accompanied by:
A. hypothermia
B. tachycardia
C. hypovolemia
D. diaphoresis - ANSWERSA. hypothermia
Neurogenic shock occurs when
A. failure of the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation
B. there is to much blood to fill a smaller vascular container
C. the spinal cord is severed and causes massive hemorrhaging
D. massive vasoconstriction occurs distal to a spinal cord injury - ANSWERSA. failure of
the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation
Pulmonary edema and impaired ventilation occur during:
A. neurogenic shock
B. anaphylactic shock
C. cardiogenic shock
, D. septic shock - ANSWERSC. cardiogenic shock
Shock is the result of:
A. widespread constriction of the blood vessels
B. the body's maintenance of homeostasis
C. temporary dysfunction of a major organ
D. hypoperfusion to the cells of the body - ANSWERSD. hypoperfusion to the cells of
the body
One of the primary waste products of normal cellular metabolism that must be removed
from the body by the lungs is:
a. Carbon monoxide.
b. Pyruvic acid.
c. Carbon dioxide.
d. Lactic acid. - ANSWERSc. Carbon dioxide.
to protect vital organs, the body compensated by directing blood flow away from the
organs that are more tolerant of low flow, such as
A. the brain
B. the heart
C. the skin
D. the lungs - ANSWERSC. the skin
which of the following injury would most likely cause obstructive shock?
A) liver laceration
B)simple pneumothorax
C)cardiac tamponade
D)spinal cord injury - ANSWERSC)cardiac tamponade
Which of the following clinical signs is unique to anaphylactic shock?Choose one
answer.
a. hypotension
b. wheezing
c. pallor
d. dizziness - ANSWERSb. wheezing
which of the following is the only action that can prevent death from a tension
pneumothorax
A. rapid administration of intravenous fluids
B. positive pressure ventilation with a bag valve mask
C. early administration of high flow oxygen
Questions with Verified Answers
A 20 year old male has a large laceration to his wrist. He is holding a blood- soaked
towel over the wound, but it continues to bleed rapidly. You should
A. Apply pressure to the brachial artery.
B. Administer high-flow supplemental oxygen
C. Apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist
D. Wrap the towel with pressure bandages - ANSWERSApply a tourniquet proximal to
the wrist
Patients develop septic shock secondary to:
A. poor vessel function and severe volume loss
B. weak vessel tone caused by nervous system damage
C. failures of the blood vessels to adequately dilate
D. an infection that weakens cardiac contractions - ANSWERSA. poor vessel function
and severe volume loss
A construction worker fell approximately 30 feet. He is semiconscious with rapid,
shallow respirations. Further assessment reveals deformity to the thoracic region of his
spine. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 66 beats/min and weak, and his
skin is warm and dry. In addition to spinal immobilization and rapid transport, the MOST
appropriate treatment for this patient includes:
A. oxygen via nonrebreathing mask, blankets for warmth, and elevation of his head
B. oxygen via nonrebreathing mask, thermal management, and elevation of his legs
C. assisted ventilation, preventing hyperthermia, and elevating his lower extremities
D. assisted ventilation, thermal management, and elevation of the lower extremities -
ANSWERSD. assisted ventilation, thermal management, and elevation of the lower
extremities
a 25-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car
hit a tree while traveling at a high rate of speed. she has signs and symptoms of shock,
which you suspect are the result of intrathoracic bleeding. which of the following
interventions will provide this patient with the greatest chance of survival
A. intravenous fluid administration
B. high-flow oxygen administration
C. full immobilization of her spine
D. rapid transport to a trauma center - ANSWERSD. rapid transport to a trauma center
,Temporary, widespread vasodilation and syncope caused by a sudden nervous system
reaction MOST accurately describes:
A. psychogenic shock
B. vasovagal shock
C. neurologic shock
D. psychogenic shock - ANSWERSD. psychogenic shock
when assessing a patient with signs and symptoms of shock, it is important to
remember that
A. multiple fractures are the most common cause of hypovolemic shock
B. blood pressure may be the last measurable factor to change in shock
C. the patient's respirations are deep during the early stages of shock
D. irreversible shock often responds well to a prompt blood transfusion - ANSWERSB.
blood pressure may be the last measurable factor to change in shock
A 70 year-old female was recently discharge from the hospital following a total hip
replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure
of 90/64 mm HG. her skin is hot and moist. You should be most suspicious that she is
experiencing:
A. decompensated shock
B. a local infection
C. septic shock
D. pump failure - ANSWERSC. septic shock
All of the following conditions should make you suspect shocked, EXCEPT:
A. severe infection
B. anaphylaxis
C. ischemic stroke
D. Spinal injury - ANSWERSC. ischemic stroke
Capillary sphincters are:
A. circular muscular walls that regulate blood flow through the capillaries
B. under complete control of the voluntary portion of the nervous system
C. capable of dilating in order to increase perfusion to crucial body organs
D. responsible for constricting to compensate for decreased cell perfusion -
ANSWERSA. circular muscular walls that regulate blood flow through the capillaries
cardiogenic shock may result from all of the following, EXCEPT
A. increased afterload
B. increased preload
,C. heart attack
D. poor contractility - ANSWERSB. increased preload
clinical signs of compensated shock include all of the following, except
A. restlessness or anxiety
B. rapid, shallow breathing
C. absent peripheral pulses
D. cool and clammy skin - ANSWERSC. absent peripheral pulses
Distributive shock occurs when
A. severe bleeding causes tachycardia in order to distribute blood to the organs faster
B. temporary but severe vasodilation causes a decrease in blood supply to the brain
C. widespread dilation of the blood vessels causes blood to pool in the vascular beds
D. an injury causes restriction of the heart muscle and impairs its pumping function -
ANSWERSC. widespread dilation of the blood vessels causes blood to pool in the
vascular beds
hypovolemic shock caused by severe burns is the result of a loss of
A. platelets
B. whole blood
C. plasma
D. red blood cells - ANSWERSC. plasma
In an acute injury setting, neurogenic shock is commonly accompanied by:
A. hypothermia
B. tachycardia
C. hypovolemia
D. diaphoresis - ANSWERSA. hypothermia
Neurogenic shock occurs when
A. failure of the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation
B. there is to much blood to fill a smaller vascular container
C. the spinal cord is severed and causes massive hemorrhaging
D. massive vasoconstriction occurs distal to a spinal cord injury - ANSWERSA. failure of
the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation
Pulmonary edema and impaired ventilation occur during:
A. neurogenic shock
B. anaphylactic shock
C. cardiogenic shock
, D. septic shock - ANSWERSC. cardiogenic shock
Shock is the result of:
A. widespread constriction of the blood vessels
B. the body's maintenance of homeostasis
C. temporary dysfunction of a major organ
D. hypoperfusion to the cells of the body - ANSWERSD. hypoperfusion to the cells of
the body
One of the primary waste products of normal cellular metabolism that must be removed
from the body by the lungs is:
a. Carbon monoxide.
b. Pyruvic acid.
c. Carbon dioxide.
d. Lactic acid. - ANSWERSc. Carbon dioxide.
to protect vital organs, the body compensated by directing blood flow away from the
organs that are more tolerant of low flow, such as
A. the brain
B. the heart
C. the skin
D. the lungs - ANSWERSC. the skin
which of the following injury would most likely cause obstructive shock?
A) liver laceration
B)simple pneumothorax
C)cardiac tamponade
D)spinal cord injury - ANSWERSC)cardiac tamponade
Which of the following clinical signs is unique to anaphylactic shock?Choose one
answer.
a. hypotension
b. wheezing
c. pallor
d. dizziness - ANSWERSb. wheezing
which of the following is the only action that can prevent death from a tension
pneumothorax
A. rapid administration of intravenous fluids
B. positive pressure ventilation with a bag valve mask
C. early administration of high flow oxygen
