EMS 1055 Midterm Study Guide Exam
With Complete Solutions
Know the medical legal responsibilities of an EMR, such as Duty to Act and
Standard of Care. - ANSWER If you are employed by an agency as an
EMR and you are dispatched to the scene of an accident or illness, you
have a duty to act.
you must proceed promptly to the scene and render emergency medical
care within the limits of your training and available equipment.
Failure to respond or render care leaves you and your agency vulnerable to
legal action.
The standard of care is the manner in which you must act or behave
You must meet two criteria:
-You must treat the patient to the best of your ability
-You must provide care that a reasonable, prudent person with similar
training would provide under similar circumstances.
standard of care - ANSWER Written, accepted levels of emergency care
expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or
professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to
unreasonable risk or harm.
scope of practice - ANSWER a set of regulations and ethical considerations
that define the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT's or EMS job
Duty to Act - ANSWER Your legal responsibility to do something in the
case of an emergency
,Abandonment - ANSWER Leaving a patient after care has been initiated
and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or
greater medical training.
Know the levels of patient consent - ANSWER expressed
implied
consent for minors
consent for mentally ill
patients refusal of care
Advanced directives
expressed consent - ANSWER The patient actually lets you know—verbally
or nonverbally—that he or she is willing to accept treatment
The patient must be of legal age and able to make a rational decision.
implied consent - ANSWER The patient does not specifically refuse
emergency care.
Do not hesitate to treat an unconscious patient.
Consent for minors - ANSWER Under the law, minors are not considered
capable of speaking for themselves.
Emergency treatment must wait until a patient or legal guardian consents to
the treatment.
If permission cannot be quickly obtained, do not hesitate to give
appropriate medical care.
Consent of the Mentally Ill - ANSWER If the person appears to be a threat
to self or others, place this person under medical care.
Know your state's legal mechanisms for handling these patients.
Do not hesitate to involve law enforcement agencies.
living will - ANSWER A document that indicates what medical intervention
an individual wants if he or she becomes incapable of expressing those
wishes.
DNR (do not resuscitate) - ANSWER an order that tells medical
professionals not to perform CPR
refusal of care - ANSWER An unwillingness to receive first aid or medical
treatment expressed by a victim (or the victim's parent
, or guardian) who must give consent.
Know the pulse points and what blood pressure is required for them to be
palpated - ANSWER carotid 60mm Hg
femoral 70mm Hg
radial 80mm Hg
pedal 90-100mm Hg
systolic pressures
Remember head to toes in anatomic position
carotid pulse - ANSWER the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on
either side of the neck. Blood pressure is at least 60 systolic
femoral pulse - ANSWER Pulse felt on either side of the groin; Femoral
artery. blood pressure is at least 70 systolic.
brachial pulse - ANSWER the pulse felt in the upper arm. (often used for
infants.)
radial pulse - ANSWER the pulse felt at the wrist. blood pressure is at least
80 systolic.
pedal pulse - ANSWER The pulse rate obtained on the top of the foot.
blood pressure is at least 90-100 systolic
how to take pulse - ANSWER count for 15 sec and multiply beats by 4
Know how to assess an AVPU score - ANSWER A: alert
V: verbal
P: pain (sternal rub)
U: unresponsive
are you okay?
shake gently
gentle sternum rub
no response: unconscious
With Complete Solutions
Know the medical legal responsibilities of an EMR, such as Duty to Act and
Standard of Care. - ANSWER If you are employed by an agency as an
EMR and you are dispatched to the scene of an accident or illness, you
have a duty to act.
you must proceed promptly to the scene and render emergency medical
care within the limits of your training and available equipment.
Failure to respond or render care leaves you and your agency vulnerable to
legal action.
The standard of care is the manner in which you must act or behave
You must meet two criteria:
-You must treat the patient to the best of your ability
-You must provide care that a reasonable, prudent person with similar
training would provide under similar circumstances.
standard of care - ANSWER Written, accepted levels of emergency care
expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or
professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to
unreasonable risk or harm.
scope of practice - ANSWER a set of regulations and ethical considerations
that define the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT's or EMS job
Duty to Act - ANSWER Your legal responsibility to do something in the
case of an emergency
,Abandonment - ANSWER Leaving a patient after care has been initiated
and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or
greater medical training.
Know the levels of patient consent - ANSWER expressed
implied
consent for minors
consent for mentally ill
patients refusal of care
Advanced directives
expressed consent - ANSWER The patient actually lets you know—verbally
or nonverbally—that he or she is willing to accept treatment
The patient must be of legal age and able to make a rational decision.
implied consent - ANSWER The patient does not specifically refuse
emergency care.
Do not hesitate to treat an unconscious patient.
Consent for minors - ANSWER Under the law, minors are not considered
capable of speaking for themselves.
Emergency treatment must wait until a patient or legal guardian consents to
the treatment.
If permission cannot be quickly obtained, do not hesitate to give
appropriate medical care.
Consent of the Mentally Ill - ANSWER If the person appears to be a threat
to self or others, place this person under medical care.
Know your state's legal mechanisms for handling these patients.
Do not hesitate to involve law enforcement agencies.
living will - ANSWER A document that indicates what medical intervention
an individual wants if he or she becomes incapable of expressing those
wishes.
DNR (do not resuscitate) - ANSWER an order that tells medical
professionals not to perform CPR
refusal of care - ANSWER An unwillingness to receive first aid or medical
treatment expressed by a victim (or the victim's parent
, or guardian) who must give consent.
Know the pulse points and what blood pressure is required for them to be
palpated - ANSWER carotid 60mm Hg
femoral 70mm Hg
radial 80mm Hg
pedal 90-100mm Hg
systolic pressures
Remember head to toes in anatomic position
carotid pulse - ANSWER the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on
either side of the neck. Blood pressure is at least 60 systolic
femoral pulse - ANSWER Pulse felt on either side of the groin; Femoral
artery. blood pressure is at least 70 systolic.
brachial pulse - ANSWER the pulse felt in the upper arm. (often used for
infants.)
radial pulse - ANSWER the pulse felt at the wrist. blood pressure is at least
80 systolic.
pedal pulse - ANSWER The pulse rate obtained on the top of the foot.
blood pressure is at least 90-100 systolic
how to take pulse - ANSWER count for 15 sec and multiply beats by 4
Know how to assess an AVPU score - ANSWER A: alert
V: verbal
P: pain (sternal rub)
U: unresponsive
are you okay?
shake gently
gentle sternum rub
no response: unconscious
