UCLA EMT - EMT Operations Exam
Study Guide
List some medical conditions or pathogens which would make the EMT don an N95
mask. - Answers -Airborne communicable disease droplets (coughing, sneezing,
spewing) or pathogens like tuberculosis, COVID, SARS, ebola, and meningitis
List some conditions which would make the EMT don a face shield. - Answers -When
you need to protect your eyes, nose, and mouth from foreign body fluids and any
suspected illnesses that could be transmitted through air particles (blood splatters, child
birth, HAZMAT patient, debris, etc)
Describe the proper handwashing techniques. - Answers -Wash hands for 20 seconds
with warm water and soap, paying attention to fingernails. Wash hands before eating,
before and after using the restroom, and between patients.
List the criteria for not providing any interventions or CPR in a patient. - Answers -rigor
mortis (stiffening of the body after death), dependent lividity (discoloration of skin at
lowest point caused by pooling of blood), putrefaction (decomposition of body tissues),
non survivable injury (i.e. decapitation, dismemberment, whole body burned beyond
recognition), conscious alert adult with decision making capacity refusing treatment,
properly filled DNR is presented
Define a Do Not Resuscitate Order, who might have one, and how it impacts the care
provided by an EMT. - Answers -advanced directive that allows you to not attempt
resuscitation, people with terminal illness or older patients may have a DNR, should
provide care but should not try to resuscitate if they go into cardiac arrest, surrogate for
decisions is health care proxies
Describe when an EMT would not follow the direction provided by a Do Not Resuscitate
Order. - Answers -if it goes against local laws, if it isn't properly filled out (i.e. signature
missing), if the guardian or person themselves change their minds, if the form isn't
presented at the time of care
List and define the types of consent. - Answers -Expressed (patient is alert and
oriented, can be verbal or nonverbal), Implied (unconscious or unable to make their own
decision [do what's best for the patient]), Involuntary (someone who has a mental illness
or behavior illness, consent can come from guardian)
, List the steps in preparing for your shift and describe your responsibilities as an EMT. -
Answers -Deliver excellent patient care while endangering self or partner (don't become
another patient). Good nutrition, exercise, relaxation, sleep, disease prevention, work-
life balance, have someone to talk to about work, don't put your own illness to the side
(get things checked out mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually). Be
professional (attire and when talking). Upon arrival to station, check out the ambulance
to clear it for service (gas, oil, battery, etc.) (medical supplies all in stock)
Describe the safe driving habits while responding in an ambulance with lights and
sirens. - Answers -Select the shortest least congested route, know alternative routes to
hospitals, avoid one-way streets (and going against the flow of traffic there), watch for
bystanders near the scene, park in a "cold zone" on scene, try to park in front of the
accident and turn headlights and front warning lights off but keep the side ones on, drive
within the speed limit, always drive defensively, maintain safe following distance ("4-
second rule"), assume other drivers will not hear the siren or see your emergency lights,
always exercise due regard, stop at intersections (fully at red lights before running it),
turn sirens off when there are cars in front of you at a red light, keep 500 ft from other
responding vehicles and use a different siren, pedestrians have right of way, ALWAYS
stop when the lights of a school bus are blinking as children may run out of nowhere,
always stop at train tracks (train always wins)
Explain the process of approaching a school bus in an ambulance with lights and sirens.
- Answers -Even emergency vehicles are not allowed to pass school buses that are
stopped with blinking lights or with the "stop arm" out. Vehicle should stop, turn off lights
and siren, and wait until the school bus lights are off and it is clear that the children are
secured.
Describe the type of patient who would benefit from helicopter transport. - Answers -
Patients with time dependent injuries and illnesses (stroke, heart attack, spinal cord
injury, scuba diving incidents, near drowning, skiing, wilderness accidents, trauma
patients who have limbs that need reattachment [limbs are only viable for so long], burn
center, hyperbolic chamber) (DO NOT use for cardiac arrest because you cannot do
CPR in the helicopter), patients in critical condition, patients who had long extrication
times, patients in remote locations, when road traffic or environmental conditions cause
road ambulance time to hospital to be too long for patient's condition
List techniques to improve radio communication. - Answers -Organize what you're going
to say before you push the transmit button, have an accurate patient report, wait 2-3
seconds before talking, have a clear and calm voice, keep it brief and use "plain speak"
(no codes or slang), do not provide diagnosis, don't talk about private patient data (just
identify with age and sex), keep the mic an inch away from your face so that you drown
out other noises
List the components which are assessed during scene size up. - Answers -Start scene
size up when you get the dispatch call, determine whether it is safe to proceed, see if
additional resources are needed, PENMAN (P: personal, partner, and patient safety)
Study Guide
List some medical conditions or pathogens which would make the EMT don an N95
mask. - Answers -Airborne communicable disease droplets (coughing, sneezing,
spewing) or pathogens like tuberculosis, COVID, SARS, ebola, and meningitis
List some conditions which would make the EMT don a face shield. - Answers -When
you need to protect your eyes, nose, and mouth from foreign body fluids and any
suspected illnesses that could be transmitted through air particles (blood splatters, child
birth, HAZMAT patient, debris, etc)
Describe the proper handwashing techniques. - Answers -Wash hands for 20 seconds
with warm water and soap, paying attention to fingernails. Wash hands before eating,
before and after using the restroom, and between patients.
List the criteria for not providing any interventions or CPR in a patient. - Answers -rigor
mortis (stiffening of the body after death), dependent lividity (discoloration of skin at
lowest point caused by pooling of blood), putrefaction (decomposition of body tissues),
non survivable injury (i.e. decapitation, dismemberment, whole body burned beyond
recognition), conscious alert adult with decision making capacity refusing treatment,
properly filled DNR is presented
Define a Do Not Resuscitate Order, who might have one, and how it impacts the care
provided by an EMT. - Answers -advanced directive that allows you to not attempt
resuscitation, people with terminal illness or older patients may have a DNR, should
provide care but should not try to resuscitate if they go into cardiac arrest, surrogate for
decisions is health care proxies
Describe when an EMT would not follow the direction provided by a Do Not Resuscitate
Order. - Answers -if it goes against local laws, if it isn't properly filled out (i.e. signature
missing), if the guardian or person themselves change their minds, if the form isn't
presented at the time of care
List and define the types of consent. - Answers -Expressed (patient is alert and
oriented, can be verbal or nonverbal), Implied (unconscious or unable to make their own
decision [do what's best for the patient]), Involuntary (someone who has a mental illness
or behavior illness, consent can come from guardian)
, List the steps in preparing for your shift and describe your responsibilities as an EMT. -
Answers -Deliver excellent patient care while endangering self or partner (don't become
another patient). Good nutrition, exercise, relaxation, sleep, disease prevention, work-
life balance, have someone to talk to about work, don't put your own illness to the side
(get things checked out mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually). Be
professional (attire and when talking). Upon arrival to station, check out the ambulance
to clear it for service (gas, oil, battery, etc.) (medical supplies all in stock)
Describe the safe driving habits while responding in an ambulance with lights and
sirens. - Answers -Select the shortest least congested route, know alternative routes to
hospitals, avoid one-way streets (and going against the flow of traffic there), watch for
bystanders near the scene, park in a "cold zone" on scene, try to park in front of the
accident and turn headlights and front warning lights off but keep the side ones on, drive
within the speed limit, always drive defensively, maintain safe following distance ("4-
second rule"), assume other drivers will not hear the siren or see your emergency lights,
always exercise due regard, stop at intersections (fully at red lights before running it),
turn sirens off when there are cars in front of you at a red light, keep 500 ft from other
responding vehicles and use a different siren, pedestrians have right of way, ALWAYS
stop when the lights of a school bus are blinking as children may run out of nowhere,
always stop at train tracks (train always wins)
Explain the process of approaching a school bus in an ambulance with lights and sirens.
- Answers -Even emergency vehicles are not allowed to pass school buses that are
stopped with blinking lights or with the "stop arm" out. Vehicle should stop, turn off lights
and siren, and wait until the school bus lights are off and it is clear that the children are
secured.
Describe the type of patient who would benefit from helicopter transport. - Answers -
Patients with time dependent injuries and illnesses (stroke, heart attack, spinal cord
injury, scuba diving incidents, near drowning, skiing, wilderness accidents, trauma
patients who have limbs that need reattachment [limbs are only viable for so long], burn
center, hyperbolic chamber) (DO NOT use for cardiac arrest because you cannot do
CPR in the helicopter), patients in critical condition, patients who had long extrication
times, patients in remote locations, when road traffic or environmental conditions cause
road ambulance time to hospital to be too long for patient's condition
List techniques to improve radio communication. - Answers -Organize what you're going
to say before you push the transmit button, have an accurate patient report, wait 2-3
seconds before talking, have a clear and calm voice, keep it brief and use "plain speak"
(no codes or slang), do not provide diagnosis, don't talk about private patient data (just
identify with age and sex), keep the mic an inch away from your face so that you drown
out other noises
List the components which are assessed during scene size up. - Answers -Start scene
size up when you get the dispatch call, determine whether it is safe to proceed, see if
additional resources are needed, PENMAN (P: personal, partner, and patient safety)
