AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Patient Assessment and Triage Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a multi-casualty incident, you are using the START triage system. You encounter an adult patient who is breathing at 40 times per minute. What is the correct triage category and immediate next step for this patient?
- Yellow (Delayed), and continue to the next patient.
- Red (Immediate), and move to the next patient. (Correct answer)
- Green (Minor), and instruct the patient to move to the designated area.
- Black (Deceased), and check for a pulse.
Correct answer: Red (Immediate), and move to the next patient.
According to the START triage system, a patient with respirations greater than 30 per minute is categorized as Red (Immediate). [8, 13] The goal of START is rapid assessment and tagging, so after identifying an "Immediate" patient, the rescuer should tag them and move on to the next victim to do the greatest good for the greatest number. [17]
Question 2: A 68-year-old male is found unresponsive. He opens his eyes to painful stimuli, makes incomprehensible sounds, and withdraws his limb from the source of pain. What is his Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score?
- 7
- 10
- 8 (Correct answer)
- 9
Correct answer: 8
The GCS score is calculated by summing the scores from the three categories: Eye Opening (to pain = 2), Verbal Response (incomprehensible sounds = 2), and Motor Response (withdraws from pain = 4). [6, 10] The total score is 2 + 2 + 4 = 8. [1, 5]
Question 3: You are dispatched to a 22-year-old female complaining of a severe allergic reaction after being stung by a bee. She is anxious, has widespread urticaria, and a blood pressure of 88/50 mmHg. According to the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), which level should be assigned?
- Level 3 (Urgent)
- Level 1 (Resuscitation)
- Level 4 (Less Urgent)
- Level 2 (Emergent) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Level 2 (Emergent)
This patient presents with signs of anaphylactic shock (hypotension, urticaria), which is a potential threat to life requiring rapid medical intervention. CTAS Level 2 (Emergent) is appropriate for conditions that are a potential threat to life or limb. [25] Level 1 is reserved for conditions requiring immediate resuscitation, such as cardiac arrest or severe respiratory distress. [12]
Question 4: When performing a primary survey on a trauma patient, which of the following actions is the highest priority after confirming a patent airway?
- Obtaining a SAMPLE history.
- Assessing the adequacy of breathing and ventilation. (Correct answer)
- Performing a detailed neurological exam.
- Controlling minor extremity bleeding.
Correct answer: Assessing the adequacy of breathing and ventilation.
The primary survey follows the systematic <C>ABCDE approach to identify and manage immediate life threats. [11, 21, 23] After ensuring the airway ('A') is patent, the next critical step is to assess breathing ('B') and provide interventions like oxygenation or ventilation if needed. [24] The other actions are part of the secondary survey or are of lower priority.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key component of the 'L' in the SAMPLE history mnemonic?
- Level of consciousness.
- Lacerations and contusions.
- Last oral intake. (Correct answer)
- Location of the pain.
Correct answer: Last oral intake.
The SAMPLE history mnemonic stands for Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past pertinent medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading up to the illness/injury. [2, 14, 15] The 'L' specifically refers to the patient's last meal or drink, which is crucial information for anesthesia and assessing certain medical conditions.
Question 6: You are assessing a stable medical patient during a 20-minute transport to the hospital. According to standard protocols, what is the minimum frequency for reassessing their vital signs?
- Every 15 minutes. (Correct answer)
- Only once upon arrival at the hospital.
- Every 5 minutes.
- Only if their condition changes.
Correct answer: Every 15 minutes.
Standard practice dictates that a stable patient should be reassessed at least every 15 minutes. An unstable patient requires more frequent reassessment, typically every 5 minutes. The purpose of ongoing reassessment is to detect any changes in the patient's condition, ensuring timely intervention if they deteriorate.
AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Patient Assessment and Triage Questions and Answers
During a multi-casualty incident, you are using the START triage system.
You encounter an adult patient who is breathing at 40 times per minute.
What is the correct triage category and immediate next step for this patient?