AEMCA Patient Assessment and Triage 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the purpose of the scene size-up in patient assessment?
- Identify hazards, determine mechanism of injury, and estimate number of patients (Correct answer)
- Perform a head-to-toe physical examination
- Obtain the patient's medical history
- Administer initial treatment for life threats
Correct answer: Identify hazards, determine mechanism of injury, and estimate number of patients
The scene size-up establishes scene safety, identifies the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, and determines how many patients require care.
Question 2: A patient is alert and oriented to person, place, and time but not to event. Using the AVPU scale, this patient would be classified as:
- Alert (A) (Correct answer)
- Verbal (V)
- Painful (P)
- Unresponsive (U)
Correct answer: Alert (A)
A patient who is alert and oriented, even partially, is classified as 'A' (Alert) on the AVPU scale.
Question 3: In mass casualty triage, a patient with a radial pulse, normal respirations, and who can follow commands should be tagged:
- Delayed (Yellow) (Correct answer)
- Immediate (Red)
- Minor (Green)
- Expectant (Black)
Correct answer: Delayed (Yellow)
A patient with a radial pulse present, normal respirations, and ability to follow commands in START triage is classified as Delayed (Yellow).
Question 4: When assessing skin color, temperature, and condition (CTC) in a patient, pale, cool, and diaphoretic skin most likely indicates:
- Shock or hypoperfusion (Correct answer)
- Fever or hyperthermia
- Allergic reaction with vasodilation
- Hyperglycemia
Correct answer: Shock or hypoperfusion
Pale, cool, diaphoretic skin is the classic presentation of sympathetic activation in shock, indicating hypoperfusion.
Question 5: The OPQRST mnemonic is used during patient assessment primarily to:
- Characterize a patient's chief complaint, especially pain (Correct answer)
- Assess level of consciousness
- Document vital signs in order
- Evaluate respiratory status
Correct answer: Characterize a patient's chief complaint, especially pain
OPQRST (Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time) is used to fully characterize the patient's pain or chief complaint.
Question 6: During a focused assessment of a patient complaining of chest pain, the AEMCA should evaluate for paradoxical chest wall movement, which indicates:
- Flail chest from multiple rib fractures (Correct answer)
- Normal diaphragmatic breathing
- Effective positive pressure ventilation
- Mild musculoskeletal chest wall strain
Correct answer: Flail chest from multiple rib fractures
Paradoxical movement (inward motion during inhalation) of a chest wall segment indicates a flail chest caused by multiple consecutive rib fractures.
Question 7: When documenting a patient's mental status using the AVPU scale in the field, 'V' indicates the patient:
- Responds only to verbal stimulation (Correct answer)
- Is fully verbal and oriented
- Has a normal voice with clear speech
- Requires verbal commands for all actions
Correct answer: Responds only to verbal stimulation
'V' on the AVPU scale means the patient responds to verbal stimulation but is not spontaneously alert.
AEMCA Patient Assessment and Triage 3
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the scene size-up in patient assessment?