AEMCA Patient Assessment and Triage 4

Question 1

Which vital sign finding in an adult trauma patient should most immediately concern the AEMCA regarding hemodynamic instability?

Accepted Answer

Heart rate of 120 bpm with systolic BP of 90 mmHg

Answer

Tachycardia combined with hypotension (systolic <90 mmHg) is a classic sign of decompensated shock requiring immediate intervention.

Question 2

A patient with suspected spinal injury who is found prone should be moved to a supine position using:

Accepted Answer

A log-roll technique with manual spinal stabilization

Answer

The log-roll technique with manual in-line spinal stabilization minimizes movement of the vertebral column when repositioning a patient with suspected spinal injury.

Question 3

The primary purpose of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) during patient assessment is to:

Accepted Answer

Rapidly identify signs of stroke using facial droop, arm drift, and speech

Answer

The CPSS uses three findings — facial droop, arm drift, and abnormal speech — to rapidly identify stroke in the prehospital setting.

Question 4

In pediatric patients, which of the following is the MOST reliable early indicator of shock?

Accepted Answer

Tachycardia

Answer

Children compensate well and maintain blood pressure until late in shock; tachycardia is the earliest and most reliable indicator of hypovolemia in pediatric patients.

Question 5

When assessing a patient's pupils during the neurological examination, anisocoria refers to:

Accepted Answer

Unequal pupil sizes

Answer

Anisocoria is the term for unequal pupil sizes, which may indicate a unilateral intracranial lesion or herniation in a trauma patient.

AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Practice Test

AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Practice Test

AEMCA Patient Assessment and Triage 4