AEMCA Patient Assessment and Triage 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is found unresponsive after a suspected overdose. During the primary assessment, which finding takes highest priority?
- Absent or inadequate respirations requiring ventilatory support (Correct answer)
- Presence of track marks suggesting IV drug use
- Unknown identity of the substance ingested
- Abnormal pupil response
Correct answer: Absent or inadequate respirations requiring ventilatory support
Absent or inadequate breathing is a life threat that must be corrected immediately by opening the airway and providing ventilation.
Question 2: The pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) evaluates a child's condition using which three components?
- Appearance, Work of breathing, Circulation to skin (Correct answer)
- Airway, Breathing, Circulation
- Alertness, Pulse, Temperature
- Activity, Perfusion, Temperature
Correct answer: Appearance, Work of breathing, Circulation to skin
The PAT rapidly evaluates a child by observing Appearance (tone, interactivity, consolability, gaze, speech), Work of Breathing, and Circulation to skin before physical contact.
Question 3: When triaging multiple patients at an MCI, which patient should be tagged Minor (Green) in the START system?
- A patient who is ambulatory, breathing normally, and can follow commands (Correct answer)
- A patient with absent radial pulse but present carotid pulse
- A patient breathing at 32 breaths per minute
- A patient who is unresponsive to painful stimuli
Correct answer: A patient who is ambulatory, breathing normally, and can follow commands
Ambulatory patients who can walk to a designated area are immediately classified as Minor (Green) in the START triage system.
Question 4: During secondary assessment, the AEMCA notes a patient has jugular venous distension (JVD) and absent breath sounds on the left with hypotension. This triad most suggests:
- Tension pneumothorax (Correct answer)
- Cardiac tamponade
- Hemothorax with hemorrhagic shock
- Pulmonary embolism
Correct answer: Tension pneumothorax
JVD + absent unilateral breath sounds + hypotension is the classic triad of tension pneumothorax, requiring immediate needle decompression.
Question 5: A patient's blood pressure is 88/60 mmHg and heart rate is 130 bpm after a stab wound to the abdomen. The AEMCA should prioritize:
- Rapid transport to a trauma center with IV access en route (Correct answer)
- Detailed on-scene secondary assessment before moving the patient
- Administering oral fluids to restore blood pressure
- Applying a tourniquet to the abdomen
Correct answer: Rapid transport to a trauma center with IV access en route
A hemodynamically unstable penetrating trauma patient requires rapid transport ('scoop and run') to a trauma center, with interventions performed en route.
Question 6: When assessing circulation during the primary survey of a trauma patient, capillary refill time greater than 2 seconds in an adult most suggests:
- Peripheral hypoperfusion or shock (Correct answer)
- Normal circulatory status
- Local cold exposure only
- Venous rather than arterial compromise
Correct answer: Peripheral hypoperfusion or shock
Capillary refill >2 seconds in an adult (in a warm environment) indicates impaired peripheral perfusion, consistent with shock.
Question 7: The AEMCA is assessing a patient who is confused and agitated with a history of diabetes. Which component of the secondary assessment is MOST immediately useful to guide treatment?
- Blood glucose measurement (Correct answer)
- 12-lead ECG
- Pulse oximetry reading
- Temperature measurement
Correct answer: Blood glucose measurement
In a diabetic patient with altered mental status, blood glucose measurement directly guides treatment — hypoglycemia is a rapidly reversible and common cause of confusion.
AEMCA Patient Assessment and Triage 5
A patient is found unresponsive after a suspected overdose.
During the primary assessment, which finding takes highest priority?