AEMCA Trivia 2

Question 1

Which nerve, when compressed during a diabetic emergency, can cause the patient to present with foot drop?

Accepted Answer

Common peroneal nerve

Answer

The common peroneal nerve wraps around the fibular head and is vulnerable to compression, causing foot drop.

Question 2

The term 'Beck's triad' is associated with which life-threatening emergency?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac tamponade

Answer

Beck's triad — hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular venous distension — classically indicates cardiac tamponade.

Question 3

What is the approximate volume of blood in the average adult human body?

Accepted Answer

5 liters

Answer

The average adult has approximately 5 liters (about 70 mL/kg) of circulating blood volume.

Question 4

Which EMS term describes the phenomenon where a patient's vital signs temporarily improve after a large fluid bolus but then deteriorate again?

Accepted Answer

Transient responder

Answer

A 'transient responder' is a patient whose vitals briefly improve with fluid resuscitation but then worsen, suggesting ongoing hemorrhage.

Question 5

In pediatric patients, the Parkland formula for burn fluid resuscitation uses which weight-based calculation?

Accepted Answer

4 mL × kg × %BSA burned

Answer

The Parkland formula is 4 mL × kg × %BSA burned, with half given in the first 8 hours and half over the next 16 hours.

AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Practice Test