AEMCA Trivia 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which condition is characterized by paradoxical chest wall movement during breathing after blunt thoracic trauma?
- Open pneumothorax
- Tension pneumothorax
- Flail chest (Correct answer)
- Pulmonary contusion
Correct answer: Flail chest
Flail chest occurs when three or more consecutive ribs are fractured in two places, creating a free-floating segment that moves opposite to the rest of the chest wall.
Question 2: What does the acronym 'OPQRST' stand for in EMS patient assessment?
- Onset, Provocation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Time (Correct answer)
- Origin, Pain, Quality, Response, Severity, Treatment
- Onset, Position, Quality, Radiation, Symptoms, Timing
- Origin, Provocation, Quantity, Region, Symptoms, Type
Correct answer: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Time
OPQRST (Onset, Provocation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Time) is the standard mnemonic for characterizing a patient's chief complaint.
Question 3: Which artery is palpated to assess circulation during adult CPR quality checks?
- Radial artery
- Brachial artery
- Carotid artery (Correct answer)
- Femoral artery
Correct answer: Carotid artery
The carotid artery is used to check for a pulse in adults during CPR because it is accessible and reflects central perfusion.
Question 4: A patient with type 1 diabetes who has missed meals presents with confusion, diaphoresis, and a blood glucose of 40 mg/dL. After oral glucose fails, what is the next intervention?
- Administer 1 mg glucagon IM (Correct answer)
- Administer 100 mg thiamine IV
- Perform a 500 mL NS bolus
- Administer 2 mg naloxone IM
Correct answer: Administer 1 mg glucagon IM
When a hypoglycemic patient cannot protect their airway for oral glucose, 1 mg glucagon IM stimulates hepatic glycogenolysis to raise blood sugar.
Question 5: Which device is used to measure the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen non-invasively in the field?
- Capnograph
- Pulse oximeter (Correct answer)
- Peak flow meter
- Glucometer
Correct answer: Pulse oximeter
A pulse oximeter uses spectrophotometry to measure SpO2 by detecting differences in light absorption between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.
Question 6: What is the proper depth of chest compressions recommended by AHA guidelines for an average adult?
- 1 to 1.5 inches
- At least 2 inches (5 cm), no more than 2.4 inches (Correct answer)
- 2.5 to 3 inches
- At least 3 inches
Correct answer: At least 2 inches (5 cm), no more than 2.4 inches
AHA guidelines specify at least 2 inches but no more than 2.4 inches to optimize perfusion pressure without causing injury.
Question 7: Which metabolic condition causes Kussmaul respirations as a compensatory mechanism?
- Respiratory alkalosis
- Metabolic alkalosis
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (Correct answer)
- Hypercapnic respiratory failure
Correct answer: Diabetic ketoacidosis
In diabetic ketoacidosis, the body compensates for metabolic acidosis by hyperventilating (Kussmaul breathing) to blow off CO2.
AEMCA Trivia 5
Which condition is characterized by paradoxical chest wall movement during breathing after blunt thoracic trauma?