EMS Operations and Scene Management Flashcards
6 cards from real AEMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 EMS Operations and Scene Management flashcards as text
The START triage system classifies patients into four categories. Which color tag indicates immediate life-threatening injuries that are survivable with rapid intervention?
Answer: Red (Immediate)
Red tags in START triage identify patients with critical but survivable injuries who require immediate treatment to prevent death.
During a mass-casualty incident (MCI), which patient is assigned a BLACK tag under START triage?
Answer: Patients with apnea that persists after one attempt to open the airway
In START, a patient who remains apneic after one attempt to open the airway is tagged black (expectant/deceased) because resuscitation resources must be allocated to savable patients.
The Incident Command System (ICS) principle of 'span of control' recommends that one supervisor oversee no more than:
Answer: 5–7 subordinates
ICS recommends a span of control of 3–7 subordinates per supervisor, with 5 as the optimal number to maintain effective oversight.
Upon arriving at a scene with downed power lines across a vehicle, you should:
Answer: Stage at a safe distance, keep bystanders back, and wait for the utility company to de-energize the lines
Downed power lines must be treated as energized until utility personnel confirm they are de-energized; approach creates lethal electrocution risk.
Which of the following is the CORRECT order of the AEMT's scene size-up?
Answer: Scene safety → BSI/standard precautions → mechanism/nature of illness → number of patients → additional resources
Scene size-up begins with ensuring safety first, then donning BSI precautions, assessing MOI/NOI, counting patients, and calling for additional resources as needed.
When documenting a patient's refusal of care, which of the following is ESSENTIAL to include in the PCR?
Answer: Documentation that the patient was informed of the risks of refusal, demonstrated decision-making capacity, and signed a refusal form
A legally defensible refusal of care requires documenting patient capacity, information given about risks, the offer to return, and a signed refusal witnessed by a bystander or crew member.