AMCA Emergency Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient reports crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm and jaw. While awaiting EMS, which action is appropriate if the patient is not allergic to aspirin?
- Give 325 mg of acetaminophen
- Administer one adult aspirin (325 mg) or four baby aspirin (81 mg each) (Correct answer)
- Apply a nitroglycerin patch without physician order
- Have the patient walk to improve circulation
Correct answer: Administer one adult aspirin (325 mg) or four baby aspirin (81 mg each)
Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and is a standard intervention for suspected myocardial infarction while awaiting EMS.
Question 2: When a patient is in respiratory distress with suspected asthma, which position is most appropriate?
- Supine (flat on back)
- Trendelenburg (legs elevated)
- High Fowler's (sitting upright 90°) (Correct answer)
- Left lateral recovery position
Correct answer: High Fowler's (sitting upright 90°)
High Fowler's position maximizes lung expansion and eases breathing in patients with respiratory distress.
Question 3: A patient suddenly loses consciousness and has no pulse. The office AED is unavailable. How many compressions per minute should be delivered during CPR?
- 60–80 per minute
- 80–100 per minute
- 100–120 per minute (Correct answer)
- 120–140 per minute
Correct answer: 100–120 per minute
The AHA recommends a compression rate of 100–120 per minute for effective CPR in adults.
Question 4: Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, which of the following is an engineering control?
- Wearing gloves when drawing blood
- Using a sharps disposal container (Correct answer)
- Washing hands after patient contact
- Reporting exposures to a supervisor
Correct answer: Using a sharps disposal container
Sharps disposal containers are engineering controls that physically reduce the risk of needlestick injuries.
Question 5: A patient who was given an injection becomes dizzy, develops hives, and reports throat tightening. After calling for help, what position should the patient be placed in if conscious?
- Prone position
- Supine with legs elevated 12 inches (Correct answer)
- High Fowler's position
- Left lateral position
Correct answer: Supine with legs elevated 12 inches
Elevating the legs in a supine patient improves venous return and helps counteract the hypotension associated with anaphylaxis.
Question 6: In an emergency evacuation, which patients are evacuated FIRST according to standard triage and evacuation protocols?
- Ambulatory patients furthest from the exit
- Non-ambulatory patients nearest to the emergency (Correct answer)
- Patients with the most complex medical conditions
- Staff members and then patients
Correct answer: Non-ambulatory patients nearest to the emergency
Non-ambulatory patients closest to the danger are evacuated first because they cannot move themselves and face the greatest immediate risk.
Question 7: A patient is found unresponsive. After calling 911, you begin CPR. When should the first shock be delivered with an AED?
- After 5 minutes of CPR
- After 2 minutes of CPR
- As soon as the AED is attached and it advises a shock (Correct answer)
- Only after the patient shows no response to CPR for 10 minutes
Correct answer: As soon as the AED is attached and it advises a shock
Early defibrillation is critical; deliver a shock as soon as the AED is ready and advises one, minimizing delays.
AMCA Emergency Protocols 3
A patient reports crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm and jaw.
While awaiting EMS, which action is appropriate if the patient is not allergic to aspirin?