EMD Cardiovascular & Respiratory Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A caller reports a 58-year-old male who is unconscious and not breathing normally. Per EMD protocol, what is the FIRST instruction you should give?
- Tell the caller to hang up and call 9-1-1 again
- Ask the caller to check for a pulse before doing anything
- Tell the caller to lay the patient flat on their back on a hard surface (Correct answer)
- Instruct the caller to begin rescue breathing immediately
Correct answer: Tell the caller to lay the patient flat on their back on a hard surface
Positioning the patient supine on a hard surface is the first step to facilitate effective CPR compressions.
Question 2: In the MPDS cardiac arrest protocol, after positioning the patient, what compression rate should the EMD instruct the bystander to perform?
- 60–80 compressions per minute
- 80–100 compressions per minute
- 100–120 compressions per minute (Correct answer)
- 120–140 compressions per minute
Correct answer: 100–120 compressions per minute
Current AHA guidelines and EMD protocols specify 100–120 compressions per minute for optimal perfusion during CPR.
Question 3: A caller describes a patient with chest pain who is conscious and breathing. Which EMD protocol key question helps differentiate cardiac from non-cardiac origin?
- Is the pain sharp or dull?
- Did the pain begin during physical exertion or at rest? (Correct answer)
- Is the patient sweating or pale?
- Does the patient have a history of asthma?
Correct answer: Did the pain begin during physical exertion or at rest?
Exertional onset is a classic indicator of ischemic cardiac chest pain, distinguishing it from musculoskeletal or pulmonary causes.
Question 4: When performing telephone CPR, an EMD dispatcher should count compressions aloud primarily to:
- Document compression count for the medical record
- Keep the caller calm and prevent panic
- Help the caller maintain proper rate and rhythm (Correct answer)
- Confirm the patient is receiving adequate ventilation
Correct answer: Help the caller maintain proper rate and rhythm
Counting aloud helps untrained bystanders maintain the correct compression rate and stay focused during a stressful situation.
Question 5: A patient is described as breathing but with gurgling sounds and decreased responsiveness. In EMD respiratory protocols, gurgling most commonly indicates:
- Bronchospasm requiring bronchodilator intervention
- Airway obstruction from fluid or secretions (Correct answer)
- Epiglottitis requiring immediate surgical intervention
- Normal breathing pattern in elderly patients
Correct answer: Airway obstruction from fluid or secretions
Gurgling respirations indicate fluid or secretions in the upper airway, requiring airway positioning and possible suction by responders.
Question 6: For a suspected stroke patient with sudden-onset difficulty breathing, the EMD dispatcher should also screen for stroke using FAST. What does the 'A' in FAST stand for?
- Airway compromise
- Arm weakness (Correct answer)
- Ataxia (balance loss)
- Alertness level
Correct answer: Arm weakness
In the FAST stroke assessment tool, 'A' stands for Arm weakness, where one arm drifts down when both are raised.
Question 7: A caller reports a child found unresponsive in a pool. The EMD protocol for pediatric drowning-related cardiac arrest differs from adult protocol primarily in that:
- Compressions are not recommended for children under 8
- Rescue breaths should be given before compressions if the caller is trained (Correct answer)
- The compression depth is 3 inches for all pediatric patients
- Bystanders should wait for AED before starting CPR
Correct answer: Rescue breaths should be given before compressions if the caller is trained
Pediatric drowning cardiac arrest is typically asphyxial, so ventilation is critical; trained rescuers should deliver 2 rescue breaths before compressions when appropriate.
EMD Cardiovascular & Respiratory Protocols 2
A caller reports a 58-year-old male who is unconscious and not breathing normally.
Per EMD protocol, what is the FIRST instruction you should give?