EMD Neurological Emergency Protocols 3

Question 1

The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) assesses which three clinical components?

Accepted Answer

Facial droop, arm drift, and abnormal speech

Answer

The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale evaluates facial droop, arm drift, and abnormal speech — if any one finding is abnormal, there is a 72% probability of acute stroke.

Question 2

What is the 'postictal state' that EMD dispatchers may encounter during seizure calls?

Accepted Answer

The period of confusion, drowsiness, or weakness immediately after a seizure ends

Answer

The postictal state is the period immediately following a seizure during which the patient may be confused, drowsy, or temporarily weak, which can be mistaken for continued unconsciousness or a new emergency.

Question 3

Why is it important for the EMD dispatcher to ask about medication use when interrogating a caller about a patient with altered mental status?

Accepted Answer

To identify potential overdoses, missed doses, or interactions causing AMS

Answer

Medications are a common and reversible cause of AMS; identifying overdoses, missed antiepileptic doses, or drug interactions can guide response priority and pre-arrival instructions.

Question 4

A caller reports a known diabetic patient who is confused and not responding normally but is conscious and able to swallow. What pre-arrival instruction is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Give the patient orange juice or a sugar source

Answer

If a diabetic patient is conscious and can protect their airway and swallow, giving juice or another glucose source can rapidly reverse hypoglycemia, a common reversible cause of AMS.

Question 5

Which neurological emergency presentation represents the highest dispatch priority in EMD?

Accepted Answer

Patient with sudden onset unresponsiveness and agonal/abnormal breathing

Answer

Sudden unresponsiveness with abnormal or agonal breathing suggests cardiac arrest, brainstem herniation, or status epilepticus — all requiring immediate ALS response at the highest dispatch priority.

(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test

(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test

EMD Neurological Emergency Protocols 3