EMR Care 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is found in a cold environment, shivering violently, with slurred speech and confusion. Which stage of hypothermia does this represent?
- Mild hypothermia
- Moderate hypothermia (Correct answer)
- Severe hypothermia
- Superficial frostbite
Correct answer: Moderate hypothermia
Moderate hypothermia is characterized by shivering, slurred speech, confusion, and poor coordination as core body temperature drops further.
Question 2: You are treating a patient with a suspected spinal injury who needs to be moved. Which technique is correct?
- Use a rapid extraction technique since speed is priority
- Apply manual in-line stabilization and use a long backboard with straps (Correct answer)
- Allow the patient to move themselves to minimize pain
- Roll the patient onto their side and slide them onto a stretcher
Correct answer: Apply manual in-line stabilization and use a long backboard with straps
Manual in-line stabilization with a long backboard and proper strapping is the standard technique for moving a patient with a suspected spinal injury.
Question 3: An infant is not breathing. After opening the airway, what is the correct ventilation technique?
- Use a bag-valve mask at the same rate as adults
- Cover both the mouth and nose with your mouth and deliver gentle puffs (Correct answer)
- Use only nose-pinching technique as with adults
- Tilt the head back fully and deliver full breaths
Correct answer: Cover both the mouth and nose with your mouth and deliver gentle puffs
For infants, the rescuer covers both the nose and mouth to create a seal and delivers gentle puffs just enough to see chest rise.
Question 4: A patient with chest pain rates it 8/10. Nitroglycerin is in the patient's possession. Under what condition may an EMR assist with nitroglycerin administration?
- Any time the patient requests it
- If authorized by medical direction and the patient's systolic BP is above 90 mmHg (Correct answer)
- Only if the patient has taken it before with success
- If the pain has lasted more than 30 minutes
Correct answer: If authorized by medical direction and the patient's systolic BP is above 90 mmHg
EMRs may assist with a patient's prescribed nitroglycerin only when authorized by medical direction and when the systolic BP is at least 90 mmHg to avoid dangerous hypotension.
Question 5: You respond to a patient who is having difficulty breathing and has a history of asthma. The patient has a prescribed inhaler. What must you confirm before assisting with the inhaler?
- The patient is over 18 years old
- The inhaler is prescribed to the patient and medical direction authorizes it (Correct answer)
- The inhaler has been used at least once before
- The patient does not have a fever
Correct answer: The inhaler is prescribed to the patient and medical direction authorizes it
EMRs must confirm the medication belongs to the patient and receive authorization from medical direction before assisting with any prescribed inhaler.
Question 6: A patient has an impaled object in the eye. What is the appropriate care?
- Remove the object carefully and apply a moist dressing
- Stabilize the object in place and cover both eyes (Correct answer)
- Apply firm pressure over the object to control bleeding
- Rinse the eye with water and transport immediately
Correct answer: Stabilize the object in place and cover both eyes
Impaled objects should never be removed; stabilize them in place and cover both eyes to reduce sympathetic movement that could worsen the injury.
Question 7: When reassessing a stable patient, how often should you repeat your assessment en route to the hospital?
- Every 5 minutes
- Every 10 minutes
- Every 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- Every 20 minutes
Correct answer: Every 15 minutes
Stable patients should be reassessed every 15 minutes during transport to monitor for changes in condition.
EMR Care 5
A patient is found in a cold environment, shivering violently, with slurred speech and confusion.
Which stage of hypothermia does this represent?