EMT Skills and Training 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a patient assessment, when should an EMT perform a rapid trauma assessment?
- On all medical patients first
- When the mechanism of injury suggests serious trauma (Correct answer)
- Only after obtaining vital signs
- When the patient requests it
Correct answer: When the mechanism of injury suggests serious trauma
A rapid trauma assessment is performed when the mechanism of injury suggests the potential for significant injury, such as high-speed MVC or falls from height.
Question 2: What is the proper technique for sizing a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) adjunct?
- Measure from the nose to the earlobe
- Measure from the nose to the earlobe or the corner of the mouth (Correct answer)
- Estimate based on patient weight
- Match the size to the oropharyngeal airway used
Correct answer: Measure from the nose to the earlobe or the corner of the mouth
An NPA is sized by measuring from the tip of the nose to the earlobe or corner of the mouth to ensure proper fit.
Question 3: When packaging a patient with a suspected spinal injury for transport, what position is preferred if the patient is conscious and hemodynamically stable?
- Lateral recumbent (recovery position)
- Supine on a long backboard with manual stabilization (Correct answer)
- Seated in a Kendrick Extrication Device (KED)
- Semi-Fowler's position
Correct answer: Supine on a long backboard with manual stabilization
A supine position on a long backboard with manual in-line stabilization is the standard for suspected spinal injury patients during transport.
Question 4: An EMT arrives on scene of a patient in anaphylaxis. After epinephrine is administered via auto-injector, what is the appropriate injection site?
- Deltoid muscle of the upper arm
- Outer aspect of the mid-thigh (Correct answer)
- Gluteal muscle
- Subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen
Correct answer: Outer aspect of the mid-thigh
Epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPen) are designed for intramuscular injection into the outer aspect of the mid-thigh for fastest absorption.
Question 5: What is the correct flow rate when administering oxygen via nasal cannula?
- 1-6 L/min (Correct answer)
- 10-15 L/min
- 6-10 L/min
- 8-12 L/min
Correct answer: 1-6 L/min
A nasal cannula delivers 24-44% oxygen at flow rates of 1-6 L/min; exceeding 6 L/min does not increase FiO2 and can dry mucous membranes.
Question 6: During a traction splint application for a mid-shaft femur fracture, which of the following is a contraindication?
- Pain in the mid-femur region
- Suspected fracture near the knee or pelvis (Correct answer)
- Shortening or angulation of the limb
- Swelling around the thigh
Correct answer: Suspected fracture near the knee or pelvis
Traction splints are contraindicated when the fracture involves the knee, ankle, or hip/pelvis, as traction can worsen these injuries.
Question 7: When using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device with two rescuers, what is the advantage over one-rescuer BVM ventilation?
- Higher tidal volumes are delivered
- Better mask seal results in more effective ventilation (Correct answer)
- The rate of ventilation is doubled
- Chest compressions are not interrupted
Correct answer: Better mask seal results in more effective ventilation
Two-rescuer BVM technique allows one rescuer to maintain a proper two-handed mask seal while the other squeezes the bag, improving ventilation effectiveness.
EMT Skills and Training 3
During a patient assessment, when should an EMT perform a rapid trauma assessment?