Emergency Medical Services Flashcards
7 cards from real FDNY practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Emergency Medical Services flashcards as text
When assessing a patient in anaphylactic shock, which sign indicates the most immediate airway threat?
Answer: Stridor and hoarseness
Stridor and hoarseness indicate laryngeal edema, signaling imminent airway obstruction that requires immediate epinephrine and airway management.
An FDNY EMS unit arrives at a scene where a patient was struck by lightning. The FIRST action after ensuring scene safety is to:
Answer: Begin CPR if the patient is pulseless
Lightning strike victims carry no residual electrical charge, so immediate CPR should be initiated if the patient is in cardiac arrest.
A patient presents with pinpoint pupils, decreased respiratory rate of 6 breaths/min, and unresponsiveness. The MOST appropriate initial intervention is:
Answer: Administer naloxone intranasally or IM
The classic opioid toxidrome — pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, and altered consciousness — requires naloxone to reverse the overdose.
During a multiple-casualty incident, a patient is found apneic. After repositioning the airway, the patient remains apneic. Under START triage, this patient is categorized as:
Answer: Expectant/Deceased (Black)
Under START triage, a patient who remains apneic after one airway repositioning attempt is tagged Black (expectant/deceased) to prioritize resources for salvageable victims.
Which of the following best describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?
Answer: Organized ECG rhythm with no palpable pulse
PEA is defined as an organized cardiac rhythm on the monitor in the absence of a palpable pulse, requiring CPR and treatment of reversible causes.
A construction worker fell 20 feet and is conscious, alert, and complaining of neck pain. The MOST appropriate spinal motion restriction method is:
Answer: Manual in-line stabilization, cervical collar, and long backboard
A significant mechanism with neck pain warrants manual in-line stabilization, a rigid cervical collar, and long backboard for full spinal motion restriction.
When administering activated charcoal, which condition is an ABSOLUTE contraindication?
Answer: Patient with an unprotected airway or altered mental status
Activated charcoal must never be given to a patient with an unprotected airway or altered mental status due to the high risk of aspiration.