GAMSAT Emergency Response Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the span of control for a supervisor during an emergency operation should ideally be:
- 1–3 personnel
- 3–7 personnel (Correct answer)
- 8–12 personnel
- 10–20 personnel
Correct answer: 3–7 personnel
NIMS recommends a span of control between 3 and 7 subordinates, with 5 being optimal, to maintain effective supervision.
Question 2: A patient rescued from a house fire has singed nasal hairs, hoarseness, and soot in the oropharynx. The most critical immediate intervention is:
- Nebulized bronchodilator
- High-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask
- Early intubation before airway edema progresses (Correct answer)
- IV corticosteroids
Correct answer: Early intubation before airway edema progresses
Signs of inhalation injury predict rapid airway edema; early intubation secures the airway before swelling makes it impossible.
Question 3: During a hazardous materials incident, the 'hot zone' is defined as the area where:
- Decontamination takes place
- Command post is established
- Direct contamination exists and only PPE-equipped responders enter (Correct answer)
- Victims are treated after decontamination
Correct answer: Direct contamination exists and only PPE-equipped responders enter
The hot zone is the area of direct hazardous material contamination; access is restricted to fully protected responders.
Question 4: A child is found unresponsive and not breathing after a near-drowning event. After calling for help, the rescuer should next:
- Begin chest compressions immediately
- Give 5 rescue breaths before starting compressions (Correct answer)
- Apply an AED
- Perform abdominal thrusts
Correct answer: Give 5 rescue breaths before starting compressions
Pediatric drowning arrest is typically hypoxic; current guidelines recommend 5 rescue breaths before compressions for pediatric victims.
Question 5: The 'golden hour' concept in trauma management refers to the critical window during which:
- Surgical hemostasis should be achieved to improve survival (Correct answer)
- All imaging must be completed
- CPR is most effective
- Antibiotics must be administered
Correct answer: Surgical hemostasis should be achieved to improve survival
The golden hour emphasizes that definitive surgical hemorrhage control within the first hour dramatically improves survival in severe trauma.
Question 6: When managing a tension pneumothorax in a pre-hospital setting, needle decompression is performed at which landmark?
- 5th intercostal space, mid-axillary line
- 2nd intercostal space, mid-clavicular line (Correct answer)
- 3rd intercostal space, sternal border
- 4th intercostal space, anterior axillary line
Correct answer: 2nd intercostal space, mid-clavicular line
Needle decompression is performed at the 2nd intercostal space, mid-clavicular line, superior to the 3rd rib to avoid the neurovascular bundle.
Question 7: A hospital's emergency operations plan should be reviewed and updated at minimum:
- Every 5 years
- After every emergency event and at least annually (Correct answer)
- Only after a major disaster
- Every 2 years
Correct answer: After every emergency event and at least annually
The Joint Commission requires hospitals to review and update emergency operations plans after exercises, actual events, and at least annually.
GAMSAT Emergency Response Procedures 3
Under the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the span of control for a supervisor during an emergency operation should ideally be: