NREMT Special Populations & Pediatric Care 2

Question 1

When assessing an elderly patient who has fallen, which of the following should the EMT consider in addition to the injury sustained?

Accepted Answer

Underlying causes of the fall such as syncope, arrhythmia, or TIA that may represent a serious medical problem

Answer

Falls in the elderly are often symptomatic of an underlying medical cause (syncope from cardiac arrhythmia, hypotension, TIA, etc.). Treating only the injury without investigating the cause misses potentially life-threatening conditions.

Question 2

A bariatric (obese) patient requires CPR. Which consideration is most important for effective chest compressions?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring compression depth is sufficient despite the increased chest wall thickness, and considering two-hand stacking technique

Answer

Obese patients may require more force to achieve the required 2-2.4 inch compression depth due to increased chest wall thickness. Two-hand stacking or using body weight may be necessary. Compression rate is 100-120/min for all adults.

Question 3

An EMT encounters a patient who is deaf and cannot communicate verbally. The best approach to communication is:

Accepted Answer

Use a communication board, writing, gestures, or request an ASL interpreter via phone/video

Answer

Alternative communication strategies — writing, communication boards, gestures, or remote ASL interpretation via video — allow effective assessment of deaf patients. Shouting into the ear is ineffective for patients who are deaf.

Question 4

When caring for a patient with an intellectual disability, the EMT should:

Accepted Answer

Speak directly to the patient using clear, simple language at an appropriate level, involve caregivers as supplemental resources

Answer

Patients with intellectual disabilities have varying levels of understanding. The EMT should speak directly to the patient in simple, clear language, observe their responses, and use caregivers to supplement the history. Never assume no comprehension.

Question 5

Compared to younger adults, elderly patients are more susceptible to hypothermia because:

Accepted Answer

They have decreased thermoregulatory ability, less subcutaneous fat, reduced metabolic rate, and often take medications that impair heat conservation

Answer

Aging reduces thermoregulatory effectiveness through multiple mechanisms: decreased muscle mass (less heat generation), thinning subcutaneous fat (less insulation), impaired vasoconstriction response, reduced metabolic rate, and medications that affect temperature regulation.

NREMT Practice Test

NREMT Practice Test

NREMT Special Populations & Pediatric Care 2