EMD - Emergency Medical Dispatch Dispatch Life Support Instructions Questions and Answers

Question 1

A caller reports a 3-year-old child is choking on a small toy. The child is conscious but not making any sounds and appears to be turning blue. According to Dispatch Life Support (DLS) protocols, which set of instructions is most appropriate for the EMD to provide?

Accepted Answer

Instructions for a combination of back blows and chest thrusts.

Answer

For a conscious choking infant or small child, standard DLS protocols, reflecting guidelines from organizations like the American Red Cross, recommend a 'five-and-five' approach. This involves administering five firm back blows between the shoulder blades followed by five chest thrusts. Adult abdominal thrusts are not recommended for small children due to the risk of internal injury. Blind finger sweeps are dangerous as they can push the object further down the airway. Chest compressions are for patients who are unconscious and not breathing.

Question 2

Which of the following best distinguishes Pre-Arrival Instructions (PAIs) from Post-Dispatch Instructions (PDIs)?

Accepted Answer

PAIs are for life-threatening emergencies like choking or cardiac arrest, while PDIs are general safety instructions for most chief complaints.

Answer

Pre-Arrival Instructions (PAIs) are specific, scripted instructions for managing immediate, life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, choking, and childbirth before responders arrive. Post-Dispatch Instructions (PDIs) are more general, cautionary instructions given after dispatch for a wide range of chief complaints to ensure scene safety and provide basic care until help arrives.

Question 3

An EMD is providing CPR instructions to a caller for an adult patient in cardiac arrest. The caller is untrained and hesitant to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilations. What is the EMD's best course of action based on current DLS standards?

Accepted Answer

Instruct the caller to perform chest compressions only.

Answer

Current international consensus guidelines and recommendations support providing chest-compressions-only CPR instructions (CCOIs) when a bystander is untrained, unwilling, or unable to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilations. This approach simplifies instructions and encourages immediate intervention, which is critical for survival.

Question 4

During a call for an imminent childbirth, the caller, who is with the mother, exclaims that the baby's head is crowning. Which of the following is a critical instruction the EMD must provide from the scripted protocol?

Accepted Answer

Instruct the caller to support the baby's head and tell the mother to pant and take short, quick breaths.

Answer

Childbirth protocols guide the EMD to provide specific, step-by-step instructions. A key instruction when the baby is crowning is to have the caller support the emerging head without pulling and to coach the mother to pant through the contraction rather than pushing forcefully. This helps prevent tearing and allows for a more controlled delivery. Pulling on the baby or rushing to cut the cord are dangerous and not part of DLS instructions.

Question 5

The 'Emergency Rule' in emergency medical dispatch allows for the suspension of certain DLS instructions under specific circumstances. However, this rule NEVER applies to which set of critical events?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest, Choking, and Childbirth.

Answer

The Emergency Rule may be enacted during situations of extreme over-capacity, such as a mass casualty incident, allowing an EMD to suspend certain PAIs or PDIs. However, protocols explicitly state that this rule does not apply to situations where life-saving instructions are necessary, which are defined as cardiac/respiratory arrest, choking, and childbirth. For these calls, the EMD must stay on the line and provide instructions.

(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test

(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test

EMD - Emergency Medical Dispatch Dispatch Life Support Instructions Questions and Answers