Emergency Medical Response Flashcards

An officer arrives at a medical call and finds a person lying on the ground. The person's eyes are closed and they do not respond when the officer asks, 'Are you okay?' However, the person groans and moves slightly when the officer performs a sternal rub. According to the AVPU scale, how should this person's level of consciousness be classified?

Answer: Painful

The AVPU scale is a tool for assessing a patient's level of consciousness. 'A' stands for Alert, 'V' for Verbal (responds to voice), 'P' for Painful (responds only to painful stimuli), and 'U' for Unresponsive. Since the individual only responded to a painful stimulus (sternal rub), they are classified as 'Painful'.

An officer is first on scene at an industrial accident where a worker has a severe, spurting arterial bleed from their forearm. The officer's initial attempt to control the bleeding with direct pressure is unsuccessful. What is the most appropriate next action?

Answer: Apply a tourniquet 2-3 inches above the wound, proximal to the injury.

For life-threatening extremity hemorrhage that is not controlled by direct pressure, the immediate application of a tourniquet is the standard of care. The tourniquet should be placed 'high and tight' or 2-3 inches above the wound, closer to the torso, and never on a joint.

Which of the following is a key assessment in the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale, commonly remembered by the acronym FAST?

Answer: Assessing for arm drift by having the person hold both arms out.

The FAST acronym for stroke assessment stands for Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. The 'Arms' component involves checking for unilateral weakness by asking the person to close their eyes and hold both arms out for 10 seconds. A positive sign is one arm drifting downward compared to the other.

An officer is rendering aid to a victim of a car crash who is conscious but exhibits pale, cool, and clammy skin, a rapid, weak pulse, and confusion. The officer suspects the victim is in shock. Which of the following is a critical initial step in managing this patient while awaiting EMS?

Answer: Lay the victim flat on their back and cover them to prevent heat loss.

The signs indicate the patient is likely in hypovolemic shock. Key first aid steps include controlling any external bleeding, having the patient lie supine (flat on their back), and preventing hypothermia by covering them with a blanket or coat. Preventing heat loss is critical as being cold can worsen the shock state.

An officer finds an adult victim of a fall who is unconscious and has a life-threatening head injury. The officer begins to provide emergency medical care. The legal principle that allows the officer to treat this patient without their direct permission is known as:

Answer: Implied Consent

Implied consent is a legal doctrine that applies in an emergency when a patient is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to grant consent for treatment. The law assumes that a reasonable person would consent to life-saving care if they were able.

When an officer is preparing to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on a patient in cardiac arrest, what is the most critical safety instruction to give to others at the scene immediately before pushing the 'shock' button?

Answer: "Everybody stand clear!"

The AED delivers a powerful electrical shock. For the safety of all rescuers and bystanders, it is imperative that no one is touching the patient when the shock is delivered. The operator must loudly and clearly state a command like "Clear!" and perform a visual check to ensure everyone is clear of the patient before pressing the shock button.