TPS Emergency Response and Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A security officer witnesses a vehicle collision in the parking lot with an injured driver. Which action is OUTSIDE the scope of a security officer's emergency role?
- Calling 911 immediately
- Performing surgical procedures on the injured driver (Correct answer)
- Keeping bystanders at a safe distance
- Providing first aid within their training level
Correct answer: Performing surgical procedures on the injured driver
Security officers are trained in basic first aid and scene management but must never attempt medical procedures beyond their certified scope of practice.
Question 2: During a mass casualty incident at a large event, a security officer must use basic triage principles. Which victim should receive the LOWEST priority for assistance?
- A person with a broken arm who is walking and talking
- A person who is unconscious but breathing
- A person with a life-threatening arterial bleed
- A person who shows no signs of life after a quick assessment (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A person who shows no signs of life after a quick assessment
In triage, victims with no signs of life are tagged as 'black' (deceased or expectant) and receive lowest priority so resources focus on survivable injuries.
Question 3: A security officer notices a person clutching their chest, sweating profusely, and complaining of pain radiating to the left arm. What is the most likely emergency?
- Stroke
- Seizure
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction) (Correct answer)
- Diabetic emergency
Correct answer: Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
Classic signs of a heart attack include chest pain, sweating, and pain radiating to the left arm or jaw, requiring immediate EMS activation.
Question 4: When documenting an emergency incident, which information is LEAST critical to include in the initial incident report?
- Time and location of the incident
- Names and descriptions of witnesses
- Officer's personal opinion on who is at fault (Correct answer)
- Actions taken by the responding officer
Correct answer: Officer's personal opinion on who is at fault
Incident reports must contain factual, objective information; personal opinions and conclusions about fault should never appear in official security documentation.
Question 5: A security officer is monitoring a crowded concert when they observe a person having a seizure. After calling for EMS, what should the officer do?
- Restrain the person to stop the seizure
- Place something hard in the person's mouth to prevent biting
- Clear the area around the person and protect their head (Correct answer)
- Immediately begin CPR
Correct answer: Clear the area around the person and protect their head
During a seizure, officers should clear the surrounding area of hazards, protect the person's head, and never restrain them or place objects in their mouth.
Question 6: Under Texas law, when is a security officer legally permitted to use a fire extinguisher on a fire?
- Only after receiving direct orders from a fire marshal
- When the fire is small, contained, and they have been trained in extinguisher use (Correct answer)
- At any time, regardless of fire size or training
- Only when a supervisor grants verbal authorization
Correct answer: When the fire is small, contained, and they have been trained in extinguisher use
Security officers may attempt to extinguish a small, contained fire only if they are trained in extinguisher use and can do so without endangering themselves or others.
Question 7: What does the acronym PASS stand for when operating a portable fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Point, Activate, Stand, Spray
- Pull, Alert, Sweep, Stop
- Press, Aim, Squeeze, Spray
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS — Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side — is the standard technique for using a portable fire extinguisher.
TPS Emergency Response and Safety 3
A security officer witnesses a vehicle collision in the parking lot with an injured driver.
Which action is OUTSIDE the scope of a security officer's emergency role?