EMT Exam #2 Review: Chapters 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 & 11

Posted on Sep 13, 2024 in Biology

EMT EXAM #2

Chapters 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

1. What is considered objective information?

Objective information is measurable or verifiable. An example might be the patient’s pulse rate. A sign is objective information.


2. What is a pertinent negative?

Pertinent negatives are signs or symptoms that might be expected, based on the chief complaint, but that the patient denies having.


3. How do you document a patient’s chief complaint?

The chief complaint should be documented in the patient’s own words or, if the patient is unresponsive, in the words of a bystander.


4. How do you document information given to you by someone other than the patient?

Document information from family, bystanders, or others, in their own words.


5. What section of the SOAP note represents treatment you have provided?

The Plan section of the SOAP note represents the treatment provided.


6. What is an open-ended question?

Open-ended questions allow the patient to give detailed answers in their own words.


7. What role does the FCC play in EMS?

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has several roles in EMS, including:

  • Assigning radio call signs
  • Approving equipment for use
  • Assigning radio frequencies
  • Monitoring field operations


8. Why are all EMS radio transmissions recorded?

Recording transmissions helps to:

  • Limit interference with emergency radio broadcasts
  • Bar the use of obscenity and profanity in broadcasts


9. What are the advantages of using closed-ended questions?

Closed-ended questions call for specific information from the patient, often with a yes or no answer.


10. Define Supine/Prone and Medial/Lateral when describing a patient’s position.

Supine: The patient is lying face up on their back.

Prone: The patient is lying face down on their stomach.


11. Define lateral recumbent position.

In the lateral recumbent position, the patient is lying on their left or right side.


12. Where is smooth or involuntary muscle found in the body?

Smooth, or involuntary, muscle is found in the walls of tube-like organs, ducts, the respiratory tract, and blood vessels. It also forms much of the walls of the intestines and urinary system.


13. What are the basic functions of the respiratory system?

The basic functions of the respiratory system are:

  • Respiration
  • Ventilation
  • Oxygenation
  • Maintaining pH balance (acting as a buffer)


14. Describe the mechanics of ventilation.

Ventilation is the mechanical process by which air is moved in and out of the lungs.


15. Define distal and proximal in relation to two named body parts.

Proximal: Closer to the center of the body (e.g., the elbow is proximal to the wrist).

Distal: Away from the center of the body (e.g., the hand is distal to the elbow).


16. How does the body remove carbon dioxide?

As blood flows through the lungs, excess carbon dioxide passes out of the blood and into the alveoli by diffusion. It is then removed from the lungs when we exhale.


17. Differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism.

Aerobic metabolism: The breakdown of molecules, such as glucose, through a series of reactions that produce energy within the cells in the presence of oxygen.

Anaerobic metabolism: The breakdown of molecules in the cells without the presence of oxygen.


18. What are the byproducts of anaerobic metabolism?

Byproducts of anaerobic metabolism include lactic acid, as well as heat, carbon dioxide, and water.


19. What role do oxygen and glucose play in metabolism?

Oxygen and glucose are essential for energy production, cellular function, and preventing cellular damage.


20. What does FiO2 represent?

FiO2 represents the fraction of inspired oxygen, or the concentration of oxygen in the air we breathe.


21. What is the hypoxic drive?

In the hypoxic drive, the body uses oxygen chemoreceptors instead of carbon dioxide receptors to regulate the respiratory system.


22. How do you manage a patient with Minute Ventilation issues?

One way to compensate for low minute ventilation is to increase the ventilatory rate. For example, if a patient increases their ventilatory rate to 28 breaths/minute, they may be able to maintain adequate minute ventilation.


23. What is the hypercapnic drive?

The hypercapnic drive refers to the body’s mechanism for regulating breathing based on the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. A person’s rate and depth of breathing are primarily regulated by the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood.


24. What are some respiratory causes of acidosis?

Respiratory acidosis occurs when too much CO2 builds up in the body. Some causes include:

  • Asthma
  • Obesity
  • Overuse of alcohol or sedatives
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)


25. What controls the respiratory system?

The respiratory system is primarily controlled by the brainstem, which regulates the rate and depth of breathing. Chemoreceptors in the brain and blood vessels monitor levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide, sending signals to the brainstem to adjust breathing as needed.


26. What are the indications for using the head-tilt chin lift airway maneuver?

The head-tilt chin lift maneuver should be used for opening the airway in a patient who has no suspected spinal injury.


27. How do you suction a patient that has inadequate respirations?

Suctioning should be done cautiously in a patient with inadequate respirations. Use a rigid suction catheter and limit suctioning to 10 seconds or less at a time, providing supplemental oxygen before and after suctioning.


28. What are the indications for using the jaw-thrust airway maneuver?

If a spinal injury is suspected, the jaw-thrust maneuver is used to open the airway. The patient’s head and neck must be brought into and maintained in a neutral, in-line position.


29. Define adequate ventilations while using a BVM.

Adequate ventilations while using a BVM (bag-valve mask) are achieved when:

  • The chest rises and falls with each breath.
  • Ventilations are delivered at the appropriate rate (10-12 breaths per minute for adults).
  • The patient’s skin color improves.


30. Describe the correct technique for insertion of an Oral Pharyngeal Airway (OPA).

  1. Select the proper size airway.
  2. Open the patient’s mouth using the crossed-finger technique.
  3. Insert the airway with the tip facing the roof of the mouth, then rotate 180 degrees as you advance it.
  4. Continue advancing until the flat flange at the top of the airway rests on the patient’s front teeth.


31. What are the contraindications of using an OPA?

Contraindications of using an OPA include:

  • A conscious patient with an intact gag reflex.
  • Severe oral trauma or burns.
  • Foreign body obstruction.

Using an OPA in these situations may cause vomiting or spasm of the vocal cords. If the device is too long, it can push the epiglottis over the opening to the larynx.


32. How do you set up and deliver O2 using a Non-Rebreather Mask (NRB)?

  1. Explain to the patient that you are going to apply oxygen through a mask.
  2. Select the appropriate size mask.
  3. Attach the mask to the oxygen source and set the flow rate to 10-15 liters per minute.
  4. Pre-fill the reservoir bag with oxygen.
  5. Once the reservoir is completely inflated, fit the mask to the patient’s face, ensuring a good seal.
  6. Constantly monitor the reservoir bag to ensure that it remains filled during inhalation.


33. What is the most common airway obstruction?

The tongue is the most common airway obstruction.


34. Define respiration vs. ventilation.

Respiration: Refers to the gas exchange process that occurs between the alveoli and the capillaries (external respiration) or the utilization of glucose and oxygen during normal metabolism within the cells (internal respiration).

Ventilation: The mechanical process of moving air into and out of the lungs.


35. What are the indications for suctioning?

Suctioning is necessary to remove any objects or fluids from the mouth and airway that can cause an obstruction. Indications include:

  • Visible secretions or vomitus in the airway.
  • Gurgling sounds during respiration.
  • Suspected airway obstruction.


36. How do you correctly count respirations?

Count respirations by observing the rise and fall of the patient’s chest for one full minute. Note the rate, rhythm, and depth of breathing.


37. What does Jaundice represent?

Jaundice is a yellow tint to the skin or eyes caused by an excess of bilirubin, a substance created when red blood cells break down. It can be a sign of liver disease or other medical conditions.


38. What artery is typically used when obtaining a blood pressure?

The brachial artery, located in the upper arm, is typically used when obtaining a blood pressure.


39. Differentiate between systolic and diastolic when discussing blood pressures.

Systolic pressure (the top number) is the amount of pressure exerted on artery walls when the heart contracts and ejects blood.

Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is the amount of pressure on the artery walls while the heart is at rest, between contractions.


40. Define the mnemonic SAMPLE.

SAMPLE is a mnemonic used to gather information about a patient’s medical history:

  • Signs and symptoms
  • Allergies
  • Medications
  • Past medical history
  • Last oral intake
  • Events leading up to the incident


41. What constitutes baseline vitals?

Baseline vital signs include:

  1. Respirations
  2. Pulse
  3. Skin (color, temperature, moisture)
  4. Pupils
  5. Blood pressure
  6. Pulse oximetry


42. Define tachycardia by age group.

Tachycardia is a faster than normal heart rate. Normal heart rates vary by age. In adults, tachycardia is generally defined as a heart rate greater than 100 bpm.


43. Why is the mnemonic OPQRST used?

OPQRST is a mnemonic used for assessing a patient’s chief complaint or major symptoms, such as pain. It helps guide your questioning to get a more complete picture of the symptom:

  • Onset: When did it begin?
  • Provokes: What makes it better or worse?
  • Quality: What does it feel like?
  • Radiates: Does it spread anywhere?
  • Severity: On a scale of 1-10?
  • Time: How long has it been going on?


44. Differentiate between a central pulse and a peripheral pulse.

Central pulse: A pulse that is taken close to the heart, such as the carotid or femoral pulse.

Peripheral pulse: A pulse that is taken further away from the heart, such as the radial or pedal pulse.