Q&A Hero

Q: Obesity is defined as a body mass index greater than: A) 35. B) 25. C) 30. D) 40.

Q: Which of the following refers to a condition that interferes significantly with a person's ability to engage in activities of daily living? A) Handicapped B) Disabled C) Terminal D) Disability

Q: Bariatrics is defined as the branch of medicine that deals with the cause, prevention, and treatment of which of the following diseases? A) Diabetes B) Sleep apnea C) Blindness D) Obesity

Q: Which of the following is NOT a role of dialysis in a renal failure patient? A) Remove fluid from the body B) Filter and detoxify the blood C) Remove waste from the body D) Stimulate blood cell production

Q: Which of the following is true in regards to touching a patient who is being shocked with an automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator (AICD)? A) The EMT will always feel the shock, and it is very dangerous to the EMT as well. B) The EMT cannot feel the shock of an AICD when delivered to the patient. C) The EMT will always feel the shock, but it is not very painful. D) It depends on the AICD model as to whether or not the EMT can feel the shock.

Q: What is the purpose of a tracheostomy in an ill patient? A) To assist the patient with sleeping B) To assist the patient with waste removal C) To assist the patient with breathing D) To assist the patient with feedings

Q: Which of the following BEST describes when positive pressure is applied to the patient's airway using a CPAP machine? A) Between inhalation and exhalation B) During exhalation only C) During both inhalation and exhalation D) During inhalation only

Q: While assessing the mental status of an elderly patient who has been retired for several years, you notice he has difficulty answering your questions. He seems depressed. Based on this information, you should: A) suspect a life-threatening neurological event. B) acknowledge the patient's fears and try to put them in perspective. C) consider his mental status as being decreased. D) consider the need for advanced provider care.

Q: Which of the following groups is MOST likely to be successful in a suicide attempt? A) Middle-aged men B) Young women C) Teenagers D) Elderly men

Q: The use of a made-up experience to replace lost memories with imaginary ones is called: A) hysteria. B) confusion. C) denial. D) confabulation.

Q: The main perpetrators of elder abuse are: A) grandchildren B) adult children C) spouses D) brothers and sisters

Q: Which of the following statements is believed to be true regarding domestic elder abuse? A) The elders are usually in good health. B) The abusers are usually well-adjusted. C) There is seldom a family history of elder abuse. D) None of the above.

Q: Which of the following may provide the EMT with an indication of physical neglect of an elderly patient? A) Misuse of a person's personal belongings B) Evidence of sexual assault C) Injuries from a fall D) Poor hygiene

Q: Which of the following is NOT a form of elder abuse or neglect? A) Social B) Physical C) Psychological D) Financial

Q: You walk up the stairs of a house to respond to a call of an elderly man. You notice that the stairs do not have any handrails. After responding to the reason why he called 911, what suggestion would you give to this patient to avoid falls in the future? A) It is illegal to not have a handrail on the front steps and it must be fixed immediately. B) He should install a handrail on the front steps to avoid any falls. C) It is a good idea there are no handrails on the front steps as this negatively impacts his balance as he walks up the stairs. D) Nothing, there is no problem.

Q: Which of the following fractures is most common among elderly women due to falls? A) Distal femur B) Pelvis C) Mid-shaft femur D) Proximal femur

Q: Which of the following is a serious complication of a fall with chest injuries suffered by a 75-year-old male? A) Pneumonia B) Bruised ribs C) Blood clots D) Collapsed lungs

Q: Which of the following lung conditions is the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly? A) Chronic bronchitis B) Pneumothorax C) Pneumonia D) Tuberculosis

Q: Upon your arrival for a medical call at a private residence, you find an elderly male patient complaining of difficulty breathing. Which of the following findings would provide you with the most valuable information about potential problems this patient may be experiencing? A) Temperature in the house B) Patient's positioning on the couch C) Patient's mental status D) Patient's vital signs

Q: Which of the following is the likely result of diminished thyroid function in the elderly? A) Thin, dry, wrinkled skin B) Decreased tolerance of heat and cold C) Increased toxicity of medications D) Difficulty chewing and swallowing

Q: The elderly population is at least ________ times as likely to use the EMS system as patients in other age groups. A) 5 B) 0.5 C) 10 D) 2

Q: An elderly patient who is experiencing a myocardial infarction is more likely to complain of which of the following symptoms than a younger patient would? A) Shortness of breath without chest pain B) Shortness of breath with chest pain C) A rash caused by shingles D) No chest pain or shortness of breath

Q: An elderly patient you are transporting to the hospital for complaints of feeling faint and having abdominal pain provides you with a list of medications he currently takes. Among the medications listed is naproxen. The patient's vital signs include a blood pressure of 148/92, pulse rate of 120, respiratory rate of 28, and clear bilateral breath sounds. Which of the following would be the most likely condition the patient is experiencing related to the abdominal pain? A) Myocardial infarction B) Constipation C) Abdominal aortic aneurysm D) Lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Q: During your assessment of an unconscious, unresponsive 80-year-old female patient, you notice that she has dentures. Your assessment reveals she has an open airway, is breathing on her own at a rate of 12 per minute, is slightly pale, and has a bounding radial pulse. In managing this patient's airway, what would be your most appropriate action? A) Prepare to insert an oral airway. B) Remove the dentures. C) Perform a jaw thrust as needed. D) Tilt the head to a sniffing position.

Q: When an elderly patient complains of abdominal pain, the EMT should consider this symptom to be: A) non-life-threatening unless accompanied by other symptoms. B) cardiac-related until proven otherwise. C) an indication of a potentially serious problem. D) related to a gastrointestinal problem.

Q: Your patient is an 80-year-old male complaining of lower back pain that radiates through to the abdomen. He describes the pain as "ripping" in nature. He is pale, diaphoretic, and anxious, and has a blood pressure of 210/100 mmHg, a pulse of 112 beats per minute, and a respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute. Which of the following conditions is MOST likely? A) Gallbladder disease B) Bowel obstruction C) Diverticulitis D) Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Q: Which of the following is NOT a common cause of chest pain in the elderly? A) Angina B) Asthma C) Pneumonia D) Aneurysm

Q: When palpating the pulse of an elderly patient, you notice that there is an irregular pulsation without any kind of pattern or cycle to it. This is called: A) pulsus alternans. B) heart failure. C) an irregularly irregular pulse. D) pulsus paradoxus.

Q: You are assessing a 67-year-old male patient who is experiencing a dissecting abdominal aneurysm. Typically, such a patient will describe the pain as: A) dull. B) tearing. C) sharp. D) achy.

Q: While interviewing your patient, she tells you that her husband will be back from the store shortly and can get you a list of her medications. Her daughter tells you that the patient's husband died 15 years ago. This situation is known as: A) hallucination. B) imagination. C) contemplation. D) confabulation.

Q: A patient gives you a story of having gone out to the movies last night, but who according to family members, has not left the house in years. This condition is called? A) Apoplexy B) Confabulation C) Depression D) Lying

Q: When interviewing the elderly patient, the EMT can increase the accuracy of the information he or she gains by: A) speaking louder than normal. B) having his or her partner assist with asking questions. C) allowing sufficient time for the patient to answer. D) asking multiple questions at the same time.

Q: Which of the following is important to remember when communicating with an elderly patient with a hearing impairment? A) Speak directly into the patient's ear. B) You may need to shout in order for the patient to hear you. C) Make sure the patient can see you when you are speaking to him. D) It is not worth the effort to try to get information from an elderly person with a hearing impairment.

Q: As you care for an elderly patient experiencing a serious medical condition, you would expect any deterioration to take place: A) rapidly. B) slowly, with a later shift to rapidly. C) slowly and steadily. D) rapidly, with a later shift to slowly.

Q: Of the older patients seen in the emergency department due to a fall, ________% will die within 1 year. A) 50 B) 25 C) 10 D) 35

Q: You are assessing an 83-year-old female who is having hip pain. When you count her pulse you notice that the rate is irregularly irregular. What is your treatment for this patient? A) The irregularity is not a reason for concern in itself. B) Check distal circulation, sensory, and motor sensation, apply a pelvic wrap, place on a traction splint, and transport the patient. C) Contact medical control for permission to have the patient transported by helicopter from the scene. D) Alert paramedics to respond for a possible cardiac patient.

Q: Which of the following questions is MOST helpful in distinguishing between normal age-related changes and the effects of an illness when assessing an elderly patient? A) How do you feel today compared to last week? B) How is your appetite? C) Are you taking your medications the way you are supposed to be taking them? D) When was the last time you had a bowel movement?

Q: The elderly patient will most likely experience ________ as he or she continues to age. A) increased stomach acid secretion B) decreased intestinal tract movement C) increased food absorption D) decreased chewing difficulty

Q: While listening to an otherwise healthy elderly patient's lungs, you note decreased breath sounds. Which of the following may explain this finding? A) Increased chest wall flexibility B) Decreased lung capacity C) Previous abdominal injuries D) Decreased blood flow to the lungs

Q: As an adult ages, the body experiences changes that cause: A) disease processes to take place. B) a decreased compensatory ability. C) an increased blood pressure. D) an inability to maintain homeostasis.

Q: A segment of the body associated with a specific nerve coming from the spinal cord, along which shingles can appear, is called a: A) motor unit. B) dermatome. C) zoster. D) myelin sheath.

Q: A diastolic blood pressure over ________ mmHg is considered hypertensive. A) 80 B) 50 C) 90 D) 65

Q: Concerning aging, which of the following statements is NOT true? A) The diastolic blood pressure tends to rise with age. B) Many elderly patients have a high threshold for pain. C) Some elderly people have a low threshold for pain. D) The systolic blood pressure tends to increase with age.

Q: Which of the following is meant by the "1 percent rule" of aging? A) Our organ systems lose about 1 percent of function per year beginning at age 30. B) We lose about 1 percent of our memory capacity every year beginning at age 50. C) About 1 percent of the population older than age 65 has significant organ function decline. D) About 1 percent of the population makes it to their 85th birthday.

Q: Which of the following is a surgically implanted drainage device that runs from the brain to the abdomen? A) Gastrostomy tube B) Central intravenous line C) Shunt D) Tracheostomy tube

Q: Your patient has a tracheostomy and is on a ventilator. He presents in acute respiratory distress. You assess his trach tube and it appears clear, but there is something wrong with the ventilator. You do not notice any loose fittings or disconnected tubes. The airway is clear and he is sitting upright. What is your next step? A) Call the manufacturer's service hotline. B) Try to further troubleshoot the ventilator. C) Disconnect the patient and ventilate him with a bag-valve device. D) Connect your oxygen tank directly to the tracheostomy tube.

Q: Your patient is an infant being treated for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. He is being weaned off his respirator by a process called intermittent mandatory ventilation. When you arrive, you find the infant obviously hypoxic and sick-looking. Which of the following treatments is indicated? A) Oxygen administration B) Ventilator support C) Prompt transport to a neonatal center D) All of the above

Q: Pop-off valves should be functional when ventilating the pediatric patient: A) to avoid overinflation of the lungs. B) to avoid causing a pneumothorax. C) to avoid barotrauma to the lungs. D) None of the above

Q: Prehospital management of the abused child includes all of the following except: A) treating all injuries. B) eliciting a complete history from child and parents. C) allowing parent to drive child to hospital. D) reporting your findings to the emergency department staff.

Q: Which of the following is a classic characteristic of a child abuser? A) Parent who spends majority of time with child B) Parent who was abused as child C) Parent who is experiencing financial or marital stress D) All of the above

Q: Which of the following children may be at a higher risk for child abuse? A) Child with disabilities B) Twin child C) Premature child D) All of the above

Q: For the EMT who has cared for a pediatric patient in tragic circumstances, which of the following would be an appropriate way of dealing with stress accompanying the experience? A) Get together with others who participated in the care of the child and unwind with some alcoholic beverages. B) Talk to a compassionate coworker who has had similar experiences in the past. C) Vent your rage in a letter to the person responsible for the child's circumstances. D) Put the incident as your social media status and encourage others talk about it.

Q: Which of the following should increase your suspicion of child abuse? A) Indications of alcohol and/or drug abuse in the home B) Improperly healed fractures, resulting in deformity of extremities C) Bruises on the back and/or buttocks in various stages of healing D) All of the above

Q: Which of the following statements is true regarding child abuse injuries? A) Splash burns indicate child abuse. B) Rib fractures in young children suggest child abuse. C) Shaken baby syndrome never causes death of the infant. D) Head injuries are usually the first sign in child abuse.

Q: The most common type of burn injury suffered in the home by children is: A) electrical. B) chemical. C) scald. D) direct fire.

Q: A 3-year-old child who burns both legs and arms has burned approximately ________% of his entire body surface area. A) 54 B) 45 C) 72 D) 36

Q: Which of the following statements is true regarding the skin and body surface area of children as compared to adults? A) The skin of a child is thicker. B) Children have more subcutaneous fat. C) Children have a larger body surface-to-weight ratio. D) A child is not more prone than an adult to heat loss through the skin.

Q: Which of the following is LEAST common in a pedestrian child versus car incident? A) Spinal injuries B) Abdominal injuries C) Upper-extremity injuries D) Head injuries

Q: Which of the following is the MOST common cause of death in children? A) Environmental emergencies B) Poisonings C) Trauma D) Infectious disease

Q: Which of the following statements is true regarding SIDS? A) It usually occurs between the ages of 1 and 3 years. B) Death usually occurs during sleep. C) It is usually caused by external suffocation. D) All children are at equal risk.

Q: Which of the following is the MOST common cause of seizures in infants and children? A) Hypoglycemia B) Hypoxia C) Fever D) Poisoning

Q: Your patient is a 2-year-old female who has suffered a seizure but does not have a previous history of seizures. The patient's father states that the child has been pulling at her ear and has had a fever. They were getting ready to leave for a doctor's appointment when the child had a brief seizure. The patient is drowsy and has hot, flushed skin. Which of the following is recommended in the prehospital management of this patient? A) Sponge the child's back and arms with rubbing alcohol. B) Place ice packs in the armpits, groin, and around the head. C) Remove the child's clothing down to her underpants or diaper. D) Cover the child with a towel soaked in ice water.

Q: Your patient is a 3-year-old child who is in severe respiratory distress. She is cyanotic and responds only to painful stimuli. According to the patient's mother, the child had complained of a sore throat earlier and has had a fever since early in the morning. Which of the following is the BEST course of action? A) Perform abdominal thrusts and finger sweeps; attempt to ventilate. B) Suction the airway. C) Insert an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) and begin bag-valve-mask ventilations with supplemental oxygen. D) Begin gentle ventilations with a bag-valve mask (BVM) and supplemental oxygen.

Q: You are responding to a 6-year-old child with a fever and difficulty breathing. His mother reports that he was playing normally this morning but when he came in for lunch he had spiked a fever. Now, he is sitting up with his mouth open, drooling. Which of the following signs would point to epiglottitis? A) Loud "seal bark" cough B) Painful swallowing C) Low grade fever D) Some hoarseness

Q: You have determined that your patient, a 6-year-old boy, most likely has epiglottitis. He has developed a high fever and appears very ill. You realize that this is a serious illness and you need to handle your patient carefully. You should: A) check his temperature regularly. B) not place anything in his mouth. C) give him ice chips to suck on. D) have him lie down with his head elevated.

Q: Which of the following is a sign of the MOST severe respiratory distress in a 1-year-old pediatric patient? A) Wheezing B) Decreased muscle tone C) Respiratory rate greater than 60 D) Grunting

Q: Which of the following is an early sign of respiratory distress in an 18-month-old patient? A) Wheezing B) Heart rate of 60 beats per minute C) Drowsiness D) Respiratory rate of 12 breaths per minute

Q: You are called for a 6-year-old girl who is not well. Her mother says that the child has been sick for several days but today she has had trouble keeping her daughter awake. You note that the girl's capillary refill time is 4 seconds and she has a skin rash. The MOST important part of your assessment will be to: A) determine if she has a fever. B) get a full SAMPLE history. C) determine her level of consciousness. D) recognize any respiratory distress.

Q: Which of the following signs may signify impending cardiac arrest in a child? A) Respiratory rate over 60 B) Pulse rate over 120 C) Pulse rate 80 in a 5-year-old D) Blood pressure of 105 systolic in a school age child

Q: Usually the first sign of respiratory distress in infants is: A) bradycardia. B) tachycardia. C) bradypnea. D) tachypnea.

Q: Which of the following is the MOST common cause of cardiac arrest in the pediatric patient? A) Hypoglycemia B) Congenital heart defects C) Ventricular fibrillation D) Respiratory failure

Q: Which of the following is NOT likely to be a cause of respiratory distress in a 2-year-old child? A) Epiglottitis B) A cold C) Foreign body airway obstruction D) Emphysema

Q: You are standing in line waiting to get a prescription filled for your mother. A woman walks in with a young boy in her arms. As she places him in a nearby chair, he begins to seize. Which of the following is true regarding childhood seizures? A) They usually accompany a high fever. B) Most are due to head injuries. C) They usually last from 1 to 2 minutes. D) They are due to a rapid rise in temperature.

Q: You are called to a home where a family has been enjoying a Labor Day picnic and swim party. A 2-year-boy slipped to the bottom of the pool unnoticed. By the time you arrive, the child has been removed from the water and family members are administering CPR. You assess the child and note that he has a weak pulse and is trying to breathe on his own. You initiate transport and continue providing positive pressure ventilations. You are also very concerned about: A) the safety of the other children at the party. B) how the parents are handling the situation. C) the child being hypothermic. D) the last time the child ate something.

Q: Which of the following is an indication of shock in an infant or small child? A) Capillary refill greater than 2 seconds B) Absence of tears when crying C) Not producing wet diapers D) All of the above

Q: Which of the following is NOT a common cause of shock in infants and children? A) Heart failure B) Blood loss C) Infection D) Dehydration

Q: Artificial ventilations for a 5-year-old child should be provided at a rate of ________ per minute. A) 24/28 B) 28/32 C) 12/20 D) 22/26

Q: Your patient is a 11-month-old male who began choking while his babysitter was feeding him some sliced peaches. The child has retractions of his intercostal muscles, is drowsy, and is grayish in color. Which of the following is the BEST intervention for this patient? A) Use of a flow-restricted oxygen-powered ventilation device (FROPVD) B) Back slaps and chest thrusts C) Abdominal thrusts D) Blow-by oxygen at 10 to 15 liters per minute

Q: Your patient is a 3-year-old male who developed sudden stridor while playing with some of his 5-year-old cousin's toys. The patient is alert and anxious, producing stridor when he cries. His skin is pink and warm, and capillary refill is less than 2 seconds. Which of the following is appropriate in the management of this child? A) Perform abdominal thrusts. B) Perform back blows and chest thrusts. C) Attempt a finger sweep to remove the foreign body from the child's airway. D) Transport the child in a restrained car seat with his mother by his side.

Q: Which of the following is a consideration in airway management in the pediatric patient? A) Keeping the nose clear of secretions B) The need to hyperextend the head to achieve an open airway C) Using blind finger sweeps to clear a foreign body from the airway D) All of the above