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Prehospital Emergency Care Practice Test: Handling Environmental Emergencies
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Environmental emergencies can include a variety of patient presentations, such as heat and cold exposure, toxic envenomation, exposure to allergens, and noxious plants.  Here are some symptoms of environmental emergencies: Hyperthermia: Elevated core temperature, muscle cramps, altered mental status, weakness, headache, nausea or vomiting, rapid, strong pulse at first, which deteriorates into thready pulse, deep, rapid breathing at first, which deteriorates into shallow and weak breathing, skin that is cool and moist during early stages, skin that is hot at late stages,... Show more
Prehospital Emergency Care Practice Test: Handling Environmental Emergencies
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25 Questions

1. You are providing a 'stand-by' service at the county fair. At midmorning, a 50-year-old male patient approaches your tent and states that he was bitten in the right shoulder by some sort of insect and has tremendous pain. Assessment reveals his shoulder to have a large reddened area with a sting mark in the middle. The skin is warm to the touch. Your care of this patient should include:
2. When treating a confused patient who has been exposed to high temperatures, which of these findings is most concerning?
3. Bystanders have called 911 for a female patient who lives on the street. She has been outside in the cold all night and is muttering incomprehensible words. Her airway is open and her breathing is adequate. Her skin is cold, and a radial pulse is present but weak. What should the EMT do next?
4. A 23-year-old female patient has been stung in the right arm by some unidentified marine life. Her arm and hand are swollen and red. The primary assessment is unremarkable and she is complaining of pain to the site of injury. You would:
5. Consumption of large amounts of water during prolonged periods of exertion can result in which disorder?
6. You have been called to a residence for a spider bite. On scene, the homeowner states that he was moving some boxes in his garage when he accidentally grabbed a spider and it bit him. He killed the spider and shows you a brown-colored spider with a 'violin shape' on its back. He then states that the bite does not hurt and he sees no need to go to the hospital. As a knowledgeable EMT, you should state:
7. You are on scene with a patient who has a freezing cold injury. The patient stated that he had no sensation in his hand or fingers prior to the initiation of a rewarming process. You have subsequently begun rewarming his hand and fingers. Which of these statements made by the patient following the rewarming process is of greatest concern?
8. You are giving a talk on hunting safety. A hunter asks you when someone should attempt to rewarm a hand or foot that is frostbitten. What is your best response?
9. You are caring for a patient with an extensive freezing cold injury to his right hand and arm. Which of these instructions would be appropriate to give to your EMT partner?
10. You have been called to a football practice field on a very hot day for a heat-related emergency. On scene, you find a young male patient panting and lying under a tree. His skin is flushed, and teammates are continually wiping the sweat off his face, arms, and chest with towels. Which of these statements to his teammates would be most appropriate?
11. A person is in a hot environment and his body is successfully compensating to off-load excess heat. Which assessment findings best illustrate this process?
12. The EMT should recognize heat cramps as the probable cause of a patient's problem when the patient states:
13. A 44-year-old female patient was hiking in a state park when she was bitten by a snake in her left calf. To get help, she had to hike 4 miles to the first-aid station where you are located. The hike took her 1½ hours. Your assessment reveals a red and swollen area to her leg, and the patient complains of discomfort to that area. Closer inspection reveals two puncture wounds in the center of the affected area. The patient asks you if she is going to die from the snake bite. What would be your most appropriate reply?
14. The primary assessment of a teenage male patient who is unresponsive with hot, moist, and flushed skin reveals his airway to be open, breathing shallow, and radial pulse weak. You have initiated positive pressure ventilation with supplemental oxygen. What should you consider doing next?
15. You have been called to a residence for a patient who is sick. On scene, the family tells you that the patient is being treated for 'stomach flu' and has had a fever of 102°F for the past two days. She has been taking all of the medications prescribed by her doctor, but this evening became very 'sweaty.' Assessment shows her to be stable with a pulse of 88, respirations of 18 breaths/min, adequate blood pressure of 128/68 mmHg, and an oral temperature of 100.2°F. Based on these data, the EMT should recognize that:
16. Which of these statements made by your EMT partner would require immediate correction when treating a patient with hypothermia and a deep freezing cold injury to his left foot, ankle, and lower leg?
17. An Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) quickly checks the breathing and pulse of a patient with Alzheimer's disease who has been sleeping outside in the cold for several hours. The EMR informs you that the patient grimaces to painful stimuli but is not breathing and does not have a pulse. What is your best response?
18. You have been called for an alert and oriented male patient. Upon your arrival, his roommate states that the patient spent several hours locked out of his house in the cold temperatures after an evening of drinking since no one was home and the patient lost his house keys. Since the primary and secondary assessments have ruled out immediate life-threatening conditions, you have decided to rewarm the patient. Which of these warming techniques would be most appropriate for this patient?
19. You are treating a male patient who is hypothermic. What should you do to decrease heat loss caused by radiation?
20. The primary center for controlling the temperature in the human body is located in the:
21. Medical direction has asked you to remove a tick from behind the left ear of a 5-year-old girl. You would:
22. Which of these patients with heat emergency would be the highest priority for transport?
23. A patient has been bitten by a nonpoisonous grass snake. Your care would include:
24. Which of these statements about immersion hypothermia is false?
25. Which of these patients is losing body heat by the mechanism of convection?