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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. After ensuring that there are no life-threatening conditions to the airway, breathing, and circulation, the priority in caring for a patient with hypothermia is:
2. 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?
3. Medical direction has ordered you to begin rewarming an unresponsive patient with a core temperature of 93°F. Which of these measures would most benefit this patient?
4. A patient has been bitten by an unidentified snake. Which of these statements made by the patient would lead the EMT to believe that the snake was poisonous?
5. 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:
6. You have been called by a family for their mother, who is 'not acting right.' On scene, you find the 69-year-old woman to be confused and seemingly slow in talking. Her airway is open and respirations are 12 breaths/min. Her pulse is 58 beats/min, and her skin is cool to the touch, despite the thermostat keeping the house at normal room temperature. The family states that she has been this way for about three days, but before then seemed to be doing well. Your partner obtains a blood pressure reading of 104/52 mmHg. When getting a medical history, which of these statements made by the family would make sense, given the presentation of the patient?
7. You are accompanying a team of hikers climbing a high mountain. In the morning, you are summoned to a tent and find one of the climbers confused and complaining of a headache. His airway is patent and respirations adequate. He has no medical history and was in good health until found this morning by his friend. You are suspicious of high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). What should you do to help the patient?
8. 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?
9. When providing needed oxygen to a patient with a core temperature of 95°F and adequate breathing, which strategy is the best option?
10. Regarding snakebites, which of these statements is true?
11. The stinger of a bee is evident in the left thigh of a female patient who states that she is allergic to bees and has an EpiPen for such occasions. According to the patient, the sting occurred two hours ago and she just now noticed that the stinger remains in place. She did not take her epinephrine and appears asymptomatic for an allergic reaction. At this time, you would:
12. You are reassessing a patient whom you are treating for heat exhaustion. Which of these findings indicates that the patient is improving?
13. Which of these statements made by an EMT shows that he understands the care of a patient with a freezing cold injury to the foot?
14. 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:
15. 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?
16. A 24-year-old female who was hiking in shorts informs you that she has been bitten by an insect on her leg. She states no other complaints. Assessment reveals a tick embedded in her leg. As an EMT, you should provide care to this patient by:
17. What of these patients is most accurately described as suffering an environmental emergency?
18. A young boy complains of pain to his fingers after spending several hours outside riding a sled in cold winter temperatures. After ensuring he has no life-threatening conditions, you turn your attention to his hands and note that the fingers are cold to the touch. You suspect that he is suffering from a superficial freezing cold injury. Which sign or symptom would help confirm this suspicion?
19. You have been called for a 78-year-old female patient who slipped while getting out of her bathtub. She is confused and cold to the touch. You learn that the patient slipped 24 hours ago and has been on the bathroom's tile floor ever since. Since it is summer, she also had her air conditioner running on high. The EMT would best categorize this emergency as:
20. The EMT shows that he understands the danger of heat stroke when he states:
21. The EMT is correctly assessing the skin temperature of a patient who has been exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period of time when he:
22. You have been asked by your medical director to put together an emergency kit specifically for patients who have been stung or bitten by small marine life animals. Which of these items should you place in that kit?
23. A landscaper who has been working in 105°F weather is found collapsed in a client's yard. He is responsive to painful stimuli and has an open airway. His breathing is shallow, alveolar breath sounds are absent, and radial pulse is weak. The patient's skin is hot and dry and appears to be sunburned. The EMT should immediately:
24. 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:
25. You are called for an elderly woman who has slipped on the ice. On arrival, you find her supine on an icy sidewalk and responsive to painful stimuli with decorticate posturing (flexion). She has blood coming from a laceration on the back of her head and is breathing agonally at 4 times a minute. What should you do immediately?