WEST COAST EMT FINAL STUDY GUIDE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Levels of EMS - Answer-National- every state must meet or exceed guidelines by
NHTSA
State- regulates EMTs for the state
Local- local guidelines
Roles of EMS - Answer-EMR- emergency medical responders (law enforcement,
firefighters, care with limited equipment)
EMT- emergency medical technician, completed EMT course & more trained
AEMT- advanced emergency medical technician, added knowledge and skills in ALS
Paramedics- extensive training (1,000-1,300 hours)
PCR - Answer-Patient care report
Considered a legal document
Mostly electronic
Court's perception matters
Make sure they are perfect
If it wasn't documented, it didn't happen (treatment)
Types of Stress - Answer-Acute- occur during stressful situation
Delayed- manifest after event
Cumulative- prolonged or excessive stress
PTSD
CISM Team - Answer-Critical Incident Stress Management- developed to address acute
stress situations and decrease the risk of PTSD
Quid Pro Quo - Answer-If you do something for me I'll do something for you (sexual
favors, sexual harassment)
Negligence - Answer-Failure in following standard of care by failing to provide care,
providing too much care (outside of your scope of training), providing innapropriate
care, or failing to prevent problems.
4 things needed to prove negligence (even though it may have still occurred) - Answer-
1. Duty
2. Breach of Duty
3. Damages
4. Causation
, Abandonment - Answer-Termination of care by EMT without patient consent (always
obtain name and signature of who you transfer patient care)
Medical Terminology - Answer-Starting on page 154
Nervous System - Answer-Central Nervous System (CNS)- brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)- nerves that connect all parts of the body to the brain
Somatic- voluntary, muscles (walking, talking, etc.)
Autonomic- involuntary, organs and glands (digestion, dilation, construction of blood
vessels, sweating, etc.)
Sympathetic- emergency situation function
Parasympathetic- nonemergency functions
Shock - Answer-hypoperfusion
State of collapse and failure of cardiovascular system
Cardiogenic shock - Answer-inadequate function of the heart or pump failure
Sometimes after heart attack
Can cause edema (abnormally large amounts of fluid between cells in body tissues
causing swelling)
Treatment - comfortable position,high flow oxygen, assisted ventilations, keep patient
warm, rapid transport.
Obstructive shock - Answer-Mechanical obstruction prevents adequate amount of blood
to fill the heart chambers
Most common examples: cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, and pulmonary
embolism
Septic shock - Answer-result of severe infections in which toxins are generated by the
bacteria or by infected body tissues; toxins damage vessel walls causing increased
cellular permeability
Neurogenic shock - Answer-Result of high spinal cord injury
Hypovolemic shock - Answer-Inadequate amount of fluid or volume in the circulatory
system
There are hemorrhagic (bleeding) and non-hemorrhagic (vomiting & diarrhea)
Psychogenic shock - Answer-A sudden reaction of nervous system causing vascular
dilation and resulting in fainting or syncope (blood pooling in dilated vessels, reducing
blood supply to brain and causing fainting)
Perfusion - Answer-The circulation of oxygenated blood through body tissues and
vessels.
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Levels of EMS - Answer-National- every state must meet or exceed guidelines by
NHTSA
State- regulates EMTs for the state
Local- local guidelines
Roles of EMS - Answer-EMR- emergency medical responders (law enforcement,
firefighters, care with limited equipment)
EMT- emergency medical technician, completed EMT course & more trained
AEMT- advanced emergency medical technician, added knowledge and skills in ALS
Paramedics- extensive training (1,000-1,300 hours)
PCR - Answer-Patient care report
Considered a legal document
Mostly electronic
Court's perception matters
Make sure they are perfect
If it wasn't documented, it didn't happen (treatment)
Types of Stress - Answer-Acute- occur during stressful situation
Delayed- manifest after event
Cumulative- prolonged or excessive stress
PTSD
CISM Team - Answer-Critical Incident Stress Management- developed to address acute
stress situations and decrease the risk of PTSD
Quid Pro Quo - Answer-If you do something for me I'll do something for you (sexual
favors, sexual harassment)
Negligence - Answer-Failure in following standard of care by failing to provide care,
providing too much care (outside of your scope of training), providing innapropriate
care, or failing to prevent problems.
4 things needed to prove negligence (even though it may have still occurred) - Answer-
1. Duty
2. Breach of Duty
3. Damages
4. Causation
, Abandonment - Answer-Termination of care by EMT without patient consent (always
obtain name and signature of who you transfer patient care)
Medical Terminology - Answer-Starting on page 154
Nervous System - Answer-Central Nervous System (CNS)- brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)- nerves that connect all parts of the body to the brain
Somatic- voluntary, muscles (walking, talking, etc.)
Autonomic- involuntary, organs and glands (digestion, dilation, construction of blood
vessels, sweating, etc.)
Sympathetic- emergency situation function
Parasympathetic- nonemergency functions
Shock - Answer-hypoperfusion
State of collapse and failure of cardiovascular system
Cardiogenic shock - Answer-inadequate function of the heart or pump failure
Sometimes after heart attack
Can cause edema (abnormally large amounts of fluid between cells in body tissues
causing swelling)
Treatment - comfortable position,high flow oxygen, assisted ventilations, keep patient
warm, rapid transport.
Obstructive shock - Answer-Mechanical obstruction prevents adequate amount of blood
to fill the heart chambers
Most common examples: cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, and pulmonary
embolism
Septic shock - Answer-result of severe infections in which toxins are generated by the
bacteria or by infected body tissues; toxins damage vessel walls causing increased
cellular permeability
Neurogenic shock - Answer-Result of high spinal cord injury
Hypovolemic shock - Answer-Inadequate amount of fluid or volume in the circulatory
system
There are hemorrhagic (bleeding) and non-hemorrhagic (vomiting & diarrhea)
Psychogenic shock - Answer-A sudden reaction of nervous system causing vascular
dilation and resulting in fainting or syncope (blood pooling in dilated vessels, reducing
blood supply to brain and causing fainting)
Perfusion - Answer-The circulation of oxygenated blood through body tissues and
vessels.
