WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 3 STUDY
GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS
Medical Assessment Steps - Answer-1) Scene Size up: PENMAN
2) Primary Survey/Resuscitation: General impression, Consciousness (AVPU), Chief
complaint, ABC management
3) History Taking: OPQRST/SAMPLE
4) Secondary Assessment: Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Neurological, Musculoskeletal,
Integumentary, GI/GU, Reproductive, Psychological, Social
5) Vital Signs: BP, pulse, respiratory rate and quality, field impression of patient,
interventions/treatment
6) Reassessment: Verbal reports/Radio reports
O2 administration cheat sheet - Answer-1) Nasal Cannula: Normal/Regular breathing
(1-6 liters/min)
- Pattern and rate
2) Non-Rebreathable: Normal/Regular breathing (10-15 liters/min, high flow)
- Pattern and rate but borderline (10-20 RR)
3) Bag-valve mask: Abnormal/Irregular/Apneic/Absent (15-20 liters/min)
- Assist ventilations, artificial ventilations, > 8 or < 28 breaths/min
What part of the brain controls basic bodily functions like blood pressure, breathing,
heart rate, swallowing, etc)? - Answer-Brain Stem
Where does the spinal cord exit the brain? - Answer-Foramen magnum
TIA (transient ischemic attack) - Answer-- A transient ischemic attack which are stroke-
like symptoms that resolve on their own in less than 24 hours.
- These symptoms occur when blood flow to the brain is obstructed either through
atherosclerosis (build-up of calcium and cholesterol in blood vessels) or blood clotting
(embolus)
Ischemic Stroke - Answer-The most common type of strokes caused by a
- blockage of blood flow to a particular part of the brain usually by a blood clot inside a
blood vessel.
Two types of blood clot that may cause the blockage are:
- thrombosis (blood clot formed at the site of blockage) embolus (blood clot formed
elsewhere and travels to the site of blockage)
- atherosclerosis (calcium and cholesterol build up in the blood vessels).
Hemorrhagic Stroke - Answer-- Occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.
, - In this stroke the blood vessels ruptures and the accumulated blood then forms a clot
which compresses the brain tissue.
- The compression prevents oxygenated blood blood from getting into the area and the
brain cells begin to die. Often fatal.
- Commonly occurs in people experiencing stress or exertion, high blood pressure or
long term untreated elevated blood pressure.
Signs and Symptoms of a stroke - Answer-- Facial drooping
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, are, leg, or one side of the body
- Lack of muscle coordination or no balance
- Sudden vision impairment
- Difficulty swallowing and tongue deviation
- Speech disorders (Aphasia)
- Dysarthria (slurred speech)
- Confusion, dizziness, weakness, restlessness
- Coma
How long should it take for a patient to come out of the postictal state? What is a
postictal state? - Answer-A postictal state is a period following a seizure in which the
seizure episode has ended and the patient starts to regain consciousness and lasts
from 5 to 30 minutes (sometimes more).
Know the risk factors for a seizure? - Answer-- Epileptic ----> Congenital origin
- Structural -----> Tumor, Infection, Head trauma, Strok
- Metabolic -----> Hypoxia, Abnormal blood chemical values, Hypoglycemia, poisoning,
Sudden withdrawal from drugs, alcohol, medication, etc.
- Febrile ----> Sudden high fever
What is a febrile seizure? - Answer-A seizure occurring from a sudden high fever
particularly in children.
What do we do for a patient who is having a seizure? What do we do once they come
out of the seizure? - Answer-- Maintain the ABCs
- Oxygen administration
- Call ALS
- Provide oral glucose for hypoglycemia according to the protocol
- Medications according to protocol
Know what the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke scale is and how we do it? - Answer--
Facial droop
normal: both sides of the face move equally
abnormal: one side of the face does not move at all
- Arm drift (ask the patient to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up)
normal: both arms move equally or not at all
abnormal: one arm drifts compared to the other
- Speech
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