AEMT EMS Operations and Scene Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The START triage system classifies patients into four categories. Which color tag indicates immediate life-threatening injuries that are survivable with rapid intervention?
- Green (Minor)
- Yellow (Delayed)
- Red (Immediate) (Correct answer)
- Black (Expectant/Deceased)
Correct answer: Red (Immediate)
Red tags in START triage identify patients with critical but survivable injuries who require immediate treatment to prevent death.
Question 2: During a mass-casualty incident (MCI), which patient is assigned a BLACK tag under START triage?
- Any patient who is unconscious
- Patients with apnea that persists after one attempt to open the airway (Correct answer)
- Patients with a respiratory rate above 30 breaths/min
- Patients with radial pulses present but weak
Correct answer: Patients with apnea that persists after one attempt to open the airway
In START, a patient who remains apneic after one attempt to open the airway is tagged black (expectant/deceased) because resuscitation resources must be allocated to savable patients.
Question 3: The Incident Command System (ICS) principle of 'span of control' recommends that one supervisor oversee no more than:
- 3 subordinates
- 5–7 subordinates (Correct answer)
- 10 subordinates
- 15 subordinates
Correct answer: 5–7 subordinates
ICS recommends a span of control of 3–7 subordinates per supervisor, with 5 as the optimal number to maintain effective oversight.
Question 4: Upon arriving at a scene with downed power lines across a vehicle, you should:
- Approach immediately to assess victims and move them from the vehicle
- Stage at a safe distance, keep bystanders back, and wait for the utility company to de-energize the lines (Correct answer)
- Drive over the lines to access the scene
- Use metal tools to move the lines away from the vehicle
Correct answer: Stage at a safe distance, keep bystanders back, and wait for the utility company to de-energize the lines
Downed power lines must be treated as energized until utility personnel confirm they are de-energized; approach creates lethal electrocution risk.
Question 5: Which of the following is the CORRECT order of the AEMT's scene size-up?
- BSI precautions → mechanism of injury/nature of illness → scene safety → number of patients
- Scene safety → BSI/standard precautions → mechanism/nature of illness → number of patients → additional resources (Correct answer)
- Number of patients → BSI → scene safety → mechanism
- Mechanism of injury → scene safety → BSI → patient count
Correct answer: Scene safety → BSI/standard precautions → mechanism/nature of illness → number of patients → additional resources
Scene size-up begins with ensuring safety first, then donning BSI precautions, assessing MOI/NOI, counting patients, and calling for additional resources as needed.
Question 6: When documenting a patient's refusal of care, which of the following is ESSENTIAL to include in the PCR?
- A note that the patient seemed unreasonable
- Documentation that the patient was informed of the risks of refusal, demonstrated decision-making capacity, and signed a refusal form (Correct answer)
- Only the patient's name and that they refused
- The crew's opinion of the patient's decision
Correct answer: Documentation that the patient was informed of the risks of refusal, demonstrated decision-making capacity, and signed a refusal form
A legally defensible refusal of care requires documenting patient capacity, information given about risks, the offer to return, and a signed refusal witnessed by a bystander or crew member.
AEMT EMS Operations and Scene Management 1
The START triage system classifies patients into four categories.
Which color tag indicates immediate life-threatening injuries that are survivable with rapid intervention?