EMR Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally. After calling 911, what is your next immediate action?
- Begin chest compressions (Correct answer)
- Apply an AED
- Open the airway with a head-tilt chin-lift
- Check for a pulse for 10 seconds
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions
For an unresponsive, non-breathing adult, you should begin chest compressions immediately as part of the CAB (Compressions-Airway-Breathing) sequence.
Question 2: When providing care for a patient with a suspected spinal injury, which technique should be used to open the airway?
- Head-tilt chin-lift
- Jaw-thrust maneuver (Correct answer)
- Neck hyperextension
- Finger sweep
Correct answer: Jaw-thrust maneuver
The jaw-thrust maneuver opens the airway without moving the cervical spine, making it the preferred method for patients with suspected spinal injuries.
Question 3: A child is found unresponsive. You give 2 rescue breaths and begin CPR. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer caring for a child?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 5:1
- 10:2
Correct answer: 30:2
Single-rescuer CPR for children uses a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio, the same as for adults.
Question 4: You are caring for a patient with severe bleeding from the thigh. Direct pressure has failed to control it. What is your next step?
- Apply a tourniquet 2–3 inches above the wound (Correct answer)
- Pack the wound and apply pressure
- Elevate the limb and apply ice
- Apply a pressure bandage over the existing dressing
Correct answer: Apply a tourniquet 2–3 inches above the wound
A tourniquet applied 2–3 inches proximal to the wound is the appropriate next step when direct pressure fails to control life-threatening extremity bleeding.
Question 5: When performing rescue breathing for an adult who has a pulse but is not breathing, how often should you deliver ventilations?
- Every 2–3 seconds
- Every 5–6 seconds (Correct answer)
- Every 10–12 seconds
- Every 15 seconds
Correct answer: Every 5–6 seconds
Rescue breathing for an adult with a pulse is delivered at a rate of one breath every 5–6 seconds (10–12 breaths per minute).
Question 6: A patient is in anaphylactic shock after a bee sting. Which intervention is the EMR's priority?
- Administer epinephrine auto-injector if available and authorized (Correct answer)
- Apply a cold pack to the sting site
- Administer oral antihistamines
- Place the patient supine and elevate the legs
Correct answer: Administer epinephrine auto-injector if available and authorized
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, and an EMR should administer an auto-injector if available and within their scope of practice.
Question 7: While caring for a patient with an open chest wound, you hear a sucking sound with each breath. What should you do?
- Apply a non-occlusive dressing to prevent infection
- Seal the wound with a vented (three-sided) chest seal (Correct answer)
- Leave the wound uncovered to allow air to escape
- Apply firm pressure with a gloved hand only
Correct answer: Seal the wound with a vented (three-sided) chest seal
A vented chest seal allows air to escape during exhalation while preventing air entry during inhalation, reducing the risk of tension pneumothorax.
EMR Care 2
A patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
After calling 911, what is your next immediate action?