Paramedics Exam EMS Communications 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A crew member reports that transmissions are becoming garbled and intermittent as they move further from the city. This is most likely due to:
- Moisture inside the microphone
- Operating beyond the radio's effective range (Correct answer)
- A malfunctioning squelch control
- Interference from the vehicle's electrical system
Correct answer: Operating beyond the radio's effective range
Garbled and intermittent transmissions at increasing distance indicate the unit is approaching or exceeding the radio's effective range.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question appropriate for radio communication?
- 'Tell me more about the patient's condition.'
- 'Is the patient conscious and breathing?' (Correct answer)
- 'Describe the scene for me.'
- 'What do you think is causing the chest pain?'
Correct answer: 'Is the patient conscious and breathing?'
Closed-ended questions that elicit a 'yes' or 'no' answer are preferred on radio to save time and reduce misunderstandings.
Question 3: Under the Incident Command System (ICS), which position has overall responsibility for the communications function at a scene?
- Operations Section Chief
- Logistics Section Chief (Correct answer)
- Safety Officer
- Finance/Administration Section Chief
Correct answer: Logistics Section Chief
Under ICS, communications falls under the Logistics Section, specifically the Service Branch's Communications Unit.
Question 4: A paramedic hears a transmission beginning with 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.' What does this signal require?
- Routine acknowledgment and queuing for response
- Immediate cessation of all non-emergency traffic and priority response (Correct answer)
- Switching to an alternate frequency per protocol
- Logging the message and notifying the supervisor at the end of shift
Correct answer: Immediate cessation of all non-emergency traffic and priority response
A Mayday call signals a life-threatening emergency and requires all other traffic to clear the channel immediately for priority response.
Question 5: When a paramedic says 'affirmative' on the radio instead of 'yes,' they are following which communication principle?
- HIPAA compliance
- Plain language protocol
- NATO phonetic alphabet
- Clear-word radio discipline to avoid misinterpretation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Clear-word radio discipline to avoid misinterpretation
'Yes' can be misheard as 'S' on a noisy channel, while 'affirmative' is distinct and unambiguous, improving accuracy in voice communications.
Question 6: Which regulation governs the licensing and use of radio frequencies by EMS agencies in the United States?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910
- FCC Part 90 rules (Correct answer)
- NFPA 1221 standard
- HIPAA Security Rule
Correct answer: FCC Part 90 rules
FCC Part 90 rules govern private land mobile radio services, including EMS radio licensing and frequency use.
Question 7: A paramedic's portable radio fails mid-call in a structurally compromised building. The best immediate action is:
- Attempt to repair the radio on scene
- Exit to a location where radio contact can be re-established or use a cellular phone (Correct answer)
- Wait for dispatch to call back on the failed radio
- Continue patient care and document the communication failure later
Correct answer: Exit to a location where radio contact can be re-established or use a cellular phone
When a radio fails in a hazardous location, the paramedic should move to a safe area to re-establish communication via another radio or cell phone.
Paramedics Exam EMS Communications 5
A crew member reports that transmissions are becoming garbled and intermittent as they move further from the city.
This is most likely due to: