Care Fundamentals 1 Flashcards

An EMR arrives at a scene where a conscious adult patient is showing signs of hypovolemic shock after a significant blood loss. Skin is pale, cool, and clammy. Which position is MOST appropriate while awaiting ALS?

Answer: Supine with legs elevated approximately 8–12 inches

Elevating the legs in a supine patient (Trendelenburg-modified/shock position) promotes venous return to the core and vital organs, helping maintain perfusion in hypovolemic shock. This is the standard EMR intervention when spinal injury has been ruled out or is not suspected.

An unresponsive adult patient is breathing adequately and has no suspected spinal injury. Which position should the EMR place this patient in to best protect the airway?

Answer: Recovery (lateral recumbent) position

The recovery position (left lateral recumbent) keeps the airway open and allows fluids such as vomit or blood to drain from the mouth, reducing the risk of aspiration in a breathing but unresponsive patient without suspected spinal injury.

An EMR is treating a patient with a large open sucking chest wound. After sealing three sides of the wound with an occlusive dressing, the patient's respiratory distress suddenly worsens. What is the MOST likely cause and next step?

Answer: A tension pneumothorax is developing; burp or temporarily lift one edge of the dressing

A three-sided occlusive dressing is designed to act as a flutter valve; if the patient deteriorates after application, air may be accumulating under the dressing and creating a tension pneumothorax. Briefly lifting one edge (burping the dressing) allows trapped air to escape and can rapidly reverse this life-threatening complication.

Before approaching a patient at a motor vehicle collision scene, what is the FIRST priority for the EMR?

Answer: Don appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure scene safety

Scene safety and BSI (Body Substance Isolation) precautions are always the first step in any emergency response. An EMR who is injured at an unsafe scene cannot help anyone. PPE protects the provider, and a safety sweep protects all personnel before patient contact begins.

A patient has a partial-thickness burn covering the entire anterior surface of one arm. Using the Rule of Nines for adults, what percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) does this represent?

Answer: 4.5%

In adults, each arm accounts for 9% TBSA total — 4.5% for the anterior surface and 4.5% for the posterior surface. Only the front of one arm is burned here, so the correct estimate is 4.5%. Accurate TBSA estimation guides triage and hospital notification.

When an EMR splints a suspected long-bone fracture of the forearm, which assessment step must be performed BOTH before and after applying the splint?

Answer: Check distal pulse, motor function, and sensation (PMS)

Checking pulse, motor function, and sensation (PMS) distal to the injury before and after splinting is mandatory. A change in any of these findings after splint application may indicate that the splint is too tight or that vascular or nerve compromise has developed, requiring immediate reassessment and loosening of the splint.