First Responder Principles 1 Flashcards
6 cards from real EMR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 First Responder Principles 1 flashcards as text
An EMR arrives on scene and finds an unresponsive adult with no bystanders present. The patient has not given verbal permission for treatment. Under which legal doctrine may the EMR proceed with care?
Answer: Implied consent
Implied consent assumes that an unconscious or otherwise incapacitated patient would consent to life-saving treatment if they were able to do so. It allows EMRs to act without explicit permission when the patient cannot communicate.
Which of the following BEST describes an EMR's 'scope of practice'?
Answer: The specific skills and interventions an EMR is trained and legally authorized to perform
Scope of practice defines the medical interventions, skills, and procedures that a certified EMR is trained and legally permitted to perform. Exceeding this scope can result in legal liability and patient harm.
An EMR responds to a motor vehicle collision and notices downed power lines across two of the vehicles. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action?
Answer: Establish a perimeter and wait for the power company and fire department before approaching
Scene safety is the EMR's first obligation. Downed power lines present an immediate electrocution hazard. The EMR must establish a safe perimeter and await specialized personnel before approaching patients.
A competent, alert adult patient refuses treatment and transport after an EMR assessment. What must the EMR do before leaving the scene?
Answer: Document the refusal, ensure the patient understands the risks, and have the patient sign a refusal form if available
A competent adult has the legal right to refuse care. The EMR's obligation is to ensure the patient is informed of the potential consequences of refusal, document the interaction thoroughly, and obtain a signed refusal when possible to protect both parties.
Which of the following BEST defines the EMR's 'duty to act'?
Answer: A legal and ethical obligation to respond and provide care within one's scope when called upon in an official capacity
Duty to act is a legal and ethical obligation that applies when an EMR is functioning in an official capacity — such as on shift or dispatched. It means the EMR cannot simply choose to ignore a patient requiring care within their scope.
At a scene with a patient who speaks no English and a potential spinal injury, the EMR cannot obtain a clear history. Which approach BEST reflects sound first-responder principles?
Answer: Perform a physical exam, use non-verbal communication and gestures, and apply spinal precautions based on mechanism of injury
When a language barrier exists, EMRs should use physical assessment findings, mechanism of injury, and non-verbal cues to guide care. Spinal precautions are applied based on clinical judgment and mechanism, not solely on the patient's verbal history.