First Responder Principles 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 flashcards as text
An EMR is alone with a patient in cardiac arrest and no AED is immediately available. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio?
Answer: 30:2
For an adult in cardiac arrest, the standard CPR ratio is 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths (30:2), regardless of the number of rescuers (unless an advanced airway is in place).
When responding to a vehicle collision, which of the following is an example of a high-energy mechanism of injury?
Answer: A head-on collision at 45 mph with intrusion into the passenger compartment
A head-on collision at 45 mph with passenger compartment intrusion represents a high-energy mechanism with significant potential for severe multisystem trauma, triggering a 'trauma alert' response and rapid transport.
What is the purpose of the Incident Command System (ICS) at a multiple-casualty incident (MCI)?
Answer: To establish a coordinated command structure that manages personnel, resources, and communications
The Incident Command System (ICS) provides a scalable organizational framework that coordinates all responders, manages resources, and ensures clear communication and chain of command at MCIs.
Which triage category in the START triage system indicates a patient whose injuries are so severe that survival is unlikely even with immediate care?
Answer: Black (Expectant/Deceased)
In the START triage system, the Black tag (Expectant) is assigned to patients who are deceased or whose injuries are so severe that survival is unlikely given available resources, allowing EMRs to focus on salvageable patients.
A pediatric patient is breathing at 40 breaths per minute with nasal flaring and subcostal retractions. What does this indicate?
Answer: Increased work of breathing indicating respiratory distress requiring intervention
Nasal flaring and subcostal retractions are signs of increased work of breathing, indicating respiratory distress regardless of age. A rate of 40/min in a child under 1 year may be normal, but accessory muscle use and retractions signal distress requiring oxygen and monitoring.
When an EMR transfers care to a higher-level provider (paramedic or emergency nurse), what is the minimum information that must be communicated?
Answer: Chief complaint, assessment findings, interventions performed, response to treatment, and patient history (SAMPLE)
A complete patient handoff includes the chief complaint, pertinent physical findings, interventions performed and their effects, and relevant history (SAMPLE: Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent history, Last oral intake, Events leading to emergency).