Equipment and Tools Flashcards

When applying a tourniquet for extremity hemorrhage control, the device should be placed:

Answer: 2–3 inches proximal to the wound

Tourniquets are applied 2–3 inches (5–7 cm) proximal to the wound to occlude arterial flow above the injury site.

After applying a tourniquet, the EMT should:

Answer: Note the time of application and document it prominently

The time of tourniquet application must be documented and communicated to receiving hospital staff to guide limb viability assessment.

A hemostatic dressing (e.g., Combat Gauze with kaolin) works primarily by:

Answer: Activating clotting factors to accelerate hemostasis

Hemostatic agents like kaolin or chitosan accelerate the clotting cascade by activating platelets and coagulation factors at the wound site.

The purpose of a vented chest seal (occlusive dressing with a flutter valve) is to:

Answer: Seal an open chest wound and allow air to escape during exhalation

A vented chest seal seals the sucking chest wound on inhalation while the one-way flutter valve allows accumulated air to escape on exhalation, preventing tension pneumothorax.

Which stretcher configuration is used when carrying a patient DOWN a flight of stairs?

Answer: Patient's feet toward the foot of the stairs (feet-first down)

When carrying a patient downstairs on a stretcher, the patient goes feet-first so the head-end rescuer can maintain control and monitor the patient.

The nasal cannula delivers what approximate FiO2 range at flow rates of 1–6 LPM?

Answer: 24–44%

A nasal cannula delivers approximately 24% O2 at 1 LPM, increasing by ~4% per liter, reaching approximately 44% at 6 LPM.

Which device provides the highest delivered oxygen concentration to a spontaneously breathing patient?

Answer: Non-rebreather mask at 15 LPM

A non-rebreather mask with the reservoir fully inflated at 15 LPM delivers the highest FiO2 (~90–100%) for spontaneously breathing patients.