EMT FISDAP Cardiology
Study Guide UPDATED
AND VERIFIED FOR
2025/2026
Which intervention or interventions would have the MOST positive impact on the
cardiac arrest patient's outcome? - ANSWERS--Early CPR and defibrillation
The AED gives "no shock" message to a patient who is in cardiac arrest. You should:
- ANSWERS--Resume chest compressions
What is the maximum amount of time that should be spent checking for spontaneous
breathing in an unresponsive child? - ANSWERS--10 seconds
When performing CPR on an adult, you should compress the chest to a depth of ___
at a rate of ___. - ANSWERS--2.0-2.4 in, 100-150BPM
What is the appropriate compression to ventilation ratio for adult two-rescuer CPR? -
ANSWERS--30:2
When checking for a pulse in an infant, which artery should you palpate? -
ANSWERS--Brachial
When performing CPR on an adult or child, you should reassess the patient for
return of respirations/circulation every ____ minutes. - ANSWERS--2
, What is the preferred method of removing a foreign body in an unresponsive child? -
ANSWERS--Chest compressions
Cardiogenic shock is caused by: - ANSWERS--Inadequate function of the heart
muscle
Pericardial effusion - ANSWERS--Collection of fluid between the pericardial sac and
the myocardium
Cardiac tamponade - ANSWERS--Occurs when blood leaks into the space between
the pericardium and the pericardial sac
Signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade: - ANSWERS--Beck triad: the presence
of jugular vein distention, muffled heart sounds, and a narrowing pulse pressure
where the systolic and diastolic blood pressures start to merge.
Signs of cardiogenic shock: - ANSWERS---Skin may be cool, clammy, and ashen
-High BP
-Rapid, shallow breathing
-Weak, irregular pulse
-Anxiety, nausea
You arrive on scene to find a conscious 58YOF sitting up and reporting severe chest
pain and SOB. She is anxious and "feels like she's going to die." Her skin is pale,
cool, and clammy and her pulse is rapid, weak, and irregular. Her breathing is
labored, with a RR of 28 breaths/min. Her SpO2 is 90%. Lung sounds show crackles
in all fields, and BP is 92/60 mmHg. What is your differential diagnosis of the
patient? - ANSWERS--Cardiogenic shock
The heart is divided down the middle into left and right sides by the: - ANSWERS--
Septum
Which chamber of the heart receives incoming unoxygenated blood? - ANSWERS--
Atrium
Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood? - ANSWERS--Ventricles
Normal electrical impulses begin in the: - ANSWERS--Sinoatrial (SA) node
What characteristic allows a cardiac muscle cells to contract spontaneously without
an external stimulus? - ANSWERS--Automaticity
The sympathetic nervous system acts on the body by: - ANSWERS---increasing HR
and RR
-constricting blood vessels in the muscles
The parasympathetic nervous system acts on the body by: - ANSWERS--(directly
opposes the sympathetic NS)
-decreases HR and RR
Study Guide UPDATED
AND VERIFIED FOR
2025/2026
Which intervention or interventions would have the MOST positive impact on the
cardiac arrest patient's outcome? - ANSWERS--Early CPR and defibrillation
The AED gives "no shock" message to a patient who is in cardiac arrest. You should:
- ANSWERS--Resume chest compressions
What is the maximum amount of time that should be spent checking for spontaneous
breathing in an unresponsive child? - ANSWERS--10 seconds
When performing CPR on an adult, you should compress the chest to a depth of ___
at a rate of ___. - ANSWERS--2.0-2.4 in, 100-150BPM
What is the appropriate compression to ventilation ratio for adult two-rescuer CPR? -
ANSWERS--30:2
When checking for a pulse in an infant, which artery should you palpate? -
ANSWERS--Brachial
When performing CPR on an adult or child, you should reassess the patient for
return of respirations/circulation every ____ minutes. - ANSWERS--2
, What is the preferred method of removing a foreign body in an unresponsive child? -
ANSWERS--Chest compressions
Cardiogenic shock is caused by: - ANSWERS--Inadequate function of the heart
muscle
Pericardial effusion - ANSWERS--Collection of fluid between the pericardial sac and
the myocardium
Cardiac tamponade - ANSWERS--Occurs when blood leaks into the space between
the pericardium and the pericardial sac
Signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade: - ANSWERS--Beck triad: the presence
of jugular vein distention, muffled heart sounds, and a narrowing pulse pressure
where the systolic and diastolic blood pressures start to merge.
Signs of cardiogenic shock: - ANSWERS---Skin may be cool, clammy, and ashen
-High BP
-Rapid, shallow breathing
-Weak, irregular pulse
-Anxiety, nausea
You arrive on scene to find a conscious 58YOF sitting up and reporting severe chest
pain and SOB. She is anxious and "feels like she's going to die." Her skin is pale,
cool, and clammy and her pulse is rapid, weak, and irregular. Her breathing is
labored, with a RR of 28 breaths/min. Her SpO2 is 90%. Lung sounds show crackles
in all fields, and BP is 92/60 mmHg. What is your differential diagnosis of the
patient? - ANSWERS--Cardiogenic shock
The heart is divided down the middle into left and right sides by the: - ANSWERS--
Septum
Which chamber of the heart receives incoming unoxygenated blood? - ANSWERS--
Atrium
Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood? - ANSWERS--Ventricles
Normal electrical impulses begin in the: - ANSWERS--Sinoatrial (SA) node
What characteristic allows a cardiac muscle cells to contract spontaneously without
an external stimulus? - ANSWERS--Automaticity
The sympathetic nervous system acts on the body by: - ANSWERS---increasing HR
and RR
-constricting blood vessels in the muscles
The parasympathetic nervous system acts on the body by: - ANSWERS--(directly
opposes the sympathetic NS)
-decreases HR and RR
