EMT: Patient Assessment
1. AIRWAY:
A patient who isn't breathing for 3 mins is
a. not likely to have brain damage
b. very likely: a. not likely; damage can occur as soon as 4 mins w/ brain death occurring @ 4-6 mins
2. AIRWAY:
When you do CPR, the patient gets how much oxygen?
a. 0.21
b. 0.16
c. 0.4
d. 0: b. 0.16
3. The initial CPR has caused some gastric distention and you are worried about possible aspiration. What is
the best method to protect the patient's airway?: Cricoid pressure/sellick maneuver
4. O2 tank @ 1500 psi & pt needs 16L/min. How long will it last?: -
(1500-200)*16/15=13.86 mins
5. RESPIRATORY
You are dispatched to a residence for a man experiencing shortness of breath. Upon arrival you are directed to a
bedroom where you find an older man sitting on the end of the bed. From across the room you notice that the
patient is leaning forward and obviously having difficulty breathing. He appears pale and is blue (cyanotic) aroun
the lips. Barely able to speak, the patient tells you he had a severe bout of coughing about 20 minutes ago. That is
when the severe shortness of breath suddenly began.
Your partner places the patient on oxygen and obtains the following vital signs: pulse, 120 beats/min and weak;
blood pressure, 100/70 mm Hg; and respirations, 28 breaths/min and labored. The patient tells you he also feels a
stabbing pain in the left side of his chest when he breathes in and out. The patient's wife tells you the patient was
diagnosed with COPD and has had asthma for the past 3 years.
1. When listening to lung sounds on this patient, you would expect:
2. This patient is most likely suffering from:: 1. Absent or decreased lung sounds on 1 side
2. Spontaneous pneumothorax
6. Name 2 processes of COPD and explain: COPD is composed of three separate disease processes: emphysema,
bronchitis, and asthma. Emphysema and bronchi- tis are the processes of concern here, discussed in this chapter. The
underlying cause of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis is inhalation of toxins. Asthma attacks are "triggered" by an
allergic reaction. All three diseases reduce the amount
, EMT: Patient Assessment
of oxygen to be diffused into the blood stream and limit the body's removal carbon dioxide. Emphysema and chronic
bronchitis attack older patients, whereas asthma attacks patients of all ages.
7. I see increased CO2 in pt w COPD- does this change the assessment?: - Patients with COPD routinely have high
CO2 levels in their blood stream. For this reason, the body gets used to the high CO2 levels and uses other means such
as hypoxic drive to control respirations.
8. As you enter the mayor's office you see an older man sitting in a chair. He is pale, sweaty, and appears to be
short of breath.You introduce yourself and the patient responds, "I feel like I'm going to die." He tells you he has
a "stabbing" pain in his chest that moves to his left arm. The pain started 15 minutes ago while working at his
desk. The patient has a pulse of 90 beats/min and irregular, a blood pressure of 180/100 mm Hg, and respirations
of 22 breaths/min. He continues to tell you he had open heart surgery two years ago and takes nitroglycerin for
angina and Lopressor for high blood pressure.
1: The patient's general appearance, SAMPLE history, and vital signs lead you to believe this patient is having
a(n):
2. B/c pain has lasted longer than 15 mins, you can rule out:: 1. AMI (acute myocardial infarction)
2. angina pectoris
9. A severe blockage of a coronary artery that depletes the heart's ability to pump is called:: Cardiac arrest
10.AMIs (heart attacks) do not always lead to sudden death. The patient can also have cardiogenic shock and::
congestive heart failure (CHF)
11.Explain the differences in pain between an AMI and angina pectoris.: AMI pain is not caused by exertion and
it does not resolve in a few minutes. Pain of AMI is not relieved after administering nitroglycerin.
12.What are signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) and the treatment?: Congestive heart failure
is a chronic disease of the heart muscle. As the muscle gets older and damaged from lack of oxygen the muscle loses
strength. As the heart muscle pump is weakened, blood backs up. In right-sided CHF blood backs up from the right
atrium to the body. This causes peripheral edema to the legs (ankles) and sometimes the arms. With left-sided failure the
blood backs up into the lungs, causing pulmonary edema. The treatment for minor CHF includes making the patient
comfortable and providing oxygen by nasal cannula. More severe CHF will require more attention. High-flow oxygen by
a nonrebreathing mask, supporting ventilations with a BVM, and rapid transport will be required.
1. AIRWAY:
A patient who isn't breathing for 3 mins is
a. not likely to have brain damage
b. very likely: a. not likely; damage can occur as soon as 4 mins w/ brain death occurring @ 4-6 mins
2. AIRWAY:
When you do CPR, the patient gets how much oxygen?
a. 0.21
b. 0.16
c. 0.4
d. 0: b. 0.16
3. The initial CPR has caused some gastric distention and you are worried about possible aspiration. What is
the best method to protect the patient's airway?: Cricoid pressure/sellick maneuver
4. O2 tank @ 1500 psi & pt needs 16L/min. How long will it last?: -
(1500-200)*16/15=13.86 mins
5. RESPIRATORY
You are dispatched to a residence for a man experiencing shortness of breath. Upon arrival you are directed to a
bedroom where you find an older man sitting on the end of the bed. From across the room you notice that the
patient is leaning forward and obviously having difficulty breathing. He appears pale and is blue (cyanotic) aroun
the lips. Barely able to speak, the patient tells you he had a severe bout of coughing about 20 minutes ago. That is
when the severe shortness of breath suddenly began.
Your partner places the patient on oxygen and obtains the following vital signs: pulse, 120 beats/min and weak;
blood pressure, 100/70 mm Hg; and respirations, 28 breaths/min and labored. The patient tells you he also feels a
stabbing pain in the left side of his chest when he breathes in and out. The patient's wife tells you the patient was
diagnosed with COPD and has had asthma for the past 3 years.
1. When listening to lung sounds on this patient, you would expect:
2. This patient is most likely suffering from:: 1. Absent or decreased lung sounds on 1 side
2. Spontaneous pneumothorax
6. Name 2 processes of COPD and explain: COPD is composed of three separate disease processes: emphysema,
bronchitis, and asthma. Emphysema and bronchi- tis are the processes of concern here, discussed in this chapter. The
underlying cause of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis is inhalation of toxins. Asthma attacks are "triggered" by an
allergic reaction. All three diseases reduce the amount
, EMT: Patient Assessment
of oxygen to be diffused into the blood stream and limit the body's removal carbon dioxide. Emphysema and chronic
bronchitis attack older patients, whereas asthma attacks patients of all ages.
7. I see increased CO2 in pt w COPD- does this change the assessment?: - Patients with COPD routinely have high
CO2 levels in their blood stream. For this reason, the body gets used to the high CO2 levels and uses other means such
as hypoxic drive to control respirations.
8. As you enter the mayor's office you see an older man sitting in a chair. He is pale, sweaty, and appears to be
short of breath.You introduce yourself and the patient responds, "I feel like I'm going to die." He tells you he has
a "stabbing" pain in his chest that moves to his left arm. The pain started 15 minutes ago while working at his
desk. The patient has a pulse of 90 beats/min and irregular, a blood pressure of 180/100 mm Hg, and respirations
of 22 breaths/min. He continues to tell you he had open heart surgery two years ago and takes nitroglycerin for
angina and Lopressor for high blood pressure.
1: The patient's general appearance, SAMPLE history, and vital signs lead you to believe this patient is having
a(n):
2. B/c pain has lasted longer than 15 mins, you can rule out:: 1. AMI (acute myocardial infarction)
2. angina pectoris
9. A severe blockage of a coronary artery that depletes the heart's ability to pump is called:: Cardiac arrest
10.AMIs (heart attacks) do not always lead to sudden death. The patient can also have cardiogenic shock and::
congestive heart failure (CHF)
11.Explain the differences in pain between an AMI and angina pectoris.: AMI pain is not caused by exertion and
it does not resolve in a few minutes. Pain of AMI is not relieved after administering nitroglycerin.
12.What are signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) and the treatment?: Congestive heart failure
is a chronic disease of the heart muscle. As the muscle gets older and damaged from lack of oxygen the muscle loses
strength. As the heart muscle pump is weakened, blood backs up. In right-sided CHF blood backs up from the right
atrium to the body. This causes peripheral edema to the legs (ankles) and sometimes the arms. With left-sided failure the
blood backs up into the lungs, causing pulmonary edema. The treatment for minor CHF includes making the patient
comfortable and providing oxygen by nasal cannula. More severe CHF will require more attention. High-flow oxygen by
a nonrebreathing mask, supporting ventilations with a BVM, and rapid transport will be required.
