EMS Ops - Exam II Review Questions
and Answers
Discuss the history and development of aviation in E.M.S. - ✔✔ - Aviation has been
transporting the injured since World War I, 1917;
● Fixed-wing aircraft 'facility-to-facility', 90 years;
● Helicopters begin patient transports in 1953;
● 1st Medic's onboard providing care in 1962
What are some key issues to consider regarding air medical transport? - ✔✔ - ● T -
Transport time from Scene;
● I - Illness severity;
● M - Machines and skills not available;
● E - Environment; landing zone availability, time of day, and weather
The choice to use ground or air transportation is made by determining what? - ✔✔ -
which method will deliver the patient to an appropriate facility the fastest
Identify criteria for working as a member of an air medical flight crew. - ✔✔ - ● 5 years
experience;
● E.D., NICCU, PICCU, C.C.U., I.C.U.;
● Alphabet courses;
● Excellent decision making and assessment skills;
● Continuing Education;
● Critical Care and Flight Certification;
● Pilot flight hours
Describe the different types of equipment carried on air medical transport vehicles. - ✔✔
- ● Cardiac Monitor;
● Respirator;
● Defibrillator;
● Ventilator;
● Intubation Equipment;
● Built in Medical Oxygen;
● Life pak;
● Portable Suction Units;
● Power Inverter
Define rotor-wing aircraft or helicopters. - ✔✔ - ● used for scene-to-facility and facility-
to-facility transport;
● have a shorter travel radius;
● fly lower;
● fly slower than fixed-wing aircraft
,Define fixed-wing aircraft. - ✔✔ - ● facility-to-facility transport;
● travel farther, > 150 mile distance;
● fly higher;
● fly faster
True or False: The standard of care for critical care ground transport is defined in a
national standard curriculum. - ✔✔ - False
True or False: Critical care ground transport is defined by the Department of Health and
Human Services strictly as inter-facility transportation of a critically ill or injured person. -
✔✔ - True
True or False: Critical care ground transport units must be equipped with specialty
equipment in addition to the equipment required for an A.C.L.S. ambulance. - ✔✔ - True
True or False: Igor Sikorsky is considered the inventor of the first helicopters used by
the United States military. - ✔✔ - True
The first use of a helicopter for the rescue of a patient took place when? - ✔✔ - the first
documented rescue of a patient took place in the jungles of Burma in 1944
True or False: Henry's law is associated with decompression sickness. - ✔✔ - True.
Henry's law is associated with decompression sickness and is related to the solubility of
gases in liquids in equilibrium because the amount of gas dissolved in a liquid is
proportional to the gas pressure.
List some elements that cause stress of transport. - ✔✔ - ● decreased humidity;
● fatigue;
● noise
What condition is not likely to meet the criteria for air transport? - ✔✔ - An isolated
extremity fracture because the patient is 'usually' stable. Transport of this type of patient
may unnecessarily put the flight crew and patient at risk.
What conditions are likely to meet the criteria for air transport? - ✔✔ - ● Cardiogenic
shock;
● Dissecting and bleeding aortic aneurysm;
● Intracranial bleeding
True or False: Airway compromise is considered physiologic criteria for the activation of
a medical helicopter. - ✔✔ - True. Airway compromise meets the physiologic criteria for
air medical transport, but be mindful of local protocols when making the decision.
, True or False: Prolonged extrication may meet the anatomic criteria for the activation of
a medical helicopter. - ✔✔ - False. Prolonged extrication typically meets the mechanism
of injury criteria for air medical transport.
True or False: Limb paralysis may meet the anatomic criteria for the activation of a
medical helicopter. - ✔✔ - True, because of the possible loss of limb or use as an
outcome.
What is the best surface for a Landing Zone (LZ)? - ✔✔ - Concrete is considered the
best surface for a landing zone because it is likely to be the most level and debris-free
surface.
What is the typical size of a Landing Zone (LZ)? - ✔✔ - Most flight services require a
100 ft by 100 ft area to land a medical helicopter. You should know the expectations of
the flight services in your area.
Identify the conditions and situations where air medical transport should be considered.
- ✔✔ - ● Aircraft is the A.L.S. resource for this incident;
● Ground personnel are unable to perform a specific skill;
● Difficult Airway issues;
● Aircraft carries machines and tools not available to ground units
List some advantages of using air transport. - ✔✔ - ● Reduces transport time if distance
is extreme;
● Provides less injury to patients over rough terrain;
● Specialized skills or equipment is needed;
● Can provide access to remote areas;
● Helicopter hospital helipads are available;
● Availability of medical crew with advanced skills
List some disadvantages of using air transport. - ✔✔ - ● Space limitations if the need for
C.P.R. arises;
● Weather and terrain;
● Altitude and Airspeed limitations;
● Cost;
● Patient's condition;
● Restrictions on number of caregivers;
● Potential for crash
What Federal Regulation sets the standards for ambulance design and manufacturing
specifications? - ✔✔ - Department of Transportation (DOT) KKK 1822
Describe the steps and considerations for preparing a patient for air medical transport. -
✔✔ - ● Packaged properly: buckles, blankets, loose material;
● Airway Control: patent, secure, and well managed;
and Answers
Discuss the history and development of aviation in E.M.S. - ✔✔ - Aviation has been
transporting the injured since World War I, 1917;
● Fixed-wing aircraft 'facility-to-facility', 90 years;
● Helicopters begin patient transports in 1953;
● 1st Medic's onboard providing care in 1962
What are some key issues to consider regarding air medical transport? - ✔✔ - ● T -
Transport time from Scene;
● I - Illness severity;
● M - Machines and skills not available;
● E - Environment; landing zone availability, time of day, and weather
The choice to use ground or air transportation is made by determining what? - ✔✔ -
which method will deliver the patient to an appropriate facility the fastest
Identify criteria for working as a member of an air medical flight crew. - ✔✔ - ● 5 years
experience;
● E.D., NICCU, PICCU, C.C.U., I.C.U.;
● Alphabet courses;
● Excellent decision making and assessment skills;
● Continuing Education;
● Critical Care and Flight Certification;
● Pilot flight hours
Describe the different types of equipment carried on air medical transport vehicles. - ✔✔
- ● Cardiac Monitor;
● Respirator;
● Defibrillator;
● Ventilator;
● Intubation Equipment;
● Built in Medical Oxygen;
● Life pak;
● Portable Suction Units;
● Power Inverter
Define rotor-wing aircraft or helicopters. - ✔✔ - ● used for scene-to-facility and facility-
to-facility transport;
● have a shorter travel radius;
● fly lower;
● fly slower than fixed-wing aircraft
,Define fixed-wing aircraft. - ✔✔ - ● facility-to-facility transport;
● travel farther, > 150 mile distance;
● fly higher;
● fly faster
True or False: The standard of care for critical care ground transport is defined in a
national standard curriculum. - ✔✔ - False
True or False: Critical care ground transport is defined by the Department of Health and
Human Services strictly as inter-facility transportation of a critically ill or injured person. -
✔✔ - True
True or False: Critical care ground transport units must be equipped with specialty
equipment in addition to the equipment required for an A.C.L.S. ambulance. - ✔✔ - True
True or False: Igor Sikorsky is considered the inventor of the first helicopters used by
the United States military. - ✔✔ - True
The first use of a helicopter for the rescue of a patient took place when? - ✔✔ - the first
documented rescue of a patient took place in the jungles of Burma in 1944
True or False: Henry's law is associated with decompression sickness. - ✔✔ - True.
Henry's law is associated with decompression sickness and is related to the solubility of
gases in liquids in equilibrium because the amount of gas dissolved in a liquid is
proportional to the gas pressure.
List some elements that cause stress of transport. - ✔✔ - ● decreased humidity;
● fatigue;
● noise
What condition is not likely to meet the criteria for air transport? - ✔✔ - An isolated
extremity fracture because the patient is 'usually' stable. Transport of this type of patient
may unnecessarily put the flight crew and patient at risk.
What conditions are likely to meet the criteria for air transport? - ✔✔ - ● Cardiogenic
shock;
● Dissecting and bleeding aortic aneurysm;
● Intracranial bleeding
True or False: Airway compromise is considered physiologic criteria for the activation of
a medical helicopter. - ✔✔ - True. Airway compromise meets the physiologic criteria for
air medical transport, but be mindful of local protocols when making the decision.
, True or False: Prolonged extrication may meet the anatomic criteria for the activation of
a medical helicopter. - ✔✔ - False. Prolonged extrication typically meets the mechanism
of injury criteria for air medical transport.
True or False: Limb paralysis may meet the anatomic criteria for the activation of a
medical helicopter. - ✔✔ - True, because of the possible loss of limb or use as an
outcome.
What is the best surface for a Landing Zone (LZ)? - ✔✔ - Concrete is considered the
best surface for a landing zone because it is likely to be the most level and debris-free
surface.
What is the typical size of a Landing Zone (LZ)? - ✔✔ - Most flight services require a
100 ft by 100 ft area to land a medical helicopter. You should know the expectations of
the flight services in your area.
Identify the conditions and situations where air medical transport should be considered.
- ✔✔ - ● Aircraft is the A.L.S. resource for this incident;
● Ground personnel are unable to perform a specific skill;
● Difficult Airway issues;
● Aircraft carries machines and tools not available to ground units
List some advantages of using air transport. - ✔✔ - ● Reduces transport time if distance
is extreme;
● Provides less injury to patients over rough terrain;
● Specialized skills or equipment is needed;
● Can provide access to remote areas;
● Helicopter hospital helipads are available;
● Availability of medical crew with advanced skills
List some disadvantages of using air transport. - ✔✔ - ● Space limitations if the need for
C.P.R. arises;
● Weather and terrain;
● Altitude and Airspeed limitations;
● Cost;
● Patient's condition;
● Restrictions on number of caregivers;
● Potential for crash
What Federal Regulation sets the standards for ambulance design and manufacturing
specifications? - ✔✔ - Department of Transportation (DOT) KKK 1822
Describe the steps and considerations for preparing a patient for air medical transport. -
✔✔ - ● Packaged properly: buckles, blankets, loose material;
● Airway Control: patent, secure, and well managed;
