EMT Flashcard Book, 4th Ed.

By Jeffrey Lindsey

REA's EMT Flashcard Book, 4th Edition 

Raise your score with 400 must-study test questions!

REA's flashcard book for the EMT exam helps you check your test-readiness and get a high score. Our flashcard book is the perfect refresher and offers a quick and convenient way to practice answering questions while pinpointing your strengths and weaknesses.

Written by an expert with nearly 30 years of experience in the fire and EMS arenas, our flashcards give you full scenarios to evaluate in a multiple-choice format, just like the actual test. The book contains 400 must-study questions that cover all the test categories on the EMT exam: airway and breathing, cardiology, medical, obstetrics and pediatrics, and trauma. Handy icons help you locate questions by subject, so you can review and test your knowledge in specific areas. The book also includes fun facts about the medical/EMT profession and its history.

Unlike most flashcards that come loose in a box, our flashcards are bound in an organized, portable book that makes studying a breeze.  Our concise question and answer format makes it easy to find the right answer, and we give details explaining why the answer is correct.

REA's EMT flashcards are perfect for on-the-go review and ideal for individual, classroom, or group study.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Research & Education Association
• Release date: Nov 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9780738688756

Book preview

EMT

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

FLASHCARDS

Jeffrey Lindsey, Ph.D.

Professor of EMS

St. Petersburg College

St. Petersburg, Fla.

Fire Chief (Retired)

Estero Fire Rescue

Estero, Fla.

Research & Education Association

www.rea.com

Research & Education Association

258 Prospect Plains Road

Cranbury, NJ 08512

Email: [e-mail]

EMT Flashcard Book, 4th Edition

Copyright © 2019 by Research & Education Association, Inc.

Prior editions copyright © 2013, 2009, 2006 by Research & Education Association, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7386-1247-8

ISBN-10: 0-7386-1247-2

LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: Publication of this work is for the purpose of test preparation and related use and subjects as set forth herein. While every effort has been made to achieve a work of high quality, neither Research & Education Association, Inc., nor the authors and other contributors of this work guarantee the accuracy or completeness of or assume any liability in connection with the information and opinions contained herein and in REA’s software and/or online materials. REA and the authors and other contributors shall in no event be liable for any personal injury, property or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use or reliance upon this work.

All trademarks cited in this publication are the property of their respective owners.

Cover image © iStockphoto.com/kali9

REA® is a registered trademark of

Research & Education Association, Inc.

Contents

Getting Ready for the EMT Exam

Icon Key

About the Author

Question & Answer

Index

Getting Ready for the EMT Exam

Serving the public as an Emergency Medical Technician is a rewarding career for anyone who wants to enter the world of first responders. EMTs are on call 24 hours a day, every day—when disaster strikes, in life-threatening medical emergencies, and in other crisis situations. When EMTs answer a call for help, they must be prepared for anything and know how to act quickly and safely when someone’s life is in their hands.

EMTs have a great responsibility to the public and must meet certain requirements before receiving EMT certification. Forty-six states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and six federal agencies require that candidates complete a training program and pass the appropriate National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam.

If you are currently enrolled in an EMT certification program and are getting ready to take the exam, our EMT Flashcard Book will help you prepare.

About Your EMT Exam

Your EMT certification requires that you take the EMT cognitive test and psychomotor test. Both portions of the exam must be passed in order to receive certification. The cognitive test is a multiple-choice test taken at a Pearson VUE testing center. The psychomotor test is a practical, or hands-on, examination. Your state EMS office or course instructor can give you detailed information about the specific requirements for that part of the exam.

The EMT exam is a computer-adaptive test, or CAT, that delivers questions one at a time, and the questions are not randomly chosen but instead determined by your performance on the previous question. The software that drives the test continually adjusts to your ability level. The ability estimate gets more and more precise as the exam progresses. The exam ends when there is a 95% certainty that your demonstrated competency is above or below the passing standard. Because of its adaptive nature, the exam will serve up between 70 and 120 multiple-choice items, and you will have two hours to complete the test. Each question will have four answer choices. You need to choose the best answer for the question posed. The topics covered on the exam include airway, respiration, and ventilation; cardiology and resuscitation; trauma; medical; obstetrics and gynecology; and EMS operations.

For more information about becoming an EMT or locating a training program in your state, visit www.nremt.org.

About This Book

Written by a nationally recognized expert, our flashcard book gives you 400 high-quality test questions with detailed answer explanations. Each flashcard provides full scenarios to evaluate in a multiple-choice format, just like the actual EMT exam. Our test-category icons help you locate questions by subject so you can target areas that need extra attention.

When you’ve mastered the material in this book, you’ll be well equipped to pass the actual exam, and on your way to EMT certification.

Good luck on the EMT exam!

Icon Key

Use these handy icons to locate questions by subject:

About the Author

Jeffrey Lindsey, Ph.D., has served in a variety of roles in the fire and EMS arena for the past 25 years. He has held positions as firefighter, paramedic, dispatcher, educator, coordinator, deputy chief, and chief. Formerly the education coordinator for 24-7 EMS Videos, he has also worked in the insurance industry in education and risk control. Dr. Lindsey serves on various advisory boards, state and national committees, and also writes a monthly column for JEMS, a national EMS journal. He is currently the Operations Chief for Estero Fire Rescue in Estero, Florida. Dr. Lindsey is Senior Partner with International Consulting and Training Specialists and is Professor of EMS at St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Dr. Lindsey started his career in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as a volunteer firefighter/EMT. In 1985, he pioneered the first advanced life support service in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Lindsey has experience in various environments, from the Philadelphia Fire Department to hospital and third-service organization.

He holds an associate’s degree in paramedicine from Harrisburg Area Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Fire and Safety from the University of Cincinnati, a master’s degree in Instructional Technology, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology/Adult Education from the University of South Florida. In addition, Dr. Lindsey completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.

He has designed and developed various courses in fire and EMS. Dr. Lindsey is accredited with the Chief Fire Officer Designation. He also is a certified Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor III, and paramedic in the state of Florida and holds a paramedic certificate for the state of Pennsylvania. He is a certified instructor in ACLS, Advanced Hazmat Life Support, and PHTLS, and instructs a variety of courses.

About REA

Founded in 1959, Research & Education Association (REA) is dedicated to publishing the finest and most effective educational materials—including study guides and test preps—for students of all ages.

Today, REA’s wide-ranging catalog is a leading resource for students, teachers, and other professionals. Visit www.rea.com to see a complete listing of all our titles.

Question & Answer

Q–1

You arrive to find a 48-year-old male complaining that his chest feels heavy. The patient is awake and talking to you. During your assessment you note that his skin is pale, cool, and clammy. Your first step is to

(A)apply your AED.

(B)administer supplemental oxygen.

(C)obtain a medical history.

(D)assist the patient in taking his neighbor’s nitroglycerin.

Your Answer ____________

A–1

(B)Your first step is to administer supplemental oxygen. When treating chest pain it is important to get oxygen to the patient as soon as possible to help alleviate damage to the heart muscle.

Q–2

Which of the following is the correct flow of blood through the heart and lungs?

(A)inferior/superior vena cavae, lungs, right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle, aorta

(B)inferior/superior vena cavae, left atrium, left ventricle, lungs, right atrium, left ventricle, aorta

(C)inferior/superior vena cavae, lungs, aorta, left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, left ventricle

(D)inferior/superior vena cavae, right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta

Your Answer ____________

A–2

(D)The blood returns from the body to the heart through the inferior/ superior vena cavae, to the right atrium, to the right ventricle. It then goes through the pulmonary artery to the lungs and is oxygenated. From there it returns to the left atrium through the pulmonary vein. From the left atrium it goes to the left ventricle and back out to the body through the aorta.

Q–3

The mitral or bicuspid valve

(A)prevents the blood from backflowing into the left atrium.

(B)prevents the blood from backflowing into the right atrium.

(C)prevents the blood from backflowing into the lungs.

(D)is located between the left atrium and the right ventricle.

Your Answer ____________

A–3

(A)The mitral or bicuspid valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It prevents the blood from backflowing into the left atrium.

Q–4

The electrical impulse generated in the right atrium is called the

(A)atrioventricular node.

(B)purkinje fibers.

(C)sinoatrial node.

(D)bundle of His.

Your Answer ____________

A–4

(C)The electrical impulse generated at the right atrium is the sinoatrial node (SA node). It travels through both atria, causing both to contract simultaneously, which propels the blood to the ventricles.

Q–5

Which component of blood provides an immune system for the body, defending against infections?

(A)red blood cells

(B)white blood cells

(C)plasma

(D)platelets

Your Answer ____________

A–5

(B)White blood cells provide part of the body’s immune system, or defense against infections. Red blood cells give blood its color and transport the oxygen to the body’s cells and carbon dioxide away from the body’s cells. Plasma is the serum, or fluid, that carries blood cells and nutrients to the body’s cells. Platelets are important in the formation of blood clots.

Q–6

When differentiating between angina pectoris and a myocardial infarction, you know that

(A)there is no difference between the two.

(B)angina pectoris is caused by physical or emotional stress.

(C)rest will relieve symptoms of a myocardial infarction.

(D)the pain from angina pectoris is continual and will not go away.

Your Answer ____________

A–6

(B)Angina pectoris is usually caused by a physical or emotional state of stress. It usually only lasts from 3 to 8 minutes, but no longer than 10 minutes. It is usually relieved by rest, unlike a myocardial infarction.

Q–7

You arrive on the scene to discover an unconscious patient. Upon completing your primary assessment, you find the patient to be pulseless and apneic. Your next step would be to

(A)begin CPR.

(B)give two ventilations.

(C)apply the AED.

(D)check the pulse for another 60 seconds.

Your Answer ____________

A–7

(A)Begin CPR immediately. Then apply the AED. It is important to deliver a counter-shock with the AED if the patient is in v-fib or pulseless v-tach.

Q–8

The AED is used to treat patients in

(A)asystole.

(B)ventricular tachycardia with a pulse.

(C)ventricular fibrillation.

(D)pulseless electrical activity.

Your Answer ____________

A–8

(C)The AED is designed to treat patients in v-fib or pulseless v-tach. The AED should only be connected to patients who are pulseless and apneic. The AED is designed to shock those electrical rhythms that are disorganized or very fast and do not have pulses associated with them.

Q–9

Which of the following is the first line of defense in fighting against infectious disease?

(A)vaccinations

(B)handwashing

(C)using BSI

(D)using 10% bleach

Your Answer ____________

A–9

(B)The most fundamental process and the first line of protection against infectious disease is handwashing. Vaccinations and BSI are important components of preventing infectious diseases, but handwashing is the most fundamental and is the first line of protection.

Q–10

You arrive on the scene to discover a 65-year-old female lying on the floor of her living room. Your first step in the care of this patient is to

(A)begin chest compressions.

(B)apply the AED.

(C)maintain an open airway.

(D)assess level of consciousness.

Your Answer ____________

A–10

(D)The first step when arriving at the patient’s side is to establish the patient’s level of responsiveness.

Q–11

You are on the scene with a patient dying from a terminal illness. The spouse of the patient begins to verbally attack you. Which emotional stage is this individual exhibiting?

(A)denial

(B)anger

(C)bargaining

(D)depression

Your Answer ____________

A–11

(B)As the dying patient and/or the patient’s family moves through the stages of emotion, you may find yourself in the middle of the situation. In this case the patient’s family is really not angry at you, but exhibiting the signs of anger commonly found at this stage in the process.

Q–12

You arrive on the scene to find a patient who had a productive cough for the past two weeks. The patient is complaining of a fever and night sweats. Your next