Chapter 10

Breathing is controlled by an area in the

• lungs

• brain stem

• spinal cord

• diaphragm

The EMT should assess a patient’s tidal volume by

• observing for adequate chest rise

• assessing the facial area for cyanosis

• counting the patient’s respiratory rate

• measuring the patient’s oxygen saturation

In an otherwise healthy individual, the primary stimulus to breathe is a(n):

• increased level of oxygen in the blood

• decreased level of oxygen in the blood

• increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood

• decreased level of carbon dioxide in the blood

Signs of adequate breathing in the adult include all of the following, EXCEPT:

• pink, warm, dry skin

• shallow chest rise

• symmetrical chest movement.

• a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min

During insertion of an oropharyngeal airway into an unconscious patient, she begins to vomit. The first thing you should do is:

• turn the patient on her side

• remove the airway at once

• suction the patient’s mouth

• Use a smaller-sized oral airway.

In which of the following patients would a nasopharyngeal airway be contraindicated?

• A semiconscious patient with a gag reflex

• An unconscious patient with an intact gag reflex

• A patient who fell 20 feet and landed on his or her head

• An unconscious patient who gags when you insert an oral airway

You are delivering oxygen to a patient with a nasal cannula at 4 L/min when he begins to complain of a burning sensation in his nose. You should:

• remove the nasal cannula

• apply a nonrebreathing mask

• attach an oxygen humidifier

• increase the flow rate to 6 L/min

A patient is found unconscious after falling from a third-floor window. His respirations are slow and irregular. You should

• place him in the recovery position

• apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask

• suction his airway for up to 15 seconds

• assist his breathing with a bag-mask device.

When ventilating an apneic adult with a bag-valve mask, you should squeeze the bag:

• until it is empty

• over a period of 2 seconds

• at a rate of 20 breaths/min

• until visible chest rise is noted

You and your partner are ventilating an apneic adult when you notice that his stomach is becoming distended. You should

• suction his airway for up to 15 seconds

• reposition his head

• increase the rate and volume of your ventilations

• decrease your ventilation rate but use more volume