When arriving on scene of a person being stuck by lightning you find they are unresponsive, not breathing, and does not have a pulse. You should:

Family directs you to a bedroom where a 62-year-old male is in respiratory distress. During the scene size-up, which of the following most strongly suggests that the patient suffers from a chronic respiratory disease?

Family directs you to a bedroom where a 62-year-old male is in respiratory distress. During the scene size-up, which of the following most strongly suggests that the patient suffers from a chronic respiratory disease?

What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in infants and children?

When assessing a 3-year-old male in respiratory distress, the EMT should recognize “see-saw” breathing when he observes:

It is important for the EMT to remember that when an infant or child starts to become hypoxic, the pulse will initially:

The mother of a 5-year-old female states that her daughter has been “sick” with a sore throat and fever for several days. The mother became concerned tonight and called 911 because the child was “making funny noises” and could not breathe. Your assessment reveals a lethargic, well-developed child sitting upright and with high-pitched tracheal noises when she breathes. Of the following, what is the priority action?

An alert and oriented 45-year-old female patient is complaining of shortness of breath. Although her respiratory volume and rate are satisfactory, you note cyanosis in her fingertips. Which one of the following should be your next action?

A 67-year-old male patient is complaining of shortness of breath. The patient cannot remember how many times he used his inhaler prior to your arrival. Which of the following should be your next action?

A confused, lethargic, and nonverbal 50-year-old female has altered mental status. You are told she has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The primary assessment reveals a breathing rate of 6 per minute and cool, clammy skin with cyanosis around the lips. Which of the following should be your next action?

How many breaths per minute is normal for a child who is breathing adequately?

How many breaths per minute is normal for an infant?

Which one of the following is considered an early sign of inadequate breathing in children?

Within minutes of administering Proventil (albuterol) to a patient through her metered-dose inhaler (MDI), she is breathing easier and states that she feels much better. An Emergency Medical Responder on scene asks you how the medication in the MDI helped the patient. Which one of the following responses would be most appropriate?

While you are getting a medical history for a patient with generalized weakness and fatigue, she hands you a list of all the medications she is currently taking. Which one of the following medications should the EMT recognize as a bronchodilator?

The medication contained within a metered-dose inhaler is in what form?

Medical direction has ordered you to assist a patient in taking his metered-dose inhaler (MDI). After placing his lips on the mouthpiece, which one of the following instructions would be most appropriate?

You are assisting a patient in taking her metered-dose inhaler for the first time. Which one of the following statements about the side effects of the medication would be most appropriate?

After you administer a medication through a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), it is important that the patient:

A patient requires several doses of medication from her metered-dose inhaler. At a minimum, how long should the EMT wait between administrations?

At a health fair, a patient informs you that she has just been prescribed a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) for her asthma. She states that she is confused about how to take the medication when needed. Which one of the following statements about the MDI would be most appropriate for you to make?

You are administering a medication through a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) using a spacer. Which one of the following actions would be most appropriate?

Your medical director’s written protocol instructs you to obtain on-line medical direction prior to assisting a patient with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Given this protocol, you must contact:

You have been called for a patient who is complaining of shortness of breath. On scene you find the 41-year-old woman sitting upright in bed with nasal flaring and wheezing. A metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is lying on the nightstand next to her. To assist her with the MDI, which of the following criteria must be met?

You are called to a motor vehicle collision. A 26-year-old female states that she was unrestrained and struck the steering column with her chest after the car she was driving struck another from behind. She is somewhat confused, and complaining of chest pain and difficult and painful breathing when she inhales. Her airway is patent and her breathing is adequate. Assessment of the radial pulse reveals it to be rapid and very irregular and weak. She has cyanosis in her nose and finger tips. Her breath sounds are clear and equal and skin moist and pale. She informs you that she suffers from asthma and has a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). What is your best action in treating this patient?

Auscultation of breath sounds in a patient complaining of shortness of breath reveals wheezing. Which one of the following conditions is responsible for this finding?

) A 4-year-old female is having great difficulty breathing. She is responsive to verbal stimuli and has an open airway. Her respiratory rate is 40 breaths per minute, and she has an SpO₂ reading of 88% while receiving high-concentration oxygen through a pediatric nonrebreather mask. Her pulse is rapid, and her skin cool to the touch. As a knowledgeable EMT, you would recognize what condition?

You have been called for a 2-year-old male who is sick and having a difficult time breathing. On scene, you find the patient in his mother’s arms. He appears to have labored breathing and skin that is warm to the touch. What additional assessment finding would you recognize as the most serious?

A 6-year-old female is in respiratory distress and will not keep the nonrebreather face mask on her face. In this situation, the EMT should:

On scene, you find a 2-year-old male in significant respiratory distress. He is responsive to verbal stimuli and exhibits noisy respirations through an open airway. His breathing is shallow at a rate of 44 breaths per minute. His pulse is rapid. Assessment of the skin shows it to be cool and diaphoretic with cyanosis to the extremities and around the mouth. What is the immediate priority for this patient?

You have been dispatched for a young child with difficulty breathing. As you enter the apartment, which one of the following scene clues would best indicate that the patient is experiencing a problem in her upper airway?

A 4-year-old boy in respiratory distress is sitting upright in bed and drooling. His mother states that he has been complaining of a sore throat throughout the day and tonight became severely short of breath and started drooling. He is alert with adequate breathing. His skin is hot to the touch. Vital signs are pulse 132, respirations 28, and SpO₂ 90% on room air. Which one of the following is your first action in caring for this child?

Following a call in which you treated a pediatric patient suffering from croup, a new EMT who is in orientation asks you how you can differentiate croup from epiglottitis. Which one of the following responses would be most appropriate?

A 911 call was placed for a 3-year-old child with difficulty breathing. On scene you note that the child is upright with slight stridor upon inspiration. He is alert and breathing at a rate of 30 breaths per minute. His skin is warm and dry, and his radial pulse strong and regular. His breath sounds are clear and equal. His mother states that he has been fine all day until 15 minutes ago when he was playing with friends in the playroom and suddenly started having difficulty breathing. As an EMT, you should suspect which of the following conditions?

A 48-year-old male is short of breath and confused. His airway is open, and his breathing accelerated. A radial pulse is easily palpated. His skin is warm to cool and dry. Your partner reports the following vital signs: pulse 124 beats per minute, respirations 24, blood pressure 158/86 mmHg, and an SpO₂ at 89% on room air. His lung sounds indicate slight wheezing. Based on this information, the immediate threat to this patient’s well-being is which one of the following conditions?

A 36-year-old patient has overdosed on an unknown drug and is unresponsive. He is breathing shallowly at 6 times per minute. He has cyanosis around his lips and to his fingertips. His skin is cool to the touch, and his radial pulse is rapid. His breath sounds are diminished but clear. The EMT should recognize which one of the following respiratory conditions?

A son has called 911 for his father, who is having difficulty breathing. On scene the 81-year-old patient is lethargic and lying on a couch in the living room and is in obvious respiratory distress. He is confused, but has an open airway. His respirations are 30 per minute and his skin is extremely diaphoretic with cyanosis in the fingertips. At this time, the EMT should:

When assessing a patient complaining of shortness of breath, which of the following actions should the EMT perform first?

You are treating a patient who states that he has been short of breath for the past month. Tonight, his breathing just “got too bad” and he decided to call 911. The 67-year-old male is alert and oriented and has a patent airway. He is breathing 24 times per minute but appears to have an adequate tidal volume. His pulse is strong and regular, and his skin is warm. Vital signs are: pulse 92 beats per minute, respirations 22, blood pressure 128/66 mmHg, and SpO₂ 93% while on home oxygen at 2 lpm. What instruction would you give to your partner regarding this patient’s care?

A confused and cyanotic patient is breathing 8 times per minute with poor chest rise and fall. What instruction would you give your partner about the respiratory care of this patient?

As you enter the living room of an adult patient who called 911 for shortness of breath, you observe the patient sitting upright in a chair with a panicked look on her face, struggling to breathe. Her breathing rate appears to be fast and tidal volume poor. You can hear rhonchi from her lungs without the aid of a stethoscope. Once at her side, you initial care should be to:

When assessing an adult patient with difficulty breathing, what sign or symptom would be of most concern?

You are having a hard time getting the past medical history of a patient who is short of breath. Which one of the following pieces of information would lead the EMT to believe that the patient has a history of chronic lung disease, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis?

You have been called to a residence for a patient with altered mental status and shortness of breath. On scene an Emergency Medical Responder meets you and states that he believes the patient had a stroke and is unresponsive. As you enter the room, you see the patient lying in bed with snoring respirations. Oxygen at 15 liters per minute has been applied. Your immediate action when you reach the patient’s side would be to:

You realize the EMT is properly ventilating an unresponsive adult male patient when he:

A 71-year-old female is complaining of the sudden onset of shortness of breath and rapid breathing. She also states that she is experiencing some chest pain that seems to worsen when she takes a deep breath. The primary assessment shows her to be alert and oriented with a patent airway and rapid breathing that is adequate. Her pulse rate is 92 per minute and her blood pressure is 116/68 mmHg. When obtaining a history, which statement made by the patient should raise your suspicion that the patient may be experiencing a pulmonary embolism?

A patient who is nonverbal from a previous stroke is in severe respiratory distress. Family states that she has multiple medical problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis). When assessing the patient, which one of the following signs or symptoms should raise your suspicion that the patient is suffering from heart failure, as opposed to COPD or asthma?

You have been called to a home for an 18-year-old male who informs you that he experienced a sudden onset of shortness of breath and back pain while watching television. He also informs you that he has a history of spontaneous pneumothorax, and the current symptoms he is experiencing are identical to those he felt with a previous pneumothorax. Assessment reveals the patient to be slightly dyspneic with breath sounds clear and intact bilaterally. During transport, what is most critical to continually monitor on this patient?

You have arrived on scene to find a 32-year-old male patient complaining of rapid breathing, light-headedness, tachycardia, and numbness and tingling to his lips and hands. Family on scene reports that he received bad advice from his attorney about a pending divorce when the symptoms started. The patient denies chest pain as well as any other past medical history. His pulse is 124, respirations are 52, and his blood pressure is 158/68 mmHg. What is your first course of action in treating this patient?

When auscultating breath sounds, the EMT should recognize rhonchi when he hears which of the following sounds?

You are by the side of a 77-year-old male with the complaint of shortness of breath. Auscultation of his lungs indicates crackles in the bases. In addition, both of his feet are swollen. His SpO₂ on room air is 82% and the remainder of his vitals are: pulse 144 , respirations 26, and blood pressure 168/90 mmHg. He is complaining of lower-back pain with a history of a “pinched nerve” in that area. He continues to state that he always has this pain. He has difficulty finishing his sentences without gasping for air. Which of the following is the most appropriate care for this patient?

The EMT is properly using a small-volume nebulizer when she:

After administering a bronchodilator to a patient through a small-volume nebulizer, which one of the following statements made by the patient should be of most concern to an EMT?

When instructing a patient on how to use a small-volume nebulizer, which one of the following statements would be correct?

You have been called for a 3-year-old male who is “not breathing right.” Aside from a notable expiratory wheeze, which one of the following would be cause for most concern?

) A 4-year-old female with a decreased level of consciousness is in respiratory distress. Her airway is patent and respirations are 12 per minute. Breath sounds are diminished bilaterally and there is noted accessory muscle use with inspiration and expiration. Her pulse is 84 and SpO₂ 88%. Which of the following should be your immediate action?

The EMT is correctly assessing a patient for subcutaneous emphysema when he:

Which of the following statements regarding ventilation in a healthy patient is true?

You are administering positive pressure ventilation to an elderly male with a history of advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which of the following must you keep in mind as you care for this patient?

When auscultating the lungs of an elderly patient, you note rhonchi-like noises to the upper lobes of both lungs. As a knowledgeable EMT, you would recognize that this is caused by:

When administering albuterol to a patient with shortness of breath, the EMT realizes that the therapeutic effect of this medication is achieved by:

As you enter a room for an unknown medical emergency, you find an unresponsive male with snoring respirations lying supine in bed. Which one of the following actions should you take immediately?

The EMT indicates that he is properly assessing the patient’s breath sounds when he gives which one of the following instructions to the patient?

You arrive on scene for a 9-year-old female with a severe cough. Her mother states that she has spoken to her pediatrician who believes that the child may have whooping cough and should be taken to the hospital for evaluation. Her mother states that she is unsure if her daughter has had all her immunizations. Which one of the following statements would be most appropriate in the care of this patient?

Which of the following pieces of information would heighten the EMT’s suspicion that a child with a persistent cough may have pertussis (whooping cough)?

You have been dispatched to a home for a 16-year-old female with shortness of breath. On scene you find the patient in bed with her mother at her side. Her mother states that her daughter has a fever with a past medical history of cystic fibrosis and would like to have her transported to the hospital for evaluation of possible pneumonia. As a knowledgeable EMT, you know that the underlying pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis is a:

You have been called to a residence for an 18-year-old female with shortness of breath and a history of cystic fibrosis. On scene you find the patient to be very thin and sick looking. Her airway is patent and breathing adequate, although slightly labored. Her radial pulse is strong, and she has a constant cough, which produces green- and yellow-colored mucus. Auscultation of the lungs reveals rhonchi to the upper portion of both lungs. Vital signs are pulse 108, respirations 20, blood pressure 98/56 mmHg, and SpO₂ 92%. Based on these findings, appropriate care should include:

) A 26-year-old male has summoned EMS after lifting a heavy box and suddenly experiencing shortness of breath and sharp pain to the left side of his chest that worsens with deep inspiration. Given this description, you immediately become suspicious of a pneumothorax. Which of the following should you perform next to help confirm this suspicion?

You are delivering positive pressure ventilations to a patient who is breathing poorly with absent breath sounds to the right lung. Which of the following instructions would you provide to those who are ventilating the patient?

Assessment of a 67-year-old male reveals absent lung sounds to the right lung, accompanied by sharp chest pain to the same side. When obtaining a history, which one of the following statements made by the patient’s wife would the EMT recognize as most important?

On scene you suspect that a young female patient is suffering from hyperventilation syndrome. Which one of the following signs would best assist you in confirming this suspicion?

You are transporting a 4-year-old female who you found sitting in a chair with labored respirations, inspiratory stridor, and drooling. Which one of the following signs would warrant immediate reassessment?

You have been called to an industrial warehouse for a young adult male who was exposed to an unknown chemical gas. The patient was immediately removed from the environment and presents to you with a patent airway, burning to the throat with inspiration, and complaint of shortness of breath. His vital signs are: pulse 120, respirations 28, blood pressure 164/60, and SpO₂ of 90%. In addition, you note bilateral wheezing to the lungs. What should be your first action in caring for this patient?

You have been called for a 6-year-old male with shortness of breath. On scene you find the patient with a runny nose and mucus coming from the right nare. Breath sounds are clear and his SpO₂ is 99% on room air. When asked, he states that his throat is very sore. His vital signs are: pulse 124, respirations 20, and temperature 98.9∘F. There is no medical history, according to the mother. Which one of the following statements or instructions would be most appropriate for this situation?

The EMT understands adequate breathing when he states:

The EMT is correctly accessing for accessory muscle use when he examines what part of the body?

You are starting to assess a patient’s breath sounds and have just listened to the upper right back. You would next listen to the:

Which of the following respiratory sounds would make you suspicious of an upper airway problem?

A patient, with a history of COPD, is breathing 32 times a minute. Her vital signs are: pulse 140, blood pressure 168/102, and SpO₂ 98% on room air. You would classify this as:

The best way to gauge the effectiveness of oxygen therapy would be to monitor the:

A patient in respiratory distress is exhibiting pursed lip breathing. You realize that he is doing this to:

Pursed lip breathing is most commonly observed on a patient who suffers from:

An alert and distressed 72-year-old male with a history of congestive heart failure is in severe respiratory distress, breathing 28 to 32 times a minute. His airway is patent, respirations labored, and skin diaphoretic with a weak and rapid radial pulse. Vital signs are: pulse 136, respirations 28, blood pressure 202/110 mmHg, and SpO₂ 83%. Cyanosis is evident in the fingertips. The best treatment of his breathing would be:

A patient with an unknown medical problem is responsive to painful stimuli and breathing poorly at a rate of 8 per minute. The airway is patent and skin warm and moist. His radial pulse is strong and irregular. Breath sounds are clear. Vital signs are pulse 84, blood pressure 256/120, and SpO₂ 81%. Your best treatment of the patient’s breathing would be:

The patient with emphysema has a hard time breathing because of:

Why would a COPD patient have a higher percentage of red blood cells than a healthy person without COPD?