1. During the coldest month of the winter, you are called to the home of an elderly "sick person." When you arrive, you immediately note that the house is extremely cold. The patient is lethargic. Her blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, her heart rate is 48 beats/min, and her respirations are 8 breaths/min and shallow. Suspecting hypothermia, what would you estimate her core body temperature to be?
A.90 - 95°F
B.89 - 92°F
C.80 - 88°F
D.Less than 80°F


2. You are assessing a patient with a heat-related emergency. The skin is moist, pale, and cool. Which of the following treatments should NOT be performed?
A.Fan the patient.
B.Cover the patient with several blankets.
C.Give water if the patient is responsive and not vomiting.
D.Place the patient in a supine position with the legs elevated.


3. When a patient is outside for a prolonged period of time in cold temperatures with strong winds, he or she will lose body heat through:
A.conduction.
B.convection.
C.evaporation.
D.radiation.


4. A 17-year-old boy was lost in a wooded area for approximately 12 hours. The temperature is 20°F. When he is found, he is pulseless and apneic. His pupils are dilated without reaction. How should this patient be managed?
A.Contact medical control and request to have the patient pronounced dead.
B.Begin CPR for approximately 2 minutes and then stop if unsuccessful.
C.Transport the patient to the nearest hospital with full basic life support.
D.Call for an ALS ambulance to place him on a cardiac monitor to confirm death.


5. Shivering is the presence of hypothermia indicates that the:
A.muscular system is damaged.
B.nerve endings are damaged, causing loss of muscle control.
C.body is trying to generate more heat through muscular activity.
D.circulatory system is impaired, and the body cannot maintain its temperature.


6. When the nearest hospital is 45 miles away, management of a patient who has mild hypothermia and is responding to questions appropriately includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
A.wrapping the patient in warm blankets.
B.applying chemical heat packs to the patient's groin.
C.handling the patient gently so as to avoid pain or injury.
D.removing the patient from the cold environment as soon as possible.


7. You arrive at the home of a 13-year-old girl who is floating face down in the swimming pool. Her mother tells you that the girl had been practicing diving. You and your partner put on PFDs and then enter the pool. You should first:
A.turn her head to the side and give four back blows.
B.turn her head to the side and begin rescue breathing.
C.rotate her entire body as an unit and pull her out of the pool.
D.rotate the entire half of her body as an unit, supporting her head and neck, until she is face up.


8. Why is it important to remove a drowning victim from the water before the laryngospasm relaxes?
A.Because the risk of severe hypothermia is lessened
B.Because the patient will suffer less airway trauma
C.Because you can ventilate the patient with laryngospasm
D.Because less water will have entered the patient's lungs


9. Survival after prolonged submersion in cold water is due to:
A.the hypoxic drive.
B.the diving reflex.
C.an increase in metabolism.
D.protective tachycardia.


10. You are called to the home of a woman who has frostbite. Upon arrival, you find that she is in her warm house, but there is a snowstorm outside. The nearest hospital is one hour away. In this situation, treatment should consist of:
A.rubbing the affected area with snow.
B.rubbing the affected area with your warm hands.
C.attempting active, rapid rewarming.
D.immersing the affected area in a cold water bath.


11. Assessment of a patient whose core temperature has dropped to 95ºF (35ºC) is most likely to reveal which of the following findings?
A.Rigid muscles
B.Rapid pulse rate
C.Impaired judgement
D.Decreased level of consciousness


12. Which of the following is NOT a predisposing factor in hypothermia?
A.Environment
B.Age of the patient
C.Sex of the patient
D.Ingestion of drugs


13. The principal goal in treatment of heat-related emergencies is to:
A.provide rapid transport.
B.make the patient comfortable.
C.replace lost fluids with salt water.
D.reduce the patient's body temperature.


14. A 30-year-old man has been playing softball all day in a hot environment. He begins to complain of generalized weakness and nausea, shortly after which he experiences a transient syncopal episode. Management for this patient includes all of the following, EXCEPT:
A.removing the patient to a cool environment.
B.administering oxygen to the patient.
C.placing the patient in a supine position.
D.giving the patient a salt-containing solution to drink.


15. Which of the following conditions might develop as a result of severe hypothermia?
A.Jaundice
B.Cardiac arrhythmia
C.Congestive heart failure
D.Cerebrovascular accident


16. The diving reflex can occur when:
A.a person dives into shallow water.
B.a person jumps or dives into very cold water.
C.the extremities lose feeling in very cold water.
D.the body is immersed in water deeper than 6'.


17. Shortly after ascending rapidly to the surface of the water while holding his breath, a 29-year-old diver begins coughing up pink, frothy sputum and complaining of dyspnea and chest pain. You should suspect and manage this patient for:
A.air embolism.
B.pneumothorax.
C.pneumomediastinum.
D.decompression sickness.


18. A patient with decompression sickness should be placed in which of the following positions?
A.Supine
B.Prone
C.Left side with head down
D.Left side with head up


19. A patient is panicking in the water and you are attempting to rescue him. You try to reach the patient from the shore but cannot. You should next attempt to:
A.swim to the patient to rescue him.
B.use a boat if one is available.
C.call for a water rescue team.
D.throw the person a buoyant device.


20. A 3-year-old child is found at the bottom of an ice-covered pond after being submerged for about 15 minutes. The patient is not breathing and has no palpable pulse. The most appropriate course of action would be to:
A.pronounce the child dead.
B.begin full resuscitation efforts.
C.wrap the child in blankets and give back blows.
D.give supplemental oxygen and begin rewarming.


21. A woman has frostbite in both feet after walking several miles in a frozen field. Her feet are white, hard, and cold to the touch. Treatment at the scene should include:
A.rubbing her feet gently with your own warm hands.
B.trying to restore circulation by helping her to walk around.
C.removing her wet clothing and rubbing her feet briskly with a warm, wet cloth.
D.removing her wet clothing and covering her feet with dry, sterile dressings.



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