EMS 1021 Exam 1 Study Guide - Spring 2023

This exam covers material from chapters 1 – 6 and 10

There will be approximately 80 multiple choice questions and several short answer
questions. Remember that to prepare you for the Registry you will not be able to move
backwards during the test. Once a question is answered it is “gone”.

Finally, remember that you must make an 80% or greater on the practice exam to
unlock the actual exam.

Chapter 1

• Know the four levels of EMS provider and the capabilities of each as described in
your text
• Know the roles, responsibilities, professional attributes, and traits of the EMT
• Know the role and function of the modern EMS system
• Know the significance of the year 1966 including the publication of “Accidental
Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society. Also know that
this publication is known as the “White Paper”
• Know the role and relation of the NHTSA as it pertains to EMS
• Know the history of the development of EMS and significant events
• Know the abilities of an enhanced 911 system
• Know the function of a quality improvement program in an EMS system
• Know the role of the medical director in an EMS system
• Know the types of medical direction including on-line medical direction, off-line
medical direction, protocols, and standing orders
• Know the difference between protocols and standing orders
• Understand the concept of patient advocacy
• Know the importance of continuing education, research, and evidenced based
medicine as it pertains to the EMT
• Know the role of EMS in public health and injury prevention

Chapter 2

• Be familiar with the 5 stages of grief. Be able to identify components of each as

well as strategies to deal with each stage
• Be familiar with the various pathogens that can cause infectious disease
• Know how to protect yourself from infectious disease
• Know the infectious diseases of concern to the EMT including their signs and
symptoms
 • Know the characteristics of and time frames associated with the various stress
reactions an EMT may experience. Know appropriate and inappropriate stress
coping mechanisms
• Know the elements of the stress triad
• Identify and explain the concept and role of CISM
• Understand the concepts of standard precautions, BSI, and PPE
• Know the differences between cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization, and when
each one is indicated
• Know what an infectious disease is
• Recognize the fact that gloves and glasses are the minimum PPE for every call
• Know when to use an N-95 or HEPA mask
• Know where to find information regarding placards, their colors, and information
regarding emergency care when dealing with hazardous materials (Emergency
Response Guidebook)
• Know the role of the EMT at a haz-mat scene
• Know how to react and respond when dealing with crime scenes, violent scenes,
or scenes that become dangerous
• Recognize the importance of evaluating scene safety and how to accomplish this

Chapter 3

• Know the difference between expressed consent and informed consent.

Understand that obtaining expressed consent does not necessarily mean
informed consent was obtained
• Know the concept of implied consent including when it can and cannot be used
• Understand that treatment without consent is assault
• Understand the concept of ethical treatment of patients
• Understand the concept of the standard of care and the scope of practice
• Know the concepts of consent and refusal of care in the competent and
incompetent patient
• Know what types of situations must be reported to the authorities
• Be able to define and apply the concepts of negligence
• Know what a duty to act is
• Know the four elements of negligence
• Be able to define and apply the principles of abandonment
• Understand the concept of a DNR and appropriate actions to take when
presented with one
• Know the differences between a DNR and a Living Will
 • Know the circumstances in which you can share protected healthcare information
• Know the principles of defamation of character
• Know the roles and responsibilities of the EMT at a crime scene

Chapter 4

• Know the importance of correct spelling and proper grammar when writing
patient care reports
• Know how to correct an error in a patient care report (PCR)
• Know how to make an addendum to a PCR
• Know the various data sets and what goes in each
• Know the functions of the PCR (continuum of care, legal, education, research)
• Know who has legal access to a PCR and who identifying information from a
PCR can be shared with
• Know the importance of objective documentation in the PCR
• Be able to recognize objective statements and subjective statements, and be
able to choose the appropriate one to include in the PCR
• Know the appropriate steps, considerations, and patient instructions involved
with refusals
• Be familiar with the concept of a patient’s “chief complaint”
• Understand the concept of, and importance of, pertinent negatives
• Know how to (and how not to) document the presence of alcohol on a PCR
• Know that only information pertinent to the patient goes in a PCR. Anything
involving the crew, such as an injury or an exposure DOES NOT go in the PCR,
it goes in a separate agency incident report.
• Know the difference between objective observations and subjective statements
• Know what can and cannot go in a PCR

Chapter 5

• Know how to use various radio equipment

• Be able to describe the various radio equipment listed on page 395
• Recognize the need to wait approximately 1 second to begin speaking after
pressing the push to talk key, especially in repeated systems
• Know the appropriate procedure for contacting another person. (Call the person
and wait for a response, rather than just blindly sending your message)
• Know the procedure for contacting a hospital as well as the components of the
call in report
• Know the importance of confirming medication orders and how to do this
 • Know the reason for the hand off report (to summarize assessment and
treatment information)
• Know the importance of being objective in your report
• Know the role of the FCC
• Know the advantages and disadvantages of using cell phones in EMS
communications
• Know why it is important to pause every 30-45 seconds during long
transmissions
• Know the components of the emergency response system
• Know which times are recorded during an emergency call
• Be familiar with the accommodations made and techniques used when
communicating with patients in special circumstances
• Be able to describe the communication process
• Know the effects of positioning, eye contact, distance, touch, and posture as it
relates to the communication process
• Be able to describe and discuss the various therapeutic communication
techniques found in the text including clarification, summary, explanation,
silence, reflection, empathy, confrontation, and facilitation.
• Be able to discuss the differences, as well as the advantages and disadvantages
of open and closed questions, including situations where each one may be used
• Appreciate the fact that we are honest with patients when answering their
questions

Chapter 6

• Know the principles of safe lifting

• Know the “power lift”, and “power grip”
• Know the different categories of moves (emergency, urgent, and non-urgent),
when each is used, and examples of each
• Know methods of keeping yourself healthy and able to perform the lifting needed
as an EMS professional
• Know the principles involved when making a decision of how to lift and move a
patient
• Know how to perform a log roll
• Know how and when to use the different devices (stretcher, stair chair, etc.)
discussed in the chapter
• Know how and when to use different movement techniques (extremity carry,
direct ground lift, draw sheet method, etc.) discussed in the chapter
Chapter 10

• Know the path of oxygen into the body, and the functions of the trachea,
mainstem bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli
• Know how to provide ventilatory assistance including rate, duration of each
breath, proper technique, airway maintenance principles, and the importance of
maintaining an open airway when ventilating
• Know the differences in technique for managing the airway of a medical patient
vs. a trauma patient
• Know the indications and contraindications for various airway devices including
the OPA, NPA, and blind insertion devices (i.e. King tube, i-Gel, etc.)
• Be able to differentiate between adequate and inadequate respirations and
determine when ventilatory support is indicated
• Know the signs and symptoms associated with mild, moderate, and severe
hypoxia
• Know the technique and considerations when suctioning a patient
• Know the normal and abnormal values of pulse oximetry
• Understand how to appropriately administer oxygen therapy and considerations
to be made when administering oxygen
• Be able to recognize various airway obstructions and be able to differentiate the
type based on the sound (i.e. gurgling = liquid, snoring = physical/solid)
• Know the most common airway obstruction
• Know the muscles of respiration, and when they are used (i.e. which phase of
ventilation is active and which is passive, and what the effect on pressure in the
thoracic cavity is when the muscles are used to increase chest size)
• Know the effects of high carbon dioxide levels on the drive to breathe
• Know the components of minute volume and how changes in each one can affect
the minute volume