NREMT Practice Test Bank - Multiple Choice
of the mouth, resulting in bleeding. Do
43. When you arrive at a residence
for a man who is "not acting
right," you enter the house and
find him sitting on his couch.
Which of the following findings
would be MOST indicative of an
altered mental status?
• A:Slurred speech.
• B:Tired appearance.
• C:Odor of alcohol.
• D:Eyes are closed.
44. Hypoxia-induced unresponsive-
ness during a submersion injury
is usually the result of:
• A:a cardiac dysrhythmia.
• B:associated hypothermia.
• C:laryngospasm.
• D:water in the lungs.
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not attempt to restrain an actively seizing
patient; doing so may result in muscu-
loskeletal injuries. Request an ALS am-
bulance per your local protocols.
You selected A; This is correct!
Reason:Often, an altered mental status
can be difficult to assess, especially if
you do not know how the patient nor-
mally acts. However, there are key find-
ings that should increase your index of
suspicion. An abnormal speech pattern,
such as slurring or incoherent words,
can be the result of a diabetic problem,
alcohol intoxication, or drug ingestion.
All of these can cause an altered men-
tal status. The odor of alcohol suggests
intoxication as a potential cause of his
problem, but cannot be quantified. Just
because the patient's eyes or closed or
he has a tired appearance does not nec-
essarily indicate that he has an altered
mental status.
You selected C; This is correct!
Reason: When a patient falls into the
water or becomes panicked when in the
water, he or she begins to swallow large
amounts of water. Even a small amount
of water near the larynx can cause a
spasm, which closes off the airway. This
results in hypoxia, loss of conscious-
ness, and cardiac dysrhythmias. If the
patient is not removed from the water at
once and treated aggressively, hypoxia