As an EMT, it is important that you be able to do all of the following EXCEPT

As an EMT, it is important that you be able to do all of the following EXCEPT

a. control your own emotions when dealing with patients who say upsetting things to you.
b. provide counseling and advice to patients with personal problems.
c. ensure your safety and that of others at the scene.
d. deal with a wide variety of emotions and behaviors.


Answer: b. provide counseling and advice to patients with personal problems.

You have responded to a call about a "psychiatric patient" to find a 24-year-old woman talking to herself in her home. She is rocking back and forth and you can see from a distance that she is perspiring profusely. You also see an empty medication bottle on the floor. She does not acknowledge your presence. When you attempt to speak to her, she continues to talk to herself as if you were not there. Which of the following should be included in your actions at the scene?

You have responded to a call about a "psychiatric patient" to find a 24-year-old woman talking to herself in her home. She is rocking back and forth and you can see from a distance that she is perspiring profusely. You also see an empty medication bottle on the floor. She does not acknowledge your presence. When you attempt to speak to her, she continues to talk to herself as if you were not there. Which of the following should be included in your actions at the scene?

a. Distract her so your partner can look around the house.
b. Look through the house with your partner to try to find some clues to the patient's problem.
c. Ensure that law enforcement is responding and wait for its arrival.
d. Shake the patient's shoulder to check for responsiveness to physical stimuli.


Answer: c. Ensure that law enforcement is responding and wait for its arrival.

When dealing with a psychiatric emergency, which one of the following would generally be inappropriate behavior on your part?

When dealing with a psychiatric emergency, which one of the following would generally be inappropriate behavior on your part?

a. Be as hurried as you can. It is extremely important to resolve the call and get the patient to the hospital as soon as possible.
b. Act in a calm manner, giving the patient time to gain control of his emotions.
c. Let the patient know that you are listening to what he is saying, and explain things to the patient honestly.
d. Stay alert for sudden changes in behavior.




Answer: a. Be as hurried as you can. It is extremely important to resolve the call and get the patient to the hospital as soon as possible.

You are dispatched to a local fast-food restaurant for a "nature unknown" call. You arrive on-scene and find a 47-year-old male in front of the counter repeatedly singing "Happy Birthday" to himself. Police are on-scene and the scene is safe. Which of the following would be considered appropriate care?

You are dispatched to a local fast-food restaurant for a "nature unknown" call. You arrive on-scene and find a 47-year-old male in front of the counter repeatedly singing "Happy Birthday" to himself. Police are on-scene and the scene is safe. Which of the following would be considered appropriate care?

a. Quickly approach the patient and take charge. Tell him he has to come with you to be evaluated.
b. Quietly and carefully evaluate the situation and keep your emotions under control. Be as unhurried as you can.
c. Have the police take charge, restrain the patient, and have him brought into your ambulance.
d. Have your partner join you in approaching the patient and explain to him that he has to stop singing or you will have him arrested.


Answer: b. Quietly and carefully evaluate the situation and keep your emotions under control. Be as unhurried as you can

You are called to the scene of an attempted suicide. You arrive to find a 25-year-old man sitting on the sofa who apparently cut his wrists. Family members have bandaged them, and there does not appear to be any bleeding risk at this time. The scene is secure. Your treatment of this patient would include the following except:

You are called to the scene of an attempted suicide. You arrive to find a 25-year-old man sitting on the sofa who apparently cut his wrists. Family members have bandaged them, and there does not appear to be any bleeding risk at this time. The scene is secure. Your treatment of this patient would include the following except:

a. as soon as possible, perform a history and physical exam and provide emergency care on the wrist, if necessary.
b. perform a detailed physical exam only if it is safe and you suspect the patient may have an injury.
c. contact the receiving hospital and report on current mental status and other essential information.
d. make sure you take charge of the situation. Let the patient know that what he has done is wrong. Tell him he is coming with you whether he likes it or not. Do not worry about gaining the patient's confidence. Take charge. The patient must know that you are the boss.



Answer: d. make sure you take charge of the situation. Let the patient know that what he has done is wrong. Tell him he is coming with you whether he likes it or not. Do not worry about gaining the patient's confidence. Take charge. The patient must know that you are the boss.

When providing emergency care to an aggressive or hostile patient, what is the highest priority?

When providing emergency care to an aggressive or hostile patient, what is the highest priority?

a. Checking the patient for possible physical causes of the behavior
b. Finding out if the patient is oriented to person, time, and place
c. Calming the patient down
d. Performing a scene size-up


Answer: d. Performing a scene size-up

Which of the following actions is the MOST appropriate for the EMT to take when managing a patient with a behavioral emergency?

Which of the following actions is the MOST appropriate for the EMT to take when managing a patient with a behavioral emergency?

a. Find out if the patient's insurance covers psychiatric treatment.
b. Calm and reassure the patient.
c. Establish control of the situation by a show of force.
d. Quickly perform a head-to-toe exam and transport without delay.




Answer: b. Calm and reassure the patient.

It is important that, as an EMS provider, you avoid creating a situation where positional asphyxia could occur. Which of the following is positional asphyxia?

It is important that, as an EMS provider, you avoid creating a situation where positional asphyxia could occur. Which of the following is positional asphyxia?

a. Positional asphyxia is the position the person is seated in when you approach him.
b. Positional asphyxia is a birth defect that causes psychiatric issues and is initiated because of the way the fetus was positioned in the uterus.
c. Positional asphyxia is inadequate breathing or respiratory arrest caused by a body position that restricts breathing.
d. Positional asphyxia is the name for the position someone assumes after she has been hit with a taser.



Answer: c. Positional asphyxia is inadequate breathing or respiratory arrest caused by a body position that restricts breathing.

Which of the following is NOT an acceptable method or adjunct in restraining a patient?

Which of the following is NOT an acceptable method or adjunct in restraining a patient?

a. Hog-tying the patient
b. Placing a surgical mask over the patient's face to prevent spitting
c. Restraining the patient face-up
d. Securing all four limbs with leather restraints


Answer: a. Hog-tying the patient

Why is it important to gather a detailed medical history when dealing with a psychiatric emergency?

Why is it important to gather a detailed medical history when dealing with a psychiatric emergency?

a. It is not. You want to get the call resolved as quickly as possible and this will just delay it.
b. It will alert you to past issues as well as medication.
c. It will help you to determine if the police are needed.
d. It will help you to determine if you need to restrain the patient.



Answer: b. It will alert you to past issues as well as medication.

Which of the following must be treated by the EMT if present in a patient with an apparent behavioral emergency?

Which of the following must be treated by the EMT if present in a patient with an apparent behavioral emergency?

a. Acute alcohol intoxication
b. Hypoglycemia
c. Suicidal ideology
d. Severe clinical depression



Answer: b. Hypoglycemia

Which one of the following statements is not true?

Which one of the following statements is not true?

a. In any given year, 26.2 percent of adult Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder.
b. Almost 10 percent of the population of adult Americans has a mood disorder such as depression.
c. Just over 20 percent of the population of adult Americans has anxiety or panic issues.
d. It is very unusual for an EMT to be called for a psychiatric emergency.


Answer: d. It is very unusual for an EMT to be called for a psychiatric emergency.

You are dispatched to a suicide attempt. You arrive to find a 16-year-old, who is extremely agitated and pacing up and down in the living room of his house. Apparently, he had threatened to go out, get a gun, and shoot himself. The parents called it in as an attempted suicide. The scene is safe and there are apparently no weapons accessible to the patient. Which of the following would not be appropriate in caring for this patient?

You are dispatched to a suicide attempt. You arrive to find a 16-year-old, who is extremely agitated and pacing up and down in the living room of his house. Apparently, he had threatened to go out, get a gun, and shoot himself. The parents called it in as an attempted suicide. The scene is safe and there are apparently no weapons accessible to the patient. Which of the following would not be appropriate in caring for this patient?

a. Do not take any action that may be considered threatening by the patient. To do so may bring about hostile behavior directed against you or others.
b. Always be on the watch for weapons.
c. Do not isolate yourself from your partner or other sources of help.
d. Make certain the patient gets between you and the door. The patient should always feel he has an escape route.



Answer: d. Make certain the patient gets between you and the door. The patient should always feel he has an escape

Your patient is a 37-year-old male sitting on the kitchen floor. His wife is attempting to talk with him, but he does not look at her or answer. He is fidgeting and has apparently thrown some dishes against the wall. What should be your first consideration?

Your patient is a 37-year-old male sitting on the kitchen floor. His wife is attempting to talk with him, but he does not look at her or answer. He is fidgeting and has apparently thrown some dishes against the wall. What should be your first consideration?

a. Ask the wife to step outside with you so you can get information from her.
b. Ask the wife to step into the other room so you can speak with the patient alone.
c. Quickly check the patient's carotid pulse.
d. Stay a safe distance away.


Answer: d. Stay a safe distance away.

Your patient is a 24-year-old male who is severely depressed. He tells you that he can't "handle the pressure" anymore and that he wants to die. He is refusing transport. Which of the following is the most appropriate decision regarding this patient's care?

Your patient is a 24-year-old male who is severely depressed. He tells you that he can't "handle the pressure" anymore and that he wants to die. He is refusing transport. Which of the following is the most appropriate decision regarding this patient's care?

a. Transport the patient against his will with the assistance of law enforcement.
b. Contact the patient's family to find out what their wishes are.
c. Leave the scene and allow law enforcement to handle the situation.
d. Respect the patient's wishes; he is alert, oriented, and capable of giving consent.


Answer: a. Transport the patient against his will with the assistance of law enforcement.

Which of the following does NOT indicate that a patient may be about to become violent?

Which of the following does NOT indicate that a patient may be about to become violent?

a. Tense body posture or clenched fists
b. Crying
c. Profane language
d. Loud voice and rapid pacing



Answer: b. Crying

When managing a patient who may hurt himself or others, you should do all of the following EXCEPT:

When managing a patient who may hurt himself or others, you should do all of the following EXCEPT:

a. make sure only you and the patient are in the room.
b. keep bystanders a safe distance away.
c. watch for sudden changes in the patient's behavior.
d. retreat if the patient becomes threatening.



Answer: a. make sure only you and the patient are in the room.

Concerning attempted suicide, which of the following statements is true?

Concerning attempted suicide, which of the following statements is true?

a. Truly suicidal patients nearly always leave a note.
b. All suicide attempts must be taken seriously, even if the method seems insincere.
c. There is always an indication that a suicide attempt is imminent.
d. Attempted suicide is a matter for law enforcement, not EMS.


Answer: b. All suicide attempts must be taken seriously, even if the method seems insincere.

Which of the following may cause a patient to exhibit abnormal behavior?

Which of the following may cause a patient to exhibit abnormal behavior?

a. Hypoxia
b. Allergic reaction
c. Gastroenteritis
d. All of the above


Answer: a. Hypoxia

Which of the following communication strategies should be used in dealing with a patient with a behavioral emergency?

Which of the following communication strategies should be used in dealing with a patient with a  behavioral emergency?

a. Stay 2 to 3 inches from the patient at all times to make him feel secure.
b. Interrupt the patient if he appears to be going off on a tangent about something not concerning the immediate situation.
c. Show deep sympathy for the patient's predicament and let him know he can't control the things that are happening to him.
d. None of the above


Answer: d. None of the above