Chapter 2 - Workplace Safety & Wellness

Question 1

After assessing a patient’s blood glucose level, you accidentally stick yourself with the contaminated lancet. You should:

Select one:

A. discontinue patient care and seek medical attention.
B. get immunized against hepatitis as soon as possible.
C. report the incident to your supervisor after the call.
D. immerse your wound in an alcohol-based solution.

Answer 1

C. report the incident to your supervisor after the call.

Question 2

At the scene of an automobile crash, a utility pole has been broken and power lines are lying across the car. The patients inside the car are conscious. You should:

Select one:

A. remove the lines with a nonconductive object.
B. proceed with normal extrication procedures.
C. mark off a danger zone around the downed lines.
D. advise the patients to carefully get out of the car.

Answer 2

C. mark off a danger zone around the downed lines.

Question 3

Common factors that influence how a patient reacts to the stress of an illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Select one:

A. history of chronic disease.
B. mental disorders.
C. fear of medical personnel.
D. assessment by the EMT.

Answer 3

D. assessment by the EMT.

Question 4

General adaptation syndrome is characterized by which of the following phases?

Select one:

A. Delayed reaction, alarm response, and physical recovery
B. Alarm response, reaction, and resistance, and recovery
C. Reaction and resistance, euphoria, and physical exhaustion
D. Immediate reaction, psychological exhaustion, and recovery

Answer 4

B. Alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery

Question 5

Gloves, a mask, eye protection, and a face shield should be used:

Select one:

A. while handling needles or other sharps.
B. during routine cleaning of the ambulance.
C. whenever you touch nonintact skin.
D. when performing endotracheal intubation.

Answer 5

D. when performing endotracheal intubation.

Question 6

Quid pro quo, a type of sexual harassment, occurs when the harasser:

Select one:

A. stares at certain parts of another person’s anatomy.
B. touches another person without his or her consent.
C. makes rude remarks about a person’s body parts.
D. requests sexual favors in exchange for something else.

Answer 6

D. requests sexual favors in exchange for something else.

Question 7

The EMT’s first priority is __________.

Select one:

A. personal safety
B. rapid response
C. treatment and transport
D. empathy for all patients

Answer 7

A. personal safety

Question 8

The MOST serious consequence of drug or alcohol abuse among EMS personnel is:

Select one:

A. tension among coworkers and supervisors.
B. punitive action and the loss of a job.
C. low morale and frequently missed shifts.
D. substandard or inappropriate patient care.

Answer 8

D. substandard or inappropriate patient care.

Question 9

The simplest, yet most effective method of preventing the spread of an infectious disease is to:

Select one:

A. wash your hands in between patient contacts.
B. undergo an annual physical examination.
C. undergo annual testing for tuberculosis and hepatitis.
D. ensure that your immunizations are up-to-date.

Answer 9

A. wash your hands in between patient contacts.

Question 10

Upon arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you note that two small cars collided head-on; the occupants are still in their vehicles. The fire department is in the process of stabilizing the vehicles and law enforcement personnel are directing traffic. After parking the ambulance at a safe distance, you and your partner should:

Select one:

A. put on high-visibility safety vests.
B. quickly begin the triage process.
C. report to the incident commander.
D. assist with vehicle stabilization.

Answer 10

A. put on high-visibility safety vests.

Question 11

Vaccination against the hepatitis A virus is unnecessary if you:

Select one:

A. have a weak immune system.
B. have been infected with hepatitis in the past.
C. are older than 35 years of age.
D. received a hepatitis B vaccination.

Answer 11

B. have been infected with hepatitis in the past.

Question 12

Vector-borne transmission of an infectious organism occurs via:

Select one:

A. direct contact.
B. animals or insects.
C. inanimate objects.
D. smoke or dust.

Answer 12

B. animals or insects.

Question 13

When decontaminating the back of your ambulance after a call, you should:

Select one:

A. clean all surfaces and patient contact areas with a mixture of alcohol and water.

B. allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions.

C. use a bleach and water solution at a 1:2 dilution ratio to thoroughly wipe all surfaces.

D. spray the contaminated areas and then immediately wipe them dry with a towel.

Answer 13

B. allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions.

Question 14

Which of the following is an effective stress management strategy?

Select one:

A. Developing a social network outside of EMS
B. Frequently reflecting on troublesome calls
C. Requesting overtime to occupy your mind
D. Modestly increasing caffeine consumption

Answer 14

A. Developing a social network outside of EMS

Question 15

Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reaction?

Select one:

A. An EMT is emotionally exhausted and depressed after a school bus crash involving critical injuries and the death of several children.

B. An EMT with many years of field experience becomes irritable with her coworkers and experiences headaches and insomnia.

C. A newly certified EMT becomes extremely nauseated and diaphoretic at the scene of an incident involving grotesque injuries.

D. An EMT becomes distracted at the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving the same type of car in which a child was previously killed.

Answer 15

D. An EMT becomes distracted at the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving the same type of car in which a child was previously killed.

Question 16

Which of the following statements regarding HIV is correct?

Select one:

A. HIV is far more contagious than hepatitis B.
B. There is no vaccine against HIV infection.
C. HIV is easily transmittable in the EMS field.
D. HIV is transmitted exclusively via blood.

Answer 16

B. There is no vaccine against HIV infection

Question 17

Which of the following statements regarding the different stages of the grieving process is correct?

Select one:

A. The grieving process typically begins with severe depression.

B. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously.

C. Bargaining is the most unpleasant stage of the grieving process.

D. It is rare that people will jump back and forth between stages.

Answer 17

B. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously.

Question 18

Which of the following would provide the EMT with the BEST cover in a situation involving active gunfire?

Select one:

A. Stacked empty barrels
B. A large cluster of shrubs
C. A concrete barricade
D. Behind a car door

Answer 18

C. A concrete barricade

Question 19

While providing care to a patient, blood got onto the ambulance stretcher. Because the stretcher was not properly cleaned afterward, a virus was transmitted to another emergency medical technician (EMT) several days later. Which route of transmission does this scenario describe?

Select one:

A. Indirect contact
B. Direct contact
C. Vector-borne transmission
D. Airborne transmission

Answer 19

A. Indirect contact

Question 20

You are transporting an elderly woman who has possibly experienced a stroke. She is obviously scared but is unable to talk and cannot move the entire right side of her body. In addition to providing the medical care that she needs, you should:

Select one:

A. acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her.
B. tell her that you understand why she is scared and that everything will likely be okay.
C. reassure her that after proper treatment in the hospital, she will regain her speech in time.
D. maintain eye contact at all times and tell her that there is no need for her to be scared.

Answer 20

A. acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her.

Question 21

A disease that can be spread from person-to-person is known as:
A. an infectious disease.
B. a communicable disease.
C. a transmittable disease.
D. a spreadable disease.

Answer 21

B. a communicable disease.

Question 22

The MOST effective way of preventing the spread of disease is:
A. handwashing.
B. keeping your immunizations up-to-date.
C. placing a HEPA respirator on the patient.
D. wearing goggles, gloves, a gown, and a mask.

Answer 22

A. handwashing.

Question 23

While caring for a trauma patient, the EMT has blood splashed into her eyes. This is an example of:
A. infection.
B. exposure.
C. indirect contact.
D. transmission.

Answer 23

B. exposure.

Question 24

Protective measures that prevent health care workers from coming into contact with germs are referred to as:
A. exposure.
B. standard precautions.
C. transmission.
D. PPE.

Answer 24

B. standard precautions.

Question 25

What is the second stage of response in the stress response known as the general adaptation syndrome?
A. Recovery
B. Exhaustion
C. Alarm
D. Reaction and resistance

Answer 25

D. Reaction and resistance

The body typically reacts to stress in three stages: the alarm response, which is followed by reaction and resistance, and then recovery. If the individual cannot reduce stress, the last stage may progress to exhaustion.

Question 26

A condition characterized by reexperiencing an event and overresponding to stimuli that recall the event is called:
A. acute stress reaction.
B. delayed stress reaction.
C. cumulative stress reaction.
D. post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Answer 26

D. post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Question 27

______ is the fuel to make the body run.
A. Sleep
B. Exercise
C. Food
D. Work/life balance

Answer 27

C. Food

Question 28

Which stage of grieving commonly results in blame?
A. Denial
B. Anger, hostility
C. Bargaining
D. Depression

Answer 28

B. Anger, hostility

Question 29

Placards are used on:
A. buildings.
B. individual packages.
C. storage lockers.
D. storage papers.

Answer 29

A. buildings.

Question 30

The five most common hazards associated with a structural fire include:
A. smoke, oxygen deficiency, high ambient temperatures, toxic gases, and building collapse.
B. smoke, oxygen deficiency, inhalation of tar particles, injury from breaking glass, and building collapse.
C. smoke, high ambient temperatures, toxic gases, electric shock, and inhalation of tar particles.
D. oxygen deficiency, high ambient temperatures, toxic gases, electric shock, and injury from breaking glass.

Answer 30

A. smoke, oxygen deficiency, high ambient temperatures, toxic gases, and building collapse.

The five hazards most commonly associated with a structural fire are smoke, oxygen deficiency, high ambient temperatures, toxic gases, and building collapse.

Question 31

If a person is partially immune to a particular disease, he or she:
Select one:
A. must be revaccinated at least every 18 months to avoid infection.
B. might develop illness from germs that lie dormant from the initial infection.
C. is not protected from a new infection if exposed to another individual.
D. will not experience future illness, even if his or her immune system is stressed.

Answer 31

B. might develop illness from germs that lie dormant from the initial infection.

Question 32

The final stage of death and dying most commonly takes the form of:
Select one:
A. anger.
B. acceptance.
C. denial.
D. depression.

Answer 32

B. acceptance.