Deck 13: Hazardous Materials

Question 1

Each year in the United States, an estimated ________ of hazardous materials are shipped via road, rail, and pipelines.

A) 8 million tons
B) one hundred thousand pounds
C) 4 billion tons
D) 2 billion pounds

Answer 1

4 billion tons

Question 2

Which of the following regarding hazardous materials is provided by the Emergency Response Guide?

A) A different UN for every material listed
B) Special information regarding long-term health and environmental hazards for each material
C) Specific decontamination and treatment information for each material listed
D) Evacuation distances for the most hazardous materials

Answer 2

Evacuation distances for the most hazardous materials

Question 3

Which of the following is used to identify hazardous materials in fixed facilities?

A) DOT placards
B) SDS
C) CAMEO tags
D) NFPA 704 system

Answer 3

NFPA 704 system

Question 4

On the scene of a hazardous materials emergency, which of the following individuals is best suited to serve as incident commander?

A) Fire service rescue technician
B) Paramedic
C) Hazardous materials technician
D) Hazmat specialist

Question 5

On the National Fire Protection Association hazardous materials classification placard, the blue diamond represents:

A) reactivity.
B) health hazard.
C) specific hazard.
D) fire hazard.

Question 6

Unless specially trained, EMS personnel operate in which of the following zones of a hazardous materials incident?

A) Green
B) Orange
C) Yellow
D) Red

Question 7

During transport of a patient exposed to a hazardous material, which of the following types of glove provides the paramedic with the best protection during patient care?

A) Leather
B) Reinforced mesh cloth
C) Latex
D) Nitrile

Question 8

You have just completed hazmat EMS level 2 training. This means that you are now trained to:

A) contain hazardous material spills.
B) evacuate patients from the hot zone.
C) provide patient care in the warm zone.
D) clean up hazardous materials safely.

Question 9

When providing medical monitoring of hazardous materials personnel, for which of the following should you keep a high index of suspicion?

A) Heat stress
B) Atrial fibrillation
C) Myocardial ischemia
D) Hypoglycemia

Question 10

You have responded to a ranch where three adult male patients are complaining of abdominal cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea. They state they were applying chemicals to a field when they became ill. Based on this, which of the following should you suspect?

A) They have heatstroke.
B) They became contaminated with organophosphates.
C) They have been exposed to anhydrous ammonia.
D) They have been exposed to anthrax.

Question 11

As you approach the scene of a motor vehicle collision, you realize that there is a tanker truck involved and that it has tipped over. Which of the following actions is appropriate?

A) Stop a safe distance away, use binoculars to locate any placards on the tanker, and reference the Emergency Response Guide.
B) Stop a safe distance from the scene, use binoculars to locate any placards on the tanker, and reference the safety data sheet.
C) When you reach the scene, look for the NFPA 704 label and reference the safety data sheet.
D) When you reach the scene, look for any placards on the tanker and reference the Emergency Response Guide.

Question 12

Which one of the following statements shows that the paramedic has a proper understanding of basic operations at the scene of a hazardous materials emergency?

A) "Life or health should never be risked if the threat is only to the environment."
B) "The most important thing is to identify the exact material involved in the incident."
C) "Olfactory clues are the most reliable way to identify a hazardous material incident."
D) "Identification of the material is not important, as the approach is the same for all materials."

Question 13

A substance that may be an acid or an alkali and that can damage the skin and other tissues best describes a(n):

A) solvent.
B) corrosive.
C) irritant.
D) desiccant.

Question 14

What is CHEMTREC?

A) A guidebook for identifying hazardous materials
B) An organization with a 24-hour information hotline regarding hazardous materials
C) The set of laws governing the transport of hazardous materials
D) The acronym for the levels of training for hazmat providers

Question 15

You have arrived on the scene of a chemical leak at laboratory. The placard has a "1" in the blue diamond and a "4" in the red diamond, which means the material is:

A) flammable, but represents a low health hazard.
B) explosive with a high associated health hazard.
C) a solid that is very flammable.
D) a flammable liquid with radioactive properties.

Question 16

You are working the scene of a collision involving a tractor-trailer that is hauling an unknown chemical. Because no material is leaking from the truck and the scene is safe, the incident commander asks you to get the truck's shipping papers. Where would these most likely be located?

A) Shipping vault on the trailer
B) Cab of the truck
C) Rear compartment on the tanker
D) Electrical box between the tractor and trailer

Question 17

The most accurate information about a transported substance can be found in which of the following?

A) NFPA 704 system
B) Safety data sheet
C) Shipping papers
D) Emergency Response Guide

Question 18

Which of the following would raise the most suspicion of a hazardous materials incident?

A) A pair of landfill workers with symptoms of sore throat and fever
B) Multiple patients at a factory with respiratory complaints
C) Rising incidence of suicide in a rural county
D) Multiple patients at an outdoor event complaining of "heatstroke"

Question 19

An incident involving which of the following types of vehicles may result in a hazardous materials incident?

A) Cars powered by alternative fuels
B) Tractor-trailers
C) Tanker trucks
D) All of the above

Question 20

You have entered a manufacturing setting on a call and note a large storage container with a diamond-shaped label. The left side of the label is blue and contains the number 4. The top portion of the label is red and contains the number 1. What does this mean?

A) The substance is highly hazardous to health, but does not pose a significant fire risk.
B) The substance is highly flammable, but does not pose a significant health risk.
C) The substance is highly hazardous to health, but does not pose a significant risk of reactivity.
D) The substance is highly reactive, but does not pose a significant health risk.

Question 21

You have been cleared by the incident commander at a hazmat incident to prepare to go off duty. After completing decontamination, which of the following should be your FIRST action?

A) Return to the ambulance and drive to your station.
B) Inform dispatch that you are off duty and leave the scene.
C) Report directly to EMS for post-entry monitoring.
D) Remove and bag your uniform.

Question 22

Which of these is required for those who may perform patient care in the cold zone on patients who do not present a significant risk of secondary contamination?

A) EMS Level 1 training
B) EMS Level 2 training
C) Awareness Level
D) Multiple Casualty training

Question 23

In a hazardous materials incident, decontamination begins in the ________ zone.

A) central
B) cold
C) warm
D) hot

Question 24

It has been determined that the concentration of a substance is at IDLH. This means that patients exposed to the area:

A) are at risk for adverse effects or death as soon as they are exposed.
B) will suffer no adverse effects if they have been exposed for less than 15 minutes.
C) have a 50 percent likelihood of dying.
D) require transport and inpatient hospitalization.

Question 25

Which of the following is the universal decontamination agent for hazardous materials exposure?

A) A low-sudsing detergent
B) Water
C) Activated charcoal
D) Tincture of green soap

Question 26

At the scene of a hazardous materials emergency, you have been assigned to the cold zone. In this zone, which one of the following would you perform?

A) Initial decontamination
B) Initial triage
C) Removal of contaminated rescue gear
D) Obtaining vital signs

Question 27

Which of the following is the most common route of exposure to hazardous materials?

A) Injection
B) Ingestion
C) Inhalation
D) Absorption

Question 28

The highest level of respiratory and splash protection from hazardous materials exposure is provided by level ________ protective equipment.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT recommended in managing patients exposed to carbamate pesticides?

A) Using tincture of green soap in the decontamination process
B) Administering pralidoxime
C) Decontaminating with water
D) Administering atropine

Question 30

When working in the warm zone, the paramedic should remember that:

A) the area is actively contaminated.
B) there is no danger of contamination.
C) protective gear must be worn.
D) patient care is not performed.

Question 31

Firefighter "turnout" gear is considered what level of protective equipment?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

Question 32

The driver of a truck carrying a caustic substance in powder form has accidentally come into contact with the material. You are first on the scene, and a quick observation indicates that he has powder on his arms. Your immediate action would be to:

A) brush off the powder, then rinse the area with water.
B) place the patient in the ambulance, but avoid touching his arms.
C) instruct the patient to remain still and wait for the incident safety officer.
D) wrap the arms in dry, sterile dressings.