Deck 10: Air Medical Operations

Question 1

You are on the scene of a motor vehicle collision on a rural roadway. It is 0130 and there is significant low cloud cover. The patient is a 45-year-old man who weighs 91 kg and is unresponsive. The patient has been intubated and has two large-bore IVs established. Which of the following would be a limiting factor when considering air medical transport of this patient?

A) Rural area
B) Cloud cover
C) Patient size
D) Time of day

Answer 1

Cloud cover

Question 2

When is it appropriate to approach a landed helicopter?

A) After the rotors stop spinning
B) After a 5-minute "cooling off" period
C) When the flight crew signals you to approach
D) When the landing zone officer indicates it is safe

Answer 2

When the flight crew signals you to approach

Question 3

Which of the following is the ideal size of a helicopter landing zone during daytime conditions?

A) 100 square ft
B) 100 square yd
C) 200 square ft
D) 200 square yd

Answer 3

100 square ft

Question 4

Which one of the following is NOT a typical use for a rotor-wing aircraft?

A) Scene response for patient transport
B) Search and rescue
C) Organ procurement
D) Transport over very long distances

Question 5

Which of the following is a benefit of fixed-wing aircraft over rotor-wing aircraft?

A) Fixed-wing aircraft offer greater flexibility in landing area.
B) Fixed-wing aircraft can transport over longer distances.
C) Fixed-wing aircraft can carry nurses while helicopters cannot.
D) Fixed-wing aircraft can fly in heavy rain.

Question 6

Which piece of legislation authorized the U.S. military to use simultaneous helicopter evacuation and medical care to augment existing U.S. civilian EMS?

A) Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic
B) Army Combat and Civilian Cooperation
C) Civilian Air Medical Program
D) Military Cooperative Evacuation Protocol

Question 7

You are preparing a landing zone for an incoming air medical helicopter. The chosen landing zone is dirt and it is a hot and dry day. You should:

A) inform the incoming helicopter that there may be dust upon landing.
B) choose a different landing zone.
C) ask the fire department to wet down the area.
D) widen the landing zone by 50 feet.

Question 8

Responsibilities of a landing zone officer include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) selection of site.
B) site preparation.
C) determining safe flying conditions.
D) air-to-ground communication.

Question 9

Which of the following is TRUE if the ground transport time is equal to air medical transport time?

A) The patient should be transported by air, as all helicopters have a nurse onboard.
B) The patient should be transported by ground, as it is safer for the patient and crew.
C) Medical direction should be obtained to determine the preferred method of transport.
D) Air transport should be used only if an IV is already established.

Question 10

Which of these is not a way in which helicopters and airplanes have proved to be vital assets in the emergent transport of the ill or injured patients?

A) Ongoing education
B) Organ procurement
C) Specialty care
D) Scene responses

Question 11

When training a new provider in air medical operations, which of the following statements would be appropriate?

A) "Never approach an aircraft from the rear."
B) "Only patients under 90 kg can be transported in a helicopter."
C) "Fixed-wing aircraft are only used by critical care transport teams."
D) "It is your responsibility to determine safe flying conditions after receiving a call."

Question 12

Which of the following patients would most likely benefit from air ambulance transport?

A) Term infant born in a rural area
B) 19-year-old male multisystem trauma patient
C) 42-year-old female with 10/10 abdominal pain
D) 2-year-old boy with febrile seizures

Question 13

An air medical transport crew has just arrived at the scene where you are providing care for a patient with a suspected AMI. You should:

A) move the patient to the door of the helicopter and prepare to load the patient.
B) wait for the flight crew to make contact with you and give them a report.
C) ask over the radio if the crew is ready to receive the patient.
D) send a BLS provider to make contact with the flight crew.

Question 14

Which of the following patients would NOT be a candidate for transport via fixed-wing aircraft?

A) 3-hour-old neonate requiring transport from a community hospital to a higher-level NICU
B) 42-year-old man who is sedated and intubated, being transported from a rural area to a university hospital
C) 32-year-old man requiring prolonged extrication following a vehicle accident
D) 12-year-old burn victim who has been stabilized at a local ED and now needs transport to a burn center

Question 15

During which conflict did helicopter transport of U.S. soldiers evolve from strict evacuation to in-flight medical care?

A) World War I
B) Korean War
C) World War II
D) Vietnam War

Question 16

During which conflict did helicopter evacuation of wounded U.S. soldiers become standard practice?

A) World War I
B) Korean War
C) World War II
D) Vietnam War

Question 17

Which of the following is a responsibility of the paramedic during helicopter take-off?

A) Determining wind direction and speed
B) Continuous communication with the pilot and flight crew
C) Visually assessing for straps left hanging out of aircraft doors
D) Notifying the receiving hospital that the flight crew is departing

Question 18

If necessary to provide guidance to the approaching aircraft, use clock-based directional terms. Always consider the point of reference for the pilot (the nose of the aircraft) to be the:

A) 3 o'clock position.
B) 12 o'clock position.
C) 6 o'clock position.
D) 9 o'clock position.

Question 19

What type of flight rules can be characterized by the pilot(s) relying almost exclusively on line of sight?

A) Traditional flight rules
B) Visual flight rules
C) Emergency flight rules
D) Instrument flight rules

Question 20

In most instances, modern medical helicopters are staffed by:

A) a four-person crew including two paramedics, a pilot, and copilot.
B) a three-person crew including a paramedic, nurse, and pilot.
C) a two-person crew including a pilot and nurse.
D) a three-person crew including 2 paramedics and a pilot.