Deck 17: Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

Which of the following respiratory rates is considered an abnormal respiratory rate for an adult?

A) 20 breaths/min
B) 12 breaths/min
C) 16 breaths/min
D) 8 breaths/min

Answer 1

8 breaths/min

Question 2

Which of the following may be seen just prior to respiratory arrest?

A) Breathing through the nose, not the mouth
B) Very deep, rapid respirations
C) Agonal respirations
D) Accessory respirations

Answer 2

Agonal respirations

Question 3

Which of the following patients does NOT necessarily have inadequate breathing?

A) Patient with cyanosis
B) Patient's whose breath sounds cannot be heard
C) Patient with agonal respirations
D) Patient with an irregular respiratory rhythm

Answer 3

Patient with an irregular respiratory rhythm

Question 4

Which of the following patients with difficulty breathing should NOT receive supplemental oxygen?

A) A patient with a chronic lung disease who may have a hypoxic drive
B) An infant whose eyes may be damaged by excessive oxygen administration
C) A patient whose oxygen saturation level is 100% on room air
D) None of these patients should have oxygen withheld.

Question 5

Which of the following does NOT occur during inspiration?

A) Intercostal muscles contract
B) Chest cavity increases in size
C) Diaphragm lowers
D) Diaphragm relaxes

Question 6

When ventilating a child with inadequate respirations,which of the following is the maximum rate at which artificial respirations should be delivered?

A) 15 per minute
B) 12 per minute
C) 24 per minute
D) 20 per minute

Question 7

You are first on the scene of a 61-year-old female in need of assistance with her respirations.You have a pocket mask with supplemental oxygen.How can you determine that your artificial ventilation is effective?

A) You are assisting respirations at 10 breaths per minute.
B) Patient's pulse returns to normal.
C) You assure oxygen is being delivered at 15 liters per minute.
D) Patient's skin color remains the same.

Question 8

A patient who has shallow,slow,irregular gasping breaths is said to have ________ respirations.

A) Kussmaul's
B) agonal
C) central neurogenic
D) Cheyne-Stokes

Question 9

Which of the following signs of inadequate breathing is more prominent in children than in adults?

A) See-sawing of the chest and abdomen
B) Grunting respirations
C) Nasal flaring
D) All of the above

Question 10

What is the best way to determine that you are getting adequate ventilation with a bag-valve mask?

A) Look for chest rise and fall.
B) Push the full amount of the bag into the patient.
C) Ensure the pulse oximeter reads 95 to 100%.
D) Hyperventilate the patient until the oxygen saturation reaches 100%.

Question 11

While caring for a 3-year-old child,you should be concerned if his respiratory rate exceeds ________ breaths per minute.

A) 16
B) 20
C) 24
D) 30

Question 12

While assessing the airway of a pediatric patient,you will notice that it is different than that of an adult.Which of the following is one of those differences?

A) The cricoid cartilage is less developed, reducing the possibility that it can be completely occluded.
B) The tongue is smaller, taking up less room in the mouth and allowing larger objects to occlude the airway.
C) The trachea is smaller, softer, and more flexible, allowing it to be more easily obstructed.
D) The chest wall is softer, making it easier for the chest to expand.

Question 13

Which of the following is a sign of adequate artificial ventilations in a pediatric patient?

A) The breath is delivered easily.
B) Pulse rate slows down.
C) Pulse rate increases.
D) You notice cyanosis developing around the mouth.

Question 14

You are ventilating a 6-year-old child and note that his heart rate has decreased from 70 to 54.Which of the following is NOT appropriate?

A) Notify medical control that the patient's condition has improved.
B) Check the flow of oxygen reaching the bag-valve-mask device.
C) Increase the force of ventilations.
D) Insert an oropharyngeal airway and continue ventilating.

Question 15

Which of the following respiratory rates should be cause for alarm in a 2-month-old child?

A) 28 breaths/min
B) 40 breaths/min
C) 16 breaths/min
D) 32 breaths/min

Question 16

Which of the following BEST defines inadequate breathing?

A) Wheezing noises when breathing
B) Breathing that is insufficient to sustain life
C) Breathing slower than normal
D) Breathing faster than normal

Question 17

Your patient is a 24-year-old woman with asthma who is struggling to breathe and is very agitated.She has cyanosis of her lips and nail beds,and is cool and clammy to the touch.When you attempt to assist her ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device,she becomes combative and repeatedly pushes the mask away from her face.Which of the following is the BEST option?

A) Use a nasal cannula to administer supplemental oxygen.
B) Have your partner restrain the patient's hands so you can ventilate her.
C) Begin transport immediately and contact medical control for advice.
D) Wait for the patient's level of consciousness to decrease so that she can no longer resist your attempts to ventilate.

Question 18

Which of the following is true concerning expiration?

A) The chest cavity increases in size.
B) The diaphragm moves upward.
C) The intercostal muscles contract to force air out of the lungs.
D) The ribs move upward and outward.

Question 19

Your patient is a 15-year-old male with a history of multiple prior hospitalizations for asthma.Upon your arrival the patient responds only to painful stimuli and is making very weak respiratory effort.Which of the following should you do next?

A) Contact medical control.
B) Check the patient's oxygen saturation level.
C) Assist the patient with his inhaler.
D) Assist the patient's ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device and supplemental oxygen.

Question 20

Your patient is a 60-year-old female with a sudden onset of severe difficulty breathing.She has no prior history of respiratory problems.Which of the following should be done before applying oxygen by nonrebreather mask?

A) Listen to the patient's breath sounds.
B) Obtain a history of the present illness.
C) Check the patient's oxygen saturation level.
D) None of the above

Question 21

Contraindications for the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)can include which of the following?

A) Audible rhonchi
B) History of pulmonary fibrosis
C) History of obstructive sleep apnea
D) Audible wheezing

Question 22

When should the EMT most likely expect to hear wheezes in a patient complaining of shortness of breath secondary to an asthma attack?

A) While breathing in
B) In between breaths
C) While breathing out
D) While holding his breath

Question 23

Your patient is a 30-year-old female who may have overdosed on antidepressant medications.On your arrival,she is lying supine on her bed with her head on a pillow.She is unresponsive to painful stimuli and is snoring.She appears to be pale and her skin is cool and clammy.What should you do first?

A) Apply oxygen by nonrebreather mask.
B) Insert an oropharyngeal airway.
C) Check the patient's pulse.
D) Remove the patient's pillow.

Question 24

Which of the following is the most proper dose of inhaled medication the EMT can assist the patient with administering?

A) As needed until respiratory status improves
B) Two sprays
C) The number of sprays directed by medical control
D) One spray

Question 25

When the lung collapses without injury or any other cause,it is called which of the following?

A) COPD
B) Spontaneous pertussis
C) Spontaneous pulmonary embolism
D) Spontaneous pneumothorax

Question 26

When you hear wheezes while auscultating your patient's breath sounds,which of the following is most likely the cause?

A) There is an upper airway obstruction.
B) There is mucus in the air passages.
C) There is fluid in the lungs.
D) The lower air passages in the lungs are narrowed.

Question 27

What is the primary effect on the body when an EMT assists a patient with a prescribed inhaler if the patient is short of breath?

A) Decreased heart rate
B) Dissolved mucus in the airways
C) Increased contraction of the diaphragm
D) Relaxation of the bronchioles

Question 28

Which of the following is proper when assisting a patient with the use of a prescribed inhaler?

A) Have the patient hold the inhaled medication in his lungs as long as possible.
B) Make sure that the inhaler has been kept in the refrigerator.
C) Do not use the patient's inhaler, because you do not know how the medication has been stored.
D) Have the patient inhale deeply before delivering the spray.

Question 29

Which of the following sounds may be heard in lower respiratory obstruction?

A) Crowing
B) Wheezing
C) Stridor
D) Snoring

Question 30

What is NOT one of the symptoms of a pulmonary embolus?

A) sudden calmness
B) sudden onset of sharp chest pain
C) anxiety
D) pain and swelling in one or both legs

Question 31

A ________ device works by blowing oxygen or air continuously at a low pressure to prevent a patient's alveoli from collapsing.

A) COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
B) Nonrebreather
C) CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
D) FROPVD (Flow-Restricted, Oxygen Powered Ventilation Device)

Question 32

Which of the following is a benefit of using small-volume nebulizers for the treatment of respiratory problems?

A) They allow greater exposure of the patient's lungs to the medication.
B) The patient can easily carry this equipment in a purse or pocket.
C) Nebulized medications have fewer side effects than aerosolized medications from an inhaler.
D) They will work even when the patient's ventilations are inadequate.

Question 33

Which of the following is the primary cause of COPD?

A) Air pollution
B) Congenital diseases
C) Infection
D) Cigarette smoking

Question 34

In which of the following circumstances is medical direction necessary when assisting a patient with the use of a prescribed inhaler?

A) Patient has already overused the inhaler before your arrival.
B) Medical control is not necessary since assistance with inhaled medications is in the EMT scope of practice.
C) The inhaler belongs to another family member, not the patient.
D) Medical control is necessary in all situations in which an EMT assists with a prescribed inhaler.

Question 35

What condition is when fluid accumulates in the lungs,preventing them from breathing adequately?

A) Pneumonia
B) Pulmonary edema
C) Asthma
D) Pulmonary embolism

Question 36

Which of the following is a possible side effect of a prescribed inhaler for respiratory problems?

A) Tremors
B) Sleepiness
C) Trapped air in the lungs
D) Decreased heart rate

Question 37

Which of the following inhalers would NOT be used to reverse an asthma attack?

A) Proventil
B) Ventolin
C) Beclomethasone
D) Albuterol

Question 38

What condition is when there is an infection in one or both lungs caused by bacteria,viruses,or fungi?

A) Pneumonia
B) Pulmonary edema
C) Asthma
D) Pulmonary embolism

Question 39

You are called to the scene of a 45-year-old nonsmoker male with a history of asthma in respiratory distress.You find him lying supine on the couch.The patient is lethargic but can answer all your questions appropriately.He is diaphoretic,and complains of being cold,coughing,and having difficulty breathing for the past 3 days.His vital signs are blood pressure of 110/70,heart rate of 116,respiratory rate of 24,oxygen saturation of 93%,and temperature of 100.6°F.You hear rhonchi in the left lobes and he is coughing up yellow-tinged sputum.What condition do you suspect?

A) Asthma
B) Silent myocardial infarction
C) COPD
D) Pneumonia

Question 40

You are responding to a 54-year-old female patient in respiratory distress.The patient is on home oxygen by nasal cannula at 1 lpm.The patient has diminished lung sounds bilaterally with wheezes.She appears malnourished and has a barrel chest.What condition do you suspect?

A) Bronchitis
B) Asthma
C) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
D) Congestive heart failure

Question 41

You are on the scene of a 5-year-old patient who is in respiratory distress.The mother states that the patient has been making a "seal bark"-sounding cough for the past 24 hours.The child is very scared.The patient has stable vital signs.He is leaning forward in the tripod position and is drooling profusely.After performing your primary assessment,what is your best treatment option?

A) Provide high-concentration oxygen and have the parent hold it to the patient's face.
B) Provide oxygen by BVM.
C) Use a tongue depressor to examine the patient's mouth to determine whether the patient has strep throat or croup.
D) Calm the child as much as possible and provide oxygen by blow-by.

Question 42

The EMTs should provide patients with viral respiratory infections:

A) antibiotics.
B) oxygen.
C) a prescribed inhaler.
D) a small-volume nebulizer.

Question 43

Your patient is a 6-year-old male who appears very anxious,is using increased effort during expiration,and has a fever.He is wheezing and has a respiratory rate of 34.The patient's skin is very warm and dry.He does not have any cyanosis.The child is drooling and his mother states that he complained of a sore throat and pain on swallowing earlier in the afternoon.Which of the following conditions is most likely causing the patient's distress?

A) COPD
B) Epiglottitis
C) Cystic fibrosis
D) Pneumonia

Question 44

You are on the scene of a 3-year-old patient who is in respiratory distress.The mother states that the patient has been making a barking cough for the past 24 hours.The child is very scared and upset.He is crying inconsolably.The patient has tachypnea,but his vital signs are normal otherwise.He is leaning forward in the tripod position and is drooling profusely.What condition do you suspect?

A) Epiglottitis
B) Croup
C) Child abuse
D) Strep throat

Question 45

You are on the scene of a person down.You arrive at a college dormitory and find a 21-year-old patient lying supine on the floor,unresponsive.The patient is "guppy" breathing at 5 times a minute,has a strong radial pulse at 110 beats per minute,and has vomited on himself.Friends state they went out to dinner and a party.They returned to change clothes for another party and he never came out of his room.Your partner suctions the patient,inserts an oropharyngeal airway,and ventilates the patient with a bag-valve mask with high-concentration oxygen.You listen to lung sounds and there are coarse rhonchi bilaterally.What condition do you suspect?

A) Aspiration
B) Overdose
C) Status asthmaticus
D) Severe meningitis

Question 46

Today patients with cystic fibrosis are surviving to:

A) older adulthood.
B) infancy.
C) toddler years.
D) adulthood.