You are dispatched to a public library for a 68-year-old male who reportedly fainted. Upon arrival, you find the patient conscious and alert, sitting in a chair, attended by library staff. He states he felt dizzy and 'blacked out' for a few seconds. His skin is pale and diaphoretic. He has a history of hypertension and takes lisinopril. Which of the following actions is most critical to perform before moving the patient to the stretcher?
During a mass casualty incident (MCI) at a chemical plant, you are assigned to the decontamination corridor. A worker is brought to you with chemical burns to his arms and chest, complaining of severe shortness of breath. He is still covered in a powdered chemical agent. What is the most appropriate first step in managing this patient?
You are assessing a 4-year-old child who is in respiratory distress. The child is sitting in a tripod position, drooling, and has a high-grade fever. You note audible stridor. Which of the following actions should be AVOIDED?
You are treating a patient with a documented Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order that appears valid. The patient is apneic and pulseless. The patient's distraught family member insists you begin CPR, stating, 'He changed his mind this morning!' What is the most appropriate course of action?
You are completing a patient care report (PCR) for a patient who refused transport after a minor fall. The patient was alert and oriented, had no complaints of pain, and vitals were stable. Which of the following elements are essential to include in the documentation to minimize liability? (Select THREE)
True or False: The jaw-thrust maneuver is the preferred method for opening the airway in an unresponsive pediatric patient with no suspected spinal injury.
**Case Study** A mid-sized manufacturing company, 'Precision Parts Inc.', has called 911 for a 55-year-old male employee who collapsed in the machine shop. The facility is large, with loud ambient noise from machinery and moderate foot traffic from other employees gathering around. Dispatch information indicates the patient is unconscious and not breathing. Your unit is the first to arrive. Upon entering the shop, you see the patient supine on the concrete floor. A coworker is performing compressions, but they appear shallow and too slow. The area is cluttered with tools and metal shavings. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is on the wall 50 feet away. Your partner immediately takes over CPR with proper technique. Your primary responsibility is to manage the scene and prepare for defibrillation. The patient is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. The coworker who was doing CPR states the patient just 'grabbed his chest and fell over' about 5 minutes ago. Considering the environment and the patient's condition, which sequence of actions best demonstrates effective scene management and patient care?
You are assessing an 82-year-old female who fell in her kitchen. She is complaining of severe pain in her left hip and you note that her left leg is shortened and externally rotated. These findings are most indicative of which type of injury?
A patient with a history of COPD is experiencing a severe exacerbation. Their respiratory rate is 30 breaths/minute, they are using accessory muscles, and their SpO2 is 86% on room air. You apply a non-rebreather mask at 15 LPM. After 5 minutes, their respiratory rate has slowed to 8 breaths/minute and they have become lethargic. What is the most likely cause of this deterioration?
You are dispatched to a residence for a 25-year-old male with a history of seizures. You find him in a postictal state, drowsy but responsive to verbal stimuli. His girlfriend states he had a tonic-clonic seizure that lasted about 2 minutes. Which assessment finding would be most concerning in this postictal patient?