OEC 2013-2014 Written Exam Version A

Question 1

The creed of the National Ski Patrol is:
A: “Skiing and Safety”
B: “First Aid and Service”
C: “Snowsports and Safety”
D: “Service and Safety”

Answer 1

D: “Service and Safety”

Question 2

A situation in which an OEC Technician leaves a patient before the patient’s care is transferred to another individual is considered:
A: negligence 
B: breach of duty
C: abandonment 
D: assault

Answer 2

C: abandonment

Question 3

Which of the following tips is NOT a part of common radio etiquette?
A: speak directly into the microphone
B: hold the transmit key in for 1-2 seconds before speaking
C: include detailed information on a single transmission that takes no longer than 60 seconds
D: avoid using the patients name

Answer 3

C: include detailed information on a single transmission that takes no longer than 60 seconds

Question 4

During a stress response, the release of epinephrine results in:
A: an increase in heart rate
B: a decrease in the force of the heart’s contraction
C: smooth muscles contraction
D: a reduction in respiratory depth and rate

Answer 4

A: an increase in heart rate

Question 5

After scene Safety is established in a trauma situation, what is the next important thing to determine?
A: MOI
B: NOI
C: SAMPLE
D: ABCDs

Answer 5

A: MOI

Question 6

In the Simple Triage and Rapid Transport (START) system for triaging patients, what should you include in your assessment to determine the order in which patients will receive emergency care?
A: chief complaint, respiratory rate, pulse, medications the patient is using
B: respiratory rate , pulse, mental status, ability to walk
C: level of consciousness, pulse, past medical history, medications the patient is using
D: chief complaint, ability to walk, pulse, past medical history

Answer 6

B: respiratory rate , pulse, mental status, ability to walk

Question 7

When using the power grip, the hands are:
A: placed underneath the lifting device and held loosely
B: placed underneath the lifting device and held firmly
C: placed on the side of the lifting device and held firmly
D: held on the side of the device at a 45-degree angle

Answer 7

B: placed underneath the lifting device and held firmly

Question 8

You arrive at the scene where a patient has a possible fracture of the left hip. You note that she is lying on her back and her left leg is turned inward. You would document this position as:
A: supine with lateral rotation of the lower extremity
B: lateral recumbent with dorsal rotation of the left leg
C: supine with medial rotation of the left lower extremity
D: supine with left rotation of the right leg

Answer 8

C: supine with medial rotation of the left lower extremity

Question 9

You arrive at the scene of a fall, where a 42-year-old woman fell backward off a stepladder while cleaning windows. She is lying on the ground complaining of pain in her ankle. She tells you, “if I had just been more careful and moved the ladder instead of reaching , this never would have happened!” Based on this information, which of the following can you conclude?
A: she has an open airway, is breathing, and has blood to her brain.
B: her pulse rate is within normal limits
C: she does not require rapid transport
D: she does not have any other injuries

Answer 9

A: she has an open airway, is breathing, and has blood to her brain.

Question 10

When getting a refusal from a patient who does not want treatment, it is critical that you do which of the following things?
A: ensure that the patient understands the risks of refusing care
B: Make sure the patient has someone who can provide transport to the hospital
C: have the patient date the refusal form
D: have the patient promise to get care if the symptoms get worse

Answer 10

A: ensure that the patient understands the risks of refusing care

Question 11

Which of the following patients would benefit from the head tilt-chin lift maneuver?
A: A 39-year-old male who just had a seizure and had snoring respirations
B: A 45 year old female who is alert and vomiting blood
C: A 67-year-old female just fell down a flight of stairs and is unresponsive
D: an 85-year-old female who hit her head on a tree limb and is now responsive to painful stimuli

Answer 11

A: A 39-year-old male who just had a seizure and had snoring respirations

Question 12

Which of the following statements made by a patient’s family member lead you to suspect that the patient is suffering from hypovolemic shock?
A: “he has had a rash for the past three days”
B: “he cannot stop throwing up”
C: “he has been taking an antibiotic for a chest cold”
D: “he got up this morning and was having a hard time breathing”

Answer 12

B: “he cannot stop throwing up”

Question 13

When assessing a patient for a facial droop, you should:
A: palpate the face one side at a time
B: gently lift and then let go of the skin over the cheeks
C: ask the patient to show you his teeth or to smile
D: observe the patients ability to turn his head to the right and then to the left

Answer 13

C: ask the patient to show you his teeth or to smile

Question 14

The speed at which a toxin is distributed in the body is affected by:
A: the heart rate
B: body mass
C: the respiratory rate
D: urination

Answer 14

A: the heart rate

Question 15

A tachypneic patient is breathing:
A: more slowly than usual
B: normally
C: more rapidly than normal
D: irregularly

Answer 15

C: more rapidly than normal

Question 16

The Patient has swollen lips and hives. Which of the following scene size-up observations supports your suspicion that the patient is having an allergic reaction?
A: he has a glucometer among his belongings
B: he has a new container of antibiotics with only two pills missing
C: he states that several members of his family have the flu
D: he has a bottle of expired nitroglycerin tablets

Answer 16

B: he has a new container of antibiotics with only two pills missing

Question 17

You are called to assist a 62-year-old female who is complaining of fatigue, jaw discomfort, and diaphoresis. When asked, she denies having chest pains or shortness of breath. She tells you that she has a history of hypertension and takes a blood pressure pill. She also has nitroglycerin. Which statement is not appropriate for this event?
A: “I am not going to attach the AED because she is conscious and has a pulse.”
B: “she is not short of breath, so we don’t need to transport her.”
C: “I am going to call four ALS because she could be having a cardiac event.”
D: “I am going to check her blood pressure.”

Answer 17

B: “she is not short of breath, so we don’t need to transport her.”

Question 18

A middle aged camel patient informs you that she has a bad gallbladder and that is has been increasingly bothering her. Your assessment reveals tenderness and mild discomfort in he right upper quadrant of her abdomen. She also states that her right shoulder is aching. Given her her history and complaint, you would recognize her shoulder pain as:
A: referred pain
B: false pain
C: unrelated pain
D: muscular pain

Answer 18

A: referred pain

Question 19

You are called to the vehicle maintenance department on the mountain, where a fairly large explosion has occurred. The first injured person you talk to tells you is having excruciating ear pain. You recognize that his ear pain may be caused by:
A: inner ear damage caused by the naive of the explosion
B: a primary blast injury to the inner ear
C: a secondary blast injury to the inner ear
D: rat damage resulting from exposure to the heat produced by the explosion.

Answer 19

B: a primary blast injury to the inner ear

Question 20

You are treating a patient who has cut herself while working in the kitchen. She has a jagged laceration on her left forearm that is bleeding steadily and heavily. While attempting to control the bleeding, you should first:
A: tightly wrap roller gauze around a large sterile dressing placed over the injury
B: apply direct pressure to the elbow pressure point to slow the flow of blood into the arm
C: place a sterile dressing over the site and hold steady pressure on the dressing with your hand
D: wrap the injury tightly with roller gauze and apply a tourniquet proximal to the laceration.

Answer 20

C: place a sterile dressing over the site and hold steady pressure on the dressing with your hand

Question 21

Your patient is a 40-year-old man who was burned when he spilled gasoline on his pants while he was standing near the pilot light of his hot-water heater. He has partial thickness burns from his feet to just above his knees, circumferentially around both legs. According to the Rules of Nines, the man burned \_\_\_\_\_ of his body surface.
A: 9%
B: 4.5 %
C: 36%
D: 18%

Answer 21

D: 18%

Question 22

Which of the following statement about voluntary muscles is true?
A: they are mostly located on the torso of the body
B: they make up less mass in the body than do involuntary muscles
C: they have the ability to cause movement by extending
D: they generally connect to the skeletal system

Answer 22

D: they generally connect to the skeletal system

Question 23

For a person to make a fist, which of the following must occur?
A: the central nervous system must send a message through the spinal cord and then through the peripheral nerves
B: the central nervous system must send a message through the spinal cord and then through the autonomic nervous system
C: the peripheral nervous system must send a message to the brain and then back through the peripheral nervous system
D: the muscles must signal the brain to send a message through the autonomic nervous system

Answer 23

A: the central nervous system must send a message through the spinal cord and then through the peripheral nerves

Question 24

Light stimulates nerve endings in of the following structures to send to the drain via the optic nerves?
A: retina
B: iris 
C: lachrymal glands
D: lens

Answer 24

A: retina

Question 25

An OEC candidate asks you to explain a pneumothorax. Your response should be occurs when:
A: the lung becomes overinflated with air and then collapses
B: air accumulates between the inner chest wall and the outside of the lung, causing the lung to collapse
C: the trachea becomes obstructive, causing the lung to collapse
D: air enters the lung alveoli through a traumatic opening in the chest wall

Answer 25

B: air accumulates between the inner chest wall and the outside of the lung, causing the lung to collapse

Question 26

When palpating the anterior portion of a patient’s abdomen, you note tenderness in the left upper quadrant. As a knowledgeable OEC technician, you would recognize that which of the following organs may be involved?
A: the kidney
B: the gallbladder
C: the spleen
D: the liver

Answer 26

C: the spleen

Question 27

You are assessing a conscious but confused hiker who became lost in the woods on a cold day. Your assessment shows that he has an open airway, adequate breathing, and a weak radial pulse. His skin is cold to the touch and he is shivering. OEC Technicians should recognize that:
A: cold caused the patient’s brain to become dysfunctional, as evidenced by the shivering
B: shivering actually represents a small seizure, which indicates that the brain is cold.
C: shivering is a protective means by which the Body is attempting to warm itself
D: shivering indicates that the patient’s core body temperature has fallen below 90degrees.

Answer 27

C: shivering is a protective means by which the Body is attempting to warm itself

Question 28

A person is in a hot environment, and his body is trying to compensate. He is beginning to exhibit signs of heat exhaustion. Which of the following signs/symptoms would you expect to see?
A: cool and clammy, bradycardia, slow respiration’s
B: warm and very sweaty skin, elevated body temperature, headache
C: diaphoretic skin, decreased heart rate, hunger
D: hot dry skin, elevated heart rate, elevated body temperature

Answer 28

B: warm and very sweaty skin, elevated body temperature, headache

Question 29

On a camping trip with your family, your children ask if they can pick some plants for part of their wilderness dinner. Based on your OEC training, you explain to your children that they need to be careful picking wild plants and flowers, and that:
A: plants that do not cause any local reaction when they are picked are safe to eat
B: the worst that can possibly happen from eating a bad plant is you will get sick to your stomach
C: leaves may be poisonous but most berries found in the woods are safe to eat
D: some plants can be very toxic, so it is best not to eat anything unless you are sure what it is.

Answer 29

D: some plants can be very toxic, so it is best not to eat anything unless you are sure what it is.

Question 30

A patient at a mountain ski resort has notable shortness of breath. She denies any past medical history and takes no medications. After applying oxygen, you realize that the key to helping this patient improve is to:
A: descend to a lower altitude
B: administer a respiratory medication by a metered-dose inhaler
C: position her in a left lateral recumbent position
D: place her in a supine position

Answer 30

A: descend to a lower altitude

Question 31

The distinction between dry drowning and wet drowning involves:
A: how much fluid enters the lungs
B: the amount of trauma to the laryngopharynx
C: the closing of the epiglottis
D: the pressure against the cricoid cartilage

Answer 31

A: how much fluid enters the lungs

Question 32

You have been called to care for a 21-month-old girl who has been bitten by a dog. Given the  patient’s age, you would appropriately classify the patient as:
A: and infant
B: a school-child
C: a preschooler 
D: a toddler

Answer 32

D: a toddler

Question 33

You have been asked to deliver a talk about the geriatric population to the new OEC class. Which of the following points would you emphasize in your presentation?
A: assessment can be difficult because most individuals older than 70 suffer from dementia
B: many elderly individuals may have multiple concurrent medical conditions
C: geriatric patients actually account for a small number of emergency medical call and transport
D: dementia is an inevitable part of aging

Answer 33

B: many elderly individuals may have multiple concurrent medical conditions

Question 34

You are assisting a 29-year-old paraplegic skier who lost control of his sit ski and hit a tree. Even though there are no obvious signs of injury, the patient suddenly starts to feel panicky, and you become concerned about autonomic dysreflexia. Other signs/symptoms that would support this assessment include all of the following except:
A: hypotension 
B: altered mental status
C: headache 
D: blurred vision

Answer 34

A: hypotension

Question 35

When treating a patient exhibiting abnormal behavior, you should always:
A: assume until proven otherwise that the source of the abnormal behavior is an underlying medical condition
B: provide oxygen with a non rebreather mask at 15LPM
C: assist the patient to taking glucose in case the patient is hyperglycemic
D: assume that the abnormal behavior is a manifestation of an underlying psychological problem

Answer 35

A: assume until proven otherwise that the source of the abnormal behavior is an underlying medical condition

Question 36

In which of the following patients would an OEC technician recognize a full-term pregnancy?
A: a 21 year old who is 39 week pregnant and is feeling dizzy
B: a 40 year old beginning her third trimester whose water just broke
C: a 25 year old who is 220 days into pregnancy and is complaining of pain
D: a 33 year old with twins in the eighth month of pregnancy

Answer 36

A: a 21 year old who is 39 week pregnant and is feeling dizzy

Question 37

HAZWOPER training is required by the federal government for anyone who works in an environment in which uncontrolled hazardous materials may be encountered. Which of the following is the correct pairing for a letter and what it stands for in the acronym HAZWOPER?
A: W: water
B: E: energy
C: R: rescue
D: O: operations

Answer 37

D: O: operations

Question 38

Which of the following statements about the nasal cannula is true?
A: the oxygen flow rate can be adjusted anywhere from 1 LPM to 10 LPM, depending on how much oxygen the patient needs
B: when the nasal cannula is set to the highest appropriate oxygen flow rate, it delivers 2444 percent oxygen
C: a nasal cannula is preferred over a non rebreather mask because the cannula administers the oxygen through the nose instead of through the mouth
D: it is best to see how a patient tolerates a nasal cannula before attempting to place a non rebreather mask on the patient

Answer 38

B: when the nasal cannula is set to the highest appropriate oxygen flow rate, it delivers 2444 percent oxygen

Question 39

The spleen is part of which body system?
A: the cardiovascular system
B: the endocrine system
C: the gastrointestinal system 
D: the lymphatic system

Answer 39

D: the lymphatic system

Question 40

The best non-urgent move for OEC Technicians to use when alone is the: 
A: human crutch
B: chair carry
C: fore and aft carry
D: back carry

Answer 40

A: human crutch

Question 41

Which one of the following lists represents a correct sequence for the passage of air into the lungs?
A: nose, bronchi, larynx, trachea, pharynx
B: larynx, esophagus, trachea, bronchi, alveoli
C: Epiglottis, trachea, cricoid, bronchi, alveoli
D: mouth, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli

Answer 41

D: mouth, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli

Question 42

You are assessing an eight-month-old whose mother states has been vomiting for two days and not eating or drinking. When assessing the pulse, which site should you check?
A: the temporal artery
B: the Radial artery
C: the femoral artery
D: the brachial artery

Answer 42

D: the brachial artery

Question 43

After your initial evaluation of the patient you would communicate by radio with patrol base. Following the acronym SAILER, what information would you include?
A: surname, age, address, chief complaint
B: sex, age, chief complaint, splints needed
C: age, next of kin, treatment initiated , request for EMS (if needed)
D: surname, location of accident, age, insurance company

Answer 43

B: sex, age, chief complaint, splints needed

Question 44

Which of the following statements describes the correct positioning of a BVM on a patient’s face.
A: the narrow part of the mask is over the bridge of the nose, bottom part is in the cleft of the chin
B: if two rescuers are using the BVM, the mask need only be placed over the mouth while the nose is pinched closed
C: the wide portion of the mask is at the top of the nose, and the narrow part is below the lower lip
D: the mask is properly positioned when the top portion lies over the bridge of the nose, and the lower portion is below the chin

Answer 44

A: the narrow part of the mask is over the bridge of the nose, bottom part is in the cleft of the chin

Question 45

When performing a primary assessment, the first evidence that the body may be in shock is:
A: skin that is warm and diaphoretic
B: a radial pulse of over 100 beats per minute
C: hypertension
D: a slower restoration rate

Answer 45

B: a radial pulse of over 100 beats per minute

Question 46

You have been called for a 63-year-old woman with slurred speech and right arm weakness. On arrival, the patient informs you that the slurred speech and weakness have been resolved. Since your assessment reveals no defects, you would tell the patient.
A: “it would be best to start taking one baby aspirin every day; this will decrease the chance of this happening again.”
B: “sometimes seizures present this way; call your doctor in the morning to schedule an appointment.”
C: “if this happened again, with 10 minutes to see if you are okay. If the symptoms don’t go away, call 911.”
D: “you really need to be evaluated in the hospital. You could be at risk true stroke.”

Answer 46

D: “you really need to be evaluated in the hospital. You could be at risk true stroke.”

Question 47

You are visiting a friends house and suddenly hear a child crying out in the kitchen. As you assess the scene you note kitchen cabinets are open with bottles tossed around. The child is holding her hand to her mouth. Your friend tells you that the child must have tasted something that she didn’t like. Based on your scene assessment, you would:
A: agree with your friend and suggest that a cookie would take the bad taste away.
B: ask your friend if she has Ipecac so you can make the child vomit
C: call 911 and try to identify which bottle the child may have been drinking from
D: offer the child a glass of milk to dilute and chemicals he may have ingested

Answer 47

C: call 911 and try to identify which bottle the child may have been drinking from

Question 48

Which of the following signs would you recognize as an early sign of respiratory distress in a 7-year-old boy who complains of difficulty breathing?
A: barrel chest
B: nasal flare
C: tremors of his hands
D: ecchymosis on his chest

Answer 48

B: nasal flare

Question 49

Your patient is having an allergic reaction and needs to use his epinephrine auto-injector. He is concerned that he does not recall the correct way to do it. Which of the following things would you tell him?
A: “press the injector onto the outer thigh, push the tip against the thigh until the needle deploys, and with for it to automatically inject.”
B: “place the injector against the outer upper arm, push he tip until the needle deploys, and then plunger slowly to inject the medications
C: “pinch the skin on the anterior thigh, press the injector tip against the skin, and wait until it activates.”
D: “pinch the skin on the lateral thigh, press the injector against the skin, and rapidly push the plunger to inject the medications.”

Answer 49

A: “press the injector onto the outer thigh, push the tip against the thigh until the needle deploys, and with for it to automatically inject.”

Question 50

Before nitroglycerin is administered, you should ensure that:
A: nitroglycerin is in fact prescribed for the patient
B: the patient rates his chest pain as at least 7 on a scale of 1-10
C: the patient’s systolic blood pressure is at least 110 mmHg
D: the patient is standing

Answer 50

A: nitroglycerin is in fact prescribed for the patient