Practice Quiz

NREMT EMR First Responder

Category - Special Patient Populations

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As an EMR, you are called to a parking lot outside your workplace where you find an 88-year-old female on the ground. The patient states that she slipped and fell and now her right leg does not work. Her vitals are: Blood Pressure- 140/50, Heart Rate- 76, and Respiratory Rate- 22. You note that her right leg is obviously deformed at the lower leg, and that her foot is cool and pale. You cannot obtain a pedal pulse. What is the next thing you should do?
  1. Place the patient on a long spine board as she may have a spinal injury
  2. Apply oxygen via a non-rebreather at 15 lpm for pain control
  3. Attempt to reposition the right leg while applying a splint due to the lack of blood flow to the extremity
  4. Do nothing, as any movement will likely cause her significant pain
  5. Splint the right leg as it sits
Explanation
Answer: C - In the event that an injured extremity shows signs of lack of blood flow including pallor, coolness, and lack of pulse, the EMR must reposition the extremity in an attempt to reestablish blood flow. The responder should gently realign the extremity into a position of function and then reassess. Oxygen has no therapeutic benefit for this patient and does not provide pain control.
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