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Which of these unresponsive patients would the EMT recognize as in cardiac arrest?

When assessing a patient who complains of shortness of breath but has an open airway, which action should the EMT perform next?

You have been called to a home for an 18-year-old male patient, who informs you that he experienced a sudden onset of shortness of breath and back pain while watching television. He has a history of spontaneous pneumothorax, and the current symptoms he is experiencing are identical to those he felt with a previous pneumothorax. Assessment reveals the patient to be slightly dyspneic with breath sounds clear and intact bilaterally. During transport, what is most critical to continually monitor on this patient?

The EMT should request advanced life support (ALS) backup for a patient in cardiac arrest because:

You have applied the AED’s electrodes to an obese male patient in cardiac arrest. When you press the analyze button, the AED gives you a “check electrode” message. In looking at the patient, which of these factors would most likely be responsible for this message?

An EMT has just received a “shock advised” message from the AED. Just before delivering the shock, the EMT must:

Which of these statements regarding ventilation in a healthy patient is true?

You have been dispatched to a residence for a male patient with a cardiac history who is complaining of chest pain. On scene, you find a 52-year-old man sitting in a chair. He is alert and oriented. He states that his chest pain feels like the last time he had a heart attack. He reports that in the hospital his heart stopped and the health care personnel had to shock him twice before it restarted. He is breathing adequately and has a strong radial pulse. Which of these actions would be appropriate in the assessment and/or management of this patient?

When assessing an adult patient with difficulty breathing, which of these signs or symptoms would be of most immediate concern?

The EMT is properly using a small-volume nebulizer when she: