Emergency Care, 13e (Limmer et al.)
Chapter 38 Highway Safety and Vehicle Extrication
1) Which of the following is the MOST common type of rescue across the United States?
A) Farm rescue
B) Water rescue
C) Vehicle rescue
D) Hazardous materials response
Objective: 38.1
2) Which of the following is a common reason that EMTs are struck by motor vehicles at the
scene of motor vehicle collisions on roadways?
A) Drivers are distracted by the scene of the collision and do not pay attention to what they are
doing.
B) EMTs sometimes lose track of what they are doing and wander into traffic.
C) Drivers who are angry at being delayed deliberately take out their frustrations on rescue
workers.
D) All of the above
Objective: 38.1
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3) Which of the following human factors can lead to an increased risk of injury for an EMT at
the scene of a vehicle collision?
A) Physical problems that impede strenuous effort
B) Careless attitude toward personal safety
C) Lack of proficiency in the use of rescue tools
D) All of the above
Objective: 38.1
4) Which of the following may be a source of ignition when an ambulance is parked off the
roadway in a field of dried grass?
A) Mobile radio
B) Battery
C) Leaking coolant
D) Catalytic converter
Objective: 38.1
5) Which of the following is NOT an example of a specialty rescue team?
A) Water rescue
B) Confined space
C) High angle rescue
D) Advanced cardiac life support
Objective: 38.1
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6) Which of the following is a common hazard associated with the inner circle of a typical auto
extrication?
A) Penetrating injury from extrication tools
B) Flying glass and metal fragments
C) Carbon monoxide poisoning
D) Both A and C
Objective: 38.2
7) Which of the following phases of extrication comes before the other three phrases?
A) Sizing up the situation
B) Recognizing and managing hazards
C) Gaining access to the patient
D) Preparing for the rescue
Objective: 38.2
8) Which of the following can serve as appropriate eye protection for an EMT on the scene of an
extrication?
A) Prescription eyeglasses
B) Face conforming goggles
C) Plastic face shield of the type used for Standard Precautions
D) Shield of a Firefighter’s helmet
Objective: 38.2
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9) Which of the following is the BEST protection for an EMT’s upper body during an extrication
operation?
A) Firefighting turnout coat
B) Thick wool coat
C) Nylon jacket with asbestos lining
D) Thick fireproof blanket draped around the shoulders
Objective: 38.2
10) You have arrived at the scene of a vehicle collision in which there are utility wires down
around the vehicle. The three occupants appear dazed and other responding units have not yet
arrived. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?
A) Cool the wires with large amounts of water to prevent a fire from starting.
B) Encourage the occupants to exit the vehicle by jumping free of the vehicle before touching the
ground.
C) Push the wires out of the way with a long pry-bar in order to access the patients.
D) Stay at a distance and caution the occupants to stay inside the vehicle.
Objective: 38.2
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11) When placing cribbing:
A) kneel on both knees for stabilization.
B) always squat, so you can move away quickly.
C) kneel on one knee only so you can move away quickly.
D) kneel or squat as necessary.
Objective: 38.2
12) You are at the scene of a vehicle collision on an interstate highway. There are two cars
involved and both are out of the lanes against the median wall. As an EMS provider, what is your
primary safety concern?
A) Ensuring the patient is properly packaged for transport
B) Watching for distracted drivers who are driving past the scene
C) Evaluating the risk of fire caused by ruptured fuel lines
D) Searching for sharp edges of broken glass and torn metal
Objective: 38.2
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13) When responding to an emergency located on an interstate highway in a medium-duty
ambulance, the vehicle should be positioned:
A) in a safe location in the emergency lane of the interstate.
B) across as many lanes as possible to block oncoming traffic.
C) in the same direction as other response vehicles in a single line.
D) to one side of the damaged vehicles for easy egress.
Objective: 38.2
14) When controlling the scene of an emergency involving damaged power poles and downed
electrical wires, the EMT must remember to:
A) render the scene safe before entering the danger zone.
B) request appropriate personnel to cut the power source.
C) use nonconductive implements to make a safe path to victims.
D) use double-thickness gloves to insulate the body from electrocution.
Objective: 38.2
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15) Which of the following considerations should be determined when conducting a scene size-
up at night of a single vehicle collision involving a rollover?
A) Make and model of the vehicle involved
B) Mechanism of injury
C) How many EMS supervisors are needed for command
D) Which patient is the least injured
Objective: 38.2
16) The largest single hazard associated with EMS highway operations is:
A) explosion.
B) traffic flow.
C) power lines.
D) sharp objects.
Objective: 38.2
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17) The safest way to extinguish a road flare is to:
A) let it burn out.
B) pick it up and snuff it out with a gloved hand.
C) douse it with a fire hose.
D) pick it up and rub it onto the ground.
Objective: 38.2
18) While performing night operations, which of the following combinations of lights provide
maximum visibility?
A) Red/amber warning lights ON, headlights ON, fog lights ON, and traffic directional boards
ON
B) Red/amber warning lights ON, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF, and traffic directional boards
ON
C) Red/amber warning lights ON, headlights ON, fog lights OFF, and traffic directional boards
ON
D) Red/amber warning lights ON, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF, and traffic directional boards
OFF
Objective: 38.3
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19) When working at a nighttime emergency on a roadway, which of the following safety
considerations should the prudent EMS provider do to increase safety?
A) Keep all available response lights on to warn oncoming traffic.
B) Switch the headlights to the “high beam” position for maximum lighting.
C) Operate amber warning lights only, if the option is available.
D) Keep only the fog lights on to keep the light out of drivers’ vision.
Objective: 38.3
20) Which of the following is NOT a phase of the extrication process?
A) Disentanglement
B) Gaining access to the patient
C) Simplification
D) Terminating the rescue
Objective: 38.4
21) Which of the following is the highest priority during extrication?
A) Controlling major bleeding
B) Maintaining the patient’s airway
C) Ensuring your personal safety
D) Gaining access to the patient
Objective: 38.4
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22) Which of the following phases of extrication follows the other three phases?
A) Recognizing and managing hazards
B) Immobilizing and extricating the patient
C) Stabilizing the vehicle
D) Gaining access to the patient
Objective: 38.4
23) Which of the following activities should NOT occur during the scene size-up?
A) Providing airway management
B) Determining the mechanism of injury
C) Determining the extent of the patient’s entrapment
D) Determining the need for additional resources
Objective: 38.4
24) Which of the following BEST describes why it is important for the EMT to understand the
extrication process?
A) To anticipate any dangerous steps in the extrication process
B) To provide direction to the rescue technicians if they appear to be making errors
C) To take over the extrication process if requested by the rescue technicians
D) All of the above
Objective: 38.4
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