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

A son has called 911 for his father, who is having difficulty breathing. On scene, the 81-year-old patient is lying on a couch in the living room, lethargic, and in obvious respiratory distress. He is confused, but has an open airway. His respirations are 38 breaths/min and shallow, and his skin is extremely diaphoretic with cyanosis in the fingertips. At this time, the EMT should:

A confused, lethargic, and nonverbal 50-year-old female patient has altered mental status. You are told she has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The primary assessment reveals a respiration rate of 6 breaths/min and cool, clammy skin with cyanosis around the lips. What should be your priority management?

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

A 67-year-old male patient complains of shortness of breath. The patient cannot remember how many times he used his inhaler prior to your arrival, but he knows it has been multiple times. He is tachypneic and tachycardic. After administering oxygen, what should be your next action?

You are called to a motor vehicle collision. A 26-year-old female states that she was unrestrained and struck the steering column with her chest after the car she was driving hit another car from behind. She is somewhat confused, and complains of chest pain and difficult and painful breathing when she inhales. Her airway is patent and her breathing is adequate. Assessment of the radial pulse reveals it to be rapid and very irregular and weak. The patient has cyanosis in her nose and fingertips. Her breath sounds are clear and equal, and her skin is moist and pale. The patient informs you that she has asthma and has a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). What is your best initial action in treating this patient?

When presenting information on cardiac arrest and automated external defibrillation to a community group, a man asks why people should perform CPR prior to the arrival of EMS if the EMS responders will provide a shock after they arrive. Your response would be:

You have arrived at the residence of a 66-year-old female patient who is in cardiac arrest. In the living room, you find Emergency Medical Responders performing CPR on the patient. They quickly report that they found the patient in cardiac arrest and have been doing CPR for 5 minutes. Which of these statements should you make at this time?

You have been called for an elderly male patient who suddenly collapsed. On scene, you find an 82-year-old man lying on the garage floor. Assessment reveals him to be unresponsive and not breathing. What should you do immediately?

The nurse explains to a patient and family that the triad of signs of Parkinson disease is: _______, rigidity, and bradykinesia.