Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Test with focused study methods including flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Practice with hints and detailed explanations to boost your readiness for the exam.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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Before inserting a Combitube in a patient in cardiac arrest, what should you do first?

Check for a pulse
Preoxygenate the patient with a bag-mask device and 100% oxygen
Administer CPR for 2 minutes
Insert an endotracheal tube

The correct answer is: Preoxygenate the patient with a bag-mask device and 100% oxygen

Before inserting a Combitube in a patient in cardiac arrest, preoxygenating the patient with a bag-mask device and 100% oxygen is of utmost importance. This step ensures that the patient has an adequate oxygen reserve in their lungs before any intervention is performed. In situations of cardiac arrest, time is critical, and managing the airway is essential for providing effective ventilations. By preoxygenating, you increase the likelihood of success with the Combitube insertion, as it allows for a brief period where the patient can still receive oxygen and minimize the risk of hypoxia during the procedure. The provision of 100% oxygen helps saturate the blood with oxygen, which is crucial since neurological function can start to deteriorate rapidly when oxygen delivery is compromised. Ensuring adequate oxygenation before proceeding with advanced airway management maximizes the chance of reversing hypoxia and improves overall outcomes for patients in cardiac arrest.