Maine EMS System Support - Psychomotor (Practical) Exams

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Category: Psychomotor (Practical) Exams

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Every skill sheet says "Takes or verbalizes BSI" - Does this mean that verbalizing the application of BSI and then not wearing it is OK? The skill sheets provide for the option for the candidate to either take or verbalizing BSI, however, gloves must still be provided at stations for candidates “ta
What exactly is “Failure to manage the patient as competent EMT”? In most cases, a candidate’s inability to complete a skill is addressed by other critical or non-critical criteria included in a skill sheet. Howe
Can the candidate bring a pen and/or a pad of paper to the exam and write down steps prior to the exam? No. If the station set-up includes a pen and (blank) paper, the candidate may use the items as he or she deems appropriate
What happens if the candidate forgets something and remembers it at the end prior to ending the station. In determining whether to award or not award a point, or check failure of a critical criteria, the examiner should consider whether the candidate’s failure perform a task in a particular sequenc...
Realizing there are several different oxygen cylinder and regulators, is there a specific one that the candidate should always test on No. As long as the candidate is familiar with (or familiarizes with) the equipment, there is no particular cylinder or regulator specified.
What does assess the affected body part really mean? It means the part(s) of the body that has been affected by the illness or injury. The candidate may ask more questions or perform a more focused assessment of the affected body part.
How detailed does the patient report have to be to the EMS unit? The report to the EMS unit must provide basic information regarding the results of the assessment; patient age, sex, chief complaint, mechanism of injury (if indicated) mental status, results of the c...
Does the candidate have to log roll the patient and assess the posterior thorax and buttock area? The programmed patient will log roll themselves towards the candidate, when the candidate indicates that they would log roll the patient. The programmed patient instructions state “
What does it mean to “attempt” to question bystanders about arrest events? Asking something like, “what happened” or “what’s going on”, is sufficient to meet the task of “Attempts to question bystanders about arrest events”.
In the spinal immobilization station, the skill sheets states to immobilize the arms. Can this be accomplished by tying the patient’s hands together or do you need a strap across the arms? The arms may be immobilized in a variety of ways. The intent is to prevent the arms from moving when the boarded patient is moved. Immobilization of t
What exactly does securing the patient’s torso to the device mean? The definition of “torso” is the body, without the head, arms or legs. Straps must be placed and secured to prevent movement of the torso. For example, a strap secured at the chest a...
What type of longboard and strap system should be used – longboard and nine-foot straps or longboard with pins and quick clip straps Either option is ok, provided that the same type of device is available at each station, if multiple spinal immobilization stations are set-up
If a longboard with quick clips is used at a station, how many quick clip straps are required? The Equipment list calls for 6 – 8 straps of the appropriate type. There must be enough straps to accommodate any possible strap configuration for the spinal immobilization device.
Is there a specific order in which straps must be secured when placing a patient in a short immobilization device? There is no specific order in which the middle, top, or bottom strap must be secured. The important point to remember is that the chest and leg straps must be secured prior to immobilizing the h...
Is there some sort of a test to ensure that a short or long spinal immobilization device is applied correctly, such as asking the patient to stand up after a short immobilization device has been applied or tilting the patient that is secured to a long The programmed patient must never be moved to test the security of spinal immobilization. The examiner may check that straps are snug, but not so tight as to compromise patient circulation or re...
In the bleeding/shock management station, after the student applies direct pressure and then places a tourniquet, can the examiner be used to hold the dressing in place while the tourniquet is applied? The candidate should have the patient hold the dressing in place.
Is it acceptable to follow the current military training on placing the tourniquet as close to the torso as possible, regardless of location of wound on the same extremity? Tourniquet placement is appropriate provided it is placed proximal to the injury on the extremity and not over a joint