JBL EMT Practice Exam

While arriving at a situation where the patient shows severe distress, the EMT should:

1. assist only if instructed by medical control

2. evaluate the situation before intervening

3. ignore the cues given by the patient

4. proceed with advanced intervention techniques

The correct answer is: evaluate the situation before intervening

When responding to a patient showing severe distress, it is important for an EMT to first evaluate the situation before intervening. This allows the EMT to assess the severity of the patient's condition and determine the best course of action. It also ensures that the EMT does not overlook any important cues or symptoms that may require immediate attention. Option A is incorrect because an EMT should always use their own knowledge and judgement to provide assistance, rather than solely relying on instructions from medical control. Option C is incorrect because it is never appropriate to ignore cues given by a patient. Option D is incorrect because advanced intervention techniques should only be used when necessary and with proper training, rather than as a first response to a patient showing severe distress.