Scene Safety and Hazards Practice Questions

42 multiple-choice questions on Scene safety and hazards for paramedic and EMT students, from Chapter 2 (Workforce Safety and Wellness). Read each question, pick your answer, then tap Show answer to check it and read the explanation.

42 practice questions

1. The order of safety priorities at a scene is:

   1. A. Bystanders, patient, self, crew
   2. B. Self, crew, patient, bystanders
   3. C. Patient, crew, self, bystanders
   4. D. Patient first in all cases
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Self, crew, patient, bystanders

   You cannot help anyone if you become a patient.

2. For a call with reported violence, the crew should:

   1. A. Enter immediately to reach the patient
   2. B. Enter once wearing body armor
   3. C. Approach with lights and sirens on
   4. D. Stage until police secure the scene
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Stage until police secure the scene

   Staging means out of sight and out of range, not just down the block.

3. Cover differs from concealment in that cover:

   1. A. Hides you from view only
   2. B. Stops bullets and projectiles
   3. C. Includes a vehicle door or hedge
   4. D. Is any solid-looking barrier
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Stops bullets and projectiles

   A hedge conceals; an engine block covers. Car doors and hedges only hide you, and looking solid is not the same as stopping a bullet.

4. If a scene becomes violent after you enter, the correct action is to:

   1. A. Retreat and notify dispatch
   2. B. Restrain the aggressor yourself
   3. C. Finish care quickly and leave
   4. D. Call medical control for advice
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Retreat and notify dispatch

   Leaving is not abandonment when the scene is unsafe. Wait for law enforcement.

5. Signs that a patient may become violent include:

   1. A. Asking for a family member
   2. B. Clenched fists and pacing
   3. C. Crying and tearful speech
   4. D. Asking for pain medication
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Clenched fists and pacing

   Keep an exit path behind you and maintain distance. Loud or rapid speech and invading your space are others. Asking for family or pain relief and crying are common distress responses, not signs of coming violence.

6. At a highway crash, the ambulance should be positioned to:

   1. A. Block and shield the work area
   2. B. Park on the shoulder only
   3. C. Park on the side opposite the crash
   4. D. Park downstream past the scene
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Block and shield the work area

   Fire apparatus upstream adds a larger barrier when available. Turn the wheels away from the crew. Parking across the road forces the crew to cross live traffic.

7. High-visibility ANSI-compliant safety vests are required:

   1. A. On or near any roadway
   2. B. Only for fire personnel
   3. C. Only during mass-casualty incidents
   4. D. Only after dark or in fog
   Show answer

   Answer: A. On or near any roadway

   Being visible to drivers is a life-safety issue for responders.

8. At a scene with downed power lines, the paramedic should:

   1. A. Wear rubber gloves and approach
   2. B. Stay clear and wait for the utility
   3. C. Approach if no sparking is seen
   4. D. Move the wires with a dry wooden pole
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Stay clear and wait for the utility

   Wires can energize fences, vehicles, and the ground itself. Keep bystanders back. Medical gloves give no protection against high voltage.

9. On arrival at a possible hazardous materials incident, the crew should:

   1. A. Rely on the patient to name the substance
   2. B. Approach from downwind to detect odors
   3. C. Stage uphill and upwind at a distance
   4. D. Enter quickly to retrieve patients
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Stage uphill and upwind at a distance

   Rescue is done by trained, properly equipped hazmat personnel. Identify the material with binoculars and the Emergency Response Guidebook.

10. At a vehicle fire or suspected explosive scene, EMS should:

    1. A. Direct traffic around the burning vehicle
    2. B. Park close so equipment is handy
    3. C. Stage at a distance until declared safe
    4. D. Enter with portable extinguishers
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stage at a distance until declared safe

    Fuel, batteries, and struts fail unpredictably. Fire suppression declares the scene safe.

11. When a scene involves an unstable structure, the paramedic should:

    1. A. Enter if no cracks are visible
    2. B. Enter with a partner and a light
    3. C. Wait for trained rescue crews
    4. D. Enter quickly for a fast removal
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Wait for trained rescue crews

    Secondary collapse is a leading killer of responders. A structural assessment is needed first. Structural damage is often hidden, and a partner does not make an unstable building safe.

12. Uncontrolled animals at a scene should be:

    1. A. Approached calmly by the crew
    2. B. Ignored if they appear friendly
    3. C. Led into another room by a crew member
    4. D. Secured by owner or animal control
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Secured by owner or animal control

    Even familiar pets behave unpredictably around a hurt owner. Handling the animal yourself puts the crew at risk of bites.

13. Body armor in EMS is:

    1. A. Prohibited for EMS use
    2. B. A supplement to safe practices
    3. C. A substitute for staging
    4. D. Required in all EMS systems
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A supplement to safe practices

    Armor covers only part of the body and does not stop every threat. It never replaces staging, situational awareness, and retreat.

14. Recognizing a potential crime scene, the paramedic should:

    1. A. Cut through holes in clothing
    2. B. Collect and bag evidence for police
    3. C. Wait until police finish processing
    4. D. Give care while disturbing little
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Give care while disturbing little

    Patient care comes first, but preserve what you can. Document anything moved. Cutting through holes destroys evidence; cut around them.

15. Situational awareness means:

    1. A. Watching the patient's condition closely
    2. B. Documenting hazards afterward
    3. C. Following protocols exactly as written
    4. D. Tracking the scene and threats
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Tracking the scene and threats

    Losing it precedes most responder injuries. It means an accurate picture of the scene, people, and possible threats.

16. Staging means:

    1. A. Approaching slowly with lights off
    2. B. Waiting at the station for clearance
    3. C. Parking directly in front of the scene
    4. D. Waiting at a safe spot until secured
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Waiting at a safe spot until secured

    Stage out of sight and out of range.

17. The best approach to a potentially violent residence is to:

    1. A. Stand beside the doorway and listen
    2. B. Enter quickly to reduce exposure
    3. C. Stand directly in front of the door
    4. D. Announce loudly from the street
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stand beside the doorway and listen

    Avoid the fatal funnel. Listen before knocking.

18. Before entering a residence, providers should note:

    1. A. The house number to use in the report
    2. B. The room the caller is in
    3. C. Exits, weapons, animals, and people
    4. D. The patient's medications only
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Exits, weapons, animals, and people

    Plan your exit as you enter. The address and the patient's room matter, but they do not protect the crew.

19. If a weapon is discovered on a patient, the appropriate action is to:

    1. A. Unload and secure it yourself
    2. B. Place it in the ambulance cab for police
    3. C. Withdraw if safe and notify police
    4. D. Ask the patient to put it away
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Withdraw if safe and notify police

    Do not handle weapons unless policy directs. Moving the weapon yourself is handling it.

20. A provider should position themselves during an interview:

    1. A. Behind the patient, out of view
    2. B. With a clear path to the exit
    3. C. In a corner of the room
    4. D. Blocking the patient's only exit
    Show answer

    Answer: B. With a clear path to the exit

    Never let your exit be blocked.

21. Signs of a potential methamphetamine or drug lab include:

    1. A. Chemical odors and glassware
    2. B. Strong smell of marijuana smoke
    3. C. Many empty alcohol bottles
    4. D. Many prescription bottles in view
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Chemical odors and glassware

    Withdraw and call for hazmat and law enforcement. Tubing, blacked-out windows, and excessive containers are other signs. Smoke or empty bottles suggest drug or alcohol use, not manufacturing.

22. If a hazardous atmosphere is suspected, providers should:

    1. A. Make a quick grab-and-go rescue attempt
    2. B. Ventilate the space, then enter
    3. C. Stay out and request trained help
    4. D. Enter with an SCBA
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stay out and request trained help

    Rescuers who enter become victims. Stage uphill and upwind.

23. At a motor vehicle crash, the greatest hazard to EMS is:

    1. A. Broken glass
    2. B. Moving traffic
    3. C. Spilled fuel
    4. D. Undeployed airbags
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Moving traffic

    Blocking apparatus and vests reduce it.

24. You arrive first at a crash in the right lane of a busy interstate. No fire apparatus is on scene yet. Where should you park the ambulance?

    1. A. Upstream of the crash at an angle, blocking the lane, wheels turned away
    2. B. Downstream of the crash so the patient can be loaded quickly
    3. C. On the left shoulder across from the crash
    4. D. Directly beside the crash in the next lane
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Upstream of the crash at an angle, blocking the lane, wheels turned away

    The first vehicle should shield the work area from oncoming traffic. Park upstream, angled across the lane, with the wheels turned away from the crew so a struck vehicle is pushed away from them. Downstream parking leaves the crew unprotected. Crossing to the other shoulder means crossing traffic on foot. Parking beside the crash blocks a second lane without protecting anyone.

25. Undeployed airbags in a crashed vehicle are dangerous because they:

    1. A. May deploy during extrication
    2. B. Cannot deploy after a crash
    3. C. Release toxic gas when cut
    4. D. Block access to the patient
    Show answer

    Answer: A. May deploy during extrication

    Follow local disarming procedures and stay out of the path.

26. Hybrid and electric vehicles present an additional hazard from:

    1. A. Reinforced door frames
    2. B. High-voltage systems
    3. C. Extra airbag inflators
    4. D. Larger gasoline tanks
    Show answer

    Answer: B. High-voltage systems

    Follow emergency response guides for the vehicle. Battery fires can also reignite.

27. A car has struck a utility pole, and a wire lies across its hood. The conscious driver wants to get out. What should you tell him?

    1. A. Open the door and step out quickly onto the ground
    2. B. Stay in the car and do not touch metal until the power is off
    3. C. Climb out and walk away with small steps
    4. D. Grab your hand so you can pull him free
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Stay in the car and do not touch metal until the power is off

    If the vehicle is energized, stepping out connects the driver between the car and the ground. Staying inside is safest unless there is a fire, and the utility must confirm the power is off. Opening the door and stepping out, or being pulled out by a rescuer on the ground, completes the circuit. Jumping clear and shuffling away is a last resort only when the car is on fire. Walking out with small steps still requires the driver to touch the car and the ground at the same time.

28. A patient in contact with a live electrical source should be:

    1. A. Moved quickly by two rescuers
    2. B. Left until power is confirmed off
    3. C. Pulled away by the clothing
    4. D. Touched only with gloved hands
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Left until power is confirmed off

    Rescuer electrocution is a real risk.

29. At a structure fire, EMS should:

    1. A. Park at the front door for access
    2. B. Enter to assist with searches
    3. C. Stage and set up rehab
    4. D. Wait at the station until called
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stage and set up rehab

    Firefighter rehabilitation is an EMS role. Treat patients brought out. Parking at the front blocks apparatus and puts the unit in the collapse zone, and EMS belongs on scene, staged and ready.

30. Rehabilitation at a working incident involves:

    1. A. Rest, fluids, and medical monitoring
    2. B. Water breaks only
    3. C. Meals for long incidents
    4. D. Rotating crews without any assessment
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Rest, fluids, and medical monitoring

    Vital sign criteria determine return to work. Cooling or warming is also part of it.

31. The Emergency Response Guidebook is used to:

    1. A. Document hazards for the report
    2. B. Identify materials and distances
    3. C. Decontaminate exposed patients
    4. D. Choose antidote doses for patients
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Identify materials and distances

    Placards and shipping papers are the entry points. It gives recommended isolation distances. The guidebook does not give decontamination procedures or antidote doses; those come from hazmat teams, poison control, and protocol.

32. Initial isolation distances for a hazmat incident should be determined:

    1. A. By the closest responder's judgment
    2. B. Visually, by the first crew
    3. C. From the ERG for the material
    4. D. From what the patient reports
    Show answer

    Answer: C. From the ERG for the material

    Wind and terrain modify them. Conditions also factor in.

33. At a confined space incident, EMS should:

    1. A. Enter to assess the patient
    2. B. Send one provider on a rope
    3. C. Ventilate it and then enter
    4. D. Call technical rescue
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Call technical rescue

    Confined space deaths commonly include would-be rescuers. Stay out; atmospheres are often lethal.

34. At a trench collapse, the immediate risk to rescuers is:

    1. A. Airborne dust
    2. B. Secondary collapse
    3. C. Groundwater seepage
    4. D. Equipment noise
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Secondary collapse

    Only trained teams with shoring should enter.

35. At a water rescue, untrained providers should:

    1. A. Swim out with a flotation device
    2. B. Wade in to grab the patient
    3. C. Reach or throw from shore
    4. D. Enter tethered to a partner
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Reach or throw from shore

    Reach, throw, row, go, in that order. Row if possible, and call trained rescuers.

36. At an active violence incident, EMS operating in a warm zone must:

    1. A. Follow a plan with law enforcement
    2. B. Enter the hot zone for patients
    3. C. Work alone to move quickly
    4. D. Wait outside until the scene is fully clear
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Follow a plan with law enforcement

    Training and agreements must exist beforehand. Focus on rapid threat-based care.

37. Body substance and violence risk increase when a patient is:

    1. A. Diabetic with normal glucose
    2. B. Intoxicated or postictal
    3. C. Short of breath with asthma
    4. D. In pain from a closed wrist injury
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Intoxicated or postictal

    Medical causes of agitation deserve treatment, not just restraint. Withdrawal, hypoglycemia, and hypoxia also raise risk. A diabetic with normal glucose, an asthma attack, or a closed injury does not by itself raise the risk of violence or body fluid exposure.

38. De-escalation techniques include:

    1. A. Raising your voice to be heard
    2. B. Calm tone and open posture
    3. C. Warning that restraints are ready
    4. D. Standing close to show control
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Calm tone and open posture

    Remove audiences where possible. Give space and offer choices.

39. If de-escalation fails and the patient becomes violent, the crew should:

    1. A. Retreat and request police
    2. B. Restrain the patient alone
    3. C. Keep talking until calm
    4. D. Sedate without assistance
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Retreat and request police

    Safety precedes care.

40. Working at night increases risk because:

    1. A. Traffic is heavier after dark
    2. B. Visibility is reduced
    3. C. Warning lights are less visible
    4. D. Patients are sicker
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Visibility is reduced

    Reflective gear and scene lighting help. This affects both providers and drivers. Traffic is usually lighter at night, and warning lights show up better in the dark, though they can cause glare.

41. You arrive at a home for a fall. A large dog is barking at the door, and the patient calls from inside, 'He's friendly, just come in.' What should you do?

    1. A. Ask that the dog be secured in another room before you enter
    2. B. Enter calmly, since the owner says the dog is friendly
    3. C. Wait outside until the dog has stopped barking, then go inside
    4. D. Enter and restrain the dog yourself if it charges
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Ask that the dog be secured in another room before you enter

    A dog protecting an injured owner can bite no matter how friendly it usually is. Have the dog secured, by the owner, another occupant, or animal control, before you go in. Taking the owner's word for it, treating a quiet dog as safe, or planning to restrain the dog yourself all put the crew at risk.

42. Scene safety should be reassessed:

    1. A. At patient contact
    2. B. Continuously
    3. C. Only on arrival
    4. D. Only when police arrive
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Continuously

    Family members arrive, crowds grow, and moods shift. Conditions change.