Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

What is the primary concern when providing care for a patient with respiratory distress and chest pain?

1. Assessing for spinal injury

2. Ensuring airway patency

3. Administering pain relief

4. Initiating CPR

The correct answer is: Ensuring airway patency

When providing care for a patient experiencing respiratory distress and chest pain, the primary concern is ensuring airway patency. This is crucial because compromised airways can significantly hinder the patient's ability to breathe, which can lead to oxygen deprivation and potentially life-threatening situations. Respiratory distress itself indicates that the patient is struggling to maintain adequate ventilation, and if the airway is not clear, any interventions will be ineffective. Maintaining a patent airway is the first step in the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) approach, which is foundational in emergency care. As the patient struggles to breathe, ensuring that their airway remains open and unobstructed is vital in preventing further complications. While assessing for spinal injury, administering pain relief, and initiating CPR are also important factors in emergency care, they do not take precedence over securing the airway in a situation where the patient is in respiratory distress. In such scenarios, immediate attention to the airway can stabilize the patient's condition, allowing for more advanced interventions to follow.