Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

When approaching a young male patient who is acting strangely and has a wrist injury, what is your best strategy?

1. Rush to restrain him immediately

2. Call for additional support first

3. Talk to him as you approach and prepare for possible aggression

4. Ignore his behavior and examine the wound

The correct answer is: Talk to him as you approach and prepare for possible aggression

Talking to the young male patient as you approach is the best strategy because it allows you to establish communication and potentially calm him down. By engaging him in conversation, you can assess his mental state and determine if he poses a risk to himself or others. This approach also helps to create a rapport, which can reduce anxiety or agitation that might lead to aggressive behavior. In situations where a patient is behaving strangely, there is a risk of unpredictable reactions. By prepared for possible aggression, you maintain a level of awareness and readiness to manage the situation effectively. This can include having an escape route in mind or being prepared to defend yourself if the situation escalates. This approach also aligns with the principles of scene safety and patient-centered care, ensuring that both the patient and the healthcare provider remain as safe as possible. Engaging the patient verbally can provide crucial information that might influence your next steps in treatment, such as their level of awareness and responsiveness, which is important in assessing their overall condition. While calling for additional support can be important in certain scenarios, it can delay your initial assessment and intervention with the patient. Rushing to restrain him without understanding his behavior could escalate the situation, and ignoring his behavior risks your own safety and may not address any underlying issues