New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

After a patient faints but refuses oxygen, what should be your primary concern?

1. Determine if she was injured when she fainted

2. Provide emotional support regarding her sister

3. Advise her that she needs to go to the hospital

4. Obtain baseline vital signs and a medical history

The correct answer is: Determine if she was injured when she fainted

In this scenario, the primary concern after a patient has fainted is to assess her safety and well-being, specifically by determining if she was injured when she fainted. Fainting, or syncope, can result in falls that may lead to injuries such as fractures, contusions, or head trauma. Identifying any potential injuries is crucial because these may require immediate medical intervention. While obtaining vital signs and medical history is also important, it follows the initial assessment of the patient's physical state post-fainting. Providing emotional support may be necessary based on the context of the situation, especially if the patient is distressed due to the event, and advising her about the necessity of hospital evaluation is vital but should also come after addressing immediate physical safety. Therefore, ensuring there are no injuries is the first and foremost priority in this situation.