New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

What should you do if you observe that the patient’s skin is cool and clammy?

1. Initiate active warming measures

2. Assess capillary refill time

3. Monitor vital signs closely

4. Encourage fluid intake

The correct answer is: Initiate active warming measures

When you observe that a patient’s skin is cool and clammy, it typically indicates the presence of shock or reduced blood circulation, possibly due to conditions like hypothermia or shock states such as septic or hypovolemic shock. In this context, initiating active warming measures is the most appropriate action to help stabilize the patient’s condition. Active warming measures involve using blankets, warm packs, or specialized warming devices to increase the patient's body temperature. This is critical because maintaining an adequate body temperature is essential for proper metabolic function and to enhance perfusion to vital organs. Also, warming the patient may help counteract the effects of shock by improving circulation and promoting comfort, which can be vital for the patient's recovery. On the other hand, assessing capillary refill time, monitoring vital signs closely, and encouraging fluid intake are important components of patient management but would typically follow the immediate step of addressing the hypothermic condition with active warming. While these actions are essential in an overall assessment and treatment plan, they do not directly address the immediate concern raised by the cool and clammy skin.