West Coast EMT Block One Exam

The most serious consequence of a poorly planned or rushed patient move is:

1. confusion among team members.

2. unnecessarily wasting time.

3. causing patient anxiety or fear.

4. injury to you or your patient.

The correct answer is: injury to you or your patient.

In emergency medical services, the safety of both the patient and the responders is of paramount importance. A poorly planned or rushed patient move can lead to injury to either the patient or the healthcare provider, making this consequence the most serious. When moves are not carefully orchestrated, several factors increase the risk of harm. For example, inadequate consideration of a patient's condition—such as the potential for spinal injuries in trauma cases—can result in making an existing injury worse. Additionally, hurried movements may compromise proper lifting techniques, putting responders at risk of sprains, strains, or other musculoskeletal injuries. While confusion among team members, wasting time, and causing anxiety or fear are important considerations in patient care and transport, they do not carry the immediate physical risks associated with injury. The priority in emergency scenarios is to maintain safety first of both the patient and the personnel involved in the care process.