What type of questions should be used by an Emergency Medical Dispatcher to assess a medical emergency?

Using open-ended questions followed by specific inquiries is essential for an Emergency Medical Dispatcher to effectively assess a medical emergency. Open-ended questions encourage the caller to provide more detailed information about the situation, allowing the dispatcher to gather context and nuances that are crucial for understanding the medical emergency at hand. This approach helps to establish a rapport with the caller, making them feel more comfortable, which can lead to more accurate and comprehensive information.

Following up with specific inquiries helps to clarify details and gather essential information related to the emergency, such as symptoms, duration, and the victim's medical history. This two-part strategy enhances the quality of information received, enabling the dispatcher to determine the appropriate level of response required.

In contrast to this approach, the other types of questions suggested are limited in their effectiveness. Asking only direct questions about the victim's address lacks the depth needed to assess the medical condition accurately. Closed yes/no questions can restrict the flow of information and potentially lead to missing important facts. Lastly, leading questions may inadvertently guide the caller to provide specific responses, which could skew the information and lead to misunderstandings about the situation. Thus, the method of using open-ended questions, followed by targeted inquiries, is the most effective in evaluating medical emergencies.