practice exam 1 (EMT)

Question 1

EMS as we know it today had its origins in 1966 with the publication of:
A) the Emergency Medical Services Act.
B) the Department of Transportation’s White Paper: Death and Dying.
C) Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured.
D) Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society.

Answer 1

D) Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society

Question 2

You are transporting a 40-year-old male with respiratory distress. The patient tells you that he recently had a positive tuberculosis (TB) skin test and is currently being evaluated for possible TB. You should:
A) apply a nonrebreathing mask on the patient and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirator on yourself.
B) remain at least 3 feet away from the patient and apply a surgical mask on him.
C) apply a sterile surgical mask on yourself and a HEPA respirator on the patient.
D) apply a nasal cannula on the patient and a sterile surgical mask on yourself.

Answer 2

A) apply a nonrebreathing mask on the patient and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirator on yourself.

Question 3

You are treating a man who was assaulted and has a closed head injury. The patient, who has slurred speech, becomes verbally abusive and tells you to leave him alone. You should:
A) ask a police officer to transport the patient to the hospital.
B) allow the patient to refuse treatment because the injury was not his fault.
C) proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary.
D) have the police arrest the patient so that you can legally begin treatment.

Answer 3

C) proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary.

Question 4

At the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you determine that there are two critically injured patients and that another ambulance is needed. You attempt to contact the dispatcher with your portable radio but are unsuccessful. You should:
A) make another attempt to contact dispatch from an area of higher terrain.
B) place both patients in the ambulance and transport them at once.
C) ask a police officer to call dispatch with his portable radio.
D) use the mobile radio in the ambulance to contact dispatch.

Answer 4

D) use the mobile radio in the ambulance to contact dispatch.

Question 5

You are caring for a very sick patient who is complaining of chest pain. You have him on your cardiac monitor which is showing AF. Suddenly, the patient goes into VF, so you attach your AED and shock him. What do the abbreviations AF, VF and AED stand for?
A) atherosclerotic heart disease, ventricular tachycardia, automated external defibrillator
B) acute myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation, automated external defibrillator
C) atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator
D) atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, automated external defibrillator

Answer 5

D) atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, automated external defibrillator

Question 6

Oxygen and carbon dioxide pass across the alveolar membrane in the lungs through a process called:
A)  osmosis.
B)  breathing.
C) diffusion.
D) ventilation.

Answer 6

D) diffusion

Question 7

You are assessing a 13-month-old female who is running a fever and has been vomiting. While you are performing your physical examination on this child, you will MOST likely find that she:
A) is unable to track your movements with her eyes.
B) responds to her name but is fearful of your presence.
C) will readily allow you to separate her from her mother.
D) has bulging fontanelles secondary to severe dehydration.

Answer 7

B) responds to her name but is fearful of your presence.

Question 8

You and your partner enter the residence of an elderly couple, both of whom are found unconscious in their bed. There is no evidence of trauma. As you begin your assessment, you and your partner notice the smell of natural gas in the residence. Which of the following should be your MOST appropriate action?
A) Perform a rapid assessment and then move the patients from their residence.
B) Request another ambulance to assist with lifting and moving the patients.
C) Quickly exit the residence and request the fire department to move the patients.
D) Rapidly remove the patients from their residence using a blanket or clothes drag.

Answer 8

D) Rapidly remove the patients from their residence using a blanket or clothes drag.

Question 9

A 29-year-old male with a head injury opens his eyes when you speak to him, is confused as to the time and date, and is able to move all of his extremities on command. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is:
A)  10.
B)  12.
C)  13.
D)  14.

Answer 9

C) 13

Question 10

A 23-year-old male experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has rapid and shallow breathing, and has copious bloody secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway?
A) Suction his oropharynx with a rigid catheter until all secretions are removed.
B) Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and provide suction and assisted ventilations.
C) Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation.
D) Provide continuous ventilations with a bag-valve mask to minimize hypoxia.

Answer 10

C) Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation.

Question 11

A 37-year-old male is found unresponsive in his car. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and labored. As you and your partner are assessing and treating the patient, a police officer hands you a medication named Alupent, which he found in the backseat of the patient's car. This medication suggests that the patient has a history of:
A)  asthma.
B)  heart disease.
C)  hypertension.
D)  allergic reactions.

Answer 11

A) asthma

Question 12

You are transporting a 33-year-old male who was involved in a major motor vehicle crash. You have addressed all immediate and potentially life-threatening conditions and have stabilized his condition with the appropriate treatment. With an estimated time of arrival at the hospital of 20 minutes, you should:
A)  take his vital signs in 15 minutes.
B)  arrange for an ALS rendezvous.
C)  reassess his condition in 5 minutes.
D)  repeat your secondary assessment

Answer 12

B) reassess his condition in 5 minutes

Question 13

You are off duty at a park when you witness an apparently healthy 12-year-old child suddenly collapse. There are no bystanders around and your mobile phone is in your car. After confirming that the child is in cardiac arrest, you should:
A) perform CPR for 2 minutes and then call 9-1-1.
B) call 9-1-1 and then return to begin CPR on the child.
C) deliver five rescue breaths before starting chest compressions.
D) perform chest compressions only until a bystander arrives.

Answer 13

B) call 9-1-1 and then return to begin CPR on the child.

Question 14

Your primary assessment of an elderly woman reveals that she is conscious and alert, but is experiencing difficulty breathing. She has a history of emphysema, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. As you assess the patient’s circulatory status, you should direct your partner to:
A) perform a head-to-toe secondary assessment.
B) assess her oxygen saturation and blood pressure.
C) retrieve the stretcher and prepare for transport.
D) administer oxygen with the appropriate device.

Answer 14

D) administer oxygen with the appropriate device.

Question 15

You are dispatched to an apartment complex where a 21-year-old female has apparently overdosed on several narcotic medications. She is semiconscious and has slow, shallow respirations. You should:
A) insert an oropharyngeal airway and perform oral suctioning.
B) apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask and transport at once.
C) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation.
D) place her in the recovery position and monitor for vomiting.

Answer 15

C) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation.

Question 16

You are dispatched to a residence for a 56-year-old male with an altered mental status. Upon arrival at the scene, the patient's wife tells you that he complained of chest pain the day before, but would not allow her to call EMS. The patient is semiconscious; has rapid, shallow respirations; and has a thready pulse. You should:
A)  obtain baseline vital signs.
B)  begin ventilatory assistance.
C)  attach the AED immediately
D) apply a nonrebreathing mask.

Answer 16

B) begin ventilatory assistance.

Question 17

You arrive at a local grocery store approximately 5 minutes after a 21-year-old female stopped seizing. She is confused and disoriented; she keeps asking you what happened and tells you that she is thirsty. Her brother, who witnessed the seizure, tells you that she takes valproate (Depakote) for her seizures, but has not taken it in a few days. He also tells you that she has diabetes. In addition to administering oxygen, you should:
A) administer one tube of oral glucose and prepare for immediate transport.
B) place her in the recovery position and transport her with lights and siren.
C) monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.
D) give her small cups of water to drink and observe for further seizure activity

Answer 17

C) monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.

Question 18

The MOST important treatment for a patient with severe abdominal pain and signs of shock is:
A) administering high-flow oxygen.
B) giving oral fluids to maintain perfusion.
C) transporting the patient without delay.
D) positioning the patient on his or her side

Answer 18

C) transporting the patient without delay

Question 19

You respond to a residence for a patient who is “not acting right.” As you approach the door, the patient, a 35-year-old male, begins shouting profanities at you and your partner while holding a baseball bat. The man is confused and diaphoretic, and is wearing a medical identification bracelet. You should:
A) calm him down so you can assess him.
B) be assertive and talk the patient down.
C) contact medical control for instructions.
D) retreat at once and call law enforcement

Answer 19

D) retreat at once and call law enforcement

Question 20

You have administered one dose of epinephrine to a 40-year-old female to treat an allergic reaction that she developed after being stung by a scorpion. Your reassessment reveals that she is still having difficulty breathing, has a decreasing mental status, and has a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg. You should:
A) monitor her en route to the hospital and call medical control if she worsens.
B) crush up an antihistamine tablet and place it in between her cheek and gum.
C) request permission from medical control to give another dose of epinephrine.
D) administer a nebulized bronchodilator to improve the status of her breathing.

Answer 20

C) request permission from medical control to give another dose of epinephrine.

Question 21

A 22-year-old male with a history of clinical depression called 9-1-1 and stated that he has attempted to kill himself. Your unit and law enforcement officers arrive at the scene simultaneously. You find the patient lying supine on the living room floor. He is unresponsive and cyanotic. An empty bottle of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) is found on an adjacent table. You should:
A) open the patient’s airway and assess his respirations.
B) ask the police to handcuff the patient for safety purposes.
C) provide care after determining what Dilaudid is used for.
D) wait for the police to examine him before providing care.

Answer 21

A) open the patient’s airway and assess his respirations.

Question 22

A 4-year-old, 15-kg male ingested an unknown quantity of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The child’s mother states that she does not know when the ingestion occurred. The child is conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. The EMT should:
A) contact medical control for guidance.
B) administer 15 g of activated charcoal.
C) give the child milk to absorb the Tylenol.
D) administer high-flow supplemental oxygen.

Answer 22

B) administer 15 g of activated charcoal.

Question 23

Whenever possible, a female sexual assault victim should be:
A) given the option of being treated by a female EMT.
B) encouraged to take a shower and change her clothes.
C) thoroughly assessed, even if no signs of injury exist.
D) asked to provide a brief description of the perpetrator.

Answer 23

A) given the option of being treated by a female EMT.

Question 24

When caring for an occupant inside a motor vehicle equipped with an air bag that did not deploy upon impact, you should:
A) realize that the air bag malfunctioned at the time of impact.
B) remember that it could still deploy and seriously injure you.
C) suspect that the patient may have experienced serious injuries.
D) recognize that the force of impact was most likely not severe.

Answer 24

B) remember that it could still deploy and seriously injure you.

Question 25

A 70-year-old man presents with a severe nosebleed. His medical history includes COPD, depression, and a hemorrhagic stroke 3 years ago. His BP is 190/110 mm Hg, his pulse is 100 beats/min, and his respirations are 24 breaths/min. His medications include albuterol, sertraline (Zoloft), and multivitamins. Which of the following is MOST likely causing his nosebleed today?
A)  High blood pressure
B)  Diabetic complications
C)  Hemorrhagic stroke
D)  His prescribed albuterol

Answer 25

A) high blood pressure

Question 26

A utility worker was trimming branches and was electrocuted when he accidentally cut a high-power line. He fell approximately 20 feet and is lying unresponsive on the ground; the power line is lying across his chest. You should:
A) rapidly assess the patient after ensuring that the power line is not live.
B) apply insulated gloves and assume manual control of his c-spine.
C) quickly but carefully move the patient away from the power line.
D) manually stabilize his head as your partner assesses for breathing

Answer 26

A) rapidly assess the patient after ensuring that the power line is not live.

Question 27

A young female experienced a laceration to her left eyeball from flying glass when her boyfriend broke a soda bottle against a wall. There is moderate bleeding and the patient states that she cannot see out of the injured eye. You should:
A) carefully examine her eye and remove any foreign objects if needed.
B) avoid applying pressure to the globe when you are covering the eye.
C) ask her to move the injured eye to assess the integrity of the optic nerve.
D) apply firm direct pressure to the injured eye and cover the opposite eye.

Answer 27

B) avoid applying pressure to the globe when you are covering the eye.

Question 28

Rapid deceleration of the head, such as when it impacts the windshield, causes:
A) compression injuries and contusions to the anterior, posterior, and lateral aspects of the brain.
B) primary impact to the posterior aspect of the brain, resulting in compression injuries, bruising, or torn blood vessels.
C) stretching or tearing of the anterior aspect of the brain and compression injuries or bruising to the posterior aspect of the brain.
D) compression injuries or bruising to the anterior portion of the brain and stretching or tearing to the posterior portion of the brain.

Answer 28

D) compression injuries or bruising to the anterior portion of the brain and stretching or tearing to the posterior portion of the brain.

Question 29

A 37-year-old male was pinned between a flatbed truck and a loading dock. On exam, you find bruising to the chest, distended neck veins, bilaterally diminished breath sounds, and bilateral scleral hemorrhaging. You should:
A)  aggressively manage his airway.
B)  request a paramedic ambulance.
C)  perform a secondary assessment.
D)  suspect a severe hemopneumothorax.

Answer 29

A) aggressively manage his airway.

Question 30

Assuming that no obvious signs of intra-abdominal injury are present, which of the following injuries would MOST likely cause an injury to the liver or spleen to be overlooked?
A)  Femur fracture
B)  Pelvic fracture
C)  Shoulder fracture
D)  Lumbar spine fracture

Answer 30

C) shoulder fracture

Question 31

Following direct trauma to the left upper back, a 44-year-old male presents with diaphoresis and restlessness. His blood pressure is 100/50 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 120 beats/min and weak, and his respirations are 24 breaths/min and labored. Your assessment reveals abrasions and contusions over the left scapula. You should:
A) hyperventilate him with a BVM and monitor his oxygen saturation.
B) apply high-flow oxygen, perform a detailed secondary assessment, and transport.
C) focus your assessment on his scapulae and clavicles and apply high-flow oxygen.
D) apply high-flow oxygen, consider spinal precautions, and transport without delay

Answer 31

D) apply high-flow oxygen, consider spinal precautions, and transfer without delay.

Question 32

You are assessing a man with suspected hypothermia. The patient is conscious and alert, and is actively shivering. His respiratory rate is increased, but his breathing is unlabored, and the pulse oximeter reads 72%. The pulse oximetry reading is MOST likely:
A) secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities.
B) a direct reflection of his increased respiratory rate.
C) accurate because he has signs of respiratory failure.
D) accurate because shivering affects hemoglobin binding.

Answer 32

A) secondary to decreased perfusion in the extremities.

Question 33

You have just delivered a baby boy. His body is pink, but his hands and feet are blue. His heart rate is approximately 110 beats/min and his respirations are rapid and irregular. He has a weak cry when stimulated and resists attempts to straighten his legs. His Apgar score is:
A)  6
B)  7
C)  8
D)  9

Answer 33

C) 8

Question 34

You are dispatched to a local elementary school for an injured child. As you approach the child, you note that he is lying at the base of the monkey bars. He is unresponsive and there are no signs of breathing. You should:
A) begin immediate rescue breathing.
B) stabilize his head and check for a pulse.
C) perform a head tilt–chin lift maneuver.
D) open his airway and look in his mouth.

Answer 34

B) stabilize his head and check for a pulse.

Question 35

A 69-year-old female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She is semiconscious with a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg and a heart rate of 74 beats/min that is weak. Her daughter, who was uninjured in the crash, tells you that her mother has a history of hypertension and takes beta-blockers. Considering the fact that this patient is probably in shock, what is the MOST likely explanation for the absence of tachycardia?
A) Deterioration of the cardiac conduction system
B) Intrathoracic bleeding and cardiac compression
C) The effects of her antihypertensive medication
D) Failure of the parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 35

C) The effects of her antihypertensive medication

Question 36

Airway management can be challenging in patients with Down syndrome because their:
A) teeth are misaligned and they have a large tongue.
B) occiput is round, which causes flexion of the neck.
C) tongue is relatively small and falls back in the throat.
D) mandible is large, which inhibits a mask-to-face seal.

Answer 36

A) teeth are misaligned and they have a large tongue.

Question 37

Delivering a patient to the hospital involves all of the following activities, EXCEPT:
A) completing a detailed written report.
B) informing the dispatcher of your arrival.
C) restocking any disposable items you have used.
D) giving a verbal report to the clerk.

Answer 37

D) giving a verbal report to the clerk.

Question 38

Situational awareness is MOST accurately defined as:
A) an ongoing process of information gathering and scene evaluation to determine appropriate strategies and tactics.
B) the ability to recognize any possible issues once you arrive at the scene and act proactively to avoid a negative impact.
C) predicting the presence of certain hazards at the scene after receiving initial information from the dispatcher.
D) performing an initial scan of the scene in order to identify hazards that will pose an immediate threat to you and your crew.

Answer 38

B) the ability to recognize any possible issues once you arrive at the scene and act proactively to avoid a negative impact.

Question 39

A tour bus has overturned, resulting in numerous patients. When you arrive, you are immediately assigned to assist in the triage process. Patient 1 is a middle-aged male with respiratory distress, chest pain, and a closed deformity to his right forearm. Patient 2 is a young female who is conscious and alert, but has bilateral femur fractures and numerous abrasions to her arms and face. Patient 3 is an older woman who complains of abdominal pain and has a history of cardiovascular disease. Patient 4 is unresponsive, is not breathing, has a weak carotid pulse, and has a grossly deformed skull. What triage categories should you assign to these patients?
A) Patient 1, immediate (red); Patient 2, minimal (green); Patient 3, delayed (yellow); Patient 4, expectant (black)
B) Patient 1, delayed (yellow); Patient 2, immediate (red); Patient 3, delayed (yellow); Patient 4, immediate (red)
C) Patient 1, immediate (red); Patient 2, delayed (yellow); Patient 3, immediate (red); Patient 4, expectant (black)
D) Patient 1, delayed (yellow); Patient 2, delayed (yellow); Patient 3, minimal (green); Patient 4, immediate (red)

Answer 39

C) Patient 1, immediate (red); Patient 2, delayed (yellow); Patient 3, immediate (red); Patient 4, expectant (black)

Question 40

A 52-year-old male presents with a fever of 102.5°F and a severe headache. As you assess him, you note the presence of multiple blisters on his face and chest, which are all identical in shape and size. This patient's clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:
A)  smallpox.
B)  sarin toxicity.
C)  yellow fever virus.
D)  cutaneous anthrax.

Answer 40

A) smallpox.

Question 41

While caring for a patient, the EMT states to her partner, “Why even splint the patient’s leg if they’re only going to remove it in the ED?” This statement indicates that:
A) the EMT’s focus is not on the common goal.
B) the patient’s leg does not require splinting.
C) the EMT does not trust the hospital staff.
D) the EMT is being realistic in her thinking.

Answer 41

A) the EMT’s focus is not the common goal.