Airway & Breathing
You arrive to find a 45-year-old male who is unresponsive. He has shallow respirations at 4 breaths/min and has a pulse of 90 bpm. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Apply high=flow oxygen via NRB
B. Begin chest compressions
C. Assist ventilations with a BVM
D. Insert a NPA
C. Assist ventilations with a BVM
Explanation: Respiration are inadequate (<8/min).
You find a patient who is pulseless and apneic. CPR has begun. Which rhythm is most likely shockable with an AED?
A. Asystole
B. Pulseless electrical activity
C. Ventricular fibrillation
D. Sinus bradycardia
C. Ventricular fibrillation
Explanation: VF and pulseless VT are shockable rhythms.
A patient has an open chest wound with air movement noted during breathing. What is the priority treatment?
A. Apply bulky dressing
B. Seal the wound with an occlusive dressing
C. Administer oxygen only
D. Perform needle decompression
B. Seal the wound with an occlusive dressing
Explanation: An occlusive dressing prevents air from entering the pleural space
A diabetic patient is confused, pale, and diaphoretic. Their blood glucose is 42 mg/dL. What should you do?
A. Administer insulin
B. Give oral glucose if able to swallow
C. Assist with ventilations
D. Place the patient supine only
B. Give oral glucose if able to swallow
Explanation: Hypoglycemia with ABILITY to swallow
You are first on scene of a motor vehicle collision. What is your FIRST action?
A. Begin patient assessment
B. Apply c-spine
C. Ensure scene safety
D. Call for additional resources
C. Ensure scene safety
Explanation: Scene safety is always the first priority!
Which patient would benefit MOST from a nasopharyngeal airway?
A. Unconscious patient with no gag reflex
B. Semi-conscious patient with lockjaw
C. Unresponsive patient with severe facial trauma
D. Conscious patient with shallow breathign
B. Semi-conscious patient with lockjaw
Explanation: NPA can be used when a gag reflex is present or mouth cannot be opened.
When preforming adult CPR with an AED available, compressions should be delivered at a rate of:
A. 80-100/min
B. 100-120/min
C. 120-140/min
D. 60-80/min
B. 100-120/min
Which finding is MOST concering in a patient with blunt abdominal trauma?
A. Complaint of nausea
B. Heart rate of 110 bpm
C. Bruising across the abdomen
D. Pain rated 7/10
C. Bruising across the abdomen
Explanation: abdominal bruising (aka seatbelt sign) suggest internal bleeding
Which sign is MOST indicative of a stroke?
A. Sudden severe headache
B. Chest pressure
C. Equal bilateral grip strength
D. Gradual onset of dizziness
A. Sudden severe headache
Explanation: Sudden severe headache can indicate hemorrhagic stroke
When transferring care at the hospital, which format is BEST for providing a clear patient report?
A. SOAP
B. OPQRST
C. SAMPLE
D. SBAR
D. SBAR
Explanation: SBAR is commonly used for structural handoff communication.
In a pediatric patient, respiratory failure is MOST commonly caused by:
A. Cardiac arrest
B. Airway obstruction
C. Hypotension
D. Brain injury
B. Airway obstruction
Which artery is MOST commonly palpated to assess circulation in an unresponsive adult?
A. Radial
B. Femoral
C. Carotid
D. Brachial
C. Carotid
When splinting an injured extremity, you should FIRST:
A. Apply ice
B. Check distal PMS
C. Apply traction
D. Realign the limb
B. Check distal PMS
The MOST important information to determine when assessing a possible stroke patient is:
A. Blood pressure
B. Time of symptom onset
C. Pupillary response
D. Past medical history
B. Time of symptom onset
Which statement regarding scope of practice is TRUE?
A. EMTs may perform any skill taught in class
B. Scope of practice is defined by state law
C. EMTs may exceed scope in emergencies
D. Scope is optional during patient refusal
B. Scope of practice is defined by state law
When ventilating an adult patient with a bag-valve mask, you should deliver each breath over:
A. 0.5 seconds
B. 1 second
C. 2 seconds
D. As fast as possible
B. 1 second
Aspirin helps cardiac chest pain by:
A. Reducing heart rate
B. Dilating coronary arteries
C. Preventing platelet aggregation
D. Lowering blood pressure
C. Preventing platelet aggregation
You suspect internal bleeding in a trauma patient. Which finding BEST supports this?
A. Bleeding controlled with pressure
B. Abdominal rigidity and distension
C. Rapid capillary refill
D. Hypertension
B. Abdominal rigidity and distension
A patient with chest tightness, hives, and hypotension after a bee sting is experiencing:
A. Asthma exacerbation
B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Anaphylaxis
D. Panic attack
C. Anaphylaxis
You arrive at a scene where law enforcement has not yet secured a violent patient. What should you do?
A. Enter quickly to assess the patient
B. Stage at a safe distance
C. Request additional EMS units
D. Put on additional PPE
B. Stage at a safe distance
What is the primary stimulus to breathe in a healthy adult?
A. Decreased oxygen levels
B. Increased carbon dioxide levels
C. Decreased carbon dioxide levels
D. Increased blood pressure
B. Increased carbon dioxide levels
Chest pain described as “pressure” that radiates to the left arm is MOST suggestive of:
A. Angina
B. Myocardial infarction
C. Pericarditis
D. Pulmonary embolism
B. Myocardial infarction
The leading cause of PREVENTABLE death in trauma patients is:
A. Head injury
B. Airway obstruction
C. External hemorrhage
D. Spinal cord injury
C. External hemorrhage
A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes is classified as:
A. Febrile seizure
B. Absence seizure
C. Status epilepticus
D. Tonic-clonic seizure
C. Status epilepticus
A competent adult refuses transport after you explain the risks. What is the BEST documentation?
A. Patient signature only
B. EMT narrative only
C. Refusal form, patient signature, witness signature
D. Dispatch log
C. Refusal form, patient signature, witness signature