EMT Practice Test Questions

Inadequate oxygen delivery to the body's tissues is called:

hypoxia

You are considering administration of oral glucose to your diabetic patient. This drug is contraindicated when it:

poses a significant risk of harm

Your patient is a construction worker who fell from a residential rooftop. He is responsive to pain. Breaths are shallow and irregular. You should:

provide artificial ventilations with a bag-mask device and high flow oxygen

A 16-year-old male is unconscious following an assault. When you insert an OPA, the patient begins gagging. You should:

remove the airway and prepare to suction as needed

A 19-year-old female is found unconscious in her apartment living room. While surveying the apartment, your partner yells from the patient's bedroom "she has an SVN machine in here". This suggests the patient has a history of:

respiratory problems

You are called for a drowning victim at a family barbecue. Upon arrival, two family members approach you yelling, swearing, and demanding to know what took so long. One of the family members pushes you. You should:

retreat and request immediate assistance from law enforcement

hypovolemic shock

shock resulting from blood or fluid loss

A 30-year-old male was stabbed in the abdomen during an assault. The knife is impaled in his the right lower abdominal quadrant. It is important to:

stabilize the knife in place

Your pediatric patient has spontaneous respirations. This means the patient is breathing:

without assistance

Your patient has a partial thickness burn to his anterior chest. It is about the size of the palm of his hand. What is the approximate total body surface area of the burn?

1%

While working out at the gym, you witness someone collapse. The patient is apneic with a pulse. You begin performing mouth-to-mask ventilations. What percentage of oxygen is your patient receiving?

16%

Your patient exhibits crepitus to the thorax, paradoxical motion and signs of hypoxia. You should suspect:

A flail chest

You are the first ambulance on the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Your first action upon arrival should be to:

Access the scene for hazards

When a pulse oximeter is available, how should oxygen be administered to a patient experiencing chest pain?

Administer oxygen to maintain a pulse oximeter reading of at least 94%.

You are dispatched to a neighborhood park on a warm day for an 8-year-old with difficulty breathing. You find the patient breathing adequately but with some accessory muscle use. You note expiratory wheezes and a persistent cough. You suspect the patient is experiencing:

An asthma attack

You are treating a 35-year-old man who was stung by a bee. He is allergic to bees and has a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector. His breath sounds are clear and non-labored. His BP is 130/82. How should you manage this patient?

Assess the patient for signs of hypoxia, administer oxygen as needed, and transport.

Which of the following conditions would most likely cause hypovolemic shock? A. a spinal cord injury. B. laceration of the liver. C. insulin shock. D. appendicitis.

B. laceration of the liver

Which of the following physiological responses helps protect the body from overheating: A. shivering. B. peripheral vasodilation. C. peripheral vasoconstriction. D. syncope.

B. peripheral vasodilation

Your 5-year-old patient is unresponsive. A carotid pulse is present at 40 beats per minute. Breaths are shallow at six per minute. You should immediately

Begin chest compressions (indicated to do for children with a pulse rate below 60)

Which of the following statements about distributive shock is correct? A. Distributive shock is caused by impaired cardiac function. B. Distributive shock is caused by severe bleeding. C. Distributive shock is caused by widespread vasodilation. D. Distributive shock is caused by severe hypoglycemia.

C. Distributive shock is caused by widespread vasodilation

Which of the following patients should be your highest transport priority? A. an adult with a superficial burn that covers 15% of the total body surface area. B. any 1st degree burn to the hands or feet of a pediatric patient. C. a partial-thickness burn with respiratory compromise. D. any burn with severe pain over 10% total body surface area

C. a partial-thickness burn with respiratory compromise

Your 6-year-old patient jumped from a swing and injured his right leg. You note deformity to the right leg above the ankle. The patient most likely has a fracture to the

Distal Tibia

Which of the following is the first priority at a hazardous material incident?

Ensure your own safety

While attempting to restrain a combative patient, your partner was bitten on the arm. Which of the following is true of bite wounds?

Human bites pose a high risk of infection

Which of the following interventions should be performed first for an unresponsive patient with a suspected spinal cord injury?

Jaw thrust maneuver

You are treating a patient with respiratory distress. He has a history of multiple myocardial infarctions. Lung sounds indicate pulmonary edema. You note the patient does NOT have any JVD or pedal edema. The patient is most likely experiencing:

Left heart failure

Which of the following is considered a normal capillary refill time for infants and children?

Less than 2 seconds

Which of the following medications is intended to decrease myocardial workload and increase myocardial blood flow?

Nitroglycerin

Life-threatening bleeding should be found and treated during the:

Primary assessment

You are first on the scene of a motor vehicle collision involving multiple vehicles. Which of the following should you do first:

Request additional resources

You are caring for a 22-year-old female who complains of respiratory distress after exercising. She is alert, speaking full sentences, and has a persistent cough. She is most likely experiencing

Respiratory distress with adequate breathing

The rapid extrication technique should be used at a motor vehicle accident when:

The patient has life-threatening injuries

You are caring for a multi-system trauma patient with possible internal bleeding. Select the correct statement about the rapid scan for a multi-system trauma patient

The rapid scan is used to identify life-threatening conditions

Which of the following is the most frequent cause of airway obstruction?

The tongue

Which of the following is true during inhalation of a spontaneously breathing patient?

There is a drop in pressure within the thorax

Shallow respirations and bradypnea will likely cause

a decrease in minute volume

Your patient was injured during an industrial accident. He has an abdominal laceration with internal organs protruding. You should apply:

a moist, sterile dressing

Your patient has partial-thickness burns over a large surface area. You should:

apply a dry, sterile burn sheet

Your patient has severe bleeding to her forearm. If direct pressure does not control the bleeding, you should immediately:

apply a tourniquet

While assessing an unresponsive patient, you discover a penetrating wound to the anterior chest. You should first:

apply an occlusive dressing

A nonrebreather mask should be administered to patients who:

are breathing adequately with signs of hypoxia

An elderly patient reportedly collapsed on a golf course almost 10 minutes ago. You assess her level of consciousness and determine she is unresponsive. Which of the following should you do first:

assess pulse and begin CPR if needed

Your 67-year-old patient recently began taking a new medication. He is complaining of a sudden onset of severe respiratory distress. He quickly becomes semi-conscious and unable to follow verbal commands. His pulse oximeter (SaO2) is 89%. You should:

assist ventilations with a BVM

During a hazardous materials incident, you should take standard precautions:

before making contact with the patient

You are dispatched to the local jail for a prisoner found unresponsive in her cell. Her airway is clear. Respirations are rapid and shallow. The pulse oximeter (SaO2) reads 90%. Your first action should be to:

begin positive pressure ventilations

You are dispatched to a soccer game for a 12-year-old female with signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction. Upon arrival, the patient's mother hands you an epinephrine auto-injector. You should:

begin the primary assessment

To determine if CPR is indicated for an unresponsive patient less than one year of age, you should assess the:

brachial pulse

In unresponsive patients over one year of age, you should palpate the:

carotid pulse

Nerve agents and choking agents are examples of:

chemical agents

Which of the following provides oxygenated blood directly to the heart?

coronary arteries

An oropharyngeal airway is indicated for which of the following patients? a. 35 yr old semi-conscious patient b. 14 yr old conscious patient c. 22 yr old confused patient with dyspnea d. 44 yr old unconscious patient

d. 44 yr old unconscious patient

Your patient is unresponsive following blunt trauma to the head. Which of the following is the EMT's first priority for an unresponsive patient?

determine if CPR is needed (CAB)

The primary assessment of an adult with chest pain is

determine the transport priority

You are on the scene of a motor vehicle accident. The driver is trapped in a vehicle that is leaking an unknown fluid. When is it appropriate to enter the vehicle and begin patient care?

do not enter until trained rescuers determine the vehicle is safe to enter

The most common weapon of mass destruction used by terrorists is:

explosive weapons

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can reduce respiratory distress by

helping to keep the alveoli open

Shock is caused by

inadequate tissue perfusion

You are called for a 6-month-old infant with respiratory distress. Which of the following is true about patients in this age group?

infants are obligate nose breathers and are more susceptible to hypoxia than adults (hypoxia is a common cause of bradycardia)

How should you open the airway of an unresponsive patient with an unknown mechanism of injury?

jaw-thrust maneuver

You and your partner are preparing to lift the stretcher into the ambulance with a 300-pount patient. To protect yourself from injury, you should:

keep your back straight and bend at the knees

You are dispatched for a homeless person found unresponsive. You find the patient prone on the sidewalk unresponsive to pain. You should first:

log roll the patient into a supine position

You are treating an unresponsive patient with slow, shallow respirations and pinpoint pupils. Which of the following conditions is most likely?

narcotic overdose

You are caring for a 12-year-old who was injured at the neighborhood skate park. He was not wearing a helmet and is responsive to pain. You note snoring respirations and deformity to the left ankle. You should:

open the airway using a jaw-thrust maneuver

The hypoxic respiratory drive works by monitoring:

oxygen levels

You are called for a 40-year-old female with a severe headache. She is 32 weeks pregnant. The patient history reveals she also has nausea, blurred vision and sudden edema in her face and hands. Her blood pressure is 156/96. The patient is most likely experiencing:

preeclampsia

A patient with an isolated concussion injury will likely:

progressively improve over time

Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood?

pulmonary artery

The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the:

pulmonary veins

You are caring for an apneic patient with a suspected overdose. You have loaded the patient into the ambulance and entered the patient compartment. You should first:

put on your seatbelt

Coordinating efforts through a unified command system at a mass casualty incident will likely:

reduce duplication of effort and freelancing

Carbon monoxide exposure is dangerous because it:

reduces delivery of oxygen.

While eating dinner, your partner suddenly grabs his throat and has a panicked look on his face. He is unable to speak, has a faint inspiratory stridor and cyanosis around the lips. You should:

stand behind him and administer abdominal thrusts

Which of the following findings indicates partial obstruction of the upper airway?

stridor

Epinephrine stimulates which of the following physiological effects?

tachycardia

When caring for a patient with a behavioral emergency, remember:

the behavior may be caused by a physiological condition

You are transporting a pregnant patient from an urgent care center to a high-risk OB facility. The transferring physician tells you the patient may have an abruptio placenta. This means:

the placenta is prematurely separating from the uterine wall

Your patient has been exposed to a chemical that over-stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. You would expect this patient to exhibit:

vomiting

You are caring for a six-year-old patient with respiratory distress. The pulse oximeter (Sa02) reads 93%. Your management of the patient should include:

Administer sufficient oxygen to maintain a pulse oximeter reading of at least 94%.

You are caring for a confused and restless 16-year-old female with blunt chest trauma following a single vehicle accident. She complains of dyspnea and orthopnea. You note a reduced tidal volume, cyanosis and tachycardia. Which of the following should be done first?

Begin positive pressure ventilations

Which of the following is true regarding the Emergency Response Guide (ERG):

The ERG helps identify the evacuation distance for specific hazardous materials.

A 36-year-old female presents with a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She is anxious, has intercostal retractions and nasal flaring. Her respiratory rate is 24 breaths per minute. You do not have a pulse oximeter. You should:

administer oxygen via nonrebreather mask at 15 lpm

You are dispatched for a possible CVA. Upon arrival, you determine the patient is responsive to painful stimuli. Which of the following should be assessed first for this patient?

airway

You respond to a preschool facility for an ill child. Upon arrival, you find an unresponsive 8-month-old. The infant has a palpable pulse of 50 beats per minute. Your next action should be to:

begin chest compressions

Which of the following accurately describes supine hypotensive syndrome?

compression of the inferior vena cava by the uterus.

You are caring for a 3-year-old patient in cardiac arrest. What is the correct compression to ventilation ratio for two-person CPR on this patient?

15 compressions to 2 ventilations

When there are signs and symptoms that your patient is hypoxic, you should:

Administer oxygen at 15 lpm via nonrebreather mask.

Which of the following describes the purpose of administering aspirin to a suspected myocardial infarction patient?

Aspirin reduces platelet aggregation in the coronary arteries.

Which of the following signs of hypoxia is more commonly found in pediatric patients?

Seesaw respirations

You are caring for an unresponsive diabetic patient with deep, rapid respirations. The patient's blood glucose is 480 mg/dL. What is the most likely cause of this patient's hyperventilations?

This patient is likely hyperventilating due to severe acidosis.

An elderly female reportedly had a severe headache for the last 24 hours. She was recently found unconscious in bed. Her family reports she has a history of hypertension and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). The patient's current condition is most likely due to: a. hemorrhagic stroke b. cardiac emergency c. another TIA d. migraine headache

a. hemorrhagic stroke

You are caring for a patient who was ejected during a single vehicle rollover. The patient responds incoherently to verbal commands. You should first:

access the patient's airway

Which of the following is a common cause of seizures?

acidosis, epilepsy, infection, diabetic emergencies, poisoning and overdose, head injury, and stroke

Your adult patient reportedly smoked an unknown substance and passed out. The patient has inadequate ventilations and your partner begins ventilating with the BVM. Which of the following is the best indicator your patient is being ventilated adequately?

adequate bilateral chest rise and fall during BVM ventilation

Treatment should begin at a mass casualty incident:

after triage has been completed

Which of the following signs of hypoxia is more common in pediatric patients?

bradycardia

You are ventilating a patient with a stoma. You note air is escaping from the mouth and nose with each breath. You should:

manually seal the mouth and nose

You are first on the scene of an overturned container truck. You note a placard, but do not recognize the ID number. There is fluid leaking from the vehicle. You should:

notify your dispatcher a hazardous materials team is needed

Your 8-year-old patient has blunt chest trauma after being struck by a car. The patient is alert. His airway is clear, breathing is adequate, and pulses are present but weak at 110 beats per minute. Which of the following should you do next?

perform a rapid scan

You are conducting a primary assessment on an elderly fall victim who complains of hip pain. While assessing circulation, you should check:

pulses, external bleeding and skin condition

You arrive at a residence for an ill person. A child opens the door and says his dad is locked in the bedroom with his gun. You should:

retreat to safety and request law enforcement