EMT EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
When performing the secondary assessment, the EMT should find which one of the following injuries first?
Answers:
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Bruising to the abdomen
Decreased pulse in the left foot
Unstable pelvis
Deformity to the left thigh
ANS - Bruising to the abdomen
A seven-year-old boy choked on a grape at school. By the time the obstruction was removed, assessment revealed him to be in cardiac arrest. When you arrive, teachers are performing CPR. The school nurse informs you that CPR has been in progress for six minutes. You have an AED, but do not have a pediatric conversion device that reduces the energy of defibrillation from that of an adult to that of a child. Which one of the following should you do immediately?
Answers:
Continue CPR and transfer the boy to the stretcher for immediate transport.
Perform five abdominal thrusts and then one minute of CPR before using the AED.
Place the electrodes on the boy's chest and follow the AED's prompts.
Instruct the teachers to continue CPR for another minute before applying the AED.
ANS - Place the electrodes on the boy's chest and follow the AED's prompts.
Which one of the following medications should the EMT administer orally?
Answers:
Nitroglycerin
Aspirin
Albuterol
Epinephrine
ANS - Aspirin
Why is defibrillation in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest so critical?
Answers:
Research has shown that a heart in cardiac arrest will continue to pump blood for a few minutes before cardiac output drops to zero.
In the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, the blood pressure is still normal, but will drop quickly, making successful defibrillation less likely.
If cardiac arrest is not treated within the first few minutes, ventricular fibrillation will convert to asystole, a non-shockable heart rhythm.
In the first few minutes of cardiac arrest the heart is still warm, but begins to cool rapidly making it less receptive to a defibrillatory shock.
ANS - If cardiac arrest is not treated within the first few minutes, ventricular fibrillation will convert to asystole, a non-shockable heart rhythm.
An EMT has just received a "Shock Advised" message from the AED. Just before delivering the shock, the EMT must:
Answers:
remove the oral airway to prevent possible choking.
ensure that all rescuers are clear of the patient.
press the analyze button once more.
hold the patient's head to avoid injury when shocking.
ANS - remove the oral airway to prevent possible choking.
The EMT should recognize which one of the following patients as breathing at a normal rate?
Answers:
6-month-old infant breathing 44 times per minute
44-year-old male breathing 8 times per minute
8-year-old male breathing 26 times per minute
22-year-old female breathing 22 times per minute
ANS - 6-month-old infant breathing 44 times per minute
You are treating a patient with severe chest pain and believe she is in cardiogenic shock. As such, which one of the following is most beneficial?
Answers:
Application of the AED
Rapid transport with the patient supine
High-flow oxygen
Administration of nitroglycerin
ANS - High-flow oxygen
When should the EMT conduct an evaluation of the scene for hazards that can threaten or harm him?
Answers:
Prior to leaving the ambulance
Throughout the entire call
After completing the primary assessment
Before responding to the call
ANS - Prior to leaving the ambulance
An Emergency Medical Responder informs you that he was assisting EMS with a cardiac arrest last week. He also states that the patient had been in cardiac arrest for eight minutes and questions why CPR was performed first, even though the AED was right there. You should reply:
Answers:
"Compressions administered prior to defibrillation help ensure that the heart is perfused with blood, increasing the chance of successful defibrillation."
"The chest compressions administered before defibrillation relax the muscles of the chest wall, allowing more electricity to enter the body."
"When the heart is in cardiac arrest for a few minutes, the blood in the heart becomes toxic and must be pumped out before defibrillating."
"Research has shown that chest compressions frequently convert the heart rhythm from asystole to ventricular fibrillation."
ANS - "Compressions administered prior to defibrillation help ensure that the heart is perfused with blood, increasing the chance of successful defibrillation."
You have been dispatched to a residence for a male patient with a cardiac history who is complaining of chest pain. On scene you find a 52-year-old male patient sitting in a chair. He is alert and oriented and states that his chest pain feels like the last time he had a heart attack. He also states that in the hospital his heart stopped and they had to shock him twice before it restarted. He is breathing adequately and has a strong radial pulse. Which one of the following would be appropriate in the care of this patient?
Answers:
Provide positive pressure ventilation with high-flow oxygen.
Open the airway using the head tilt-chin lift maneuver.
Apply the AED to the patient but do not turn it on.
Obtain the heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.
ANS - Apply the AED to the patient but do not turn it on.
After assisting a patient with her EpiPen, she states that it is much easier for her to breathe. However, her heart rate has increased from 92 to 118 beats per minute. In relation to the epinephrine, the EMT recognizes the increased heart rate as a(n):
Answers:
therapeutic effect.
contraindication.
allergy.
side effect.
ANS - Side effect
As you approach a patient, you observe dark blood on his shirt. He appears confused, pale, and diaphoretic. Which one of the following should you do first?
Answers:
Apply oxygen.
Cut his pants.
Assess his airway.
Treat for shock.
ANS - Apply oxygen.
Which one of the following standard precautions must the EMT take on every call?
Answers:
Goggles and gown
Gloves
Gloves, gown, and goggles
Gloves and face shield
ANS - Gloves and face shield
After receiving a "No Shock Advised" message from the AED, it is determined that the patient has a weak pulse and slow and shallow respirations. Which one of the following should you do immediately?
Answers:
Provide two minutes of CPR.
Obtain a blood pressure.
Transfer to the stretcher for transport.
Start positive pressure ventilation.
ANS - Transfer to the stretcher for transport.
Which one of the following capillary refill times is considered normal for a five-year-old child?
Answers:
3 seconds
4 seconds
2 seconds
6 seconds
ANS - 3 seconds
A driver was ejected from his vehicle in a rollover-type collision. Assessment findings include unresponsiveness and bruising to the abdominal and pelvic areas along with an open femur fracture. The patient has an open airway and is breathing at 32 times per minute. The skin is cool and clammy and the radial pulses are weak. Manual in-line spinal stabilization is being maintained. Which one of the following is the EMT's initial intervention?
Answers:
Apply a cervical collar.
Examine the fracture site.
Obtain a blood pressure.
Assist respirations.
ANS - Assist respirations.
During scene size-up, which one of the following pieces of information must the EMT identify?
Answers:
Need for additional personnel
Status of the airway and breathing
Best route to get to the call
Patient's level of consciousness
ANS - Need for additional personnel
A 67-year-old male patient is experiencing chest pain. His home is located in an extremely "bad" neighborhood. There are vacant homes throughout, including the two homes to either side of the patient's residence. Additionally, parked cars have forced you to park three houses away, making a walk necessary to get to the patient. Which one of the following actions would be most appropriate as you approach the patient's house?
Answers:
Stand in front of the door while knocking to make your presence known.
Walk single file with your partner behind you carrying the medical bag.
Hold a lit flashlight in front of you to illuminate shrubbery and trash cans.
Walk on the sidewalk instead of the grass to ensure steadier footing.
ANS - Stand in front of the door while knocking to make your presence known
The patient's family states that their 16-year-old daughter has a history of asthma and has been complaining of shortness of breath for the past two days. She has been taking her metered-dose inhaler with some relief, but today they found her lethargic and struggling to breathe in bed. Your assessment reveals her to be responsive to verbal stimuli with an open airway and respirations of 36 per minute. You hear minimal bilateral wheezing. Your immediate action in caring for this patient is to:
Answers:
provide positive pressure ventilation.
insert an oral airway.
position her on her side.
apply a nonrebreather mask.
ANS - position her on her side
What is the most common potential hazard an EMT faces on scene?
Answers:
Confused patients
Violent crowds
Angry family members
Blood and body fluids
ANS - Confused patients
While cleaning a gun, a 44-year-old patient accidentally shot himself in the abdomen. On arrival, you observe the patient on the floor lying on his side with his legs drawn to his chest. Blood is evident on his shirt and pants. Which one of the following indicates the correct sequence of events when caring for this patient?
Answers:
Perform the primary assessment, administer high-flow oxygen, perform a rapid secondary assessment, transfer to the stretcher, rapid transport
Transfer to the ambulance, rapid transport, primary assessment and oxygen therapy performed en route to the hospital
Transfer to the ambulance, perform the primary assessment and rapid secondary assessment, provide oxygen therapy, rapid transport
Perform primary and secondary assessments, move to the stretcher for immediate transport, start positive pressure ventilation en route to the hospital
ANS - Perform the primary assessment, administer high-flow oxygen, perform a rapid secondary assessment, transfer to the stretcher, rapid transport
If a scene becomes unsafe after you have entered, you should first:
Answers:
notify the EMS supervisor and medical director.
call for assistance on the radio.
remove yourself and your crew from the scene.
attempt to neutralize the threat.
ANS - attempt to neutralize the threat.
To assess a patient in the field setting, in what order would the EMT perform this task?
Answers:
Primary assessment; reassessment, secondary assessment
Scene size-up, secondary assessment, primary assessment
Scene size-up, primary assessment, secondary assessment
Scene size-up, history, secondary assessment, primary assessment
ANS - Scene size-up, primary assessment, secondary assessment
The EMT should consider aspirin for the patient with which one of the following conditions?
Answers:
Fever
Shortness of breath
Headache
Chest discomfort
ANS - Headache
Which one of the following patients should the EMT identify as having the best breathing?
Answers:
61-year-old female breathing at a rate of 8 breaths per minute
67-year-old female breathing 26 times per minute with good chest rise and fall
34-year-old male who is alert and oriented with good chest rise and fall
19-year-old male breathing 16 times per minute with wheezing in the lungs
ANS - 34-year-old male who is alert and oriented with good chest rise and fall
When would an EMT enter the scene of a crime to provide care to the patient?
Answers:
When the EMS supervisor arrives on scene
When all hazards have been addressed
When the dispatcher informs the crew to enter
When the police leave the scene
ANS - When the police leave the scene
You are transporting a 57-year-old male who went into cardiac arrest at home. After two shocks and CPR, he regained a pulse, but remains unresponsive and in respiratory arrest. During transport, your reassessment reveals the absence of a carotid pulse. Which one of the following should you do first?
Answers:
Start CPR and continue emergency transport.
Provide five cycles of CPR prior to using the AED.
Turn the AED on and analyze the heart rhythm.
Stop the ambulance and turn off the motor.
ANS - Turn the AED on and analyze the heart rhythm.
You are by the side of an alert and oriented 56-year-old male patient complaining of a pounding headache and generalized weakness. His pulse rate is 104, respirations are 18, and blood pressure is 218/110 mmHg. He has a history of high blood pressure for which he takes the anti-hypertensive Zestril. He states that he has not taken the Zestril for two weeks and hands you the container filled with the medication. Which one of the following should you do next?
Answers:
Do not administer any medication.
Administer sublingual nitroglycerin.
Contact medical direction to request an order for Zestril.
Assist the patient in taking the Zestril.
ANS - Administer sublingual nitroglycerin.
Dispatch has sent you to the scene of a fight at a local sporting event. Since the EMS system is busy and there are very few ambulances available, dispatch has instructed you to call for additional ambulances after arrival on scene. On scene you find that the police are present and have what appear to be 10 people seated or lying on the ground, some with blood to their faces and clothing. When would you call for additional ambulances?
Answers:
Once the exact number of patients has been determined
Following triage of the patients
Before getting out of the ambulance
After assessing and treating life-threatening injuries
ANS - Following triage of the patients
For the scene of a motor-vehicle collision involving two vehicles, which one of the following actions would be most appropriate in regards to rescuer and patient safety?
Answers:
Treat the patients between the vehicles so all rescuers can see each other.
Turn your back to oncoming traffic so they are aware of your presence.
Remove reflective clothing to avoid distracting passing vehicles.
Place flares 500 feet in each direction from the collision scene.
ANS - Remove reflective clothing to avoid distracting passing vehicles.
What is the purpose of assessing the pulse on an unresponsive patient during the primary assessment?
Answers:
Calculate the precise heart rate.
Determine the presence of a heartbeat.
Establish if the patient requires oxygen.
Decide if the breathing is adequate.
ANS - Determine the presence of a heartbeat.
While you are performing a secondary assessment, your trauma patient complains of the sudden onset of difficulty breathing. Which of the following is your most appropriate response?
Answers:
Reassess the patient, beginning with the head.
Reevaluate the mechanism of injury.
Make a mental note and continue with your exam.
Stop your exam and provide appropriate care.
ANS - Stop your exam and provide appropriate care.
A 31-year-old male breathing at a rate of six times per minute can best be described as:
Answers:
bradycardic.
bradypneic.
tachypneic.
hyperventilating.
ANS - bradypneic
As a certified EMT, you may assist the patient in taking which one of the following prescribed medications?
Answers:
Drugs for heart-rhythm disorders
Blood-pressure-control medications
Seizure-control medications
Inhalers for difficulty breathing
ANS - Inhalers for difficulty breathing
A 62-year-old female was struck by a car traveling approximately 45 miles per hour. After being struck, she was thrown 15 feet onto the sidewalk, impacting the pavement with her head and chest. The primary assessment has been completed and life threats addressed. The patient's husband is by her side. When performing the secondary exam on this patient, which one of the following should the EMT perform first?
Answers:
Examine the head and chest for other life-threatening injuries.
Assess the patient from head to toe for additional injuries.
Obtain a full set of vital signs including a pulse oximeter reading.
Inquire from family if the patient has any past medical history.
ANS - Obtain a full set of vital signs including a pulse oximeter reading.
After you apply the AED to a cardiac arrest patient, it delivered a shock. Immediately after the shock, the EMT should do which one of the following?
Answers:
Check the patient for a pulse and start CPR if no pulse can be located.
Check the patient for a pulse and reanalyze the rhythm if no pulse is present.
Provide five cycles of single-rescuer CPR with a ratio of 15 compressions to two ventilations.
Provide two minutes of CPR, and then check the patient for a pulse.
ANS - Check the patient for a pulse and reanalyze the rhythm if no pulse is present.
Which of the following is one of the basic five rights of medication administration?
Answers:
Right allergies
Right EMT
Right physician
Right dose
ANS - Right dose
An intoxicated patient is complaining of a severe headache and a large bruise to the left side of his face after accidentally being struck with a baseball bat. In this situation, being struck with the baseball bat is called the:
Answers:
chief complaint.
nature of illness.
differential diagnosis.
mechanism of injury.
ANS - mechanism of injury.
Which medications are included in the EMT's scope of practice?
Answers:
Valium, Motrin, and 50% dextrose (D50)
Lidocaine, Narcan, and atropine
Metered-dose inhalers, nitroglycerin, and aspirin
Activated charcoal, oral glucose, and oxygen
ANS - Metered-dose inhalers, nitroglycerin, and aspirin
Trends in a patient's condition are best noted during what phase of patient assessment?
Answers:
Primary assessment
Secondary assessment
Reassessment
General impression
ANS - Secondary assessment
The "S" in SAMPLE stands for:
Answers:
Severity
Story
Suggestions
Sign
ANS - Severity
A confused and anxious patient fell 20 feet from a ladder. Which one of the following signs would suggest that the patient is in shock?
Answers:
Constricted pupils
Deformity to the left arm
Contusion to his head
Heart rate of 110 [Show Less]