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EMT BASIC EXAM 1 2026 MASTER STUDY
EXAM
โ What actions place the patient at greatest risk for a medical mistake? Answer: A.Responding to a call in an "unsafe" neighborhood B.Driving to an emergency department at night C.Backing the ambulance into the ambulance bay at the hospital D.Transferring care from one EMT to another โ You have been asked to sit on your service's quality improvement (QI) committee. As a knowledgeable EMT, you recognize that in this role you will be involved in projects that are primarily designed to: Answer: Develop ways in which the delivery of emergency care can be improved โ The functions of a state EMS agency include: Answer: Planning and coordination of the statewide EMS system โ Which attribute of a person would not likely work out well in the EMS profession? Answer: Inability or no desire to "take charge" โ An Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) approaches you and states that he is interested in becoming an EMT. Specifically, he asks
what he will be able to do as an EMT that he cannot presently do as an EMR. You respond by saying he will be able to: Answer: Administer some medications โ A 40-year-old man has been seriously injured in a car crash. He is unresponsive and has what you believe to be a collapsed lung. Additionally, his left leg is severely deformed with heavy bleeding and his vital signs are unstable. A passenger in the car informs you that the patient has diabetes and significant heart problems. Given this information, what is the best destination for this patient, assuming all of the facilities are the same distance away? Answer: Trauma center โ An Emergency Medical Responder comes to you and states that he would like to work for your emergency ambulance service on a full- time basis. Knowing the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, you inform him of which element? Answer: He will first have to become an Emergency Medical Technician โ You have been dispatched for a 61-year-old female in cardiac arrest. Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) are on scene. In your community, all EMS practitioners are trained according to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model. Given this, which type of care do you expect the EMRs to be providing? Answer: Automated external defibrillation
โ Most authorities agree that the modern-day EMS system evolved after the release of which document? Answer: The white paper "Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society" in 1966 โ Which statement best summarizes the underlying benefit of using evidence-based medicine? Answer: Allows the use of research and evidence in determining which care is effective โ You have arrived at the scene of a medical emergency and find a woman lying on the floor of a grocery store. As you approach her, you know that your first priority as an EMT is: Answer: Personal safety โ At a public 911 center meeting, a concerned woman asks whether voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can be used to access the community emergency operations center. You would inform her that: Answer: Internet providers must provide a callback number and physical location of the phone from which the 911 call was placed โ An ambulance with two EMTs arrives in front of a house for an unknown medical emergency. On scene, bystanders report that a female patient was beaten by her husband in the driveway and then dragged back into the house. They state that the patient appeared unconscious and was bleeding from the head. Which action would
the EMTs perform next? Answer: Do not enter the scene until it has been controlled by law enforcement โ Which patient would most benefit from calling an enhanced 911 system from the home phone? Answer: Patient with chest pain โ What action taken by an EMT illustrates an effort toward maintaining well-being in the field of EMS? Answer: Creating a healthy balance between work and family life โ While you are assessing a patient with abdominal pain, the patient informs you that he is a chronic carrier of hepatitis B. His skin is not jaundiced, nor does he have a fever. As an EMT, you realize: Answer: The patient's blood and body fluids are infectious โ To ensure your own safety and the safety of your crew, you should: Answer: Evaluate every scene for danger before entering โ After 20 minutes of performing CPR on a 65-year-old female with end-stage multiple sclerosis, your medical director orders you to stop resuscitation and inform the family that the patient has died. The family members are upset and crying. You notice the patient's daughter holding her hand. Your immediate response would be: Answer: "It's okay to hold her hand."
โ Practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation Answer: Changes in your lifestyle that may help you manage stress include: โ "Right now he is not breathing and his heart is not beating, but we are doing everything we possibly can for him." Answer: You are doing CPR on a male patient who is unresponsive, not breathing, and pulseless. Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) were on scene first and applied the AED, which did not deliver a shock to the patient. The patient's wife is crying and asks how her husband is doing. Your response would be: โ Denial Answer: A reaction to death or dying where the patient asserts "Not me!" is recognized as which stage of grieving? โ Wash your hands with soap and water Answer: You have just transferred care of a patient to an emergency department nurse. There is no blood, fluid, or dirt on your gloves. After taking them off, your best action would be to: โ You have just been instructed to stop emergency care on an unresponsive and pulseless 61-year-old man found by his wife in the bathroom. When you tell his wife that there is nothing more that can be done, she erupts in an episode of rage and starts screaming that there must be something else that can be done and you are not doing
your job well enough. In this situation, which action is best? Answer: Be tolerant of the angry reaction โ Hepatitis Answer: A 38-year-old male is complaining of generalized weakness and fatigue. Assessment findings include abdominal pain, fever, and yellowing of the eyes. Given these signs and symptoms, you would be suspicious of: โ "If you feel comfortable, it's okay to stay and watch how we care for your daughter." Answer: A young girl with end-stage cancer is unresponsive, not breathing, and pulseless. Her mother and father are by her side, both crying as you start resuscitation. Which statement indicates the most appropriate thing you could say to the parents as you begin? โ Gloves and eye protection will be enough protection under most conditions unless body fluids are present Answer: A patient informs you that he was recently diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but has yet to develop AIDS. Given this information, which statement is true? โ Influenza vaccine Answer: Which immunization should the EMT receive annually? โ Let the husband know about all the training EMTs have to complete and which types of safety precautions they take on each
โ A prospective student is interested in becoming an EMT, but is unsure how it will affect his family. He says that his wife is very worried about the danger associated with EMS and has never had to deal with him being gone for 24 hours at a time. What is the most appropriate response? Answer: "It may help to bring your wife here so she can see what we do and the safety precautions we take." โ You are transporting a 58-year-old female with terminal breast cancer. While in the ambulance, she becomes tearful yet agitated, and repeatedly asks, "Why me?" As a knowledgeable EMT, you recognize that she is in which stage of grieving? Answer: Anger โ Organisms that cause diseases are called: Answer: Pathogens โ What is the single best technique that the EMT can use to prevent the spread of infection? Answer: Washing hands โ The primary personal threat to a person with AIDS is: Answer: Infection โ You are accidentally stuck with a needle used to administer a medication to a patient with a known history of hepatitis B. You have already completed your hepatitis B vaccine series. In this case, which
statement is true? Answer: You need to report the needle stick to your supervisor as soon as possible โ Regarding "burnout" and the emergency medical services, what statement is most accurate? Answer: Burnout can diminish an EMT's ability to provide competent care โ You have been told that you must get your purified protein derivative (PPD) test for tuberculosis (TB). As a knowledgeable EMT, you recognize that the PPD test will: Answer: Need to be repeated annually โ What statement would you expect to hear from a patient who has accepted the fact that he is terminally ill and will die sooner than later? Answer: "It's okay. I am not afraid." โ Which statement made by an EMT demonstrates that he has an accurate understanding of hepatitis C? Answer: "Wearing gloves and washing hands are the best means by which to prevent the transmission of hepatitis C to health care workers." โ A pregnant woman is choking inside a local restaurant. Who has the most compelling legal duty to act? Answer: EMTs from another county eating lunch after dropping off a patient at a local hospital
โ You have been dispatched for a 15-year-old female with a headache. On scene, you find the patient holding her 6-month-old son in her arms. This young mother states that she has had a migraine headache for two days and would like to be transported to the hospital for further evaluation. As an EMT, you should: Answer: Obtain a parent's consent to treat the patient, given her age โ A 20-year-old male has been stabbed in the abdomen. Assessment reveals him to be unresponsive with shallow breathing and a low blood pressure. Which instructions will you provide to your new EMT partner given that the patient has been involved in a crime? Answer: "When cutting his shirt off, make sure not to cut through the area where the knife penetrated." โ Which action best illustrates an EMT upholding a high ethical standard? Answer: Treating alcoholics and drug addicts with respect โ A 77-year-old female is unresponsive, but breathing and with a pulse. On scene, a family member hands you an official document stating that the patient does not want feeding tubes, ventilators, or other long-term life support equipment to keep her alive. There is no mention of whether to administer lifesaving drugs or withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The EMT would recognize this document as a(n): Answer: Living will document
โ What is the primary difference between the EMT's scope of practice and the EMT's standard of care? Answer: The scope includes which actions the EMT can legally take, while the standard of care is what a EMT should do in an EMS system with similar training and protocols โ The highest priority for the EMT working on a patient when approaching the scene of a crime is: Answer: Ensuring personal safety โ The EMT shows she understands "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) orders and living wills when she states: Answer: "A DNR applies to resuscitation issues only, such as when a patient stops breathing or the heart ceases to beat, whereas a living will pertains to long-term life support care and equipment." โ A 62-year-old male is short of breath. The EMT asks the patient if it would be okay to assess him, including taking his vital signs. The patient agrees by nodding the head "yes." As such, which is true? Answer: The EMT has obtained expressed consent โ An intoxicated 72-year-old male with an alcoholic history has fallen at home and has a laceration on the back of his head. He states that he does not want treatment and becomes combative when you try to talk to or assess him. What is your next best course of action? Answer: Contact medical direction
โ Why is using a standard format for relaying medical information to the emergency department important? Answer: A standard format reduces the opportunities for forgetting important medical information โ Currently, there is a debate within your organization regarding the use of codes in your medical communications and radio traffic. As you are in favor of using plain English and doing away with codes, a strong argument to justify this position would be: Answer: Some medical information can be too complex for a simple code system โ You are treating a 2-year-old girl who fell off her bike. She is scared, continues to cry, and will not answer any of your questions. What would be a good strategy to help find out where the girl hurts? Answer: Have the girl's mother ask your questions for you โ During which situation is it typically NOT necessary for the EMT to contact dispatch first with a request or question? Answer: When the EMT needs to get medical approval to administer a medication โ Over the radio, medical direction has given the following order for an unstable patient you suspect is having a heart attack: "Have the patient chew four baby aspirin, each one at 81 mg, and transport as soon as possible." You would show reception of this order by stating: Answer: "Copy. We will have the patient chew four baby aspirin, each one at 81 mg, and transport ASAP."
โ A patient who was complaining of a headache is being transported to the hospital. After you provide a report to the emergency department, the patient begins to unexpectedly seize. The seizure lasts for 1-2 minutes and then stops, but now you notice the patient's eyes have become unequal in size. You are still 5 minutes from the hospital. After providing care for the seizure, your next action should be to: Answer: Call the hospital and inform its staff of the seizure โ Which important piece of information has been omitted from the following report: "Salem Community Hospital, we are en route with a 61-year-old male complaining of generalized weakness. He states that he was cutting the grass when he suddenly became hot and weak, forcing him to sit down. He has a history of diabetes and prostate cancer, but takes no medications. Right now he is alert and oriented and has the following vital signs: pulse 96, respirations 18, and blood pressure 156/82 mmHg, and room-air pulse ox was 92%. We have placed him on 2 liters of oxygen by nasal cannula and are transporting in semi-Fowler position. He states that the weakness is starting to resolve. Do you have questions or orders?" Answer: ETA to the hospital โ A patient denies difficulty breathing, but displays signs of respiratory distress. You state, "I know that you said you are breathing fine, but you cannot speak more than two to three words at a time without gasping for air." Your response is an example of: Answer: Confrontation
swallowing. Knowing that the suffix "itis" refers to inflammation, what is this patient's condition? Answer: Epiglottitis โ Acrocyanosis is best described as a bluish discoloration of the patient's: Answer: Extremities โ As you arrive on scene, an Emergency Medical Responder informs you that the patient has agonal respirations. Based on this description, you would expect the patient's breathing to be: Answer: Occasional and gasping โ A patellar fracture affects which part of the body? Answer: Knee โ Which statement regarding the integumentary system is true? Answer: The skin protects the body against bacteria and other organisms โ Where is sperm stored? Answer: epididymis โ
