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EMT BASIC EXAM 1 2026 PRACTICE QUESTION
SET ONE
◉ A 5 year old boy has been vomiting profusely for two days. Your assessment indicates that his airway is open, respirations adequate, and radial pulse fast and weak. His skin is cool and moist, and the capillary refill time is 5 seconds. This patient is most likely: Answer: poorly perfused ◉ A 44 year old male patient was cutting limbs from high in a tree when he fell. He is found unresponsive with snoring respirations. His breathing is inadequate at a rate of 8 breaths/min and his carotid pulse is weak and difficult to locate. Following the primary assessment and intial management of life threats, which of these actions will the EMT complete while performing the secondary assessment? Answer: Obtain vital signs and get a past medical history from the family. ◉ A 62 year old female patient was struck by a travelling car approximately 45 mph. after being struck, she was thrown 15 feet onto the sidewalk, impacting the pavement with her head and cehst. The primary assessment has been completed, spine motion restriction precautions have been provided, and life threats addressed. The patients husband is by er side. When performing the secondary exam on this patient, what should the EMT do first? Answer: Perform a rapid head to toe physical assessment
◉ You are performing a secondary assessment and are assessing the patient's chest. Which of these findings would you associate most with fracture of the ribs? Answer: Paradoxical chest wall motion ◉ When assessing breath sounds during the secodary assessment, the EMT shows he is emplying a correct technique when he listens: Answer: at the left second intercostal space, followed by the right second intercostal space ◉ The EMT is using the OPQRST mnemonic to gather information from a patient with abdominal pain. Which of these patient's statements is a response to the "P" component of this memory aid? Answer: "it hurts worse when I take a deep breath." ◉ Assessment findings on an elderly patient with congestive heart failure indicate that her failing heart is causing fluid to collect and fill her alveoli. Based on this pathophysiology, for which pulmonry complication should the emt treat the patient? Answer: Decreased gas exchange ◉ Which of these patients should the emt suspect of being mildly hypoxic? Answer: An 18 year old male who is restless, has shallow respirations ans is breathing at a rate of 16 times per minute, with no cyanosis
◉ Which of these statements made by another crew member would cause you to disregard the use of continuous positive airway pressure (cpap) for a patient? Answer: "his respirations are agonal and slow" ◉ A listless and lethargic 84 year old male patient responds to physical stimuli with garbled speech. His respirations show poor effort and are rapid and labored, with a room air SpO2 of 84%. Additionally, you cannot appreciate breath sounds in his right lung. The best form of oxygen therapy for this patient would be: Answer: positive pressure ventilation ◉ The EMT would recognize that administering continuous positive airway pressure (cpap) at a pressure that is too high can cause: Answer: lung collapse ◉ You are by the side of a patient who fell 5 feet from a ladder, landing on a concrete porch and hitting his lower back and butt. Assessment reveals an intact airway, adequate respirations, rapid radial pulse, and skin that is pale, cool and diaphoretic. The patient complains of lower back and left leg pain. No deformity to the extremity is noted; however, the lower back is tender on palpation. The following vital signs are obtained: pulse, 132; respirations, 20 breaths/min; blood pressure, 102/88 mmHg; and SpO2, 97% on room air. Regarding oxygen therapy, you would: Answer: administer oxygen at 15 lpm through a nonrebreather mask
◉ Following a call in which you treated a pediatric patient with croup, a new EMT who is in orientation asks you how you can differentiate croup from epiglottis. Which of these responses would be most appropriate? Answer: "the child with epiglottis is typically drooling: the child with croup rarely, if ever, drools" ◉ You have been dispatched for a young child with difficulty breathing. As you enter the apartment, which scene size up clue would best indicate that the patient is experiencing a problem in her upper airway? Answer: Stridorous noises with inspiration ◉ You have been dispatched to a home for a 16 year old female patient with shortness of breath. On scene, you find the patient in bed with her mother at her side. Her mother states that her daughter has a fever with a past medical history of cystic fibrosis; she would like to have her daughter transported to the hospital for evaluation of possible pneumonia. As a knowledgable EMT, you know that the underlying pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis is a: Answer: condition in which excessive and thick mucus often plugs the airways ◉ A 71 year old female patient complains of the sudden onset of shortness of breath and rapid breathing. She also states that she is experiencing some chest pain that seems to worsen when she takes a deep breath. The primary assessment shows her to be alert and oriented with a patent airway and rapid breathing that is adequate. Her pulse rate is 92 and her blood pressure is 116/68 mmHg. When
◉ While talking to yur partner one day in between emergency calls, he tells you he has recently read a CE article on pulmonary embolisms. Which of these statements indicates that your partner understands the underlying pathophysiology of how a pulmonary emboli can cause hypoxia? Answer: "when the oulmonary vasculature becomes blocked by an emboli, then blood cannot reacch the alveoli for gas exchange, and hypoxia can result." ◉ A new employee of your EMS system is about to take a protocol test in front of the EMS supervisor. As he is reviewing the protocol from memory, he gets confused about which amount of oxygen to administer to a patient with a suspected pulmonary embolism. How would you respond if he asks you for help? Answer: "administer supplemental oxygen to the patient of sufficient amount to maintain the pulse oximeter reading at or greater than 94%" ◉ A young female was walking on a 7 ft high retaining wall when she lost her balance, stumbled and fell. She impacted on her left hand and left foot. Your assessment reveals ecchymosis, deformity, and edema to both the lleft foot and the left hand. Based on the concept of injury cause by indirect force, where else should EMT look for injury? Answer: Left hip ◉ You are caring for a make patient who was ejected from the passenger side of a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway and overturned several times. During the
primary assessment, you not the patient to have blood in the airway, rapid and shallow breathing, an absent radial pulse, and a weak and rapid carotid pulse. You also visualize that his left leg is severely injured, with gross visible angulations from suspected multiple fractures. Your partner is triaging the other occupants of the vehicle and you can hear the wall of the arriving fire department vehicles. Given this situation, what should you do first? Answer: Suction the airway with a hand-operated suction machine while trying to minimize circular spine motion. ◉ Which statement about traction splint is true? Answer: "mechanical traction should be applied until the mechanical traction is equal to the manual traction and the patient experiences a reduction in pain." ◉ A patient has an injury to the elbow and forearm. While you are conducting the reassessment, which statement made by the patient should concern you the most? Answer: "my hand feels like its going to sleep." ◉ Which question is best asked when attempting to determine the degree of sensation in the hand of a patient who has an elbow injury? Answer: "can you tell me which finger I am touching?" ◉ An alert and oriented auto mechanic had his right thigh pinned between the bumoers of two cars. Assessment findings include deformity and swelling to the right hip area and mid-thigh, along
distress and struggling to breathe. Where should you suspect the spinal cord injury has occurred? Answer: Cervical spine. ◉ Which statement about compartment syndrome is true? Answer: "it describes swelling in the tissues that can result in the loss of an extremity." ◉ A patient who was involved in a diving accident is found with his head positioned so that his left cheek is touching his left shoulder. He states that he has severe pain in his neck and it hurts to move his head. He denie numbness, tinglling, or decreased strength in his arms or legs. What is the EMTs best course of action? Answer: Stabilize and maintain the head in the position in which the patient is holding it. ◉ When applying a cervical collar to a young boy who fell out of a tree, the EMT realizes the main purpose of the collar is to... Answer: remind the patient to not move his head or neck. ◉ A male patient fell 20 fett from a cliff to a trail below while hiking with his gf. The primary asessment shows him to be confused, with an open airway and shallow breathing. His pulse is 72 beats/min and his blood pressure is 78/50 mmHg. The skin is warm and flushed. The patient has no motor ability or sensation in his legs. What is the most likely cause of this patients presentation? Answer: Spinal shock
◉ A 13 year-old boy flipped his bicycle and landed on outstretched arms, which caused a fracture in his collar bone. This is an example of Answer: an indirect force injury ◉ Which statement is most accurate regarding the processes needed for a patient to clench the hand into a fist? Answer: The central nervous system must send a message through the spinal cord and then to the peripheral nerves ◉ Which statement abour removing a helmet in the preshospital setting is true? Answer: It is acceptable to leave the helmet on a patient if the patient has no airway or breathing problems ◉ A male patient experienced an injry that completely severed his spinal cord in the thoracic spine. Which presentation would be associated with this injury? Answer: He will experience paralysis to the legs ◉ While transporting a 38 year old female who fell from a second story window, tou noe that she is becoming confused and her pulse rate is increasing. Additionally, her blood pressure has dropped and her skin is not cool and clammy. Based on these assessment findings, you would recognize: Answer: hypovolemic shock
◉ When administering aspirin to a patient with chest discomfort that is suggestive of a heart attack, the EMT recognizes that this medication will benefit the patient by: Answer: decreasing the ability of the platelets in the blood to form clots ◉ When obtaining a medical history, which of these statements made by the patient seemingly indicates that he is suffering from classic angina? Answer: "when I stopped cutting the grass, the pain went away." ◉ Which of these statements would the EMT expect from a patient with unstable angina? Answer: "the chest pain awakens me from my nightime sleep." ◉ You are assessing a patient in heart failure. Which sign or symptom seemingly indicates that the left ventricle is the cause of the heart failure? Answer: Crackles in the bases of both lungs ◉ An elderly patient with diabetes who experiences a silent MI will most likely: Answer: not be awakened by a heart attack as he sleeps ◉ The EMT shows that she understands the difference betweeen classic angina and an acute myocardial infarction (MI) when she
states: Answer: "an acute myocardial infarction results in the death of cardiac tissue; classic angina does not." ◉ Which of these statements regarding contraction of the heart is true? Answer: Both atria contract together just before both ventricles contract together ◉ The EMT understands the ECG when he makes which of theses statements about the waveform? Answer: "An ECG represents the electrical activity of the heart." ◉ The EMT understands diastolic blood pressure when he defines it as: Answer: "the pressure in the arteries between cardiac contractions." ◉ You have been called for a 58 year old male patient with an unknown medical emergency. On scene, you find the alert and oriented patient complains of headache as well as weakness and "tingling" to his right arm and leg. He has diabetes and high blood pressure, for which he takes the appropriate medications. When asked, he reports that he may have passed out earlier in the day, immediately after taking his morning dose of insulin. His pulse is 96, respirations 16 breaths/min, and blood pressure 180/106 mmHg. Based on this presentation, you should treat this patient for: Answer: stroke.
◉ A 64 year old male patient presents with a blood pressure of 210/132 mmHg. Which of these statements made by this patient would you recognize as most concerning and most likely associated with the elevated blood pressure? Answer: "I have a history of left- sided heart failure." ◉ You have been called for a 4 year old female patient who told her mother that her chest hurts. On scene, the child is crying and points to her chest when asked if she has pain. Her airway is patent, respirations slightly labored, pulse rapid and regular, and skin warm and pale. Vital signs are pulse 132, respirations 28 breaths/min, blood pressure 108/74 mmHg, and SpO2 89%. The mother denies any medical history, medications, or allergies for her daughter. Your first action would be to: Answer: apply oxygen ◉ When assessing an elderly patient with upper back pain, which of these assessment findings would make you very suspicious of a thoratic aortic dissection? Answer: Different blood pressure readings in each arm. ◉ patient is a carrier of Hep-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
◉ if a patient with chest pain takes a daily aspirin, your medical director watns you to contact an emergency department physician first beofre administering additional aspirin. the act of contacting the emergency department physician is what? Answer: Online medical direction ◉ statement made by an EMT that demonstrates that he has an accurate understanding of Hep-C Answer: "Wearing gloves and washing hands are the best means by which to prevent the transimission of HEP-C to health care workers." ◉ she becomes tearful and agitated, and repeatedly asks"why me?" As a knowledgable EMT, you recognize that she is in which stage of grieving? Answer: Anger ◉ You would be concerned about cumulative stress when an EMS provider informs you that she.. Answer: drinks a small amount of alcohol before bed every night. ◉ Which statement made by an EMT demonstrates an understanding of chest trauma? Answer: "closed chest injuries are caused by blunt trauma and can be just as serious as open chest injuries." ◉ An adult female is found unresponsive after being shot in the chest. Which statement made by your partner is of most conern and
bruising and instability to the sternum. When asked, she denies any past medical history. Based on this mechanism and the assessment findings, the EMT should be suspicious of which condition? Answer: Cardiac contusion ◉ Assessment findings for a 33 year old female who was shot in the right side of the chest indicate that she has a pneumothorax. As your care for this patient, your primary concern is moniotring the injury for: Answer: tension pneumothorax ◉ A patient was stabbed in the right anterior chest and is in obvious respiratory distress. As you perform the secondary assessment, which signs and/or symptoms would suggest that she is developing a tension pneumothorax? Answer: Absent breath sounds on the right, distended neck veins, tracheal deviation to the left ◉ The EMT shows that he understands the difference between a pneumothorax and a tension pneumothorax when he makes which statement? " Answer: a tension pneumothorax causes cardiac output to decrease; a simple neumothorax does not affect cardiac output." ◉ A 45 year old female was at a family reunion and fell off the trampoline where she hit the picnic table with the left side of her lower rib cage. Now, she is very anxious and confused. Her airway is open and her breathinf adequate. Her radial pulse is rapid and weak, and her skin is cool and diaphoratic. Vital signs are pulse, 132
beats/min, respirations 20 breaths/min; blood pressure, 102/ mmHg, and SpO2 97% on ambient air Answer: Hypovolemic shock ◉ You suspect that a patient with an open pneumothorax may be developing a tension pneumothorax. Which action is critical given this situation? Answer: Lift one side of the dressing during exhaltation ◉ You have been called for a 42 yaer old who complains of back pain. At the scene, the man tells you that he was lying on the floor when his 5 year old son unexpectadly jumped feet first onto his back. He gives a medical history of high blood pressure and asthma, for which he takes meds for. As you assess the patient, which findins Answer: Discoloration around thee umbilicus ◉ If a patient has severe retroperitoneal bleeding from an organ located within this cavity, she has most likely injured her: Answer: kidney ◉ On scene, you encounter a restless patient who has been stabbed in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and now complains of abdominal pain... Answer: family giving the patient water to drink since he is thirsty
