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EMT Basic Midterm Exam Review |
Latest Update | 100% Correct | Verified
Answers 2025
Which of the following statements regarding smooth muscle is correct? A. a person has no voluntary control over smooth muscle B. smooth muscle is found exclusively within blood vessels C. the biceps and quadriceps are examples of smooth muscle D. smooth muscle is under control of the voluntary nervous system - Correct Answer-A A 22-year-old female patient is complaining of dyspnea and numbness and tingling in her hands and feet after an argument with her fiancé. Her respirations are 40 breaths/min. You should: A. position her on her left side and transport at once B. have her breathe into a paper or plastic bag C. request a paramedic to give her a sedative D. provide reassurance and give oxygen as needed - Correct Answer-D Despite your attempts to coach a conscious young female's respirations, she continues to hyperventilate with a marked reduction in tidal volume. You should: A. restrain her and provide ventilatory assistance. B. insert a nasopharyngeal airway and give oxygen. C. explain to her that you will assist her ventilations. D. ventilate her at the rate at which she is breathing. - Correct Answer-C You are dispatched to a residence where a middle-aged man was found unconscious in his front yard. There are no witnesses who can tell you what happened. You find him in a prone position; his eyes are closed and he is not moving. Your FIRST action should be to: A. palpate for the presence of a carotid pulse. B. log roll him as a unit to a supine position. C. assess the rate and quality of his breathing. D. open his airway with a jaw-thrust maneuver. - Correct Answer-B Immediately after being dispatched to a residence for an elderly patient with diabetic complications, you should: A. Ask the dispatcher to obtain a medical history from the caller B. Ask the dispatcher if the patient is conscious or unconscious C. Request that law enforcement secure the scene before you arrive D. Confirm with this patch that you received the call information - Correct Answer-D As an EMT, the performance of your duties will be compared to that of: A. a paramedic supervisor.
B. another EMT. C. the general public. D. the medical director. - Correct Answer-B When the shoulder girdle is aligned over the pelvis during lifting: A. the weight is exerted straight down the vertebrae B. the muscles of the back experience increased strain C. the risk of back injuries is significantly increased D. the hands can be held further apart from the body - Correct Answer-A Continuing education in EMS serves to: A. enforce mandatory attendance at agency-specific training. B. confirm research and statistical findings in prehospital care. C. provide an ongoing review and audit of the EMS system. D. maintain, update, and expand the EMT's knowledge and skills. - Correct Answer-D Abdominal thrusts in a conscious child or adult with a severe upper respiratory obstruction are performed: A. in sets of 5 followed by reassessment B. until he or she experiences cardiac arrest C. about 1 inch below the diploid process D. until he or she loses consciousness - Correct Answer-D Which of the following clinical signs is unique to anaphylactic shock? A. Pallor B. Wheezing C. Hypotension D. Dizziness - Correct Answer-B An absence seizure is also referred to as a: A. petit mal seizure. B. grand mal seizure. C. total body seizure. D. generalized motor seizure. - Correct Answer-A A 70-year-old female was recently discharged from the hospital following a total hip replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure of 100/64 mm Hg. Her skin is warm and moist. You should be MOST suspicious that she is experiencing: A. a local infection. B. septic shock. C. decompensated shock. D. pump failure. - Correct Answer-B To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should: A. use universal precautions with every patient encounter.
pressure is 144/94 mm Hg, and his pulse is 64 beats/min and regular. You auscultate his breath sounds and hear scattered wheezing, although he is not experiencing respiratory distress. In addition to administering oxygen, you should: A. avoid the use of epinephrine because of his cardiac history, even if his symptoms become severe. B. begin transport and request to administer epinephrine if his systolic blood pressure falls below 110 mmHg. C. contact medical control if needed, transport the patient, and monitor him for signs of deterioration. D. Ask him if he has epinephrine and request approval from medical control to administer it to the patient. - Correct Answer-C Most prehospital cardiac arrests occur as the result of: A. an acute ischemic stroke. B. obstruction of the airway. C. a cardiac dysrhythmia. D. severe blunt trauma. - Correct Answer-C To select the proper size oropharyngeal airway, you should measure from the: A. corner of the mouth to the earlobe. B. corner of the mouth to the superior ear. C. angle of the jaw to the center of the mouth. D. center of the mouth to the posterior ear. - Correct Answer-A A 60-year-old man complains of chest pain. He is conscious and alert and denies shortness of breath. Which of the following questions would be the MOST appropriate to ask him? A. "Does the pain in your chest feel like a stabbing sensation?" B. "Were you exerting yourself when the chest pain began?" C. "Do you have any heart problems or take any medications?" D. "Does the pain in your chest move to either of your arms?" - Correct Answer-C An infant or small child's airway can be occluded if it is overextended or overflexed because: A. the back of the head is flat, which prevents a neutral position. B. the tongue is proportionately small and can fall back into the throat. C. the occiput is proportionately large and the trachea is flexible.
D. he or she has a long neck, which makes the trachea prone to collapse. - Correct Answer-C Which of the following MOST accurately describes paradoxical movement of the chest wall? A. Multiple rib fractures that cause a marked deformity of the chest wall B. A marked decrease in chest wall movement due to abdominal breathing C. Only one section of the chest rises on inspiration, while another area falls D. One side of the chest wall moves opposite the direction of the other - Correct Answer-C The left ventricle has the thickest walls because it: A. uses less oxygen than other chambers of the heart B. pumps the blood into the aorta and systemic circulation C. receives blood directly from the systemic circulation D. pumps blood into the lungs to be reoxygenated - Correct Answer-B When faced with a situation in which a patient is in cardiac arrest, and a valid living will or DNR order cannot be located you should: A. determine the patient's illness B. notify the coroner immediately C. contact medical control first D. begin resuscitation at once - Correct Answer-D Your BEST protection against legal liability when a competent patient refuses EMS care and transport is to: A. advise medical control of the situation B. err on the side of caution and transport C. ensure the family is aware of the risks D. thoroughly document the entire event - Correct Answer-D Enlargement of the liver is called: A. hydrocephalus B. pneumonitis C. hepatomegaly D. nephritis - Correct Answer-C You are off duty at a park when you witness an apparently healthy 12-year-old child suddenly collapse. There are no bystanders around and your mobile phone is in your car. After confirming that the child is in cardiac arrest, you should: A. perform chest compressions only until a bystander arrives B. deliver 5 rescue breathes before starting chest compressions C. call 911 then return to begin CPR on the child D. perform CPR for 2 minutes and then call 911 - Correct Answer-C
C. trachea is smaller, softer, and less flexible. D. mouth and nose are proportionately larger. - Correct Answer-B Cardiogenic shock following AMI is caused by: A. a profound increase in the patient's heart rate. B. hypovolemia secondary to severe vomiting. C. widespread dilation of the systemic vasculature. D. decreased pumping force of the heart muscle. - Correct Answer-D Information included in a radio report to the receiving hospital should include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. your perception of the severity of the problem. B. a preliminary diagnosis of the patient's problem. C. a brief summary of the care you provided. D. a brief history of the patient's current problem. - Correct Answer-B The ___________ portion of the spinal column is joined to the iliac bones of the pelvis. A. thoracic B. lumbar C. coccyx D. sacrum - Correct Answer-D A 51-year-old female presents with a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She is conscious and alert and able to speak in complete sentences. Her respirations are 22 breaths/min and regular. You should: A. administer oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. B. insert a nasal airway in case her mental status decreases. C. perform a secondary assessment and then begin treatment. D. assist her breathing with a bag-valve mask - Correct Answer-A In late adults, the amount of air left in the lungs after expiration of the maximum amount of air: A. decreases, resulting in widespread collapsing of the alveoli and impaired diffusion of gases. B. decreases, which increases diffusion in the lungs and causes an accumulation of carbon dioxide. C. remains unchanged because the lungs have become accustomed to years of breathing pollution. D. increases, which hampers diffusion of gases because of the stagnant air that remains in the alveoli. - Correct Answer-D The spread of HIV and hepatitis in the health care setting can usually be traced to: A. lack of proper immunizations. B. excessive blood splashing or splattering. C. noncompliance with standard precautions. D. careless handling of sharps - Correct Answer-D
With a good mask-to-face seal and an oxygen flow rate of 15 L/min, the nonrebreathing mask is capable of delivering up to ______% inspired oxygen. A. 70 B. 100 C. 80 D. 90 - Correct Answer-D Chronic renal failure is a condition that: A. causes dehydration from excessive urination. B. is often caused by hypertension or diabetes. C. can be reversed with prompt treatment. D. occurs from conditions such as dehydration. - Correct Answer-B In relation to the wrist, the elbow is: A. Distal. B. Medial. C. Lateral. D. Proximal. - Correct Answer-D Typical components of an oral patient report include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. the chief complaint or mechanism of injury. B. important medical history not previously given. C. the set of baseline vital signs taken at the scene. D. the patient's response to treatment you provided. - Correct Answer-C When you inspect a patient's pupils with a penlight, the pupils should normally react to the light by: A. fluttering. B. constricting. C. enlarging. D. dilating. - Correct Answer-B The decline in cardiac function that commonly occurs in late adulthood is MOST often related to: A. hypotension. B. kidney failure. C. atherosclerosis. D. medication use. - Correct Answer-C The part of the brain that controls the left side of the body is the: A. right temporal lobe. B. left parietal lobe. C. left-side cerebrum. D. right-side cerebrum. - Correct Answer-D
Shortly after assisting a 65-year-old female with her prescribed nitroglycerin, she begins complaining of dizziness and experiences a drop of 30 mm Hg in her systolic blood pressure. The patient remains conscious and her breathing is adequate. You should: A. wait 5 minutes and reassess her blood pressure B. transport her in a sitting position C. place her in a supine position D. assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask - Correct Answer-C When preparing to obtain a 12-lead ECG, the V1 and V2 electrodes should be placed: A. on either side of the sternum. B. in the midaxillary line. C. on the left and right arms. D. in the midclavicular line. - Correct Answer-A While obtaining a 12-lead ECG prior to ALS arrival, you note the presence of artifacts on the tracing. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this? A. placement of the leads B. Abnormal cardiac electrical activity C. Excessive movement of the patient D. The patient's pulse is irregular. - Correct Answer-C You have been working at the scene of a major building collapse for 8 hours. Many injured people are still being removed, and everyone is becoming frustrated and losing focus. This situation is MOST effectively managed by: A. conducting a critical incident stress debriefing the next day B. requesting a CISM team to provide on scene peer support C. providing large amounts of caffeine to the rescue workers D. allowing each worker to sleep in 15 to 30 minute increments - Correct Answer-B You arrive at the residence of a 33-year-old woman who is experiencing a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure. She has a small amount of vomitus draining from the side of her mouth. After protecting her from further injury, you should: A. wait for the seizure to stop, manually open her airway, insert an oropharyngeal airway, and assess her oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter. B. maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen. C. restrain her extremities to prevent her from injuring herself, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, and assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device. D. place a bite block in between her teeth, apply high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, and consider inserting a nasopharyngeal airway. - Correct Answer-B When administering epinephrine via auto-injector, you should hold the injector in place for: A. 15 sec B. 20 sec C. 10 sec
D. 5 sec - Correct Answer-C Which of the following statements regarding hepatitis A is correct? A. Hepatitis A can only be transmitted by a patient who has an acute infection. B. Hepatitis A is primarily transmitted via contact with blood or other body fluids. C. Although there is no vaccine against hepatitis A, treatment is usually successful. D. Infection with hepatitis A causes chronic illness with a high mortality rate. - Correct Answer-A Common signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. abdominal cramps B. flushing of the skin C. persistent dry cough D. drying of the eyes - Correct Answer-D Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience polyuria because: A. they drink excess amounts of water due to dehydration. B. excess glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys. C. low blood glucose levels result in cellular dehydration. D. high blood sugar levels cause permanent kidney damage. - Correct Answer-B As the single EMT managing an apneic patient's airway, the preferred initial methodof providing ventilations is the: A. mouth-to-mouth technique. B. one-person bag-mask device. C. manually triggered ventilation device. D. mouth-to-mask technique with a one-way valve. - Correct Answer-D Which of the following is NOT a BLS intervention? A. Automated defibrillation B. Chest compressions C. Cardiac Monitoring D. Abdominal Thrusts - Correct Answer-C A 58-year-old man complains of chest discomfort and nausea. He is conscious and alert; his blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, his pulse is 104 beats/min, and his respirations are 16 breaths/min. Your partner has applied supplemental oxygen. Prior to assisting the patient with one of his prescribed nitroglycerin tablets, you ask him if he takes medication to treat erectile dysfunction and he tells you that he does. You should:Choose one answer. A. ask him what he takes, how much, and when he last took it. B. avoid giving him nitroglycerin and transport him at once. C. administer his nitroglycerin and then reassess his blood pressure. D. recall that erectile dysfunction drugs can cause hypertension if given with nitroglycerin. - Correct Answer-A
B. Isordil C. Nexium D. digoxin - Correct Answer-C You are caring for a 70-year-old female with signs and symptoms of an acute stroke. She is conscious, has secretions in her mouth, and is breathing at a normal rate with adequate depth. You should: A. suction her oropharynx and transport immediately B. insert an oral airway, apply oxygen, and transport. C. use a BVM to assist her ventilations. D. administer one tube of oral glucose and transport - Correct Answer-A Prompt transport of a patient with a suspected AMI is important because: A. the patient may be eligible to receive thrombolytic therapy. B. 90% of the cardiac cells will die within the first 30 minutes. C. nitroglycerin can only be given in the emergency department. D. many patients with an AMI die within 6 hours. - Correct Answer-A Which of the following steps is NOT proper procedure when performing an emergency move? A. pulling the patient's clothing in the shoulder area B. lifting the patient by the belt to move him or her C. pulling the patient on a blanket or similar object D. using a long-axis body drag during the move - Correct Answer-B What is the correct ratio of compressions the ventilations when performing two-rescuer child CPR? A. 3: B. 5: C. 30: D. 15:2 - Correct Answer-D Which of the following medication routes has the slowest rate of absorption? A. Sublingual B. Oral C. Rectal D. Inhalation - Correct Answer-B Common signs and symptoms of acute hyperventilation syndrome include: A. altered mental status and bradycardia. B. tachypnea and tingling in the extremities. C. anxiety, dizziness, and severe bradypnea. D. unilateral paralysis and slurred speech. - Correct Answer-B Which of the following statements regarding ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) is correct? A. V-Fib is a state a rapid ventricular contraction
B. Most patients in V-Fib have a week carotid pulse C. V-Fib results in absence of forward blood flow D. Defibrillation is only indicated for witnessed V-Fib - Correct Answer-C You are treating a 45-year-old woman who was stung by a hornet and has a rash. She tells you that she is allergic to hornets and has her own epinephrine auto-injector. She also tells you that she takes medication for hypertension. Her breath sounds do not reveal any wheezing, her breathing is unlabored, and her blood pressure is 154/94 mm Hg. What should you do if you are not able to make contact with medical control? A. Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route. B. Give her half a dose of epinephrine in case her allergic reaction is delayed C. Begin immediate transport and request an intercept with a paramedic ambulance D. administer her epinephrine, reassess her condition, transport her promptly - Correct Answer-A Which of the following organs assists in the filtration of blood, serves as a blood reservoir, and produces antibodies? A. Liver B. Kidney C. Pancreas D. Spleen - Correct Answer-D Which of the following statements regarding gastrointestinal bleeding is correct? A. In the majority of cases, bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract occurs acutely and is severe. B. Bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract is a symptom of another disease, not a disease itself. C. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding results from conditions such as Mallory-Weiss syndrome. D. Chronic bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract is usually more severe than bleeding that occurs acutely. - Correct Answer-B You respond to the scene of a motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, you find the driver, a young female, sitting on the curb. She is confused, is in obvious respiratory distress, and has pale, moist skin. As your partner manually stabilizes her head, you perform a primary assessment. After performing any immediate livesaving treatment, you should: A. identify the specific areas of her injuries and focus your assessment on those areas. B. assess her vital signs, secure her to a backboard, and transport her immediately. C. perform a rapid scan of her entire body and prepare for immediate transport. D. fully immobilize her spine, load her into the ambulance, and assess her vital signs. Incorrect - Correct Answer-C or B Which of the following techniques should you use to dislodge a foreign body airway obstruction in a patient who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy or who is very obese? A. Back blows
Which of the following scenarios is an example of informed consent?A. A patient is advised by an EMT of the risks of refusing care. B. A patient advises an EMT of why he or she is refusing care. C. An EMT initiates immediate care for an unconscious adult. D. An EMT advises a patient of the risks of receiving treatment. - Correct Answer-D The five sections of the spinal column, in descending order, are the: A. thoracic, cervical, lumbar, coccygeal, and sacral. B. cervical, coccygeal, thoracic, sacral, and lumbar. C. cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. D. coccygeal, sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical. - Correct Answer-C General guidelines for effective radio communications include all of the following, EXCEPT:Choose one answer. A. speaking in a clear, calm, monotone voice. B. using 10 codes to ensure radio traffic confidentiality. C. holding the microphone about 2" to 3" from your mouth. D. acknowledging a transmission as soon as possible. - Correct Answer-B The compliance-monitoring component of an infection control plan should: A. identify who to notify after an exposure and where treatment should be provided. B. ensure that employees understand what they should do and why it is important. C. address issues such as medical waste collection, storage, and ambulance disinfection. D. consist of a list of tasks that pose a risk for contact with blood or other body fluids. - Correct Answer-B A 50 year old man with diabetes has an altered mental status and is unable to tell you when he last ate or took his insulin. Your glucometer keeps malfunctioning and you are unable to determine his blood glucose level. Which of the following clinical signs would MOST likely lead you to the correct diagnosis? A. restlessness and irritability B. hypotension and tachycardia C. rapid and weak pulse D. deep and rapid breathing - Correct Answer-D Which of the following skills or interventions is included at every level of prehospital emergency training? A. oral glucose for hypoglycemia B. AED C. intranasal medication administration D. use of a manually triggered ventilator - Correct Answer-B You are assessing a 49-year-old man who, according to his wife, experienced a sudden, severe headache and then passed out. He is unresponsive and has slow,
irregular breathing. His blood pressure is 190/94 mm Hg and his pulse rate is 50 beats/min. His wife tells you that he has hypertension and diabetes. He has MOST likely experienced: A. acute hypoglycemia. B. a ruptured cerebral artery. C. a complex partial seizure. D. an occluded cerebral artery. - Correct Answer-B Erosion of the protective layer of the stomach or duodenum secondary to overactivity of digestive juices results in: A. an ulcer B. ileus C. appendicitis D. cholecystitis - Correct Answer-A How is nitroglycerin usually given by the EMT? A. Sublingually B. Orally C. Injected D. Inhaled - Correct Answer-A Clinical signs of labored breathing include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. shallow chest movement. B. supraclavicular retractions. C. use of accessory muscles .D. gasping attempts to breathe. - Correct Answer-A The standards for prehospital emergency care and the individuals who provide it are typically regulated by the: A. American Heart Association. B. regional trauma center. C. National Registry of EMTs. D. state office of EMS. - Correct Answer-D Factors that contribute to a decline in the vital capacity of an elderly patient include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. increase surface area available for air exchange B. decreased residual volume C. a lossof respiratory muscle mass D. increased stiffness of the thoracic cage - Correct Answer-A Which of the following structures is contained within the mediastinum? A. Esophagus B. Bronchioles C. Larynx D. Lungs - Correct Answer-A
B. notify law enforcement personnel and have your partner arrested. C. tell your partner to stop and report the incident to your supervisor. D. tell your partner to quit kidding around and focus on the job. - Correct Answer-C What is the minimum number of chest compressions that should be delivered per minute to a 4-month-old infant? A. 110 B. 120 C. 100 D. 90 - Correct Answer-C The official transfer of patient care does not occur until the EMT: A. notifies the admitting clerk of the patient's arrival at the hospital. B. informs dispatch of the patient's arrival at the emergency department. C. gives an oral report to the emergency room physician or nurse. D. gives a radio report to the receiving medical facility. - Correct Answer-C The MOST significant complication associated with oropharyngeal suctioning is: A. hypoxia due to prolonged suction attempts. B. oral abrasions from vigorous suction attempts. C. clogging of the catheter with thick secretions. D. vomiting from stimulating the anterior airway. - Correct Answer-A An unconscious patient found in a prone position must be placed in a supine position in case he or she: A. requires CPR. B. begins to vomit. C. regains consciousness D. has increased tidal volume. - Correct Answer-A A mucosal atomizer device (MAD) is used to deliver certain medications via the: A. transdermal route. B. inhalation route. C. intranasal route. D. sublingual route. - Correct Answer-C Together, the right and left lungs contain how many lobes? A. 4 B. 3 C. 5 D. 6 - Correct Answer-C Shortly after loading your patient, a 50-year-old man with abdominal pain, into the ambulance, he tells you that he changed his mind and does not want to go to the hospital. He is conscious and alert and has no signs of mental incapacitation. You are suspicious that the man has a significant underlying condition and feel strongly that he
should go to the hospital. Which of the following statements regarding this situation is correct? A. Because of your suspicions, the best approach is to transport him to the hospital. B. A mentally competent adult can withdraw his or her consent to treat at any time. C. Any patient who refuses EMS treatment must legally sign a patient refusal form. D. Once the patient is in the ambulance, he cannot legally refuse EMS treatment. - Correct Answer-B Which of the following organs would MOST likely bleed profusely if injured? A. Appendix B. Liver C. Gallbladder D. Stomach - Correct Answer-B Which of the following is NOT a function of the sympathetic nervous system? A. Constriction of blood vessels in the digestive system B. Dilation of blood vessels in the muscles C. Constriction of blood vessels in the muscles D. Increases in the heart and respiratory rates - Correct Answer-C A young male is unresponsive after overdosing on an opioid. He is not breathing and his pulse is weak. The EMT should immediately: A. ventilate with a BVM. B. request an ALS ambulance. C. begin chest compressions. D. administer naloxone. - Correct Answer-A You are assessing a 13-month-old female who is running a fever and has been vomiting. While you are performing your physical examination on this child, you will MOST likely find that she: A. responds to her name but is fearful of your presence. B. has bulging fontanelles secondary to severe dehydration. C. will readily allow you to separate her from her mother. D. is unable to track your movements with her eyes. - Correct Answer-A In contrast to the parietal peritoneum, the visceral peritoneum: A. is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which are less able to localize pain or sensation. B. lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and is stimulated when the solid abdominal organs contract. C. is less likely to become inflamed or infected because it lines the abdominal organs themselves. D. is supplied by the same nerves from the spinal cord that supply the skin of the abdomen. - Correct Answer-A Which of the following statements regarding an infant's vital signs is correct?
