EMS 1021 COURSE EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026 | ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION
Question 1
When using your portable radio, you must push the "press to talk" button and wait one second
before speaking. This is essential to effective communication because your EMS system uses:
A) Simple simplex channels
B) Digital equipment
C) Cellular telephone links
D) Repeaters
E) High-frequency oscillators
Correct Answer: D) Repeaters
Rationale: Repeaters are devices that receive a lower-power signal from a portable radio
and re-transmit it at a higher power over a wider area. There is a brief delay (the
"handshake") required for the repeater to open the channel and begin transmitting. Failing
to wait one second often results in the first few words of the transmission being cut off.
Question 2
Why should the EMT provide the physician or nurse with an oral report when transferring care to
the hospital emergency department?
A) To provide input on additional medical care to be given in the ED
B) To provide an opportunity for the ED staff to critique the care provided
C) To summarize patient assessment and treatment information
D) To inform them of whether they need to see the patient immediately
E) To fulfill a legal requirement for the billing department
Correct Answer: C) To summarize patient assessment and treatment information
Rationale: The oral report is a critical component of the continuity of care. It provides a
face-to-face summary of the patient's condition, what was found during the assessment,
and what interventions were performed, ensuring the hospital staff has the most current
information to continue treatment.
Question 3
Which statement is most appropriate to start with when transferring a patient to the emergency
department and giving the oral report?
A) "This is Mr. Hedger. He has the state insurance plan."
B) "Mr. Hedger has high BP and appears to be having a heart attack."
C) "Please refer to the recording of my radio report for specific information."
D) "Mr. Hedger called us today because he was having chest pain."
E) "Mr. Hedger is 68 years old and lives in a nursing home."
Correct Answer: D) "Mr. Hedger called us today because he was having chest pain."
Rationale: An effective oral report should begin with the patient's name and the chief
, 2
complaint. This immediately identifies the patient and focuses the hospital staff on the
primary reason for the EMS call.
Question 4
What is an effective way to improve communication with patients from most cultures?
A) Use medical terminology
B) Maintain eye contact
C) Have the patient look up at you
D) Speak clearly and loudly
E) Avoid all physical touch
Correct Answer: B) Maintain eye contact
Rationale: While cultural norms vary, in the context of EMS in North America, maintaining
eye contact generally conveys interest, honesty, and empathy. It establishes a rapport and
shows the patient they have the provider's full attention.
Question 5
You have been called for a 23-year-old male who is completely deaf. To best communicate with
this patient you should:
A) Write questions on a notepad
B) Have the emergency department get the needed information
C) Use gestures when asking questions
D) Stand in front of the patient and speak loudly
E) Call for a sign-language interpreter and wait to assess
Correct Answer: A) Write questions on a notepad
Rationale: For a patient who is deaf but literate, writing is the most accurate way to
exchange complex medical information. Speaking loudly does not help a deaf person, and
gestures can be easily misinterpreted.
Question 6
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?
A) Use an adult-like stern voice and tell the girl she needs to answer
B) Have the girl's mother ask your questions for you
C) Tell the patient she will be okay if she tells you what hurts
D) Promise the girl a reward like ice cream if she answers
E) Perform a painful stimulus to see where she reacts
Correct Answer: B) Have the girl's mother ask your questions for you
Rationale: Toddlers often suffer from stranger anxiety and fear in the presence of
uniformed EMS providers. Using the parents as an intermediary helps calm the child and
provides a trusted voice to facilitate the assessment.
, 3
Question 7
What role does the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) play in EMS?
A) The FCC determines the medical protocols for radio reports
B) The FCC establishes and enforces regulations related to radio operations
C) The FCC approves maintenance contracts for ambulance engines
D) The FCC regulates only the radio systems used by police
E) The FCC provides the funding for portable radio purchases
Correct Answer: B) The FCC establishes and enforces regulations related to radio
operations
Rationale: The FCC has jurisdiction over all radio communications in the United States.
They assign frequencies, issue licenses, and monitor airwaves to ensure that emergency
communications remain clear and standardized.
Question 8
Medical direction has advised you to place a patient who is obese and extremely short of breath
in a supine position. Knowing that doing so may cause the patient to become even more short of
breath, your best action would be to:
A) Explain your concern to the physician and ask for clarification
B) Contact a different hospital and transport the patient there
C) Ask your partner what she would do
D) Place the patient in the supine position and expedite transport
E) Ignore the order and do what you think is best without saying anything
Correct Answer: A) Explain your concern to the physician and ask for clarification
Rationale: If an EMT receives an order from medical direction that seems inappropriate for
the patient's clinical condition, the EMT should advocate for the patient by politely
questioning the order and providing additional clinical context.
Question 9
While you are returning from lunch, a frantic woman flags you down and states that she just
found a young child on the roadside who appears to have been hit by a car. You should
immediately:
A) Advise dispatch that you have been flagged down and identify your location
B) Inform the woman that she will need to call 911 first
C) Grab equipment and get to the child's location without telling anyone
D) Call for paramedic assistance and await that unit's arrival
E) Drive back to the station to get more personnel
Correct Answer: A) Advise dispatch that you have been flagged down for a possible
emergency, and identify your location
Rationale: Safety and accountability are paramount. Dispatch must be notified of your
, 4
location and status so they can coordinate additional resources and keep track of your unit
in the event of an emergency.
Question 10
Why is using a standard format for relaying medical information to the emergency department
important?
A) Dispatch is better able to monitor and critique the radio traffic
B) A standard format reduces the opportunities for forgetting important medical information
C) The EMS agency can increase its reimbursement from insurance
D) A standard format assists the EMT in maintaining his or her flight skills
E) It prevents the nurse from asking too many questions
Correct Answer: B) A standard format reduces the opportunities for forgetting important
medical information
Rationale: Standardized reporting (like the "MIST" or "SBAR" format) ensures that all
essential data points—such as vital signs, interventions, and ETA—are communicated
systematically, reducing the risk of human error or omission.
Question 11
You are entering a scene where a 32-year-old intoxicated male has fallen down 13 stairs. During
the initial scene size-up, what is it essential that the EMT quickly identify?
A) Status of the patient's airway and breathing
B) The patient's level of consciousness
C) Amount of alcohol consumed by the patient
D) Possible need for additional personnel
E) The patient's primary care physician
Correct Answer: D) Possible need for additional personnel
Rationale: During the scene size-up, the EMT must identify hazards, the mechanism of
injury, the number of patients, and the need for additional resources (such as more lift
assistance for a heavy patient or police for a violent one). Assessment of the patient (options
A and B) occurs during the primary assessment, not the size-up.
Question 12
It has been reported that two people have been shot in an alleyway. As you pull up to the scene,
you see a police officer standing over a person. In this situation, what is your first priority?
A) Determining the number of patients on scene
B) Assessing the patient's airway for patency
C) Considering the need for additional resources
D) Determining the overall safety of the scene
E) Applying a tourniquet to the gunshot wound
Correct Answer: D) Determining the overall safety of the scene
Rationale: The very first step of every EMS call is ensuring scene safety. You cannot help
VERIFIED ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION
Question 1
When using your portable radio, you must push the "press to talk" button and wait one second
before speaking. This is essential to effective communication because your EMS system uses:
A) Simple simplex channels
B) Digital equipment
C) Cellular telephone links
D) Repeaters
E) High-frequency oscillators
Correct Answer: D) Repeaters
Rationale: Repeaters are devices that receive a lower-power signal from a portable radio
and re-transmit it at a higher power over a wider area. There is a brief delay (the
"handshake") required for the repeater to open the channel and begin transmitting. Failing
to wait one second often results in the first few words of the transmission being cut off.
Question 2
Why should the EMT provide the physician or nurse with an oral report when transferring care to
the hospital emergency department?
A) To provide input on additional medical care to be given in the ED
B) To provide an opportunity for the ED staff to critique the care provided
C) To summarize patient assessment and treatment information
D) To inform them of whether they need to see the patient immediately
E) To fulfill a legal requirement for the billing department
Correct Answer: C) To summarize patient assessment and treatment information
Rationale: The oral report is a critical component of the continuity of care. It provides a
face-to-face summary of the patient's condition, what was found during the assessment,
and what interventions were performed, ensuring the hospital staff has the most current
information to continue treatment.
Question 3
Which statement is most appropriate to start with when transferring a patient to the emergency
department and giving the oral report?
A) "This is Mr. Hedger. He has the state insurance plan."
B) "Mr. Hedger has high BP and appears to be having a heart attack."
C) "Please refer to the recording of my radio report for specific information."
D) "Mr. Hedger called us today because he was having chest pain."
E) "Mr. Hedger is 68 years old and lives in a nursing home."
Correct Answer: D) "Mr. Hedger called us today because he was having chest pain."
Rationale: An effective oral report should begin with the patient's name and the chief
, 2
complaint. This immediately identifies the patient and focuses the hospital staff on the
primary reason for the EMS call.
Question 4
What is an effective way to improve communication with patients from most cultures?
A) Use medical terminology
B) Maintain eye contact
C) Have the patient look up at you
D) Speak clearly and loudly
E) Avoid all physical touch
Correct Answer: B) Maintain eye contact
Rationale: While cultural norms vary, in the context of EMS in North America, maintaining
eye contact generally conveys interest, honesty, and empathy. It establishes a rapport and
shows the patient they have the provider's full attention.
Question 5
You have been called for a 23-year-old male who is completely deaf. To best communicate with
this patient you should:
A) Write questions on a notepad
B) Have the emergency department get the needed information
C) Use gestures when asking questions
D) Stand in front of the patient and speak loudly
E) Call for a sign-language interpreter and wait to assess
Correct Answer: A) Write questions on a notepad
Rationale: For a patient who is deaf but literate, writing is the most accurate way to
exchange complex medical information. Speaking loudly does not help a deaf person, and
gestures can be easily misinterpreted.
Question 6
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?
A) Use an adult-like stern voice and tell the girl she needs to answer
B) Have the girl's mother ask your questions for you
C) Tell the patient she will be okay if she tells you what hurts
D) Promise the girl a reward like ice cream if she answers
E) Perform a painful stimulus to see where she reacts
Correct Answer: B) Have the girl's mother ask your questions for you
Rationale: Toddlers often suffer from stranger anxiety and fear in the presence of
uniformed EMS providers. Using the parents as an intermediary helps calm the child and
provides a trusted voice to facilitate the assessment.
, 3
Question 7
What role does the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) play in EMS?
A) The FCC determines the medical protocols for radio reports
B) The FCC establishes and enforces regulations related to radio operations
C) The FCC approves maintenance contracts for ambulance engines
D) The FCC regulates only the radio systems used by police
E) The FCC provides the funding for portable radio purchases
Correct Answer: B) The FCC establishes and enforces regulations related to radio
operations
Rationale: The FCC has jurisdiction over all radio communications in the United States.
They assign frequencies, issue licenses, and monitor airwaves to ensure that emergency
communications remain clear and standardized.
Question 8
Medical direction has advised you to place a patient who is obese and extremely short of breath
in a supine position. Knowing that doing so may cause the patient to become even more short of
breath, your best action would be to:
A) Explain your concern to the physician and ask for clarification
B) Contact a different hospital and transport the patient there
C) Ask your partner what she would do
D) Place the patient in the supine position and expedite transport
E) Ignore the order and do what you think is best without saying anything
Correct Answer: A) Explain your concern to the physician and ask for clarification
Rationale: If an EMT receives an order from medical direction that seems inappropriate for
the patient's clinical condition, the EMT should advocate for the patient by politely
questioning the order and providing additional clinical context.
Question 9
While you are returning from lunch, a frantic woman flags you down and states that she just
found a young child on the roadside who appears to have been hit by a car. You should
immediately:
A) Advise dispatch that you have been flagged down and identify your location
B) Inform the woman that she will need to call 911 first
C) Grab equipment and get to the child's location without telling anyone
D) Call for paramedic assistance and await that unit's arrival
E) Drive back to the station to get more personnel
Correct Answer: A) Advise dispatch that you have been flagged down for a possible
emergency, and identify your location
Rationale: Safety and accountability are paramount. Dispatch must be notified of your
, 4
location and status so they can coordinate additional resources and keep track of your unit
in the event of an emergency.
Question 10
Why is using a standard format for relaying medical information to the emergency department
important?
A) Dispatch is better able to monitor and critique the radio traffic
B) A standard format reduces the opportunities for forgetting important medical information
C) The EMS agency can increase its reimbursement from insurance
D) A standard format assists the EMT in maintaining his or her flight skills
E) It prevents the nurse from asking too many questions
Correct Answer: B) A standard format reduces the opportunities for forgetting important
medical information
Rationale: Standardized reporting (like the "MIST" or "SBAR" format) ensures that all
essential data points—such as vital signs, interventions, and ETA—are communicated
systematically, reducing the risk of human error or omission.
Question 11
You are entering a scene where a 32-year-old intoxicated male has fallen down 13 stairs. During
the initial scene size-up, what is it essential that the EMT quickly identify?
A) Status of the patient's airway and breathing
B) The patient's level of consciousness
C) Amount of alcohol consumed by the patient
D) Possible need for additional personnel
E) The patient's primary care physician
Correct Answer: D) Possible need for additional personnel
Rationale: During the scene size-up, the EMT must identify hazards, the mechanism of
injury, the number of patients, and the need for additional resources (such as more lift
assistance for a heavy patient or police for a violent one). Assessment of the patient (options
A and B) occurs during the primary assessment, not the size-up.
Question 12
It has been reported that two people have been shot in an alleyway. As you pull up to the scene,
you see a police officer standing over a person. In this situation, what is your first priority?
A) Determining the number of patients on scene
B) Assessing the patient's airway for patency
C) Considering the need for additional resources
D) Determining the overall safety of the scene
E) Applying a tourniquet to the gunshot wound
Correct Answer: D) Determining the overall safety of the scene
Rationale: The very first step of every EMS call is ensuring scene safety. You cannot help
