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EMT FISDAP Comprehensive Final Exam 2026/2027
Edition | Verified Questions and Answers
Question 1 (Multiple choice)
You are treating a 50-year-old male who is in respiratory arrest. His airway is
patent. What is the most appropriate initial ventilation rate and volume for an
adult using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) with a high-flow oxygen source?
A. 1 breath every 3 seconds, giving a volume of 600 mL
B. 1 breath every 6 seconds, giving a volume of 500 mL
C. 1 breath every 10 seconds, giving a volume of 500 mL
D. 1 breath every 20 seconds, giving a volume of 800 mL
Answer: B (For a patient in respiratory arrest, standard practice is 1 breath every
6 seconds (10 breaths/min) with a volume of 500–600 mL to avoid gastric
inflation. Option A is too fast. C is too slow. D is too slow and too much volume.)
Question 2 (SATA)
Which of the following are considered proper airway management techniques for
an unresponsive patient with a palpable pulse?
A. Open the airway using the head-tilt chin-lift technique.
B. Insert an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) if the patient is unable to protect their
airway.
C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) if the patient is responsive and has no
facial trauma.
D. Suction the patient immediately after each ventilation.
E. Use a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen saturation.
Answer: A, B, E (A - head-tilt chin-lift opens the airway. B - an OPA is used for
unresponsive patients without a gag reflex. E - pulse oximetry is standard. C - an
NPA is generally not for an unresponsive patient. D - suctioning only when
needed, not after each ventilation.)
Question 3 (Cloze – drop-down)
You have inserted an endotracheal tube (ETT) and are ventilating an adult patient.
pg. 1
,2
You should verify proper tube placement using _______ (a) _______. A secondary
confirmation method is _______ (b) _______.
• (a) direct visualization of the tube passing through the vocal cords /
capnography / auscultation of breath sounds
• (b) continuous capnography / pulse oximetry / measuring the tube’s depth
Answer: (a) direct visualization (confirmation of placement), (b) continuous
capnography (best secondary confirmation).
Question 4 (Multiple choice)
A patient is in respiratory failure with altered mental status. A nasopharyngeal
airway (NPA) is the most appropriate airway adjunct if:
A. The patient has a gag reflex and suspected facial trauma.
B. The patient is unconscious and has no gag reflex.
C. The patient has a strong gag reflex and no trauma.
D. The patient is conscious but experiencing a seizure.
Answer: C (An NPA is indicated for a patient with a gag reflex and no facial
trauma. An OPA (B) is for unconscious patients without a gag reflex.)
Question 5 (Multiple choice)
Which of the following is a definitive airway device for a paramedic?
A. Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)
B. Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
C. Endotracheal tube (ETT)
D. Bag-valve-mask (BVM)
Answer: C (ETT is a definitive airway, providing a seal and direct access to the
trachea. OPA, NPA, and BVM are adjunctive or temporary devices.)
Question 6 (Multiple choice)
A patient is in respiratory failure with an altered mental status and a respiratory
rate of 6 breaths per minute. You have an oral airway, a bag-valve-mask, and
high-flow oxygen. What is your first step?
A. Insert an oral airway.
B. Apply high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask.
pg. 2
,3
C. Begin ventilations using a bag-valve-mask.
D. Assess the patient's pulse.
Answer: C (For a patient in respiratory failure (altered mental status, low
respiratory rate), the priority is to support breathing. Begin bag-valve-mask
ventilations with high-flow oxygen. Inserting an oral airway is
appropriate after beginning ventilations if it helps maintain a patent airway.
Oxygen alone is insufficient for respiratory failure.)
Question 7 (SATA)
Which of the following are signs of an adequate airway?
A. Normal respiratory rate (12-20 breaths/min)
B. Clear breath sounds
C. Equal chest rise and fall
D. No stridor or gurgling
E. Cyanosis
Answer: A, B, C, D (Cyanosis (E) is a sign of inadequate oxygenation and indicates
an airway or breathing problem.)
Question 8 (Multiple choice)
A 4-year-old child is choking on a small toy. He is conscious but has a weak,
ineffective cough and is turning blue. What is the most appropriate intervention?
A. Abdominal thrusts
B. Back blows followed by chest thrusts
C. Finger sweep
D. Oxygen via non-rebreather mask
Answer: B (For a child with an ineffective cough, the recommended sequence is 5
back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts. Abdominal thrusts (A) are not
recommended for children under 1 year of age. Finger sweeps (C) are not
recommended unless the object is visible. Oxygen (D) will not relieve the
obstruction.)
Question 9 (Multiple choice)
A patient in cardiac arrest has an endotracheal tube placed. What is the most
reliable method to confirm proper placement after intubation?
A. Auscultate breath sounds over the epigastrium.
pg. 3
, 4
B. Check for bilateral breath sounds over the lung fields.
C. Use continuous waveform capnography.
D. Check the depth of the tube markings.
Answer: C (Continuous waveform capnography is the most reliable method to
confirm endotracheal tube placement and monitor ventilation. Auscultation (B) is
a secondary method. Epigastric auscultation (A) confirms esophageal placement,
not tracheal. Depth markings (D) are a guide but not a confirmation.)
Question 10 (Multiple choice)
A patient has a stoma and is in respiratory distress. You are unable to ventilate
through the stoma with a bag-valve-mask. What should you do?
A. Cover the stoma and ventilate through the mouth and nose.
B. Attempt to suction the stoma.
C. Continue ventilating through the stoma at a higher pressure.
D. Place an endotracheal tube through the stoma.
Answer: A (If you cannot ventilate through a stoma, cover the stoma and attempt
to ventilate through the mouth and nose. Suctioning (B) is appropriate if
secretions are present, but the priority is establishing ventilation. Higher pressure
(C) may cause barotrauma. Endotracheal intubation (D) is an advanced skill and
may be attempted by paramedics if the stoma is not patent.)
Question 11 (Multiple choice)
A 45-year-old male is in respiratory distress with audible stridor. He has a history
of anaphylaxis to peanuts. He is conscious and has a patent airway. What is the
most appropriate medication to administer?
A. Diphenhydramine
B. Epinephrine
C. Methylprednisolone
D. Albuterol
Answer: B (Stridor indicates laryngeal edema, a life-threatening complication of
anaphylaxis. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment. Diphenhydramine and
methylprednisolone (A, C) are second-line and do not reverse airway obstruction.
Albuterol (D) is for bronchospasm, not laryngeal edema.)
pg. 4
EMT FISDAP Comprehensive Final Exam 2026/2027
Edition | Verified Questions and Answers
Question 1 (Multiple choice)
You are treating a 50-year-old male who is in respiratory arrest. His airway is
patent. What is the most appropriate initial ventilation rate and volume for an
adult using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) with a high-flow oxygen source?
A. 1 breath every 3 seconds, giving a volume of 600 mL
B. 1 breath every 6 seconds, giving a volume of 500 mL
C. 1 breath every 10 seconds, giving a volume of 500 mL
D. 1 breath every 20 seconds, giving a volume of 800 mL
Answer: B (For a patient in respiratory arrest, standard practice is 1 breath every
6 seconds (10 breaths/min) with a volume of 500–600 mL to avoid gastric
inflation. Option A is too fast. C is too slow. D is too slow and too much volume.)
Question 2 (SATA)
Which of the following are considered proper airway management techniques for
an unresponsive patient with a palpable pulse?
A. Open the airway using the head-tilt chin-lift technique.
B. Insert an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) if the patient is unable to protect their
airway.
C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) if the patient is responsive and has no
facial trauma.
D. Suction the patient immediately after each ventilation.
E. Use a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen saturation.
Answer: A, B, E (A - head-tilt chin-lift opens the airway. B - an OPA is used for
unresponsive patients without a gag reflex. E - pulse oximetry is standard. C - an
NPA is generally not for an unresponsive patient. D - suctioning only when
needed, not after each ventilation.)
Question 3 (Cloze – drop-down)
You have inserted an endotracheal tube (ETT) and are ventilating an adult patient.
pg. 1
,2
You should verify proper tube placement using _______ (a) _______. A secondary
confirmation method is _______ (b) _______.
• (a) direct visualization of the tube passing through the vocal cords /
capnography / auscultation of breath sounds
• (b) continuous capnography / pulse oximetry / measuring the tube’s depth
Answer: (a) direct visualization (confirmation of placement), (b) continuous
capnography (best secondary confirmation).
Question 4 (Multiple choice)
A patient is in respiratory failure with altered mental status. A nasopharyngeal
airway (NPA) is the most appropriate airway adjunct if:
A. The patient has a gag reflex and suspected facial trauma.
B. The patient is unconscious and has no gag reflex.
C. The patient has a strong gag reflex and no trauma.
D. The patient is conscious but experiencing a seizure.
Answer: C (An NPA is indicated for a patient with a gag reflex and no facial
trauma. An OPA (B) is for unconscious patients without a gag reflex.)
Question 5 (Multiple choice)
Which of the following is a definitive airway device for a paramedic?
A. Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)
B. Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
C. Endotracheal tube (ETT)
D. Bag-valve-mask (BVM)
Answer: C (ETT is a definitive airway, providing a seal and direct access to the
trachea. OPA, NPA, and BVM are adjunctive or temporary devices.)
Question 6 (Multiple choice)
A patient is in respiratory failure with an altered mental status and a respiratory
rate of 6 breaths per minute. You have an oral airway, a bag-valve-mask, and
high-flow oxygen. What is your first step?
A. Insert an oral airway.
B. Apply high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask.
pg. 2
,3
C. Begin ventilations using a bag-valve-mask.
D. Assess the patient's pulse.
Answer: C (For a patient in respiratory failure (altered mental status, low
respiratory rate), the priority is to support breathing. Begin bag-valve-mask
ventilations with high-flow oxygen. Inserting an oral airway is
appropriate after beginning ventilations if it helps maintain a patent airway.
Oxygen alone is insufficient for respiratory failure.)
Question 7 (SATA)
Which of the following are signs of an adequate airway?
A. Normal respiratory rate (12-20 breaths/min)
B. Clear breath sounds
C. Equal chest rise and fall
D. No stridor or gurgling
E. Cyanosis
Answer: A, B, C, D (Cyanosis (E) is a sign of inadequate oxygenation and indicates
an airway or breathing problem.)
Question 8 (Multiple choice)
A 4-year-old child is choking on a small toy. He is conscious but has a weak,
ineffective cough and is turning blue. What is the most appropriate intervention?
A. Abdominal thrusts
B. Back blows followed by chest thrusts
C. Finger sweep
D. Oxygen via non-rebreather mask
Answer: B (For a child with an ineffective cough, the recommended sequence is 5
back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts. Abdominal thrusts (A) are not
recommended for children under 1 year of age. Finger sweeps (C) are not
recommended unless the object is visible. Oxygen (D) will not relieve the
obstruction.)
Question 9 (Multiple choice)
A patient in cardiac arrest has an endotracheal tube placed. What is the most
reliable method to confirm proper placement after intubation?
A. Auscultate breath sounds over the epigastrium.
pg. 3
, 4
B. Check for bilateral breath sounds over the lung fields.
C. Use continuous waveform capnography.
D. Check the depth of the tube markings.
Answer: C (Continuous waveform capnography is the most reliable method to
confirm endotracheal tube placement and monitor ventilation. Auscultation (B) is
a secondary method. Epigastric auscultation (A) confirms esophageal placement,
not tracheal. Depth markings (D) are a guide but not a confirmation.)
Question 10 (Multiple choice)
A patient has a stoma and is in respiratory distress. You are unable to ventilate
through the stoma with a bag-valve-mask. What should you do?
A. Cover the stoma and ventilate through the mouth and nose.
B. Attempt to suction the stoma.
C. Continue ventilating through the stoma at a higher pressure.
D. Place an endotracheal tube through the stoma.
Answer: A (If you cannot ventilate through a stoma, cover the stoma and attempt
to ventilate through the mouth and nose. Suctioning (B) is appropriate if
secretions are present, but the priority is establishing ventilation. Higher pressure
(C) may cause barotrauma. Endotracheal intubation (D) is an advanced skill and
may be attempted by paramedics if the stoma is not patent.)
Question 11 (Multiple choice)
A 45-year-old male is in respiratory distress with audible stridor. He has a history
of anaphylaxis to peanuts. He is conscious and has a patent airway. What is the
most appropriate medication to administer?
A. Diphenhydramine
B. Epinephrine
C. Methylprednisolone
D. Albuterol
Answer: B (Stridor indicates laryngeal edema, a life-threatening complication of
anaphylaxis. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment. Diphenhydramine and
methylprednisolone (A, C) are second-line and do not reverse airway obstruction.
Albuterol (D) is for bronchospasm, not laryngeal edema.)
pg. 4
