EMT Block 7 Exam (PDF) | 2026 Pediatric & OB
1. A 2-year-old child has a barking cough, low-grade fever, and stridor at rest that started
suddenly at night. The child is sitting up and appears frightened. What should the EMT
suspect?
A) Epiglottitis
B) Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)
C) Asthma
D) Foreign body aspiration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Croup is characterized by a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and low-grade fever,
typically worsening at night. It is common in children 6 months to 3 years. Epiglottitis presents
with high fever, drooling, and no cough.
2. A 4-year-old child has a sudden onset of high fever, drooling, and refuses to lie flat. The
child is leaning forward in a tripod position. The EMT should:
A) Examine the throat with a tongue depressor
B) Keep the child calm, do not examine the throat, and transport
C) Encourage the child to drink cold water
D) Perform abdominal thrusts
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The classic presentation of epiglottitis includes drooling, stridor, tripod positioning,
and high fever. Do not examine the throat as it may trigger laryngospasm. Keep the child calm
and transport.
3. A 6-month-old infant with a history of prematurity is found cyanotic and bradycardic. The
heart rate is 50 bpm. The EMT should:
A) Apply high-flow oxygen only
B) Begin chest compressions and ventilations
C) Administer albuterol
D) Wait for the heart rate to improve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bradycardia (<60 bpm) with poor perfusion in an infant requires CPR. The infant is at
high risk for hypoxic arrest.
4. A 2-year-old child has a fever, pulling at the ears, and is inconsolable. The tympanic
membrane is red and bulging. The EMT should suspect:
A) Otitis media
B) Sinusitis
C) Pharyngitis
D) Meningitis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A red, bulging tympanic membrane with fever and ear pain is classic for acute otitis
media.
5. A 3-year-old child is found unresponsive in a pool. The child is apneic and pulseless. The
EMT should first:
A) Start chest compressions
B) Open the airway and give two rescue breaths, then start CPR
C) Apply an AED
D) Perform abdominal thrusts to expel water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In drowning, hypoxia is the primary cause of cardiac arrest. Start with rescue breaths,
then compressions. Do not attempt to drain water from the lungs.
6. A 7-year-old child has an acute asthma exacerbation. The child is using accessory muscles,
wheezing is heard on expiration, and SpO2 is 90%. The EMT should:
A) Administer high-flow oxygen and albuterol per protocol
B) Have the child lie flat
,C) Administer epinephrine IM
D) Give aspirin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Asthma exacerbation is treated with supplemental oxygen and inhaled
bronchodilators (albuterol). Epinephrine is for anaphylaxis.
7. A 10-year-old child has a severe allergic reaction to peanuts with hives, wheezing, and
hypotension. The EMT should administer:
A) Diphenhydramine
B) Epinephrine IM into the lateral thigh
C) Albuterol only
D) Prednisone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anaphylaxis with shock requires immediate epinephrine (0.3 mg adult, 0.15 mg child
<66 lbs) IM into the vastus lateralis muscle.
8. A 5-year-old child is seizing on the floor. The child's eyes are rolled back, and limbs are
jerking rhythmically. The EMT should first:
A) Insert a bite block between the teeth
B) Restrain the child's arms and legs
C) Clear the area around the child and protect the head
D) Pour cold water on the child's face
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: During a seizure, protect the patient from injury, do not restrain, and nothing in the
mouth. After the seizure, manage the airway.
9. A 3-month-old infant is lethargic, has a temperature of 102.5°F, and a bulging fontanelle.
The EMT should suspect:
A) Croup
B) Meningitis
C) Otitis media
D) Teething
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fever, lethargy, and a bulging fontanelle in an infant are classic signs of meningitis.
This is a medical emergency.
10. A 2-year-old child has a fever and is drooling with stridor. The child is sitting upright and
looks anxious. The EMT should:
, A) Suction the airway
B) Keep the child calm, provide blow-by oxygen, and transport without agitating
C) Lay the child flat
D) Give the child a warm drink
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stridor, drooling, fever, and anxiety suggest epiglottitis. Keep the child calm, avoid
throat manipulation, provide oxygen, and transport.
11. A 4-year-old child has a barking cough, runny nose, and low-grade fever. The child is
playing normally. The EMT should:
A) Transport emergently
B) Recognize this as a mild upper respiratory infection and advise the parents to follow up with
the pediatrician
C) Administer albuterol
D) Administer epinephrine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mild croup or URI does not require emergency transport unless there is respiratory
distress. Provide reassurance and suggest follow-up if no distress.
12. A 6-month-old infant with bronchiolitis has a respiratory rate of 60, nasal flaring, and
intercostal retractions. The EMT should:
A) Administer albuterol only
B) Suction the airway gently, provide humidified oxygen, and transport
C) Place the infant supine
D) Give a bottle of formula to calm the infant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bronchiolitis is managed with nasal suctioning, oxygenation, and supportive care.
Avoid unnecessary stimulation.
13. A 2-year-old child has ingested an unknown amount of grandmother's digoxin. The child is
now vomiting and has a heart rate of 50 bpm. The EMT should:
A) Administer activated charcoal
B) Suspect cardiac glycoside toxicity and transport rapidly
C) Give oral glucose
D) Induce vomiting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity in children causes bradycardia and vomiting. Activated charcoal may
1. A 2-year-old child has a barking cough, low-grade fever, and stridor at rest that started
suddenly at night. The child is sitting up and appears frightened. What should the EMT
suspect?
A) Epiglottitis
B) Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)
C) Asthma
D) Foreign body aspiration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Croup is characterized by a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and low-grade fever,
typically worsening at night. It is common in children 6 months to 3 years. Epiglottitis presents
with high fever, drooling, and no cough.
2. A 4-year-old child has a sudden onset of high fever, drooling, and refuses to lie flat. The
child is leaning forward in a tripod position. The EMT should:
A) Examine the throat with a tongue depressor
B) Keep the child calm, do not examine the throat, and transport
C) Encourage the child to drink cold water
D) Perform abdominal thrusts
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The classic presentation of epiglottitis includes drooling, stridor, tripod positioning,
and high fever. Do not examine the throat as it may trigger laryngospasm. Keep the child calm
and transport.
3. A 6-month-old infant with a history of prematurity is found cyanotic and bradycardic. The
heart rate is 50 bpm. The EMT should:
A) Apply high-flow oxygen only
B) Begin chest compressions and ventilations
C) Administer albuterol
D) Wait for the heart rate to improve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bradycardia (<60 bpm) with poor perfusion in an infant requires CPR. The infant is at
high risk for hypoxic arrest.
4. A 2-year-old child has a fever, pulling at the ears, and is inconsolable. The tympanic
membrane is red and bulging. The EMT should suspect:
A) Otitis media
B) Sinusitis
C) Pharyngitis
D) Meningitis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A red, bulging tympanic membrane with fever and ear pain is classic for acute otitis
media.
5. A 3-year-old child is found unresponsive in a pool. The child is apneic and pulseless. The
EMT should first:
A) Start chest compressions
B) Open the airway and give two rescue breaths, then start CPR
C) Apply an AED
D) Perform abdominal thrusts to expel water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In drowning, hypoxia is the primary cause of cardiac arrest. Start with rescue breaths,
then compressions. Do not attempt to drain water from the lungs.
6. A 7-year-old child has an acute asthma exacerbation. The child is using accessory muscles,
wheezing is heard on expiration, and SpO2 is 90%. The EMT should:
A) Administer high-flow oxygen and albuterol per protocol
B) Have the child lie flat
,C) Administer epinephrine IM
D) Give aspirin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Asthma exacerbation is treated with supplemental oxygen and inhaled
bronchodilators (albuterol). Epinephrine is for anaphylaxis.
7. A 10-year-old child has a severe allergic reaction to peanuts with hives, wheezing, and
hypotension. The EMT should administer:
A) Diphenhydramine
B) Epinephrine IM into the lateral thigh
C) Albuterol only
D) Prednisone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anaphylaxis with shock requires immediate epinephrine (0.3 mg adult, 0.15 mg child
<66 lbs) IM into the vastus lateralis muscle.
8. A 5-year-old child is seizing on the floor. The child's eyes are rolled back, and limbs are
jerking rhythmically. The EMT should first:
A) Insert a bite block between the teeth
B) Restrain the child's arms and legs
C) Clear the area around the child and protect the head
D) Pour cold water on the child's face
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: During a seizure, protect the patient from injury, do not restrain, and nothing in the
mouth. After the seizure, manage the airway.
9. A 3-month-old infant is lethargic, has a temperature of 102.5°F, and a bulging fontanelle.
The EMT should suspect:
A) Croup
B) Meningitis
C) Otitis media
D) Teething
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fever, lethargy, and a bulging fontanelle in an infant are classic signs of meningitis.
This is a medical emergency.
10. A 2-year-old child has a fever and is drooling with stridor. The child is sitting upright and
looks anxious. The EMT should:
, A) Suction the airway
B) Keep the child calm, provide blow-by oxygen, and transport without agitating
C) Lay the child flat
D) Give the child a warm drink
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stridor, drooling, fever, and anxiety suggest epiglottitis. Keep the child calm, avoid
throat manipulation, provide oxygen, and transport.
11. A 4-year-old child has a barking cough, runny nose, and low-grade fever. The child is
playing normally. The EMT should:
A) Transport emergently
B) Recognize this as a mild upper respiratory infection and advise the parents to follow up with
the pediatrician
C) Administer albuterol
D) Administer epinephrine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mild croup or URI does not require emergency transport unless there is respiratory
distress. Provide reassurance and suggest follow-up if no distress.
12. A 6-month-old infant with bronchiolitis has a respiratory rate of 60, nasal flaring, and
intercostal retractions. The EMT should:
A) Administer albuterol only
B) Suction the airway gently, provide humidified oxygen, and transport
C) Place the infant supine
D) Give a bottle of formula to calm the infant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bronchiolitis is managed with nasal suctioning, oxygenation, and supportive care.
Avoid unnecessary stimulation.
13. A 2-year-old child has ingested an unknown amount of grandmother's digoxin. The child is
now vomiting and has a heart rate of 50 bpm. The EMT should:
A) Administer activated charcoal
B) Suspect cardiac glycoside toxicity and transport rapidly
C) Give oral glucose
D) Induce vomiting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity in children causes bradycardia and vomiting. Activated charcoal may
