WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 3 EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, CORRECT
ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES
FOR EMT CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
The decline in cardiac function that commonly occurs in late adulthood is
MOST often related to:
A. medication use.
B. hypotension.
C. kidney failure.
D. atherosclerosis. - CORRECT ANSWER -D. atherosclerosis.
Use of a nonrebreathing mask or nasal cannula in a child is appropriate
ONLY if:
A. an oral airway has been inserted.
B. his or her tidal volume is adequate.
C. his or her respirations are shallow.
D. he or she is breathing inadequately. - CORRECT ANSWER -B. his or her
tidal volume is adequate.
,A 2-year-old child who has no recent history of illness suddenly appears
cyanotic and cannot speak after playing with a small toy. You should:
a. perform abdominal thrusts.
b. perform a blind finger sweep.
c. give oxygen and transport at once.
d. visualize the child's airway. - CORRECT ANSWER -a. perform abdominal
thrusts.
An infant or child with respiratory distress will attempt to keep his or her
alveoli expanded at the end of inhalation by:
Select one:
A. assuming a tripod position.
B. wheezing.
C. grunting.
D. retracting the intercostal muscles - CORRECT ANSWER -C. grunting.
Signs of an upper airway obstruction in an infant or child include all of the
following, EXCEPT:
A. wheezing.
B. a weak cough.
C. a cough that resembles the bark of a seal.
D. stridorous breathing. - CORRECT ANSWER -A. wheezing.
Signs of a severe airway obstruction in an infant or child include:
,A. pink, dry skin.
B. crying and anxiety.
C. an ineffective cough.
D. mild respiratory distress. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. an ineffective cough.
In contrast to adults, deterioration to cardiac arrest in infants and children
is usually associated with:
A. irritability of the left ventricle.
B. a sudden ventricular arrhythmia.
C. severe hypoxia and bradycardia.
D. acute hypoxia and tachycardia. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. severe hypoxia
and bradycardia.
A common cause of shock in an infant is:
A. dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea.
B. excessive tachycardia.
C. cardiovascular disease.
D. a cardiac arrhythmia. - CORRECT ANSWER -A. dehydration from
vomiting and diarrhea.
Signs of severe dehydration in an infant include all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A) bulging fontanelles
B) profound tachycardia.
C) delayed capillary refill.
, D) dry mucous membranes. - CORRECT ANSWER -A) bulging fontanelles
Patients who have experienced even minor-appearing head injuries should
be suspected of having a brain injury, especially if they:
A. do not have deformities to the skull.
B. have minor abrasions to the head area.
C. are taking blood-thinning medications.
D. have a history of Alzheimer disease. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. are taking
blood-thinning medications.
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. notify the coroner immediately.
B. determine the patient's illness.
C. begin resuscitation at once.
D. contact medical control first. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. begin resuscitation
at once.
Many older victims of physical abuse may make false statements or lie
about the origin of their injuries because:
A. they do not want to be bothersome.
B. most elderly patients have dementia.
C. they fear retribution from the abuser.
D. they are protective of the abuser. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. they fear
retribution from the abuser.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, CORRECT
ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES
FOR EMT CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
The decline in cardiac function that commonly occurs in late adulthood is
MOST often related to:
A. medication use.
B. hypotension.
C. kidney failure.
D. atherosclerosis. - CORRECT ANSWER -D. atherosclerosis.
Use of a nonrebreathing mask or nasal cannula in a child is appropriate
ONLY if:
A. an oral airway has been inserted.
B. his or her tidal volume is adequate.
C. his or her respirations are shallow.
D. he or she is breathing inadequately. - CORRECT ANSWER -B. his or her
tidal volume is adequate.
,A 2-year-old child who has no recent history of illness suddenly appears
cyanotic and cannot speak after playing with a small toy. You should:
a. perform abdominal thrusts.
b. perform a blind finger sweep.
c. give oxygen and transport at once.
d. visualize the child's airway. - CORRECT ANSWER -a. perform abdominal
thrusts.
An infant or child with respiratory distress will attempt to keep his or her
alveoli expanded at the end of inhalation by:
Select one:
A. assuming a tripod position.
B. wheezing.
C. grunting.
D. retracting the intercostal muscles - CORRECT ANSWER -C. grunting.
Signs of an upper airway obstruction in an infant or child include all of the
following, EXCEPT:
A. wheezing.
B. a weak cough.
C. a cough that resembles the bark of a seal.
D. stridorous breathing. - CORRECT ANSWER -A. wheezing.
Signs of a severe airway obstruction in an infant or child include:
,A. pink, dry skin.
B. crying and anxiety.
C. an ineffective cough.
D. mild respiratory distress. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. an ineffective cough.
In contrast to adults, deterioration to cardiac arrest in infants and children
is usually associated with:
A. irritability of the left ventricle.
B. a sudden ventricular arrhythmia.
C. severe hypoxia and bradycardia.
D. acute hypoxia and tachycardia. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. severe hypoxia
and bradycardia.
A common cause of shock in an infant is:
A. dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea.
B. excessive tachycardia.
C. cardiovascular disease.
D. a cardiac arrhythmia. - CORRECT ANSWER -A. dehydration from
vomiting and diarrhea.
Signs of severe dehydration in an infant include all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A) bulging fontanelles
B) profound tachycardia.
C) delayed capillary refill.
, D) dry mucous membranes. - CORRECT ANSWER -A) bulging fontanelles
Patients who have experienced even minor-appearing head injuries should
be suspected of having a brain injury, especially if they:
A. do not have deformities to the skull.
B. have minor abrasions to the head area.
C. are taking blood-thinning medications.
D. have a history of Alzheimer disease. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. are taking
blood-thinning medications.
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. notify the coroner immediately.
B. determine the patient's illness.
C. begin resuscitation at once.
D. contact medical control first. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. begin resuscitation
at once.
Many older victims of physical abuse may make false statements or lie
about the origin of their injuries because:
A. they do not want to be bothersome.
B. most elderly patients have dementia.
C. they fear retribution from the abuser.
D. they are protective of the abuser. - CORRECT ANSWER -C. they fear
retribution from the abuser.
