West Coast EMT Block 2 Review Exam –
Questions & Answers 1–200 (Graded A+)
Welcome to this comprehensive review guide for the West Coast EMT Block
2 Exam. This guide covers key concepts in emergency medical services
including patient assessment, airway management, respiratory
emergencies, cardiovascular emergencies, trauma, medical emergencies,
and special populations. These questions are designed to help you prepare
for your West Coast EMT Block 2 exam and the NREMT cognitive exam .
Question 1
You are attending to a 27-year-old male driver of a car. According to
his passenger, the patient had been acting strangely while driving,
then slumped forward against the steering wheel, apparently
unconscious. The car drove off the road and struck a telephone pole.
The patient remains unconscious, and physical assessment reveals only
a large hematoma on his right forehead with no other physical signs.
Your patient is a diabetic who had been under a lot of stress lately and
may have missed meals. This is an example of a:
A. combination of a psychiatric and trauma emergency
B. medical emergency
C. trauma emergency
D. combination of a medical and trauma emergency
Answer: D. combination of a medical and trauma emergency.
Rationale: The patient has both a medical emergency (diabetes causing
altered mental status which likely caused the accident) and a trauma
,emergency (the head injury from the motor vehicle crash). This is a classic
example of how medical conditions can cause trauma .
Question 2
A patient who is breathing with a respiratory rate greater than 20 and
less than 24 breaths per minute with adequate tidal volume should
receive:
A. No oxygen unless the patient shows signs of hypoxia
B. High-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask
C. Oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 lpm
D. Positive pressure ventilation
Answer: A. No oxygen unless the patient shows signs of hypoxia.
Rationale: At sea level on room air, a healthy adult's respiratory rate is 12-
20 per minute. A rate of 20-24 may be slightly elevated but does not
automatically require oxygen if tidal volume is adequate and SpO2 is >94% .
Question 3
The primary source of legal liability for the EMT is:
A. assault and battery
B. negligence
C. libel
D. slander
Answer: B. negligence.
,Rationale: Negligence is the failure to act as a reasonable and prudent
person would act under similar circumstances. It is the most common source
of legal liability for EMTs .
Question 4
A patient who is breathing with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per
minute with shallow depth should receive:
A. Positive pressure ventilation
B. No oxygen
C. Oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 lpm
D. Oxygen via non-rebreather mask at 15 lpm
Answer: A. Positive pressure ventilation.
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 10 with shallow depth indicates inadequate
ventilation (hypoventilation). This patient requires positive pressure
ventilation with a BVM and supplemental oxygen .
Question 5
You are assessing a trauma patient. Which of the following signs
would indicate inadequate breathing?
A. Respiratory rate of 14 with adequate depth
B. Shallow respirations with a rate of 12
C. Respiratory rate of 16 with clear breath sounds
D. Respiratory rate of 18 with equal chest rise
Answer: B. Shallow respirations with a rate of 12.
, Rationale: Shallow respirations indicate inadequate tidal volume even if the
rate is within normal range. The patient is not moving adequate air and will
require ventilation support .
Question 6
You are treating a 65-year-old male who complains of chest pain and
shortness of breath. He has a history of hypertension and diabetes.
Which of the following should you do first?
A. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
B. Administer aspirin
C. Perform a primary assessment
D. Place the patient on oxygen
Answer: C. Perform a primary assessment.
Rationale: The primary assessment (scene safety, mental status, airway,
breathing, circulation) should always be performed first. Oxygen and aspirin
are interventions that would follow the primary assessment .
Question 7
Which of the following is an appropriate statement regarding oxygen
administration?
A. Oxygen is a medication and must be administered with care
B. Oxygen should be administered to every patient
C. Oxygen has no side effects
D. Oxygen should only be administered by paramedics
Questions & Answers 1–200 (Graded A+)
Welcome to this comprehensive review guide for the West Coast EMT Block
2 Exam. This guide covers key concepts in emergency medical services
including patient assessment, airway management, respiratory
emergencies, cardiovascular emergencies, trauma, medical emergencies,
and special populations. These questions are designed to help you prepare
for your West Coast EMT Block 2 exam and the NREMT cognitive exam .
Question 1
You are attending to a 27-year-old male driver of a car. According to
his passenger, the patient had been acting strangely while driving,
then slumped forward against the steering wheel, apparently
unconscious. The car drove off the road and struck a telephone pole.
The patient remains unconscious, and physical assessment reveals only
a large hematoma on his right forehead with no other physical signs.
Your patient is a diabetic who had been under a lot of stress lately and
may have missed meals. This is an example of a:
A. combination of a psychiatric and trauma emergency
B. medical emergency
C. trauma emergency
D. combination of a medical and trauma emergency
Answer: D. combination of a medical and trauma emergency.
Rationale: The patient has both a medical emergency (diabetes causing
altered mental status which likely caused the accident) and a trauma
,emergency (the head injury from the motor vehicle crash). This is a classic
example of how medical conditions can cause trauma .
Question 2
A patient who is breathing with a respiratory rate greater than 20 and
less than 24 breaths per minute with adequate tidal volume should
receive:
A. No oxygen unless the patient shows signs of hypoxia
B. High-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask
C. Oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 lpm
D. Positive pressure ventilation
Answer: A. No oxygen unless the patient shows signs of hypoxia.
Rationale: At sea level on room air, a healthy adult's respiratory rate is 12-
20 per minute. A rate of 20-24 may be slightly elevated but does not
automatically require oxygen if tidal volume is adequate and SpO2 is >94% .
Question 3
The primary source of legal liability for the EMT is:
A. assault and battery
B. negligence
C. libel
D. slander
Answer: B. negligence.
,Rationale: Negligence is the failure to act as a reasonable and prudent
person would act under similar circumstances. It is the most common source
of legal liability for EMTs .
Question 4
A patient who is breathing with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per
minute with shallow depth should receive:
A. Positive pressure ventilation
B. No oxygen
C. Oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 lpm
D. Oxygen via non-rebreather mask at 15 lpm
Answer: A. Positive pressure ventilation.
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 10 with shallow depth indicates inadequate
ventilation (hypoventilation). This patient requires positive pressure
ventilation with a BVM and supplemental oxygen .
Question 5
You are assessing a trauma patient. Which of the following signs
would indicate inadequate breathing?
A. Respiratory rate of 14 with adequate depth
B. Shallow respirations with a rate of 12
C. Respiratory rate of 16 with clear breath sounds
D. Respiratory rate of 18 with equal chest rise
Answer: B. Shallow respirations with a rate of 12.
, Rationale: Shallow respirations indicate inadequate tidal volume even if the
rate is within normal range. The patient is not moving adequate air and will
require ventilation support .
Question 6
You are treating a 65-year-old male who complains of chest pain and
shortness of breath. He has a history of hypertension and diabetes.
Which of the following should you do first?
A. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
B. Administer aspirin
C. Perform a primary assessment
D. Place the patient on oxygen
Answer: C. Perform a primary assessment.
Rationale: The primary assessment (scene safety, mental status, airway,
breathing, circulation) should always be performed first. Oxygen and aspirin
are interventions that would follow the primary assessment .
Question 7
Which of the following is an appropriate statement regarding oxygen
administration?
A. Oxygen is a medication and must be administered with care
B. Oxygen should be administered to every patient
C. Oxygen has no side effects
D. Oxygen should only be administered by paramedics
