EMT FINAL EXAM / JB LEARNING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+
LATEST
1. You arrive at a scene where a 29-year-old unresponsive male is lying on the
sidewalk. Bystanders say he “just collapsed.” He has agonal respirations and
no palpable carotid pulse. What should you do first?
A. Apply the AED
B. Begin chest compressions
C. Provide two rescue breaths
D. Check for medical alert tags
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden collapse + agonal respirations + absent pulse = start CPR
immediately. AED is applied after compressions begin.
2. A 66-year-old female complains of chest tightness and nausea. She is pale
and diaphoretic. BP 86/50, HR 52, RR 20. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Nausea
B. Pale, cool skin
C. Bradycardia with hypotension
D. Chest tightness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bradycardia with hypotension suggests cardiogenic shock during
possible MI. This indicates poor perfusion and likely decompensation.
,3. A 5-year-old child is conscious but choking, producing weak, high-pitched
sounds. You should:
A. Begin compressions
B. Perform abdominal thrusts
C. Attempt blind finger sweep
D. Give back slaps only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Partial airway obstruction with poor air exchange in a child =
abdominal thrusts (if conscious).
4. A 24-year-old trauma patient has shallow breathing at 6/min after a
motorcycle crash. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Nonrebreather mask at 15 LPM
B. BVM with oxygen
C. Nasal cannula at 6 LPM
D. CPAP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rate of 6/min = inadequate ventilation → BVM with high-flow
oxygen.
5. You find a 70-year-old male with slurred speech and right-sided weakness.
Last known well time is 2 hours ago. What is the priority?
A. Give oral glucose
B. Transport to stroke center
C. Administer aspirin
D. Reassess blood pressure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Presentation suggests acute ischemic stroke. Time-sensitive →
transport to stroke-capable facility.
,6. A patient in an MVC has absent breath sounds on the left, JVD, and
hypotension. What should you suspect?
A. Asthma exacerbation
B. Pericardial tamponade
C. Tension pneumothorax
D. Flail chest
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Unilateral absent breath sounds + hypotension + JVD = tension
pneumothorax.
7. Which oxygen delivery device provides the highest concentration?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Venturi mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. BVM with reservoir
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: BVM with reservoir + O₂ can deliver near 100% O₂.
8. A patient with a known peanut allergy is wheezing and hypotensive. Which
medication should be administered first if allowed?
A. Epinephrine IM
B. Albuterol
C. Diphenhydramine
D. Nitroglycerin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Epi IM is first-line for anaphylaxis with airway/vascular compromise.
, 9. A patient is found seizing for 3 minutes. The airway is open, but
respirations are shallow. Next step?
A. Restrain the patient
B. Insert an OPA
C. Provide BVM ventilations
D. Insert a nasal airway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Shallow breathing during seizure = inadequate ventilation → assist
with BVM.
10. The best indicator of adequate ventilations in a child receiving BVM
assistance is:
A. Chest rise
B. Oxygen saturation
C. Skin color
D. Heart rate
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Visible chest rise confirms effective ventilation immediately.
11. You are treating a 10-year-old with a history of asthma who is now
unresponsive with no breathing and a pulse of 50. You should:
A. Begin compressions
B. Start ventilations
C. Administer albuterol
D. Give high-flow oxygen by mask
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Unresponsive, not breathing, pulse <60 → ventilate first, begin
compressions if HR <60 after ventilation.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+
LATEST
1. You arrive at a scene where a 29-year-old unresponsive male is lying on the
sidewalk. Bystanders say he “just collapsed.” He has agonal respirations and
no palpable carotid pulse. What should you do first?
A. Apply the AED
B. Begin chest compressions
C. Provide two rescue breaths
D. Check for medical alert tags
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden collapse + agonal respirations + absent pulse = start CPR
immediately. AED is applied after compressions begin.
2. A 66-year-old female complains of chest tightness and nausea. She is pale
and diaphoretic. BP 86/50, HR 52, RR 20. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Nausea
B. Pale, cool skin
C. Bradycardia with hypotension
D. Chest tightness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bradycardia with hypotension suggests cardiogenic shock during
possible MI. This indicates poor perfusion and likely decompensation.
,3. A 5-year-old child is conscious but choking, producing weak, high-pitched
sounds. You should:
A. Begin compressions
B. Perform abdominal thrusts
C. Attempt blind finger sweep
D. Give back slaps only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Partial airway obstruction with poor air exchange in a child =
abdominal thrusts (if conscious).
4. A 24-year-old trauma patient has shallow breathing at 6/min after a
motorcycle crash. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Nonrebreather mask at 15 LPM
B. BVM with oxygen
C. Nasal cannula at 6 LPM
D. CPAP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rate of 6/min = inadequate ventilation → BVM with high-flow
oxygen.
5. You find a 70-year-old male with slurred speech and right-sided weakness.
Last known well time is 2 hours ago. What is the priority?
A. Give oral glucose
B. Transport to stroke center
C. Administer aspirin
D. Reassess blood pressure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Presentation suggests acute ischemic stroke. Time-sensitive →
transport to stroke-capable facility.
,6. A patient in an MVC has absent breath sounds on the left, JVD, and
hypotension. What should you suspect?
A. Asthma exacerbation
B. Pericardial tamponade
C. Tension pneumothorax
D. Flail chest
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Unilateral absent breath sounds + hypotension + JVD = tension
pneumothorax.
7. Which oxygen delivery device provides the highest concentration?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Venturi mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. BVM with reservoir
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: BVM with reservoir + O₂ can deliver near 100% O₂.
8. A patient with a known peanut allergy is wheezing and hypotensive. Which
medication should be administered first if allowed?
A. Epinephrine IM
B. Albuterol
C. Diphenhydramine
D. Nitroglycerin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Epi IM is first-line for anaphylaxis with airway/vascular compromise.
, 9. A patient is found seizing for 3 minutes. The airway is open, but
respirations are shallow. Next step?
A. Restrain the patient
B. Insert an OPA
C. Provide BVM ventilations
D. Insert a nasal airway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Shallow breathing during seizure = inadequate ventilation → assist
with BVM.
10. The best indicator of adequate ventilations in a child receiving BVM
assistance is:
A. Chest rise
B. Oxygen saturation
C. Skin color
D. Heart rate
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Visible chest rise confirms effective ventilation immediately.
11. You are treating a 10-year-old with a history of asthma who is now
unresponsive with no breathing and a pulse of 50. You should:
A. Begin compressions
B. Start ventilations
C. Administer albuterol
D. Give high-flow oxygen by mask
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Unresponsive, not breathing, pulse <60 → ventilate first, begin
compressions if HR <60 after ventilation.
