FISDAP Airway Operations Exam
Practice Questions with Answers
2026/2027 | FINAL PARAMEDIC FISDAP
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
1. A conscious 32 year old complains of difficulty breathing. He is
coughing while pointing to his throat. What should you do?
A. Encourage him to keep coughing.
B. Administer abdominal thrusts.
C. Place him supine and begin CPR.
D. Give four strong blows to the back.Answer: A. Encourage him to
keep coughing.
2. 2. An unresponsive 64 year old male has a stoma. He is supine and
apneic. What should you do?
A. Apply a cervical collar and perform a jaw thrust maneuver.
B. Assist his ventilations with an adult bag-valve mask and cover the
stoma.
C. Obtain a set of vital signs and apply an AED.
D. Place a pediatric sized BVM over the stoma and ventilate.Answer:
D. Place a pediatric sized
BVM over the stoma and ventilate.
FeedbackAnswer: Stoma is an artificial opening used as an airway.
They can create a unique challenge when ventilating a patient. You
should place a smaller size mask over the opening and attempt to
ventilate. These airways often become clogged with mucus. Prepare to
suction as needed.
,3. 3. An unresponsive 44 year old male has an oral airway and is being
ventilated. He suddenly regains consciousness and starts to gag. What
should you do?
A. Request ALS to sedate the patient.
B. Remove the airway and apply high-flow oxygen.
C. Suction the airway and leave the adjunct in place.Answer: D. Insert
a nasal airway.
B. Remove the airway and apply high-flow oxygen.
4. 4. A 23 year old female is immobilized on a backboard when she
starts vomiting. What should you do?
A. Provide her with an emesis bag.
B. Tilt the backboard to the side.
C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway.
D. Suction using a soft tipped catheter.Answer: B. Tilt the backboard
to the side.
5. 5. What is the name of the leaf shaped valve that prevents food
from entering the trachea?
A. Pharynx
B. Larynx
C. Epiglottis
D. BronchiAnswer: C. Epiglottis
6. 6. The air that we exhale contains approximately how much
oxygen?
A. 35%
B. 21%
C. 6%
D. 16%Answer: D. 16%
7. 7. What condition results when the alveoli collapse?
,A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumonia
C. Atelectasis
D. EffusionAnswer: C. Atelectasis
8. 8. A 54 year old female is in respiratory arrest and has inadequate
chest rise during ventilations. What should you do?
A. Check for a FBAO
B. Asses end tidal CO2
C. Determine her SpO2
D. Reposition the jawAnswer: D. Reposition the jaw
9. 9. Where does the stimulus to breathe originate?
A. Brainstem
B. Diaphragm
C. Heart
D. Spinal cordAnswer: A. Brainstem
10. 10. What is the normal rate of breathing for an adult?
A.6 to 10 breaths per minute.
B.28 to 36 breaths per minute.
C.22 to 26 breaths per minute.
D.12 to 20 breaths per minute.Answer: D. 12 to 20 breaths per
minute.
11. 11. Why is it important to avoid touching the back of the throat
when suctioning?
A. It causes the upper airway to spasm uncontrollably.
B. Tachycardia can occur due to vagus nerve stimulation.
C. It can stimulate the gag reflex and cause vomiting.
D. It will cause contamination of the catheter.Answer: C. It can
stimulate the gag reflex and cause vomiting.
, 12. 12. What is the most appropriate method for opening the airway of
a patient with a suspected cervical spine injury?
A. Head-tilt, jaw-thrust
B. Neck lift
C. Head-tilt, chin-lift
D. Jaw-thrustAnswer: D. Jaw-thrust
13. 13. A 19 year old underweight female complains of difficulty
breathing. She has been coughing up clear sputum and has bilateral
ronchi. She has a light coating of small crystalline granules on her
arms and legs. Her father states "This shortness of breath is different
from normal." What should you suspect?
A. Cystic Fibrosis
B. Pneumonia
C. COPD exacerbation
D. Asthma attackAnswer: A. Cystic Fibrosis
Practice Questions with Answers
2026/2027 | FINAL PARAMEDIC FISDAP
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
1. A conscious 32 year old complains of difficulty breathing. He is
coughing while pointing to his throat. What should you do?
A. Encourage him to keep coughing.
B. Administer abdominal thrusts.
C. Place him supine and begin CPR.
D. Give four strong blows to the back.Answer: A. Encourage him to
keep coughing.
2. 2. An unresponsive 64 year old male has a stoma. He is supine and
apneic. What should you do?
A. Apply a cervical collar and perform a jaw thrust maneuver.
B. Assist his ventilations with an adult bag-valve mask and cover the
stoma.
C. Obtain a set of vital signs and apply an AED.
D. Place a pediatric sized BVM over the stoma and ventilate.Answer:
D. Place a pediatric sized
BVM over the stoma and ventilate.
FeedbackAnswer: Stoma is an artificial opening used as an airway.
They can create a unique challenge when ventilating a patient. You
should place a smaller size mask over the opening and attempt to
ventilate. These airways often become clogged with mucus. Prepare to
suction as needed.
,3. 3. An unresponsive 44 year old male has an oral airway and is being
ventilated. He suddenly regains consciousness and starts to gag. What
should you do?
A. Request ALS to sedate the patient.
B. Remove the airway and apply high-flow oxygen.
C. Suction the airway and leave the adjunct in place.Answer: D. Insert
a nasal airway.
B. Remove the airway and apply high-flow oxygen.
4. 4. A 23 year old female is immobilized on a backboard when she
starts vomiting. What should you do?
A. Provide her with an emesis bag.
B. Tilt the backboard to the side.
C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway.
D. Suction using a soft tipped catheter.Answer: B. Tilt the backboard
to the side.
5. 5. What is the name of the leaf shaped valve that prevents food
from entering the trachea?
A. Pharynx
B. Larynx
C. Epiglottis
D. BronchiAnswer: C. Epiglottis
6. 6. The air that we exhale contains approximately how much
oxygen?
A. 35%
B. 21%
C. 6%
D. 16%Answer: D. 16%
7. 7. What condition results when the alveoli collapse?
,A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumonia
C. Atelectasis
D. EffusionAnswer: C. Atelectasis
8. 8. A 54 year old female is in respiratory arrest and has inadequate
chest rise during ventilations. What should you do?
A. Check for a FBAO
B. Asses end tidal CO2
C. Determine her SpO2
D. Reposition the jawAnswer: D. Reposition the jaw
9. 9. Where does the stimulus to breathe originate?
A. Brainstem
B. Diaphragm
C. Heart
D. Spinal cordAnswer: A. Brainstem
10. 10. What is the normal rate of breathing for an adult?
A.6 to 10 breaths per minute.
B.28 to 36 breaths per minute.
C.22 to 26 breaths per minute.
D.12 to 20 breaths per minute.Answer: D. 12 to 20 breaths per
minute.
11. 11. Why is it important to avoid touching the back of the throat
when suctioning?
A. It causes the upper airway to spasm uncontrollably.
B. Tachycardia can occur due to vagus nerve stimulation.
C. It can stimulate the gag reflex and cause vomiting.
D. It will cause contamination of the catheter.Answer: C. It can
stimulate the gag reflex and cause vomiting.
, 12. 12. What is the most appropriate method for opening the airway of
a patient with a suspected cervical spine injury?
A. Head-tilt, jaw-thrust
B. Neck lift
C. Head-tilt, chin-lift
D. Jaw-thrustAnswer: D. Jaw-thrust
13. 13. A 19 year old underweight female complains of difficulty
breathing. She has been coughing up clear sputum and has bilateral
ronchi. She has a light coating of small crystalline granules on her
arms and legs. Her father states "This shortness of breath is different
from normal." What should you suspect?
A. Cystic Fibrosis
B. Pneumonia
C. COPD exacerbation
D. Asthma attackAnswer: A. Cystic Fibrosis
