West Coast EMT Block 4 Exam Review
Questions with Answers
Question 1
The term "hyphema" is defined as:
a. blood in the anterior chamber of the eye
b. compression of one or both optic nerves
c. inflammation of the iris, cornea, and lens
d. an acute rupture of the globe of the eye
Correct Answer
a. blood in the anterior chamber of the eye
Question 2
The ability of a person's cardiovascular system to compensate for blood loss is MOST
related to:
a. how fast his or her heart beats
b. the part of the body injured
c. his or her baseline blood pressure
d. how rapidly he or she bleeds
Correct Answer
d. how rapidly he or she bleeds
Question 3
Functions of the skin include all of the following, EXCEPT
a. the production of key antibodies
b. maintenance of water balance
c. sending information to the brain
d. regulation of body temperature
Correct Answer
a. the production of key antibodies
Page 1 of 87
,Question 4
A patient experienced a severe compression to the chest when trapped between a
vehicle and a brick wall. You suspect traumatic asphyxia due to the hemorrhage into
the sclera of his eyes and which other sign?
a. Flat neck veins
b. Cyanosis in the face and neck
c. Asymmetric chest movement
d. Irregular heart rate
Correct Answer
b. Cyanosis in the face and neck
Question 5
The presence of tachycardia following a significant abdominal injury:
a. indicates a state of decompensated shock
b. should be assumed to be a sign of shock
c. is always accompanied by hypotension
d. is most commonly caused by severe pain
Correct Answer
b. should be assumed to be a sign of shock
Question 6
All of the following body structures are lined with mucous membranes, EXCEPT for
the:
a. lips
b. nose
c. anus
d. mouth
Correct Answer
a. lips
Page 2 of 87
,Question 7
Factors that should be considered when assessing a patient who has fallen include all
of the following, EXCEPT:
a. the surface struck
b. the primary impact point
c. the speed of the fall
d. the height of the fall
Correct Answer
c. the speed of the fall
Question 8
A patient injured her knee while riding a bicycle. She is lying on the ground, has her
left leg flexed, is in severe pain, and cannot move her leg. Your assessment reveals
obvious deformity to her left knee. Distal pulses are present and strong. The MOST
appropriate treatment for her injury involves:
a. wrapping her entire knee area with a pillow.
b. splinting the leg in the position in which it was found.
c. straightening her leg and applying two rigid board splints.
d. straightening her leg and applying and inflating an air splint.
Correct Answer
b. splinting the leg in the position in which it was found.
Question 9
When caring for a female with trauma to the external genitalia, the EMT should:
a. use local pressure to control bleeding.
b. carefully pack the vagina to reduce bleeding.
c. remove any impaled objects from the vagina.
d. cover any open wounds with moist, sterile dressings.
Correct Answer
a. use local pressure to control bleeding.
Page 3 of 87
, Question 10
Peritonitis would MOST likely result following injury to the:
a. liver.
b. spleen.
c. kidney.
d. stomach.
Correct Answer
d. stomach.
Question 11
Pneumothorax is defined as:
a. accumulation of air between the lungs
b. accumulation of air in the pleural space
c. blood collection within the lung tissue
d. blood collection within the pleural space
Correct Answer
b. accumulation of air in the pleural space
Question 12
You respond to a soccer game for a 16-year-old male with severe ankle pain. When
you deliver him to the hospital, the physician tells you that he suspects a sprain. This
means that:
a. there is a disruption of the joint and the bone ends are no longer in contact.
b. the patient has an incomplete fracture that passes only partway through the bone.
c. stretching or tearing of the ligaments with partial or temporary dislocation of the
bone ends has occurred.
d. the muscles of the ankle have been severely stretched, resulting in displacement of
the bones from the joint.
Correct Answer
c. stretching or tearing of the ligaments with partial or temporary dislocation of the
bone ends has occurred.
Page 4 of 87
Questions with Answers
Question 1
The term "hyphema" is defined as:
a. blood in the anterior chamber of the eye
b. compression of one or both optic nerves
c. inflammation of the iris, cornea, and lens
d. an acute rupture of the globe of the eye
Correct Answer
a. blood in the anterior chamber of the eye
Question 2
The ability of a person's cardiovascular system to compensate for blood loss is MOST
related to:
a. how fast his or her heart beats
b. the part of the body injured
c. his or her baseline blood pressure
d. how rapidly he or she bleeds
Correct Answer
d. how rapidly he or she bleeds
Question 3
Functions of the skin include all of the following, EXCEPT
a. the production of key antibodies
b. maintenance of water balance
c. sending information to the brain
d. regulation of body temperature
Correct Answer
a. the production of key antibodies
Page 1 of 87
,Question 4
A patient experienced a severe compression to the chest when trapped between a
vehicle and a brick wall. You suspect traumatic asphyxia due to the hemorrhage into
the sclera of his eyes and which other sign?
a. Flat neck veins
b. Cyanosis in the face and neck
c. Asymmetric chest movement
d. Irregular heart rate
Correct Answer
b. Cyanosis in the face and neck
Question 5
The presence of tachycardia following a significant abdominal injury:
a. indicates a state of decompensated shock
b. should be assumed to be a sign of shock
c. is always accompanied by hypotension
d. is most commonly caused by severe pain
Correct Answer
b. should be assumed to be a sign of shock
Question 6
All of the following body structures are lined with mucous membranes, EXCEPT for
the:
a. lips
b. nose
c. anus
d. mouth
Correct Answer
a. lips
Page 2 of 87
,Question 7
Factors that should be considered when assessing a patient who has fallen include all
of the following, EXCEPT:
a. the surface struck
b. the primary impact point
c. the speed of the fall
d. the height of the fall
Correct Answer
c. the speed of the fall
Question 8
A patient injured her knee while riding a bicycle. She is lying on the ground, has her
left leg flexed, is in severe pain, and cannot move her leg. Your assessment reveals
obvious deformity to her left knee. Distal pulses are present and strong. The MOST
appropriate treatment for her injury involves:
a. wrapping her entire knee area with a pillow.
b. splinting the leg in the position in which it was found.
c. straightening her leg and applying two rigid board splints.
d. straightening her leg and applying and inflating an air splint.
Correct Answer
b. splinting the leg in the position in which it was found.
Question 9
When caring for a female with trauma to the external genitalia, the EMT should:
a. use local pressure to control bleeding.
b. carefully pack the vagina to reduce bleeding.
c. remove any impaled objects from the vagina.
d. cover any open wounds with moist, sterile dressings.
Correct Answer
a. use local pressure to control bleeding.
Page 3 of 87
, Question 10
Peritonitis would MOST likely result following injury to the:
a. liver.
b. spleen.
c. kidney.
d. stomach.
Correct Answer
d. stomach.
Question 11
Pneumothorax is defined as:
a. accumulation of air between the lungs
b. accumulation of air in the pleural space
c. blood collection within the lung tissue
d. blood collection within the pleural space
Correct Answer
b. accumulation of air in the pleural space
Question 12
You respond to a soccer game for a 16-year-old male with severe ankle pain. When
you deliver him to the hospital, the physician tells you that he suspects a sprain. This
means that:
a. there is a disruption of the joint and the bone ends are no longer in contact.
b. the patient has an incomplete fracture that passes only partway through the bone.
c. stretching or tearing of the ligaments with partial or temporary dislocation of the
bone ends has occurred.
d. the muscles of the ankle have been severely stretched, resulting in displacement of
the bones from the joint.
Correct Answer
c. stretching or tearing of the ligaments with partial or temporary dislocation of the
bone ends has occurred.
Page 4 of 87
