NREMT CERTIFICATION PRACTICE EXAM 2026
FULL QUESTION SET WITH ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES 2270+ ITEMS
◉ A near-drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
• A:complications within 24 hours following submersion in water.
• B:immediate death due to prolonged submersion in water.
• C:survival for at least 24 hours following submersion in water.
• D:death greater than 24 hours following submersion in water.
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason:Collectively, drowning and near-drowning are referred to as
submersion injuries. Drowning is defined as death after submersion
in a liquid medium, usually water. In a drowning, death is either
immediate or occurs within 24 hours following submersion. Near-
drowning is defined as survival, at least temporarily (24 hours),
after submersion. It should be noted, however, that complications
such as pneumonia and pulmonary edema can cause death greater
than 24 hours following submersion. For this reason, all patients
with a submersion injury should be transported to the hospital, even
if they appear fine at the scene.
◉ A young woman reports significant weight loss over the last
month, persistent fever, and night sweats. When you assess her, you
,note the presence of dark purple lesions covering her trunk and
upper extremities. You should suspect:
• A:end-stage cancer.
• B:HIV/AIDS.
• C:tuberculosis.
• D:rheumatic fever.
Answer: You selected B; This is correct!
Reason:Weight loss, fever, and night sweats could indicate
tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS; however, the dark purple lesions on the
skin, which are called Kaposi's sarcoma, are malignant skin tumors
and are a classic finding in patients in the later stages of AIDS.
◉ A 48-year-old male became acutely hypoxic, experienced a
seizure, and is now postictal. The MOST effective way to prevent
another seizure is to:
• A:dim the lights in the back of the ambulance.
• B:place him in the recovery position.
• C:administer high-flow supplemental oxygen.
• D:give him oral glucose if he can swallow.
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason:You should administer high-flow oxygen to all patients who
are actively seizing and to patients who experienced a seizure and
,are postictal. This is especially true if the seizure was caused by
hypoxia. Increasing the oxygen content of the blood, which
minimizes hypoxia, may prevent another seizure. The recovery
position is appropriate for uninjured patients with a decreased level
of consciousness and adequate breathing; it will help maintain the
airway and facilitate drainage of secretions from the mouth, but will
not prevent another seizure. Oral glucose may prevent another
seizure if hypoglycemia was the cause of the seizure. You should dim
the lights in the back of the ambulance to help prevent any seizure,
not just those that are caused by hypoxia.
◉ Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to be
present in a patient who was submerged in water?
• A:Spinal injury
• B:Gastric distention
• C:Hyperglycemia
• D:Laryngospasm
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason: Many factors can contribute to or result from a submersion
injury (eg, drowning, near-drowning). It is not uncommon for a
person to experience a spinal injury after diving head first into
shallow water, especially if he or she is under the influence of
alcohol. When a swimmer panics, he or she initially swallows large
amounts of water, resulting in gastric distention. Gastric distention
can cause aspiration if the patient regurgitates water during rescue
, breathing; protect the airway! During the panic phase, the victim
expends a tremendous amount of energy (and glucose) from flailing
around in the water, possibly resulting in hypoglycemia. Inhaling
even a small amount of fresh or salt water can severely irritate the
larynx, which sends the muscles of the larynx and vocal cords into
spasm (laryngospasm), resulting in airway blockage and hypoxia.
◉ A 42-year-old male presents with fever, a severe headache, and a
stiff neck. He is conscious, but confused. His wife tells you that he
does not have any medical problems and does not take any
medications. You should be MOST suspicious for:
• A:acute stroke.
• B:influenza.
• C:meningitis.
• D:tuberculosis.
(
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason:Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective coverings of
the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Common signs and symptoms
of meningitis include fever, headache, neck stiffness (nuchal
rigidity), and vomiting. An altered mental status is common in
severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis, caused by a bacterium, is
the most contagious and potentially fatal type of meningitis. The
patient's signs and symptoms are not consistent with acute stroke,
tuberculosis (TB), or influenza (the flu). Although fever is common
FULL QUESTION SET WITH ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES 2270+ ITEMS
◉ A near-drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
• A:complications within 24 hours following submersion in water.
• B:immediate death due to prolonged submersion in water.
• C:survival for at least 24 hours following submersion in water.
• D:death greater than 24 hours following submersion in water.
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason:Collectively, drowning and near-drowning are referred to as
submersion injuries. Drowning is defined as death after submersion
in a liquid medium, usually water. In a drowning, death is either
immediate or occurs within 24 hours following submersion. Near-
drowning is defined as survival, at least temporarily (24 hours),
after submersion. It should be noted, however, that complications
such as pneumonia and pulmonary edema can cause death greater
than 24 hours following submersion. For this reason, all patients
with a submersion injury should be transported to the hospital, even
if they appear fine at the scene.
◉ A young woman reports significant weight loss over the last
month, persistent fever, and night sweats. When you assess her, you
,note the presence of dark purple lesions covering her trunk and
upper extremities. You should suspect:
• A:end-stage cancer.
• B:HIV/AIDS.
• C:tuberculosis.
• D:rheumatic fever.
Answer: You selected B; This is correct!
Reason:Weight loss, fever, and night sweats could indicate
tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS; however, the dark purple lesions on the
skin, which are called Kaposi's sarcoma, are malignant skin tumors
and are a classic finding in patients in the later stages of AIDS.
◉ A 48-year-old male became acutely hypoxic, experienced a
seizure, and is now postictal. The MOST effective way to prevent
another seizure is to:
• A:dim the lights in the back of the ambulance.
• B:place him in the recovery position.
• C:administer high-flow supplemental oxygen.
• D:give him oral glucose if he can swallow.
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason:You should administer high-flow oxygen to all patients who
are actively seizing and to patients who experienced a seizure and
,are postictal. This is especially true if the seizure was caused by
hypoxia. Increasing the oxygen content of the blood, which
minimizes hypoxia, may prevent another seizure. The recovery
position is appropriate for uninjured patients with a decreased level
of consciousness and adequate breathing; it will help maintain the
airway and facilitate drainage of secretions from the mouth, but will
not prevent another seizure. Oral glucose may prevent another
seizure if hypoglycemia was the cause of the seizure. You should dim
the lights in the back of the ambulance to help prevent any seizure,
not just those that are caused by hypoxia.
◉ Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to be
present in a patient who was submerged in water?
• A:Spinal injury
• B:Gastric distention
• C:Hyperglycemia
• D:Laryngospasm
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason: Many factors can contribute to or result from a submersion
injury (eg, drowning, near-drowning). It is not uncommon for a
person to experience a spinal injury after diving head first into
shallow water, especially if he or she is under the influence of
alcohol. When a swimmer panics, he or she initially swallows large
amounts of water, resulting in gastric distention. Gastric distention
can cause aspiration if the patient regurgitates water during rescue
, breathing; protect the airway! During the panic phase, the victim
expends a tremendous amount of energy (and glucose) from flailing
around in the water, possibly resulting in hypoglycemia. Inhaling
even a small amount of fresh or salt water can severely irritate the
larynx, which sends the muscles of the larynx and vocal cords into
spasm (laryngospasm), resulting in airway blockage and hypoxia.
◉ A 42-year-old male presents with fever, a severe headache, and a
stiff neck. He is conscious, but confused. His wife tells you that he
does not have any medical problems and does not take any
medications. You should be MOST suspicious for:
• A:acute stroke.
• B:influenza.
• C:meningitis.
• D:tuberculosis.
(
Answer: You selected C; This is correct!
Reason:Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective coverings of
the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Common signs and symptoms
of meningitis include fever, headache, neck stiffness (nuchal
rigidity), and vomiting. An altered mental status is common in
severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis, caused by a bacterium, is
the most contagious and potentially fatal type of meningitis. The
patient's signs and symptoms are not consistent with acute stroke,
tuberculosis (TB), or influenza (the flu). Although fever is common
