WEST COAST EMT FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES 2025 (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
1. What is the primary purpose of the primary assessment?
A) To gather detailed patient history
B) To identify and manage life-threatening conditions
C) To obtain vital signs
D) To provide definitive care
Answer: B) To identify and manage life-threatening conditions
Rationale: The primary assessment focuses on identifying and immediately
managing any life threats to airway, breathing, or circulation.
2. When performing a head-to-toe exam, which of the following is assessed
first?
A) Extremities
B) Abdomen
C) Head and neck
D) Chest
,Answer: C) Head and neck
Rationale: The head and neck are assessed first to check for airway obstruction,
bleeding, or deformities that may affect airway or breathing.
3. Which of the following is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for an
adult during two-rescuer CPR?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 30:1
D) 15:1
Answer: B) 30:2
Rationale: The recommended ratio for adult CPR with two rescuers is 30 chest
compressions followed by 2 ventilations.
4. What is the most reliable sign of adequate ventilation during bag-valve-mask
(BVM) use?
A) Presence of pulse
B) Chest rise and fall
C) Patient coughing
D) Heart rate increase
Answer: B) Chest rise and fall
Rationale: Visible chest rise and fall indicate that air is entering the lungs
adequately.
,5. A patient is unresponsive with snoring respirations. What should you do first?
A) Perform chest compressions
B) Suction the airway
C) Open the airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver
D) Apply oxygen via non-rebreather mask
Answer: C) Open the airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver
Rationale: Snoring respirations indicate a partially obstructed airway that can
often be cleared by positioning maneuvers.
6. Which of the following is a sign of inadequate breathing in an adult?
A) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute
B) Equal chest rise and fall
C) Use of accessory muscles
D) Regular rhythm
Answer: C) Use of accessory muscles
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work of breathing and
possible respiratory distress.
7. When managing a patient with suspected spinal injury, what is the most
important consideration during airway management?
A) Use jaw-thrust maneuver to open airway
B) Hyperextend the neck
, C) Use head-tilt maneuver
D) Avoid supplemental oxygen
Answer: A) Use jaw-thrust maneuver to open airway
Rationale: The jaw-thrust maneuver minimizes spinal movement while opening
the airway in trauma patients.
8. Which of the following medications can an EMT administer via auto-injector?
A) Naloxone
B) Epinephrine
C) Albuterol
D) Aspirin
Answer: B) Epinephrine
Rationale: EMTs are authorized to administer epinephrine auto-injectors for
anaphylaxis.
9. What is the priority for a patient with severe external bleeding?
A) Start an IV
B) Apply direct pressure and a tourniquet if needed
C) Elevate the limb only
D) Transport immediately without treatment
Answer: B) Apply direct pressure and a tourniquet if needed
Rationale: Controlling severe bleeding is critical to prevent shock and death.
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES 2025 (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
1. What is the primary purpose of the primary assessment?
A) To gather detailed patient history
B) To identify and manage life-threatening conditions
C) To obtain vital signs
D) To provide definitive care
Answer: B) To identify and manage life-threatening conditions
Rationale: The primary assessment focuses on identifying and immediately
managing any life threats to airway, breathing, or circulation.
2. When performing a head-to-toe exam, which of the following is assessed
first?
A) Extremities
B) Abdomen
C) Head and neck
D) Chest
,Answer: C) Head and neck
Rationale: The head and neck are assessed first to check for airway obstruction,
bleeding, or deformities that may affect airway or breathing.
3. Which of the following is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for an
adult during two-rescuer CPR?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 30:1
D) 15:1
Answer: B) 30:2
Rationale: The recommended ratio for adult CPR with two rescuers is 30 chest
compressions followed by 2 ventilations.
4. What is the most reliable sign of adequate ventilation during bag-valve-mask
(BVM) use?
A) Presence of pulse
B) Chest rise and fall
C) Patient coughing
D) Heart rate increase
Answer: B) Chest rise and fall
Rationale: Visible chest rise and fall indicate that air is entering the lungs
adequately.
,5. A patient is unresponsive with snoring respirations. What should you do first?
A) Perform chest compressions
B) Suction the airway
C) Open the airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver
D) Apply oxygen via non-rebreather mask
Answer: C) Open the airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver
Rationale: Snoring respirations indicate a partially obstructed airway that can
often be cleared by positioning maneuvers.
6. Which of the following is a sign of inadequate breathing in an adult?
A) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute
B) Equal chest rise and fall
C) Use of accessory muscles
D) Regular rhythm
Answer: C) Use of accessory muscles
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work of breathing and
possible respiratory distress.
7. When managing a patient with suspected spinal injury, what is the most
important consideration during airway management?
A) Use jaw-thrust maneuver to open airway
B) Hyperextend the neck
, C) Use head-tilt maneuver
D) Avoid supplemental oxygen
Answer: A) Use jaw-thrust maneuver to open airway
Rationale: The jaw-thrust maneuver minimizes spinal movement while opening
the airway in trauma patients.
8. Which of the following medications can an EMT administer via auto-injector?
A) Naloxone
B) Epinephrine
C) Albuterol
D) Aspirin
Answer: B) Epinephrine
Rationale: EMTs are authorized to administer epinephrine auto-injectors for
anaphylaxis.
9. What is the priority for a patient with severe external bleeding?
A) Start an IV
B) Apply direct pressure and a tourniquet if needed
C) Elevate the limb only
D) Transport immediately without treatment
Answer: B) Apply direct pressure and a tourniquet if needed
Rationale: Controlling severe bleeding is critical to prevent shock and death.
