EMT Medical Emergencies Exam With
Correct Answers 2025
Communicable Disease <correct answer>A disease that can be spread from one
person or species to another.
Epidemic <correct answer>Occurs when new cases of a disease in a human population
substantially exceed the number expected based on recent experience.
Herpes Simplex <correct answer>A common virus that is asymptomatic in 80% of
people carrying it, but characterized by small blisters on the lips or genitals in
symptomatic infections.
Index of Suspicion <correct answer>awareness that unseen life-threatening injuries or
illness may exist
Infectious Disease <correct answer>A medical condition caused by the growth and
spread of small, harmful organisms within the body.
Influenza <correct answer>A virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and
infected humans and that kills thousands of people every year.
Meningitis <correct answer>An inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain
and spinal cord; it is usually caused by a virus or a bacterium.
Meningococcal meningitis <correct answer>An inflammation of the meningeal coverings
of the brain and spinal cord; can be highly contagious.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) <correct answer>A bacterium that
can cause infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly
used antibiotics; it is transmitted by different routes, including the respiratory route, and
can be found on the skin, in surgical wounds, in the bloodstream, lungs, and urinary
tract.
Pandemic <correct answer>An outbreak of a disease that occurs on a global scale.
Tuberculosis <correct answer>A chronic bacterial disease, caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, that usually affects the lungs but can also affect other organs such as the
brain and kidneys. It is spread by cough and can lie dormant in a person's lungs for
decades and then reactivate.
,Virulence <correct answer>The strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis? <correct answer>Fever, headache,
stiff neck, altered mental status
Red blotches on skin
What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis? <correct answer>Flushed skin or
hives (urticaria)
Generalized edema
Decreased blood pressure (hypotension)
Laryngeal edema with dyspnea
Wheezing or stridor
What 3 conditions are the result of an allergic reaction to an inhaled, ingested, or
injected substance? <correct answer>Asthma
Hay Fever
Anaphylaxis
What is the typical onset for anaphylaxis? <correct answer>most occur within 30
minutes of exposure to allergen
What is the treatment of choice for anaphylaxis? <correct answer>epinephrine (0.3mg
IM for adult)
What is anaphylaxis? <correct answer>A severe allergic reaction characterized by
airway swelling and dilation of blood vessels all over the body, which may significantly
lower BP.
What is the action of albuterol? <correct answer>Dilates bronchioles
Arteriovenous shunt <correct answer>abnormal connections between coronary arteries
and a compartment of the venous side of the heart. The abnormal connection may
originate in the right or left coronary artery, or, more rarely, multiple shunts originating in
both arteries may be present.
A vascular access is a surgically created vein used to remove and return blood during
hemodialysis. An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a connection, made by a vascular
surgeon, of an artery to a vein.
, What is the acronym and possible causes of altered mental status? <correct
answer>AEIOU TIPS
A-Alcohol
E-epilepsy, endocrine (thyroid, diabetes), electrolytes
I-Insulin
O-opiates and other drugs
U-uremia (kidney failure)
T-trauma/temperature
I-infection
P-Poisoning, psychogenic causes
S-shock, stroke, seizure, syncope, space-occupying-lesion, subarachnoid hemorrhage
What are the 3 tests in the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale? <correct answer>1.
Facial Droop: ask pt to show teeth or smile
2. Arm Drift: as pt to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up (10 sec)
3. Speech: ask pt to say "the sky is blue in cincinnati"
What is the FAST mnemonic for assessing stroke? <correct answer>F-Facial Droop
(ask pt to smile)
A-Arm Drift (as pt to close eyes and hold arms out with palms up)
S-Speech (ask pt to repeat a simple phrase)
T-Time (note the time the pt was last seen acting normally)
Altered Mental Status <correct answer>Any deviation from alert and oriented to person,
place, time, and event, or any deviation from a patient's normal baseline mental status.
Aneurysm <correct answer>a swelling or enlargement of the wall of a blood vessel that
results from weakening of the vessel wall
Aphasia <correct answer>The inability to understand and/or produce speech
Atherosclerosis <correct answer>A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up
inside the walls of the blood vessels, forming plaque, which eventually leads to partial or
complete blockage of blood flow.
Aura <correct answer>A sensation experienced before a seizure; serves as a warning
sign that a seizure is about to occur.
Correct Answers 2025
Communicable Disease <correct answer>A disease that can be spread from one
person or species to another.
Epidemic <correct answer>Occurs when new cases of a disease in a human population
substantially exceed the number expected based on recent experience.
Herpes Simplex <correct answer>A common virus that is asymptomatic in 80% of
people carrying it, but characterized by small blisters on the lips or genitals in
symptomatic infections.
Index of Suspicion <correct answer>awareness that unseen life-threatening injuries or
illness may exist
Infectious Disease <correct answer>A medical condition caused by the growth and
spread of small, harmful organisms within the body.
Influenza <correct answer>A virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and
infected humans and that kills thousands of people every year.
Meningitis <correct answer>An inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain
and spinal cord; it is usually caused by a virus or a bacterium.
Meningococcal meningitis <correct answer>An inflammation of the meningeal coverings
of the brain and spinal cord; can be highly contagious.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) <correct answer>A bacterium that
can cause infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly
used antibiotics; it is transmitted by different routes, including the respiratory route, and
can be found on the skin, in surgical wounds, in the bloodstream, lungs, and urinary
tract.
Pandemic <correct answer>An outbreak of a disease that occurs on a global scale.
Tuberculosis <correct answer>A chronic bacterial disease, caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, that usually affects the lungs but can also affect other organs such as the
brain and kidneys. It is spread by cough and can lie dormant in a person's lungs for
decades and then reactivate.
,Virulence <correct answer>The strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis? <correct answer>Fever, headache,
stiff neck, altered mental status
Red blotches on skin
What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis? <correct answer>Flushed skin or
hives (urticaria)
Generalized edema
Decreased blood pressure (hypotension)
Laryngeal edema with dyspnea
Wheezing or stridor
What 3 conditions are the result of an allergic reaction to an inhaled, ingested, or
injected substance? <correct answer>Asthma
Hay Fever
Anaphylaxis
What is the typical onset for anaphylaxis? <correct answer>most occur within 30
minutes of exposure to allergen
What is the treatment of choice for anaphylaxis? <correct answer>epinephrine (0.3mg
IM for adult)
What is anaphylaxis? <correct answer>A severe allergic reaction characterized by
airway swelling and dilation of blood vessels all over the body, which may significantly
lower BP.
What is the action of albuterol? <correct answer>Dilates bronchioles
Arteriovenous shunt <correct answer>abnormal connections between coronary arteries
and a compartment of the venous side of the heart. The abnormal connection may
originate in the right or left coronary artery, or, more rarely, multiple shunts originating in
both arteries may be present.
A vascular access is a surgically created vein used to remove and return blood during
hemodialysis. An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a connection, made by a vascular
surgeon, of an artery to a vein.
, What is the acronym and possible causes of altered mental status? <correct
answer>AEIOU TIPS
A-Alcohol
E-epilepsy, endocrine (thyroid, diabetes), electrolytes
I-Insulin
O-opiates and other drugs
U-uremia (kidney failure)
T-trauma/temperature
I-infection
P-Poisoning, psychogenic causes
S-shock, stroke, seizure, syncope, space-occupying-lesion, subarachnoid hemorrhage
What are the 3 tests in the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale? <correct answer>1.
Facial Droop: ask pt to show teeth or smile
2. Arm Drift: as pt to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up (10 sec)
3. Speech: ask pt to say "the sky is blue in cincinnati"
What is the FAST mnemonic for assessing stroke? <correct answer>F-Facial Droop
(ask pt to smile)
A-Arm Drift (as pt to close eyes and hold arms out with palms up)
S-Speech (ask pt to repeat a simple phrase)
T-Time (note the time the pt was last seen acting normally)
Altered Mental Status <correct answer>Any deviation from alert and oriented to person,
place, time, and event, or any deviation from a patient's normal baseline mental status.
Aneurysm <correct answer>a swelling or enlargement of the wall of a blood vessel that
results from weakening of the vessel wall
Aphasia <correct answer>The inability to understand and/or produce speech
Atherosclerosis <correct answer>A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up
inside the walls of the blood vessels, forming plaque, which eventually leads to partial or
complete blockage of blood flow.
Aura <correct answer>A sensation experienced before a seizure; serves as a warning
sign that a seizure is about to occur.
