West Coast EMT Block 4 2025 Complete Questions and Correct Answers

A 12-year-old male jumped approximately 12 feet from a tree and landed on his feet. He complains of pain to his lower back. What injury mechanism is MOST likely responsible for his back pain? Select one: A. Lateral impact to the spine B. Secondary fall after the initial impact C. Direct trauma to the spinal column D. Energy transmission to the spine - -D. Energy transmission to the spine A 15-year-old female was struck by a small car while riding her bicycle. She was wearing a helmet and was thrown to the ground, striking her head. In addition to managing problems associated with airway, breathing, and circulation, it is MOST important for you to: Select one: A. leave her bicycle helmet on. B. obtain baseline vital signs. C. stabilize her entire spine. D. inspect the helmet for cracks. - -C. stabilize her entire spine. A young male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during an altercation. As your partner is assessing and managing his airway, you should control the obvious bleeding and then: Select one: A. auscultate bowel sounds. B. assess for an exit wound. C. apply a cervical collar. D. obtain baseline vital signs. - -B. assess for an exit wound. According to the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), an adult trauma patient should be transported to the highest level of trauma center if he or she: Select one: A. was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another patient in the same vehicle was killed. B. has a systolic blood pressure of less than 110 mm Hg or a heart rate greater than 110 beats/min. WEST COAST WEST COAST C. has a bleeding disorder or takes anticoagulant medications and has any blunt or penetrating injury. D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism attributed to trauma. - -D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism attributed to trauma. According to the Association of Air Medical Services, you should consider air medical transport of a trauma patient if: Select one: A. the patient requires advanced life support care and stabilization, and the nearest ALS-ground ambulance is more than 5 to 10 minutes away. B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best clinical outcome. C. ground transport will take your ambulance out of service for an extended period of time, regardless of the severity of the patient's injuries. D. he or she was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another occupant in the same vehicle was killed, even if your patient's injuries are minor. - -B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best clinical outcome. Approximately 25% of severe injuries to the aorta occur during: Select one: A. frontal collisions. B. rollover collisions. C. rear-end collisions. D. lateral collisions. - -D. lateral collisions. Following a blunt injury to the head, a 22-year-old female is confused and complains of a severe headache and nausea. On the basis of these signs and symptoms, you should be MOST concerned with the possibility of: Select one: A. a fracture of the skull. B. airway compromise. C. intracranial bleeding. D. spinal cord injury. - -C. intracranial bleeding. Force acting over a distance is the definition of: Select one: A. work. B. latent energy. C. kinetic energy. D. potential energy. - -A. work. The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as: Select one: A. the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries. WEST COAST WEST COAST B. a predictable pattern that leads to serious injuries. C. your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries. D. the way in which traumatic injuries occur. - -C. your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries. When assessing a patient who experienced a blast injury, it is important to remember that: Select one: A. solid organs usually rupture from the pressure wave. B. secondary blast injuries are usually the least obvious. C. primary blast injuries are the most easily overlooked. D. primary blast injuries are typically the most obvious. - -C. primary blast injuries are the most easily overlooked. When assessing an elderly patient who fell, it is important to remember that: Select one: A. any fall in the elderly is considered to be high-energy trauma. B. osteoporosis can cause a fracture as a result of a fall from a standing position. C. bilateral hip fractures usually occur when an elderly person falls. D. elderly patients who fall usually have a secondary head injury. - -B. osteoporosis can cause a fracture as a result of a fall from a standing position. When the speed of a motor vehicle doubles, the amount of kinetic energy: Select one: A. quadruples. B. is not affected. C. triples. D. doubles. - -A. quadruples. Which of the following destinations is most appropriate for a 41-year-old male patient who was involved in a rollover motor vehicle collision and is unconscious and unresponsive, assuming that travel times to each is equal? Select one: A. A Level I or Level II trauma center B. Only a Level I trauma center C. A Level IV or Level III trauma center D. Any designated trauma center is acceptable. - -A. A Level I or Level II trauma center Which of the following findings would be LEAST suggestive of the presence of high energy trauma? Select one: A. Intrusion into the vehicle B. Dismounted seats C. Steering wheel deformity D. Deployment of the air bag - -D. Deployment of the air bag WEST COAST WEST COAST Which of the following injuries would MOST likely occur as a direct result of the third collision in a motor vehicle crash? Select one: A. Flail chest B. Forehead lacerations C. Aortic rupture D. Extremity fractures - -C. Aortic rupture Which of the following interventions is the MOST critical to the outcome of a patient with multisystem trauma? Select one: A. Intravenous fluid administration B. Early administration of oxygen C. Rapid transport to a trauma center D. Elevation of the lower extremities - -C. Rapid transport to a trauma center Which of the following statements regarding gunshot wounds is correct? Select one: A. The size of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced. B. High-velocity bullets will cause less severe internal injuries. C. The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced. D. Low-velocity bullets will cause the greatest amount of trauma. - -C. The speed of a bullet has the greatest impact on the injury produced. Which types of motor vehicle collisions present the greatest potential for multiple impacts? Select one: A. Lateral and rollover B. Frontal and rotational C. Rotational and rollover D. Rear-end and rotational - -C. Rotational and rollover While en route to a major motor vehicle crash, an on-scene police officer advises you that a 6-year-old male who was riding in the front seat is involved. He further states that the child was only wearing a lap belt and that the air bag deployed. On the basis of this information, you should be MOST suspicious that the child has experienced: Select one: A. lower extremity fractures. B. neck and facial injuries. C. blunt trauma to the head. D. open abdominal trauma. - -B. neck and facial injuries. WEST COAST WEST COAST Your patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13, a systolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg, and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. His Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is: Select one: A. 10. B. 11. C. 9. D. 8. - -C. 9. A 43-year-old man is experiencing a severe nosebleed. His blood pressure is 190/110 mm Hg and his heart rate is 90 beats/min and bounding. Preferred treatment for this patient includes: Select one: A. packing both nostrils with gauze pads until the bleeding stops. B. placing a rolled 4² × 4² dressing between his lower lip and gum. C. pinching the patient's nostrils and having him lean forward. D. having the patient pinch his own nostrils and then lie supine. - -C. pinching the patient's nostrils and having him lean forward. A 67-year-old male presents with weakness, dizziness, and melena that began approximately 2 days ago. He denies a history of trauma. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his pulse is 120 beats/min and thready. You should be MOST suspicious that this patient is experiencing: Select one: A. an aortic aneurysm. B. acute appendicitis. C. gastrointestinal bleeding. D. intrathoracic hemorrhaging. - -C. gastrointestinal bleeding. A young male was shot in the abdomen by an unknown type of gun. He is semiconscious, has shallow breathing, and is bleeding externally from the wound. As you control the external bleeding, your partner should: Select one: A. perform a secondary assessment. B. apply a nonrebreathing mask. C. obtain baseline vital signs. D. assist the patient's ventilations. - -D. assist the patient's ventilations. Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the cells' oxygen, nutritional, and waste-removal needs is termed _______. Select one: A. perfusion B. hypoperfusion C. coagulation D. hemorrhage - -A. perfusion WEST COAST WEST COAST Following blunt trauma to the abdomen, a 21-year-old female complains of diffuse abdominal pain and pain to the left shoulder. Your assessment reveals that her abdomen is distended and tender to palpation. On the basis of these findings, you should be MOST suspicious of injury to the: Select one: A. spleen. B. gallbladder. C. pancreas. D. liver. - -A. spleen. Hypovolemic shock occurs when: Select one: A. the patient's systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg. B. the clotting ability of the blood is enhanced. C. the body cannot compensate for rapid blood loss. D. at least 10% of the patient's blood volume is lost. - -C. the body cannot compensate for rapid blood loss. If applying a dressing to control the bleeding of a patient's arm, the EMT should ________. Select one: A. apply direct pressure first B. use large or small gauze pads or dressings depending upon the size of the wound C. cover the entire wound, above and below, with the dressing D. All of these answers are correct. - -D. All of these answers are correct. If direct pressure fails to immediately stop severe bleeding from an extremity, you should apply: Select one: A. a splint and elevate the extremity. B. a tourniquet proximal to the injury. C. digital pressure to a proximal artery. D. additional sterile dressings. - -B. a tourniquet proximal to the injury. In older patients, the first indicator of nontraumatic internal bleeding may be: Select one: A. a low blood pressure. B. a heart rate over 120 beats/min. C. diaphoresis and pale skin. D. weakness or dizziness. - -D. weakness or dizziness. Internal bleeding into a fractured extremity is MOST often controlled by: Select one: A. applying chemical ice pack. WEST COAST WEST COAST B. keeping the patient warm. C. applying a tourniquet. D. splinting the extremity. - -D. splinting the extremity. Significant vital sign changes will occur if the typical adult acutely loses more than ______ of his or her total blood volume. Select one: A. 10% B. 5% C. 20% D. 15% - -C. 20% The severity of bleeding should be based on all of the following findings, EXCEPT: Select one: A. systolic blood pressure. B. poor general appearance. C. the mechanism of injury. D. clinical signs and symptoms. - -A. systolic blood pressure. What mechanism(s) does the body use to control bleeding? Select one: A. Clotting B. Coagulation C. Vasoconstriction D. All of these answers are correct. - -D. All of these answers are correct. Whether you are using a commercial device or a stick and triangular bandage as a tourniquet, it is important to remember that: Select one: A. bulky dressings should be securely applied over the tourniquet to further assist in controlling the bleeding. B. you should try to control the bleeding by applying pressure to a proximal arterial pressure point first. C. the tourniquet should be applied directly over a joint if possible because this provides better bleeding control. D. the tourniquet should only be removed at the hospital because bleeding may return if the tourniquet is released. - -D. the tourniquet should only be removed at the hospital because bleeding may return if the tourniquet is released. Which of the following findings would be the MOST significant when assessing a patient with possible internal bleeding? Select one: A. The patient takes rivaroxaban (Xeralto). B. The patient has a history of hypertension. C. The patient has not eaten in 24 hours. WEST COAST WEST COAST D. The patient had a stroke 5 years prior. - -A. The patient takes rivaroxaban (Xeralto). Which of the following splinting devices would be MOST appropriate to use for a patient who has an open fracture of the forearm with external bleeding? Select one: A. Air splint B. Cardboard splint C. Vacuum splint D. Sling and swathe - -A. Air splint Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is correct? Select one: A. Hemophilia is defined as a total lack of platelets. B. Hemophiliacs take aspirin to enhance blood clotting. C. Approximately 25% of the population has hemophilia. D. Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously. - -D. Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously. Which organ or organ system has the greatest tolerance for lack of perfusion (shock)? Select one: A. Brain B. Kidneys C. Gastrointestinal system D. Skeletal muscle - -C. Gastrointestinal system Which portion of the blood carries oxygen to and wastes away from body tissues? Select one: A. Red blood cells B. Platelets C. Plasma D. White blood cells - -A. Red blood cells Which section of the heart receives deoxygenated blood? Select one: A. Atria B. Left C. Right D. Ventricles - -C. Right A 21-year-old male was working in an auto repair shop and sustained radiator burns to the anterior aspect of both arms and to his anterior chest. According to the rule of nines, this patient has burns that cover _____ of his BSA. Select one: A. 27% B. 45% WEST COAST WEST COAST C. 18% D. 36% - -C. 18% A 33-year-old male sustained an abdominal evisceration to the left lower quadrant of his abdomen after he was cut with a large knife. After appropriately managing his ABCs and assessing him for other life-threatening injuries, how you should care for his wound? Select one: A. Irrigate it with sterile water and cover it with a dry dressing. B. Carefully replace the exposed bowel into the abdomen and transport. C. Cover the exposed bowel and keep his legs in a straight position. D. Cover it with moist, sterile gauze and secure with an occlusive dressing. - -D. Cover it with moist, sterile gauze and secure with an occlusive dressing. A 39-year-old male was struck in the head by a baseball during a game. He is confused and has slurred speech. He has a large hematoma in the center of his forehead and cannot remember the events preceding the injury. After manually stabilizing his head and assessing his airway, you should: Select one: A. palpate his radial pulses. B. administer high-flow oxygen. C. apply ice to the hematoma. D. perform a neurologic exam. - -B. administer high-flow oxygen. A 56-year-old male has an incomplete avulsion to his right forearm. After con