West Coast EMT Block 4 Exam |
Questions and Verified Answers Rated A+
| Latest 2025/2026 Guide
A 28-year-old male was struck in the chest with a baseball bat during an
altercation. He is conscious and alert and complains of severe chest
pain. Your assessment reveals a large area of ecchymosis over the
sternum and a rapid, irregular pulse. In addition to providing
supplemental oxygen, you should:
Select one:
A. apply an AED and assess his BP.
B. prepare for immediate transport.
C. apply bulky dressings to the sternum.
D. determine if he has cardiac problems. - Correct Answer - B. prepare
for immediate transport.
A flail chest occurs when:
Select one:
A. a segment of the chest wall is detached from the thoracic cage.
B. multiple ribs are fractured on both sides of the thoracic cage.
C. more than three ribs are fractured on the same side of the chest.
,D. a segment of fractured ribs bulges during the inhalation phase. -
Correct Answer - A. a segment of the chest wall is detached from the
thoracic cage.
A man called EMS 12 hours after injuring his chest. Your assessment
reveals a flail segment to the right side of the chest. The patient is
experiencing respiratory distress and his oxygen saturation is 78%. His
breath sounds are equal bilaterally and his jugular veins are normal. You
should suspect:
Select one:
A. massive hemothorax.
B. tension pneumothorax.
C. pulmonary contusion.
D. traumatic asphyxia. - Correct Answer - C. pulmonary contusion.
A simple pneumothorax:
Select one:
A. heals on its own without any treatment.
B. often has a nontraumatic cause.
C. is commonly caused by blunt chest trauma.
D. is caused by penetrating chest trauma. - Correct Answer - C. is
commonly caused by blunt chest trauma.
,A spinal cord injury at the level of C7 would MOST likely result in:
Select one:
A. immediate cardiac arrest.
B. paralysis of the intercostal muscles.
C. paralysis of the diaphragm.
D. paralysis of all the respiratory muscles. - Correct Answer - B.
paralysis of the intercostal muscles.
An open pneumothorax occurs when:
Select one:
A. extreme pleural pressure causes the lung to rupture.
B. air enters the pleural space from outside the body.
C. air enters the pleural space from a perforated lung.
D. a fractured rib perforates the tissue of the lung. - Correct Answer - B.
air enters the pleural space from outside the body.
Children are often "belly breathers" because _______.
Select one:
A. their intercostal muscles are not developed
B. they are routinely hypoxic
C. their diaphragm is not functional
, D. they are consciously controlling ventilations - Correct Answer - A.
their intercostal muscles are not developed
Closed chest injuries are typically caused by _______.
Select one:
A. flying debris
B. penetrating trauma
C. blunt trauma
D. high-velocity weapons - Correct Answer - C. blunt trauma
Following a stab wound to the left anterior chest, a 25-year-old male
presents with a decreased level of consciousness and signs of shock.
Which of the following additional assessment findings should increase
your index of suspicion for a cardiac tamponade?
Select one:
A. A rapid, irregular pulse
B. Widening pulse pressure
C. Engorged jugular veins
D. Diminished breath sounds - Correct Answer - C. Engorged jugular
veins
If a patient with a chest injury is only able to inhale small amounts of air
per breath, he or she:
Questions and Verified Answers Rated A+
| Latest 2025/2026 Guide
A 28-year-old male was struck in the chest with a baseball bat during an
altercation. He is conscious and alert and complains of severe chest
pain. Your assessment reveals a large area of ecchymosis over the
sternum and a rapid, irregular pulse. In addition to providing
supplemental oxygen, you should:
Select one:
A. apply an AED and assess his BP.
B. prepare for immediate transport.
C. apply bulky dressings to the sternum.
D. determine if he has cardiac problems. - Correct Answer - B. prepare
for immediate transport.
A flail chest occurs when:
Select one:
A. a segment of the chest wall is detached from the thoracic cage.
B. multiple ribs are fractured on both sides of the thoracic cage.
C. more than three ribs are fractured on the same side of the chest.
,D. a segment of fractured ribs bulges during the inhalation phase. -
Correct Answer - A. a segment of the chest wall is detached from the
thoracic cage.
A man called EMS 12 hours after injuring his chest. Your assessment
reveals a flail segment to the right side of the chest. The patient is
experiencing respiratory distress and his oxygen saturation is 78%. His
breath sounds are equal bilaterally and his jugular veins are normal. You
should suspect:
Select one:
A. massive hemothorax.
B. tension pneumothorax.
C. pulmonary contusion.
D. traumatic asphyxia. - Correct Answer - C. pulmonary contusion.
A simple pneumothorax:
Select one:
A. heals on its own without any treatment.
B. often has a nontraumatic cause.
C. is commonly caused by blunt chest trauma.
D. is caused by penetrating chest trauma. - Correct Answer - C. is
commonly caused by blunt chest trauma.
,A spinal cord injury at the level of C7 would MOST likely result in:
Select one:
A. immediate cardiac arrest.
B. paralysis of the intercostal muscles.
C. paralysis of the diaphragm.
D. paralysis of all the respiratory muscles. - Correct Answer - B.
paralysis of the intercostal muscles.
An open pneumothorax occurs when:
Select one:
A. extreme pleural pressure causes the lung to rupture.
B. air enters the pleural space from outside the body.
C. air enters the pleural space from a perforated lung.
D. a fractured rib perforates the tissue of the lung. - Correct Answer - B.
air enters the pleural space from outside the body.
Children are often "belly breathers" because _______.
Select one:
A. their intercostal muscles are not developed
B. they are routinely hypoxic
C. their diaphragm is not functional
, D. they are consciously controlling ventilations - Correct Answer - A.
their intercostal muscles are not developed
Closed chest injuries are typically caused by _______.
Select one:
A. flying debris
B. penetrating trauma
C. blunt trauma
D. high-velocity weapons - Correct Answer - C. blunt trauma
Following a stab wound to the left anterior chest, a 25-year-old male
presents with a decreased level of consciousness and signs of shock.
Which of the following additional assessment findings should increase
your index of suspicion for a cardiac tamponade?
Select one:
A. A rapid, irregular pulse
B. Widening pulse pressure
C. Engorged jugular veins
D. Diminished breath sounds - Correct Answer - C. Engorged jugular
veins
If a patient with a chest injury is only able to inhale small amounts of air
per breath, he or she:
