West Coast EMT Block 2 Comprehensive Practice Examination and Study Guide:
100 Multiple-Choice Questions with Correct Answers and Detailed Rationales
Covering Airway, Respiration, Ventilation, Patient Assessment, Trauma,
Pharmacology, and Cardiac Emergencies
1. The most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious adult is:
A. Tongue
B. Foreign object
C. Swelling
D. Vomit
Answer: A
Rationale: In an unconscious patient, muscle tone is lost, allowing the tongue to
fall back and obstruct the airway.
2. You are ventilating a patient with a BVM. To ensure adequate ventilation, you
should:
A. Deliver rapid breaths
B. Watch for chest rise
C. Use 1,000 mL tidal volume
D. Squeeze the bag continuously
Answer: B
Rationale: Visible chest rise confirms adequate volume delivery and proper mask
seal.
3. The preferred airway device for an unresponsive patient with no gag reflex is:
A. Nasopharyngeal airway
B. Oropharyngeal airway
C. Suction catheter
D. Nonrebreather mask
Answer: B
Rationale: The OPA maintains airway patency in unresponsive patients without a
gag reflex.
4. Oxygen should be administered to trauma patients with:
A. Signs of hypoxia
B. Normal oxygen saturation
C. Respiratory rate < 12
, D. Cyanosis only
Answer: A
Rationale: Oxygen is indicated when hypoxia is suspected or present.
5. Proper suctioning time for an adult is:
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Answer: C
Rationale: Adult suctioning should not exceed 15 seconds to avoid hypoxia.
6. The appropriate rate of assisted ventilations for an apneic adult is:
A. 10–12 breaths per minute
B. 12–20 breaths per minute
C. 8–10 breaths per minute
D. 6–8 breaths per minute
Answer: A
Rationale: One breath every 5–6 seconds equals 10–12 per minute.
7. A patient with snoring respirations likely needs:
A. Oxygen
B. Airway repositioning
C. CPR
D. Chest compressions
Answer: B
Rationale: Snoring indicates partial obstruction relieved by head tilt–chin lift or
jaw thrust.
8. When ventilating with a BVM, an EMT should use:
A. Two-person technique
B. One-hand seal
C. Partial inflation
D. Constant pressure
Answer: A
Rationale: The two-person method provides a better mask seal and more
effective ventilation.
100 Multiple-Choice Questions with Correct Answers and Detailed Rationales
Covering Airway, Respiration, Ventilation, Patient Assessment, Trauma,
Pharmacology, and Cardiac Emergencies
1. The most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious adult is:
A. Tongue
B. Foreign object
C. Swelling
D. Vomit
Answer: A
Rationale: In an unconscious patient, muscle tone is lost, allowing the tongue to
fall back and obstruct the airway.
2. You are ventilating a patient with a BVM. To ensure adequate ventilation, you
should:
A. Deliver rapid breaths
B. Watch for chest rise
C. Use 1,000 mL tidal volume
D. Squeeze the bag continuously
Answer: B
Rationale: Visible chest rise confirms adequate volume delivery and proper mask
seal.
3. The preferred airway device for an unresponsive patient with no gag reflex is:
A. Nasopharyngeal airway
B. Oropharyngeal airway
C. Suction catheter
D. Nonrebreather mask
Answer: B
Rationale: The OPA maintains airway patency in unresponsive patients without a
gag reflex.
4. Oxygen should be administered to trauma patients with:
A. Signs of hypoxia
B. Normal oxygen saturation
C. Respiratory rate < 12
, D. Cyanosis only
Answer: A
Rationale: Oxygen is indicated when hypoxia is suspected or present.
5. Proper suctioning time for an adult is:
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Answer: C
Rationale: Adult suctioning should not exceed 15 seconds to avoid hypoxia.
6. The appropriate rate of assisted ventilations for an apneic adult is:
A. 10–12 breaths per minute
B. 12–20 breaths per minute
C. 8–10 breaths per minute
D. 6–8 breaths per minute
Answer: A
Rationale: One breath every 5–6 seconds equals 10–12 per minute.
7. A patient with snoring respirations likely needs:
A. Oxygen
B. Airway repositioning
C. CPR
D. Chest compressions
Answer: B
Rationale: Snoring indicates partial obstruction relieved by head tilt–chin lift or
jaw thrust.
8. When ventilating with a BVM, an EMT should use:
A. Two-person technique
B. One-hand seal
C. Partial inflation
D. Constant pressure
Answer: A
Rationale: The two-person method provides a better mask seal and more
effective ventilation.
