West Coast EMT Block Exam 2 — Version B
Questions with Answers
National EMS Education Standards • NREMT-Style Format
Page 1 of 93
,Exam Sections Covered
• Airway • Medical-Neuro
• Circulation • Medical-Allergy
• Trauma-Head/Spine • Medical-Toxicology
• Trauma-Chest • Medical-Abdomen
• Trauma-Abdomen • Medical-Environmental
• Trauma-MSK • OB
• Trauma-Burns • Pediatrics
• Medical-Cardiac • Behavioral
• Medical-Respiratory • Operations
• Medical-Diabetic • Assessment
Page 2 of 93
,Question 1 AIRWAY
A 34-year-old man was struck in the face during an assault. He is conscious,
gurgling with each breath, and has blood in his mouth. What is your FIRST
action?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway
B. Suction the airway
C. Apply high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask
D. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver
Correct Answer: B — Suction the airway
Explanation: Gurgling is a sign of fluid (blood, vomitus, secretions) in the upper
airway. Suctioning must occur before any airway adjunct is inserted or
supplemental oxygen is effectively delivered, because an airway obstructed by
fluid cannot be cleared by positioning or an adjunct alone. Suction for no more than
15 seconds in an adult, then reassess and provide oxygen.
Page 3 of 93
, Question 2 AIRWAY
Which finding is the earliest and most reliable sign of hypoxia in a conscious
patient?
A. Cyanosis of the lips and nail beds
B. Restlessness and anxiety
C. Bradycardia
D. Pupillary dilation
Correct Answer: B — Restlessness and anxiety
Explanation: Restlessness, anxiety, and altered mental status are early signs of
hypoxia because the brain is extremely sensitive to falling oxygen levels. Cyanosis
is a late and unreliable sign (it requires a significant amount of desaturated
hemoglobin and may not appear in anemic patients), and bradycardia is typically a
late, ominous sign, especially in children.
Question 3 AIRWAY
An unresponsive adult patient with no suspected trauma is not breathing
adequately. Which airway maneuver should you use to open the airway?
A. Jaw-thrust maneuver
B. Head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
C. Sellick maneuver (cricoid pressure)
D. Triple airway maneuver
Correct Answer: B — Head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
Explanation: In the absence of suspected spinal trauma, the head-tilt chin-lift is
the preferred technique because it reliably opens the airway by lifting the tongue
and epiglottis off the posterior pharynx. The jaw-thrust is reserved for patients with
suspected spinal injury because it opens the airway without extending the cervical
spine.
Page 4 of 93
Questions with Answers
National EMS Education Standards • NREMT-Style Format
Page 1 of 93
,Exam Sections Covered
• Airway • Medical-Neuro
• Circulation • Medical-Allergy
• Trauma-Head/Spine • Medical-Toxicology
• Trauma-Chest • Medical-Abdomen
• Trauma-Abdomen • Medical-Environmental
• Trauma-MSK • OB
• Trauma-Burns • Pediatrics
• Medical-Cardiac • Behavioral
• Medical-Respiratory • Operations
• Medical-Diabetic • Assessment
Page 2 of 93
,Question 1 AIRWAY
A 34-year-old man was struck in the face during an assault. He is conscious,
gurgling with each breath, and has blood in his mouth. What is your FIRST
action?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway
B. Suction the airway
C. Apply high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask
D. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver
Correct Answer: B — Suction the airway
Explanation: Gurgling is a sign of fluid (blood, vomitus, secretions) in the upper
airway. Suctioning must occur before any airway adjunct is inserted or
supplemental oxygen is effectively delivered, because an airway obstructed by
fluid cannot be cleared by positioning or an adjunct alone. Suction for no more than
15 seconds in an adult, then reassess and provide oxygen.
Page 3 of 93
, Question 2 AIRWAY
Which finding is the earliest and most reliable sign of hypoxia in a conscious
patient?
A. Cyanosis of the lips and nail beds
B. Restlessness and anxiety
C. Bradycardia
D. Pupillary dilation
Correct Answer: B — Restlessness and anxiety
Explanation: Restlessness, anxiety, and altered mental status are early signs of
hypoxia because the brain is extremely sensitive to falling oxygen levels. Cyanosis
is a late and unreliable sign (it requires a significant amount of desaturated
hemoglobin and may not appear in anemic patients), and bradycardia is typically a
late, ominous sign, especially in children.
Question 3 AIRWAY
An unresponsive adult patient with no suspected trauma is not breathing
adequately. Which airway maneuver should you use to open the airway?
A. Jaw-thrust maneuver
B. Head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
C. Sellick maneuver (cricoid pressure)
D. Triple airway maneuver
Correct Answer: B — Head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
Explanation: In the absence of suspected spinal trauma, the head-tilt chin-lift is
the preferred technique because it reliably opens the airway by lifting the tongue
and epiglottis off the posterior pharynx. The jaw-thrust is reserved for patients with
suspected spinal injury because it opens the airway without extending the cervical
spine.
Page 4 of 93
