FISDAP Paramedic Readiness Exam
Packages (91 Questions)
---
*QUESTION 1:*
A 55-year-old male is found unresponsive in his garage with a running car. He has a cherry-red skin color
and a heart rate of 120 bpm. What is the priority intervention?
A) Administer 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask
B) Initiate high-flow oxygen via a bag-valve mask
C) Administer sodium bicarbonate
D) Start an IV with normal saline
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* A) Administer 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Cherry-red skin indicates carbon monoxide poisoning; high-flow O2 is the antidote.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Sodium bicarbonate is for acidosis secondary to prolonged hypoxia.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Carbon monoxide poisoning requires immediate high-flow oxygen.
---
*QUESTION 2:*
A 30-year-old male is in cardiac arrest. The cardiac monitor shows ventricular fibrillation. What is the
first step in management?
A) Administer epinephrine
B) Perform immediate defibrillation
C) Begin chest compressions
,D) Administer amiodarone
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* B) Perform immediate defibrillation
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* VF is a shockable rhythm requiring immediate defibrillation.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Epinephrine and amiodarone are given after the first shock.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Defibrillate VF/pulseless VT as soon as possible.
---
*QUESTION 3:*
A paramedic is assessing a patient with a suspected stroke. The patient has left-sided weakness, facial
droop, and slurred speech. What is the most appropriate next step?
A) Administer aspirin
B) Obtain a CT scan of the head
C) Perform a stroke scale and determine time of onset
D) Administer thrombolytics
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* C) Perform a stroke scale and determine time of onset
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Time of onset is critical for thrombolytic eligibility.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Aspirin is given, but time is the most important initial assessment.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Identify the time of symptom onset for stroke treatment.
---
*QUESTION 4:*
A 45-year-old female is in anaphylaxis after a bee sting. She has stridor, wheezing, and hypotension.
What is the first medication to administer?
A) Diphenhydramine
,B) Epinephrine 0.3 mg IM
C) Albuterol nebulizer
D) Methylprednisolone IV
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* B) Epinephrine 0.3 mg IM
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Anaphylaxis with respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms requires IM
epinephrine.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Antihistamines and corticosteroids are adjunctive and not first-line.
> * *Core Takeaway:* IM epinephrine is the life-saving treatment for anaphylaxis.
---
*QUESTION 5:*
A 60-year-old male with chest pain is given nitroglycerin sublingually. What is the most important
assessment before administering this medication?
A) Heart rate
B) Blood pressure
C) Respiratory rate
D) EKG rhythm
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* B) Blood pressure
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Nitroglycerin can cause hypotension; BP should be >100 mmHg systolic.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Nitroglycerin is not given if the patient is hypotensive.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Check BP before administering nitroglycerin.
---
*QUESTION 6:*
, A 5-year-old child is in respiratory distress with a barking cough and stridor. The child is afebrile and
drooling. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Epiglottitis
B) Croup
C) Foreign body aspiration
D) Bacterial tracheitis
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* A) Epiglottitis
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Drooling and stridor with no fever suggest epiglottitis in a child.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Croup has a barking cough but no drooling; foreign body has sudden onset.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Epiglottitis is a life-threatening airway emergency.
---
*QUESTION 7:*
A 25-year-old male has a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He is hypotensive and has a rigid abdomen.
What is the most appropriate fluid resuscitation?
A) 0.9% normal saline
B) Lactated Ringer's solution
C) 5% dextrose in water
D) 3% hypertonic saline
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* A) 0.9% normal saline
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Normal saline is the preferred crystalloid for trauma resuscitation.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Dextrose is not a volume expander; hypertonic saline is not first-line.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Isotonic crystalloids are standard for trauma resuscitation.
Packages (91 Questions)
---
*QUESTION 1:*
A 55-year-old male is found unresponsive in his garage with a running car. He has a cherry-red skin color
and a heart rate of 120 bpm. What is the priority intervention?
A) Administer 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask
B) Initiate high-flow oxygen via a bag-valve mask
C) Administer sodium bicarbonate
D) Start an IV with normal saline
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* A) Administer 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Cherry-red skin indicates carbon monoxide poisoning; high-flow O2 is the antidote.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Sodium bicarbonate is for acidosis secondary to prolonged hypoxia.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Carbon monoxide poisoning requires immediate high-flow oxygen.
---
*QUESTION 2:*
A 30-year-old male is in cardiac arrest. The cardiac monitor shows ventricular fibrillation. What is the
first step in management?
A) Administer epinephrine
B) Perform immediate defibrillation
C) Begin chest compressions
,D) Administer amiodarone
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* B) Perform immediate defibrillation
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* VF is a shockable rhythm requiring immediate defibrillation.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Epinephrine and amiodarone are given after the first shock.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Defibrillate VF/pulseless VT as soon as possible.
---
*QUESTION 3:*
A paramedic is assessing a patient with a suspected stroke. The patient has left-sided weakness, facial
droop, and slurred speech. What is the most appropriate next step?
A) Administer aspirin
B) Obtain a CT scan of the head
C) Perform a stroke scale and determine time of onset
D) Administer thrombolytics
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* C) Perform a stroke scale and determine time of onset
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Time of onset is critical for thrombolytic eligibility.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Aspirin is given, but time is the most important initial assessment.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Identify the time of symptom onset for stroke treatment.
---
*QUESTION 4:*
A 45-year-old female is in anaphylaxis after a bee sting. She has stridor, wheezing, and hypotension.
What is the first medication to administer?
A) Diphenhydramine
,B) Epinephrine 0.3 mg IM
C) Albuterol nebulizer
D) Methylprednisolone IV
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* B) Epinephrine 0.3 mg IM
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Anaphylaxis with respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms requires IM
epinephrine.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Antihistamines and corticosteroids are adjunctive and not first-line.
> * *Core Takeaway:* IM epinephrine is the life-saving treatment for anaphylaxis.
---
*QUESTION 5:*
A 60-year-old male with chest pain is given nitroglycerin sublingually. What is the most important
assessment before administering this medication?
A) Heart rate
B) Blood pressure
C) Respiratory rate
D) EKG rhythm
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* B) Blood pressure
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Nitroglycerin can cause hypotension; BP should be >100 mmHg systolic.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Nitroglycerin is not given if the patient is hypotensive.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Check BP before administering nitroglycerin.
---
*QUESTION 6:*
, A 5-year-old child is in respiratory distress with a barking cough and stridor. The child is afebrile and
drooling. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Epiglottitis
B) Croup
C) Foreign body aspiration
D) Bacterial tracheitis
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* A) Epiglottitis
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Drooling and stridor with no fever suggest epiglottitis in a child.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Croup has a barking cough but no drooling; foreign body has sudden onset.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Epiglottitis is a life-threatening airway emergency.
---
*QUESTION 7:*
A 25-year-old male has a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He is hypotensive and has a rigid abdomen.
What is the most appropriate fluid resuscitation?
A) 0.9% normal saline
B) Lactated Ringer's solution
C) 5% dextrose in water
D) 3% hypertonic saline
> 🎯 *CORRECT ANSWER:* A) 0.9% normal saline
> 💡 *CLINICAL RATIONALE:*
> * *Why It's Right:* Normal saline is the preferred crystalloid for trauma resuscitation.
> * *Why Distractors Fail:* Dextrose is not a volume expander; hypertonic saline is not first-line.
> * *Core Takeaway:* Isotonic crystalloids are standard for trauma resuscitation.
