EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN: AIRWAY MANAGEMENT
AND PATIENT ASSESSMENT COMPLETE CERTIFICATION
PREP | UPDATED NEW VERSION 2026/2027 || GRADED A+
When attempting to ventilate a patient with a flow - restricted, oxygen - powered
ventilation device, the patient's chest does not rise. You should:
a. Increase the oxygen flow from 40 L per minute to 100 L per minute
b. Occlude the pressure relief valve with your thumb
c. Reposition the head and neck and ensure a tight mask seal
d. Increase the ventilation time from 1 - 2 seconds - CORRECT ANSWER - c.
Reposition the head and neck and ensure a tight mask seal
The oxygen flow is delivered at a constant 40 L per minute and cannot be altered.
The inspiratory pressure control valve opens at 60 cm of water pressure. Increasing
the ventilation time will not correct the problem if it is caused by improper head
position or mask seal. If, after the head position and mask seal have been checked,
the chest is still not rising, an airway obstruction must be considered.
When sizing an OPA for insertion in a 48-year-old male, which sizing technique is
most appropriate?
a. The OPA should fit between the corner of the mouth and the angle of the jaw.
b. The OPA should be large enough that the lips do not seal shut when properly
inserted.
c. You should measure the OPA from the center of the mouth to the angle of the
jaw.
,d. You should measure the OPA from the tip of the nose to the angle of the jaw. -
CORRECT ANSWER - c. You should measure the OPA from the center of the
mouth to the angle of the jaw.
There are two measuring techniques for the OPA; either is appropriate. Thefirst is
to measure the OPA from the center of the mouth to the angle of the jaw. The other
is to measure from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe on the same side of the
face. While the length is measured, there is no measuring technique for the size as
it relates tothe mouth opening.
You are preparing to suction blood from the mouth of a 21-year-old patient. What
catheter should be used?
a. Soft
b. Rigid
c. French
d. Bulb - CORRECT ANSWER - b. Rigid
A hard or rigid suction catheter - also known as a tonsil tip, tonsil sucker, or
Yankauer - is the preferred catheter for performing oropharyngeal suctioning. The
soft or French catheter is usually used to suction the nose or nasopharynx. If the
teeth are clenched partially closed and a rigid catheter cannot be inserted, the soft
suction catheter can be used to suction the oropharynx.
A properly sized nasopharyngeal airway should:
a. Fit snugly in the nostril with the proximal and extended 2 inches beyond the tip
of the nose
b. Fit loosely in the nostril with the distal and extended 2 inches beyond the base of
the tongue
,c. Be seated firmly in the nare with the proximal flange seated against the nostril
d. Seated tightly against the nostril with enough pressure to blanch the surrounding
skin - CORRECT ANSWER - c. Be seated firmly in the nare with the
proximal flange seated against the nostril
Blanching occurs when the nasal opening becomes white. The presence of
blanching at the nasal opening indicates that the nasopharyngeal airway is too
large. This is a result of blood being forced from the area from excessive pressure.
The airway should be inserted until the flange is seated firmly on the nostril.
Which of the following patients is most likely about to lose total airway patency,
thereby requiring immediate intervention by the EMT?
a. A 98-year-old female with brain cancer who is confused
b. A 29-year-old female in active labor who is complaining of severe pain
c. A 68-year-old male seizing with sonorous sounds heard with each breath
d. A 52-year-old male who is intoxicated and has recurrent vomiting -
CORRECT ANSWER - c. A 68-year-old male seizing with sonorous sounds
heard with each breath
Airway patency is an absolute requirement for patient survival. An indicationof
partial upper airway occlusion is sonorous breath sounds (snoring). While the
unresponsive female and intoxicated male may deteriorate more, as of yet they are
not showing indications of partial airway occlusion. The active labor patient also
does not showindications of acute airway deterioration.
Which of the following signs would help you differentiate respiratory distress from
respiratory failure?
a. Altered mental status
, b. Increased respiratory rate
c. Accessory muscle use
d. Increased heart rate - CORRECT ANSWER - a. Altered mental status
In both respiratory distress and respiratory failure the patient is experiencing a
challenge to respiratory system function. However, the difference is that in
respiratory distress the patient is able to compensate for the respiratory challenge,
whereas in respiratory failure the patient is unable to fully compensate for the
challenge and begins to exhibit signs such as altered mental status. Increased
respiratory rate, accessory muscle use, and increased heart rate can be seen in both
respiratory distress and respiratory failure; however, in respiratory failure, those
compensatory mechanisms are no longer sufficient to support life/overcome the
respiratory challenge.
When performing a maneuver on an infant to open the airway, the head should be:
a. Hyperextended to allow better movement of the tongue
b. Kept in a neutral position or slightly extended
c. Flexed forward to avoid kinking the trachea
d. Maximally extended with the shoulders elevated - CORRECT ANSWER -
b. Kept in a neutral position or slightly extended
Due to the underdeveloped structures of the upper airway in the infant, the head
should be kept in a neutral position or slightly extended when performing a head -
tilt, chin - lift maneuver. Hyperextending the head can actually cause the trachea to
become occluded, causing an airway obstruction. Flexing the head could occlude
the airway by allowing the tongue to fall backward.
AND PATIENT ASSESSMENT COMPLETE CERTIFICATION
PREP | UPDATED NEW VERSION 2026/2027 || GRADED A+
When attempting to ventilate a patient with a flow - restricted, oxygen - powered
ventilation device, the patient's chest does not rise. You should:
a. Increase the oxygen flow from 40 L per minute to 100 L per minute
b. Occlude the pressure relief valve with your thumb
c. Reposition the head and neck and ensure a tight mask seal
d. Increase the ventilation time from 1 - 2 seconds - CORRECT ANSWER - c.
Reposition the head and neck and ensure a tight mask seal
The oxygen flow is delivered at a constant 40 L per minute and cannot be altered.
The inspiratory pressure control valve opens at 60 cm of water pressure. Increasing
the ventilation time will not correct the problem if it is caused by improper head
position or mask seal. If, after the head position and mask seal have been checked,
the chest is still not rising, an airway obstruction must be considered.
When sizing an OPA for insertion in a 48-year-old male, which sizing technique is
most appropriate?
a. The OPA should fit between the corner of the mouth and the angle of the jaw.
b. The OPA should be large enough that the lips do not seal shut when properly
inserted.
c. You should measure the OPA from the center of the mouth to the angle of the
jaw.
,d. You should measure the OPA from the tip of the nose to the angle of the jaw. -
CORRECT ANSWER - c. You should measure the OPA from the center of the
mouth to the angle of the jaw.
There are two measuring techniques for the OPA; either is appropriate. Thefirst is
to measure the OPA from the center of the mouth to the angle of the jaw. The other
is to measure from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe on the same side of the
face. While the length is measured, there is no measuring technique for the size as
it relates tothe mouth opening.
You are preparing to suction blood from the mouth of a 21-year-old patient. What
catheter should be used?
a. Soft
b. Rigid
c. French
d. Bulb - CORRECT ANSWER - b. Rigid
A hard or rigid suction catheter - also known as a tonsil tip, tonsil sucker, or
Yankauer - is the preferred catheter for performing oropharyngeal suctioning. The
soft or French catheter is usually used to suction the nose or nasopharynx. If the
teeth are clenched partially closed and a rigid catheter cannot be inserted, the soft
suction catheter can be used to suction the oropharynx.
A properly sized nasopharyngeal airway should:
a. Fit snugly in the nostril with the proximal and extended 2 inches beyond the tip
of the nose
b. Fit loosely in the nostril with the distal and extended 2 inches beyond the base of
the tongue
,c. Be seated firmly in the nare with the proximal flange seated against the nostril
d. Seated tightly against the nostril with enough pressure to blanch the surrounding
skin - CORRECT ANSWER - c. Be seated firmly in the nare with the
proximal flange seated against the nostril
Blanching occurs when the nasal opening becomes white. The presence of
blanching at the nasal opening indicates that the nasopharyngeal airway is too
large. This is a result of blood being forced from the area from excessive pressure.
The airway should be inserted until the flange is seated firmly on the nostril.
Which of the following patients is most likely about to lose total airway patency,
thereby requiring immediate intervention by the EMT?
a. A 98-year-old female with brain cancer who is confused
b. A 29-year-old female in active labor who is complaining of severe pain
c. A 68-year-old male seizing with sonorous sounds heard with each breath
d. A 52-year-old male who is intoxicated and has recurrent vomiting -
CORRECT ANSWER - c. A 68-year-old male seizing with sonorous sounds
heard with each breath
Airway patency is an absolute requirement for patient survival. An indicationof
partial upper airway occlusion is sonorous breath sounds (snoring). While the
unresponsive female and intoxicated male may deteriorate more, as of yet they are
not showing indications of partial airway occlusion. The active labor patient also
does not showindications of acute airway deterioration.
Which of the following signs would help you differentiate respiratory distress from
respiratory failure?
a. Altered mental status
, b. Increased respiratory rate
c. Accessory muscle use
d. Increased heart rate - CORRECT ANSWER - a. Altered mental status
In both respiratory distress and respiratory failure the patient is experiencing a
challenge to respiratory system function. However, the difference is that in
respiratory distress the patient is able to compensate for the respiratory challenge,
whereas in respiratory failure the patient is unable to fully compensate for the
challenge and begins to exhibit signs such as altered mental status. Increased
respiratory rate, accessory muscle use, and increased heart rate can be seen in both
respiratory distress and respiratory failure; however, in respiratory failure, those
compensatory mechanisms are no longer sufficient to support life/overcome the
respiratory challenge.
When performing a maneuver on an infant to open the airway, the head should be:
a. Hyperextended to allow better movement of the tongue
b. Kept in a neutral position or slightly extended
c. Flexed forward to avoid kinking the trachea
d. Maximally extended with the shoulders elevated - CORRECT ANSWER -
b. Kept in a neutral position or slightly extended
Due to the underdeveloped structures of the upper airway in the infant, the head
should be kept in a neutral position or slightly extended when performing a head -
tilt, chin - lift maneuver. Hyperextending the head can actually cause the trachea to
become occluded, causing an airway obstruction. Flexing the head could occlude
the airway by allowing the tongue to fall backward.
