West Coast EMT Block Exam Questions and Answers 2026
Complete EMT Certification Exam Prep Airway, Shock,
Pharmacology & Patient Assessment
A young male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during an altercation. As your partner is
assessing and managing his airway, you should control the obvious bleeding and then:
Select one:
A. auscultate bowel sounds.
B. assess for an exit wound.
C. apply a cervical collar.
D. obtain baseline vital signs. - The correct answer is B. assess for an exit wound.
According to the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), an adult trauma
patient should be transported to the highest level of trauma center if he or she:
Select one:
A. was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another patient in the same vehicle was killed.
B. has a systolic blood pressure of less than 110 mm Hg or a heart rate greater than 110 beats/min.
C. has a bleeding disorder or takes anticoagulant medications and has any blunt or penetrating injury.
D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism attributed to trauma. - The correct
answer is D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism attributed to trauma.
,According to the Association of Air Medical Services, you should consider air medical transport of a
trauma patient if:
Select one:
A. the patient requires advanced life support care and stabilization, and the nearest ALS-ground
ambulance is more than 5 to 10 minutes away.
B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the
ideal time frame for the best clinical outcome.
C. ground transport will take your ambulance out of service for an extended period of time,
regardless of the severity of the patient's injuries.
D. he or she was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another occupant in the same vehicle
was killed, even if your patient's injuries are minor. - The correct answer is B. traffic conditions hamper
the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best
clinical outcome.
A 12-year-old male jumped approximately 12 feet from a tree and landed on his feet. He complains of
pain to his lower back. What injury mechanism is MOST likely responsible for his back pain?
Select one:
A. Lateral impact to the spine
B. Secondary fall after the initial impact
C. Direct trauma to the spinal column
D. Energy transmission to the spine - The correct answer is D. Energy transmission to the spine
A 15-year-old female was struck by a small car while riding her bicycle. She was wearing a helmet and
was thrown to the ground, striking her head. In addition to managing problems associated with airway,
breathing, and circulation, it is MOST important for you to:
Select one:
A. leave her bicycle helmet on.
,B. obtain baseline vital signs.
C. stabilize her entire spine.
D. inspect the helmet for cracks. - The correct answer is C. stabilize her entire spine.
Approximately 25% of severe injuries to the aorta occur during:
Select one:
A. frontal collisions.
B. rollover collisions.
C. rear-end collisions.
D. lateral collisions. - The correct answer is D. lateral collisions.
Following a blunt injury to the head, a 22-year-old female is confused and complains of a severe
headache and nausea. On the basis of these signs and symptoms, you should be MOST concerned with
the possibility of:
, Select one:
A. a fracture of the skull.
B. airway compromise.
C. intracranial bleeding.
D. spinal cord injury. - The correct answer is C. intracranial bleeding.
Force acting over a distance is the definition of:
Select one:
A. work.
B. latent energy.
C. kinetic energy.
D. potential energy. - The correct answer is A. work.
The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
A. the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
B. a predictable pattern that leads to serious injuries.
C. your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
D. the way in which traumatic injuries occur. - The correct answer is C. your awareness and concern for
potentially serious underlying injuries.
When assessing a patient who experienced a blast injury, it is important to remember that:
Select one:
A. solid organs usually rupture from the pressure wave.
B. secondary blast injuries are usually the least obvious.
C. primary blast injuries are the most easily overlooked.
Complete EMT Certification Exam Prep Airway, Shock,
Pharmacology & Patient Assessment
A young male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen during an altercation. As your partner is
assessing and managing his airway, you should control the obvious bleeding and then:
Select one:
A. auscultate bowel sounds.
B. assess for an exit wound.
C. apply a cervical collar.
D. obtain baseline vital signs. - The correct answer is B. assess for an exit wound.
According to the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), an adult trauma
patient should be transported to the highest level of trauma center if he or she:
Select one:
A. was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another patient in the same vehicle was killed.
B. has a systolic blood pressure of less than 110 mm Hg or a heart rate greater than 110 beats/min.
C. has a bleeding disorder or takes anticoagulant medications and has any blunt or penetrating injury.
D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism attributed to trauma. - The correct
answer is D. has a GCS score of less than or equal to 13 with a mechanism attributed to trauma.
,According to the Association of Air Medical Services, you should consider air medical transport of a
trauma patient if:
Select one:
A. the patient requires advanced life support care and stabilization, and the nearest ALS-ground
ambulance is more than 5 to 10 minutes away.
B. traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the
ideal time frame for the best clinical outcome.
C. ground transport will take your ambulance out of service for an extended period of time,
regardless of the severity of the patient's injuries.
D. he or she was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which another occupant in the same vehicle
was killed, even if your patient's injuries are minor. - The correct answer is B. traffic conditions hamper
the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best
clinical outcome.
A 12-year-old male jumped approximately 12 feet from a tree and landed on his feet. He complains of
pain to his lower back. What injury mechanism is MOST likely responsible for his back pain?
Select one:
A. Lateral impact to the spine
B. Secondary fall after the initial impact
C. Direct trauma to the spinal column
D. Energy transmission to the spine - The correct answer is D. Energy transmission to the spine
A 15-year-old female was struck by a small car while riding her bicycle. She was wearing a helmet and
was thrown to the ground, striking her head. In addition to managing problems associated with airway,
breathing, and circulation, it is MOST important for you to:
Select one:
A. leave her bicycle helmet on.
,B. obtain baseline vital signs.
C. stabilize her entire spine.
D. inspect the helmet for cracks. - The correct answer is C. stabilize her entire spine.
Approximately 25% of severe injuries to the aorta occur during:
Select one:
A. frontal collisions.
B. rollover collisions.
C. rear-end collisions.
D. lateral collisions. - The correct answer is D. lateral collisions.
Following a blunt injury to the head, a 22-year-old female is confused and complains of a severe
headache and nausea. On the basis of these signs and symptoms, you should be MOST concerned with
the possibility of:
, Select one:
A. a fracture of the skull.
B. airway compromise.
C. intracranial bleeding.
D. spinal cord injury. - The correct answer is C. intracranial bleeding.
Force acting over a distance is the definition of:
Select one:
A. work.
B. latent energy.
C. kinetic energy.
D. potential energy. - The correct answer is A. work.
The index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
A. the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
B. a predictable pattern that leads to serious injuries.
C. your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
D. the way in which traumatic injuries occur. - The correct answer is C. your awareness and concern for
potentially serious underlying injuries.
When assessing a patient who experienced a blast injury, it is important to remember that:
Select one:
A. solid organs usually rupture from the pressure wave.
B. secondary blast injuries are usually the least obvious.
C. primary blast injuries are the most easily overlooked.
