WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 2 EXAM
150 Practice Questions with Answers
& Rationales
### AIRWAY MANAGEMENT & RESPIRATORY CARE
**1. The EMT should assess a patient's tidal volume by:**
A. assessing the facial area for cyanosis
B. counting the patient's respiratory rate
C. observing for adequate chest rise
D. measuring the patient's oxygen saturation
**Answer: C. observing for adequate chest rise**
**Rationale:** Tidal volume is the volume of air moved into or out of
the lungs in a single breath. It is best assessed by observing for
adequate chest rise. If chest rise is shallow, tidal volume is likely
reduced. Cyanosis, rate, and SpO2 provide additional information but
do not directly measure tidal volume .
,---
**2. In an otherwise healthy individual, the primary stimulus to breathe
is:**
A. decreased level of oxygen in the blood
B. increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood
C. decreased level of carbon dioxide in the blood
D. increased level of oxygen in the blood
**Answer: B. increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood**
**Rationale:** Under control of the brain stem, rising levels of carbon
dioxide in arterial blood normally stimulate breathing in an otherwise
healthy patient. This is the primary respiratory drive mechanism .
---
**3. Signs of adequate breathing in the adult include all of the
following, EXCEPT:**
A. pink, warm, dry skin
B. shallow chest rise
C. symmetrical chest movement
,D. a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
**Answer: B. shallow chest rise**
**Rationale:** Shallow chest rise indicates reduced tidal volume, which
is a sign of inadequate breathing. Signs of adequate breathing include
pink/warm/dry skin, symmetrical chest movement, and a respiratory
rate between 12-20 breaths/min .
---
**4. During insertion of an oropharyngeal airway into an unconscious
patient, she begins to vomit. The first thing you should do is:**
A. remove the airway at once
B. suction the patient's mouth
C. turn the patient on her side
D. use a smaller-sized oral airway
**Answer: C. turn the patient on her side**
**Rationale:** If a patient vomits during airway insertion, immediately
turn the patient on their side to allow vomit to drain and prevent
aspiration. Removing the airway or suctioning comes after positioning .
, ---
**5. A patient is found unconscious after falling from a third-floor
window. His respirations are slow and irregular. You should:**
A. place him in the recovery position
B. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask
C. suction his airway for up to 15 seconds
D. assist his breathing with a bag-mask device
**Answer: D. assist his breathing with a bag-mask device**
**Rationale:** Slow, irregular respirations indicate inadequate
breathing. The patient requires positive-pressure ventilation with a bag-
valve mask attached to 100% oxygen .
---
**6. When ventilating an apneic adult with a bag-valve mask, you
should squeeze the bag:**
A. until it is empty
B. over a period of 2 seconds
C. at a rate of 20 breaths/min
D. until visible chest rise is noted
150 Practice Questions with Answers
& Rationales
### AIRWAY MANAGEMENT & RESPIRATORY CARE
**1. The EMT should assess a patient's tidal volume by:**
A. assessing the facial area for cyanosis
B. counting the patient's respiratory rate
C. observing for adequate chest rise
D. measuring the patient's oxygen saturation
**Answer: C. observing for adequate chest rise**
**Rationale:** Tidal volume is the volume of air moved into or out of
the lungs in a single breath. It is best assessed by observing for
adequate chest rise. If chest rise is shallow, tidal volume is likely
reduced. Cyanosis, rate, and SpO2 provide additional information but
do not directly measure tidal volume .
,---
**2. In an otherwise healthy individual, the primary stimulus to breathe
is:**
A. decreased level of oxygen in the blood
B. increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood
C. decreased level of carbon dioxide in the blood
D. increased level of oxygen in the blood
**Answer: B. increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood**
**Rationale:** Under control of the brain stem, rising levels of carbon
dioxide in arterial blood normally stimulate breathing in an otherwise
healthy patient. This is the primary respiratory drive mechanism .
---
**3. Signs of adequate breathing in the adult include all of the
following, EXCEPT:**
A. pink, warm, dry skin
B. shallow chest rise
C. symmetrical chest movement
,D. a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
**Answer: B. shallow chest rise**
**Rationale:** Shallow chest rise indicates reduced tidal volume, which
is a sign of inadequate breathing. Signs of adequate breathing include
pink/warm/dry skin, symmetrical chest movement, and a respiratory
rate between 12-20 breaths/min .
---
**4. During insertion of an oropharyngeal airway into an unconscious
patient, she begins to vomit. The first thing you should do is:**
A. remove the airway at once
B. suction the patient's mouth
C. turn the patient on her side
D. use a smaller-sized oral airway
**Answer: C. turn the patient on her side**
**Rationale:** If a patient vomits during airway insertion, immediately
turn the patient on their side to allow vomit to drain and prevent
aspiration. Removing the airway or suctioning comes after positioning .
, ---
**5. A patient is found unconscious after falling from a third-floor
window. His respirations are slow and irregular. You should:**
A. place him in the recovery position
B. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask
C. suction his airway for up to 15 seconds
D. assist his breathing with a bag-mask device
**Answer: D. assist his breathing with a bag-mask device**
**Rationale:** Slow, irregular respirations indicate inadequate
breathing. The patient requires positive-pressure ventilation with a bag-
valve mask attached to 100% oxygen .
---
**6. When ventilating an apneic adult with a bag-valve mask, you
should squeeze the bag:**
A. until it is empty
B. over a period of 2 seconds
C. at a rate of 20 breaths/min
D. until visible chest rise is noted
