Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)
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1. Which of the following is a true statement of EMD?
A) EMDs are responsible for providing medical advice over the phone
B) EMDs must be certified paramedics
C) EMDs are the first link in the emergency medical services chain
D) None of the statements are true
Answer: C
Rationale: Emergency Medical Dispatch is the first link in the chain of survival for EMS.
EMDs provide critical pre-arrival instructions and prioritize responses to ensure the right
resources reach the right patient at the right time .
2. It is the EMD's responsibility to determine the nature and severity of the
incident.
A) True
B) False
Answer: A
Rationale: One of the primary responsibilities of the EMD is to assess the nature and
severity of the medical incident through systematic caller interrogation in order to
dispatch the appropriate response .
,3. Because an EMD should only focus on pre-arrival instructions, they are not
responsible for others involved in the incident.
A) True
B) False
Answer: B
Rationale: EMDs have a broad responsibility that includes managing the entire call,
gathering information from all parties, and ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Pre-
arrival instructions are one component of the EMD's role .
4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a successful EMD?
A) Ability to remain calm under pressure
B) Excellent communication skills
C) Ability to match hostility
D) Compassion for others
Answer: C
Rationale: A successful EMD should have compassion, the ability to remain calm, and
strong communication skills. "Ability to match hostility" is incorrect, as a professional EMD
should de-escalate and manage hostile callers with empathy and control .
5. EMD is an essential component of EMS because...
A) It reduces emergency response times
B) It allows for patient care to begin at the point of initial call
C) It eliminates the need for paramedics
D) It replaces on-scene medical assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: EMD allows for patient care to begin at the point of initial call through pre-
arrival instructions. This is critical because the EMD is often the first point of contact and
can provide life-saving instructions before responders arrive .
,6. What are the two primary purposes of EMD programs?
A) Managing resources and providing medical assistance
B) Reducing call volume and increasing response times
C) Dispatching police and fire
D) Collecting data and billing
Answer: A
Rationale: The two primary purposes of EMD programs are managing emergency
resources effectively and providing pre-arrival medical assistance to callers before
responders arrive .
7. The goal of EMD is to achieve the "5 Rights" of dispatch. Which of the following
is NOT one of the 5 Rights?
A) Right resources
B) Right person
C) Right time
D) Right cost
Answer: D
Rationale: The "5 Rights" of dispatch are: Right Resources, Right Person, Right Time, Right
Way, and Right Things. "Right cost" is not one of the 5 Rights .
8. An EMS system with more than one level of response is known as:
A) Tiered response
B) Single response
C) Parallel response
D) Integrated response
Answer: A
Rationale: A tiered response system utilizes multiple levels of response (e.g., BLS and ALS)
to match the appropriate resources to the patient's condition .
, 9. Which of the following is a true statement of EMS "lights and sirens" response?
A) It always results in faster patient transport
B) It significantly reduces response times in all cases
C) It can increase risk to the public and responders
D) All of the above
Answer: C
Rationale: Lights and sirens response (hot response) increases risk to both the public and
emergency responders. Research has shown that the time saved is often minimal
compared to the increased risk of collision .
10. The nature of a medical emergency is determined by an EMD through:
A) Visual assessment of the scene
B) Use of the EMD Protocol Reference System (EMDPRS)
C) Medical history of the patient
D) Caller's emotional state
Answer: B
Rationale: EMDs use the EMDPRS (or MPDS protocols) to systematically determine the
nature and severity of a medical emergency through structured caller interrogation .
11. Pre-arrival instructions are provided to the caller using which system?
A) CPR guidelines
B) EMDPRS
C) First aid manual
D) Caller's own judgment
Answer: B
Rationale: The EMD uses the EMDPRS (Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocol Reference
System) to provide standardized, medically approved pre-arrival instructions to the caller .
Test Bank | Final Exam, Practice Exam
& Study Guide | 300+ Verified
Questions & Correct Answers | Latest
Update | A+ Graded
1. Which of the following is a true statement of EMD?
A) EMDs are responsible for providing medical advice over the phone
B) EMDs must be certified paramedics
C) EMDs are the first link in the emergency medical services chain
D) None of the statements are true
Answer: C
Rationale: Emergency Medical Dispatch is the first link in the chain of survival for EMS.
EMDs provide critical pre-arrival instructions and prioritize responses to ensure the right
resources reach the right patient at the right time .
2. It is the EMD's responsibility to determine the nature and severity of the
incident.
A) True
B) False
Answer: A
Rationale: One of the primary responsibilities of the EMD is to assess the nature and
severity of the medical incident through systematic caller interrogation in order to
dispatch the appropriate response .
,3. Because an EMD should only focus on pre-arrival instructions, they are not
responsible for others involved in the incident.
A) True
B) False
Answer: B
Rationale: EMDs have a broad responsibility that includes managing the entire call,
gathering information from all parties, and ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Pre-
arrival instructions are one component of the EMD's role .
4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a successful EMD?
A) Ability to remain calm under pressure
B) Excellent communication skills
C) Ability to match hostility
D) Compassion for others
Answer: C
Rationale: A successful EMD should have compassion, the ability to remain calm, and
strong communication skills. "Ability to match hostility" is incorrect, as a professional EMD
should de-escalate and manage hostile callers with empathy and control .
5. EMD is an essential component of EMS because...
A) It reduces emergency response times
B) It allows for patient care to begin at the point of initial call
C) It eliminates the need for paramedics
D) It replaces on-scene medical assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: EMD allows for patient care to begin at the point of initial call through pre-
arrival instructions. This is critical because the EMD is often the first point of contact and
can provide life-saving instructions before responders arrive .
,6. What are the two primary purposes of EMD programs?
A) Managing resources and providing medical assistance
B) Reducing call volume and increasing response times
C) Dispatching police and fire
D) Collecting data and billing
Answer: A
Rationale: The two primary purposes of EMD programs are managing emergency
resources effectively and providing pre-arrival medical assistance to callers before
responders arrive .
7. The goal of EMD is to achieve the "5 Rights" of dispatch. Which of the following
is NOT one of the 5 Rights?
A) Right resources
B) Right person
C) Right time
D) Right cost
Answer: D
Rationale: The "5 Rights" of dispatch are: Right Resources, Right Person, Right Time, Right
Way, and Right Things. "Right cost" is not one of the 5 Rights .
8. An EMS system with more than one level of response is known as:
A) Tiered response
B) Single response
C) Parallel response
D) Integrated response
Answer: A
Rationale: A tiered response system utilizes multiple levels of response (e.g., BLS and ALS)
to match the appropriate resources to the patient's condition .
, 9. Which of the following is a true statement of EMS "lights and sirens" response?
A) It always results in faster patient transport
B) It significantly reduces response times in all cases
C) It can increase risk to the public and responders
D) All of the above
Answer: C
Rationale: Lights and sirens response (hot response) increases risk to both the public and
emergency responders. Research has shown that the time saved is often minimal
compared to the increased risk of collision .
10. The nature of a medical emergency is determined by an EMD through:
A) Visual assessment of the scene
B) Use of the EMD Protocol Reference System (EMDPRS)
C) Medical history of the patient
D) Caller's emotional state
Answer: B
Rationale: EMDs use the EMDPRS (or MPDS protocols) to systematically determine the
nature and severity of a medical emergency through structured caller interrogation .
11. Pre-arrival instructions are provided to the caller using which system?
A) CPR guidelines
B) EMDPRS
C) First aid manual
D) Caller's own judgment
Answer: B
Rationale: The EMD uses the EMDPRS (Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocol Reference
System) to provide standardized, medically approved pre-arrival instructions to the caller .
