WEST COAST EMT Exam Study
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers with
Rationales. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
The EMT should assess a patient's tidal volume by?
A. observing for adequate chest rise
B. assessing the facial area for cyanosis
C. counting the patient's respiratory rate
D. measuring the patient's oxygen saturation - Answer✔✔-A. Observing for
adequate chest rise
Tidal volume- the volume of air that is moved in or out of lungs by single
breath- observed by adequate chest rise. If rise is shallow, tidal volume is likely
reduced.
In an otherwise healthy individual, the primary stimulus to breath is a(n):
A. increased level of oxygen in the blood
B. decreased level of oxygen in the blood
C. increased level of carbon dioxide in blood
,D. decreased level of carbon dioxide in blood - Answer✔✔-C. increased level of
carbon dioxide in blood
Under control of the brain stem, rising levels of carbon dioxide in the arterial
blood normally stimulate breathing in an otherwise healthy patient.
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
shallow chest rise= reduced tidal volume
During insertion of an oropharyngeal airway into an unconscious patient, she
begins to vomit. The first thing you should do is:
A. turn the patient on her side.
B. remove the airway at once.
C. suction the patient's mouth.
D. use a smaller-sized oral airway. - Answer✔✔-A. turn the patient on their side
allows vomit to drain
In which of the following patients would a nasopharyngeal airway be
contraindicated?
A. a semiconscious patient with a gag reflex
B. an unconscious patient with an intact gag reflex
C. a patient who fell 20 feet and lander on their head
,D. an unconscious patient who gags when you insert an oral airway -
Answer✔✔-C. a patient who fell 20 feet and lander on their head
contraindication with patients with severe head or facial injuries
You are delivering oxygen to a patient with a nasal cannula at 4L/min when he
begins to complain of a burning sensation in his nose. You should:
A. remove the nasal cannula
B. apply a nonrebreathing masks
C. attach oxygen humidifier
D. increase the flow rate to 6 L/min - Answer✔✔-C. attach an oxygen
humidifier
administering "dry" oxygen especially over a prolonged period can results in
drying of nasal membranes
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-valve mask device - Answer✔✔-D. assist his
breathing with a bag-valve mask device
slow/irregular breaths= inadequate oxygen
When ventilating an apneic adult with a simple barrier device, you should
squeeze the bag:
A. until its empty
B. over a period of 2 seconds
, C. at a rate of 20 breaths/min
D. until visible chest rise is noted - Answer✔✔-D. until visible chest rise is
noted
You and your partner are ventilating an apneic adult when you notice that is
stomach is becoming distended. You should:
A. suction his airy for up to 15 seconds
B. reposition his head
C. increase the rate and volume
D. decreased ventilation rate but increase the volume - Answer✔✔-B.
reposition his head
gastric distention occurs when air enters the stomach
You are managing a 62yr old who complains of crushing chest pain. Her BP is
84/64 with HR of 110. Medical control advises you to assist in her taking her
prescribed nitroglycerin. You should:
A. reassess the HR then assisted with nitro
B. repeat the BP to DR and confirm order
C. wait 10 mins, reassess BP, then give nitro
D. administer the nitro and reassess BP - Answer✔✔-B. Repeat the BP to DR
and confirm order
Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator and lowers BP, contraindication in BP <100
Activated charcoal is indicated for patients who ingested certain drugs/toxins
because it:
A. acts as direct reversal agent for most meds
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers with
Rationales. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
The EMT should assess a patient's tidal volume by?
A. observing for adequate chest rise
B. assessing the facial area for cyanosis
C. counting the patient's respiratory rate
D. measuring the patient's oxygen saturation - Answer✔✔-A. Observing for
adequate chest rise
Tidal volume- the volume of air that is moved in or out of lungs by single
breath- observed by adequate chest rise. If rise is shallow, tidal volume is likely
reduced.
In an otherwise healthy individual, the primary stimulus to breath is a(n):
A. increased level of oxygen in the blood
B. decreased level of oxygen in the blood
C. increased level of carbon dioxide in blood
,D. decreased level of carbon dioxide in blood - Answer✔✔-C. increased level of
carbon dioxide in blood
Under control of the brain stem, rising levels of carbon dioxide in the arterial
blood normally stimulate breathing in an otherwise healthy patient.
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
shallow chest rise= reduced tidal volume
During insertion of an oropharyngeal airway into an unconscious patient, she
begins to vomit. The first thing you should do is:
A. turn the patient on her side.
B. remove the airway at once.
C. suction the patient's mouth.
D. use a smaller-sized oral airway. - Answer✔✔-A. turn the patient on their side
allows vomit to drain
In which of the following patients would a nasopharyngeal airway be
contraindicated?
A. a semiconscious patient with a gag reflex
B. an unconscious patient with an intact gag reflex
C. a patient who fell 20 feet and lander on their head
,D. an unconscious patient who gags when you insert an oral airway -
Answer✔✔-C. a patient who fell 20 feet and lander on their head
contraindication with patients with severe head or facial injuries
You are delivering oxygen to a patient with a nasal cannula at 4L/min when he
begins to complain of a burning sensation in his nose. You should:
A. remove the nasal cannula
B. apply a nonrebreathing masks
C. attach oxygen humidifier
D. increase the flow rate to 6 L/min - Answer✔✔-C. attach an oxygen
humidifier
administering "dry" oxygen especially over a prolonged period can results in
drying of nasal membranes
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-valve mask device - Answer✔✔-D. assist his
breathing with a bag-valve mask device
slow/irregular breaths= inadequate oxygen
When ventilating an apneic adult with a simple barrier device, you should
squeeze the bag:
A. until its empty
B. over a period of 2 seconds
, C. at a rate of 20 breaths/min
D. until visible chest rise is noted - Answer✔✔-D. until visible chest rise is
noted
You and your partner are ventilating an apneic adult when you notice that is
stomach is becoming distended. You should:
A. suction his airy for up to 15 seconds
B. reposition his head
C. increase the rate and volume
D. decreased ventilation rate but increase the volume - Answer✔✔-B.
reposition his head
gastric distention occurs when air enters the stomach
You are managing a 62yr old who complains of crushing chest pain. Her BP is
84/64 with HR of 110. Medical control advises you to assist in her taking her
prescribed nitroglycerin. You should:
A. reassess the HR then assisted with nitro
B. repeat the BP to DR and confirm order
C. wait 10 mins, reassess BP, then give nitro
D. administer the nitro and reassess BP - Answer✔✔-B. Repeat the BP to DR
and confirm order
Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator and lowers BP, contraindication in BP <100
Activated charcoal is indicated for patients who ingested certain drugs/toxins
because it:
A. acts as direct reversal agent for most meds
