NREMT Exam Prep (2026/2027) – 100
Practice Questions, Verified Answers &
Rationales for EMT Certification Exam
Review Study Guide (PDF)
Question 1
You are dispatched to a motor-vehicle collision. Before approaching the vehicle, you observe
leaking fuel and downed electrical wires. What should you do FIRST?
A. Enter the vehicle and begin patient assessment
B. Request appropriate additional resources and maintain a safe position
C. Remove the patient from the vehicle
D. Begin taking vital signs from outside the vehicle
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Request appropriate additional resources and maintain a safe position
Rationale: Scene safety comes before patient contact. Fuel and electrical hazards can endanger
EMS personnel and patients. Appropriate resources should be requested before entering an
unsafe scene.
Question 2
You arrive at a house for a patient with altered mental status. The patient's family reports that
several people in the house have developed headaches and dizziness. What should the EMT
suspect?
A. Food poisoning
B. Carbon monoxide exposure
C. Stroke
D. Dehydration
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Carbon monoxide exposure
Rationale: Multiple people in the same enclosed environment developing similar nonspecific
symptoms should raise concern for a common environmental exposure such as carbon
monoxide.
,Question 3
Which action best demonstrates appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A. Wearing gloves only when blood is already visible
B. Selecting PPE based on anticipated hazards
C. Removing eye protection during procedures
D. Reusing contaminated gloves between patients
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Selecting PPE based on anticipated hazards
Rationale: PPE should be selected according to the hazards present or reasonably anticipated at
the scene.
SECTION 2 — PRIMARY ASSESSMENT
Question 4
You find an adult patient lying on the floor. The patient does not respond to verbal stimulation
but responds to painful stimulation. What should the EMT assess next?
A. Complete SAMPLE history
B. Airway and breathing
C. Past surgical history
D. Medication compliance
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Airway and breathing
Rationale: The primary assessment focuses on immediate life threats. After determining
responsiveness, the EMT evaluates airway and breathing.
Question 5
A patient is unconscious and has abnormal gasping respirations. What should the EMT
recognize?
A. Normal breathing
B. Adequate ventilation
C. Agonal respirations requiring immediate resuscitative assessment
D. Mild respiratory distress
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Agonal respirations requiring immediate resuscitative assessment
Rationale: Gasping or agonal respirations are not normal breathing and should not be
considered adequate ventilation.
Question 6
A patient has severe external bleeding from the lower leg. What is the priority during the
primary assessment?
A. Obtain a detailed medical history
B. Control the life-threatening hemorrhage
C. Determine the patient's last oral intake
D. Assess the patient's insurance information
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Control the life-threatening hemorrhage
Rationale: Life-threatening bleeding requires immediate intervention because severe blood loss
can rapidly cause shock and death.
SECTION 3 — SECONDARY ASSESSMENT
Question 7
Which mnemonic is commonly used to obtain information about the patient's current
complaint, including onset and characteristics?
A. OPQRST
B. AVPU
C. DCAP-BTLS
D. START
CORRECT ANSWER: A. OPQRST
Rationale: OPQRST helps characterize a patient's complaint by assessing factors such as onset,
provocation/palliation, quality, region/radiation, severity, and time.
Question 8
In the SAMPLE history, what does the letter "A" represent?
, A. Airway
B. Allergies
C. Assessment
D. Alertness
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Allergies
Rationale: SAMPLE stands for Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent past medical
history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the illness or injury.
SECTION 4 — PATIENT TREATMENT & TRANSPORT
Question 9
An adult patient is breathing inadequately at 6 breaths per minute with shallow chest
movement. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Nonrebreather mask only
C. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen
D. No intervention because the patient is breathing
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen
Rationale: The patient is not ventilating adequately. Assisted ventilation with a BVM is indicated
rather than simply administering supplemental oxygen.
Question 10
A conscious adult is experiencing severe airway obstruction and cannot speak or cough
effectively. What should the EMT do?
A. Give the patient water
B. Perform appropriate choking intervention
C. Place the patient in the recovery position
D. Administer oxygen through a nasal cannula
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Perform appropriate choking intervention
Rationale: An adult with a severe airway obstruction who cannot speak or cough effectively
requires immediate treatment to relieve the obstruction.
Practice Questions, Verified Answers &
Rationales for EMT Certification Exam
Review Study Guide (PDF)
Question 1
You are dispatched to a motor-vehicle collision. Before approaching the vehicle, you observe
leaking fuel and downed electrical wires. What should you do FIRST?
A. Enter the vehicle and begin patient assessment
B. Request appropriate additional resources and maintain a safe position
C. Remove the patient from the vehicle
D. Begin taking vital signs from outside the vehicle
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Request appropriate additional resources and maintain a safe position
Rationale: Scene safety comes before patient contact. Fuel and electrical hazards can endanger
EMS personnel and patients. Appropriate resources should be requested before entering an
unsafe scene.
Question 2
You arrive at a house for a patient with altered mental status. The patient's family reports that
several people in the house have developed headaches and dizziness. What should the EMT
suspect?
A. Food poisoning
B. Carbon monoxide exposure
C. Stroke
D. Dehydration
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Carbon monoxide exposure
Rationale: Multiple people in the same enclosed environment developing similar nonspecific
symptoms should raise concern for a common environmental exposure such as carbon
monoxide.
,Question 3
Which action best demonstrates appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A. Wearing gloves only when blood is already visible
B. Selecting PPE based on anticipated hazards
C. Removing eye protection during procedures
D. Reusing contaminated gloves between patients
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Selecting PPE based on anticipated hazards
Rationale: PPE should be selected according to the hazards present or reasonably anticipated at
the scene.
SECTION 2 — PRIMARY ASSESSMENT
Question 4
You find an adult patient lying on the floor. The patient does not respond to verbal stimulation
but responds to painful stimulation. What should the EMT assess next?
A. Complete SAMPLE history
B. Airway and breathing
C. Past surgical history
D. Medication compliance
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Airway and breathing
Rationale: The primary assessment focuses on immediate life threats. After determining
responsiveness, the EMT evaluates airway and breathing.
Question 5
A patient is unconscious and has abnormal gasping respirations. What should the EMT
recognize?
A. Normal breathing
B. Adequate ventilation
C. Agonal respirations requiring immediate resuscitative assessment
D. Mild respiratory distress
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Agonal respirations requiring immediate resuscitative assessment
Rationale: Gasping or agonal respirations are not normal breathing and should not be
considered adequate ventilation.
Question 6
A patient has severe external bleeding from the lower leg. What is the priority during the
primary assessment?
A. Obtain a detailed medical history
B. Control the life-threatening hemorrhage
C. Determine the patient's last oral intake
D. Assess the patient's insurance information
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Control the life-threatening hemorrhage
Rationale: Life-threatening bleeding requires immediate intervention because severe blood loss
can rapidly cause shock and death.
SECTION 3 — SECONDARY ASSESSMENT
Question 7
Which mnemonic is commonly used to obtain information about the patient's current
complaint, including onset and characteristics?
A. OPQRST
B. AVPU
C. DCAP-BTLS
D. START
CORRECT ANSWER: A. OPQRST
Rationale: OPQRST helps characterize a patient's complaint by assessing factors such as onset,
provocation/palliation, quality, region/radiation, severity, and time.
Question 8
In the SAMPLE history, what does the letter "A" represent?
, A. Airway
B. Allergies
C. Assessment
D. Alertness
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Allergies
Rationale: SAMPLE stands for Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent past medical
history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the illness or injury.
SECTION 4 — PATIENT TREATMENT & TRANSPORT
Question 9
An adult patient is breathing inadequately at 6 breaths per minute with shallow chest
movement. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Nonrebreather mask only
C. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen
D. No intervention because the patient is breathing
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen
Rationale: The patient is not ventilating adequately. Assisted ventilation with a BVM is indicated
rather than simply administering supplemental oxygen.
Question 10
A conscious adult is experiencing severe airway obstruction and cannot speak or cough
effectively. What should the EMT do?
A. Give the patient water
B. Perform appropriate choking intervention
C. Place the patient in the recovery position
D. Administer oxygen through a nasal cannula
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Perform appropriate choking intervention
Rationale: An adult with a severe airway obstruction who cannot speak or cough effectively
requires immediate treatment to relieve the obstruction.
