WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 2 EXAM COMPLETE COURSE NEWEST ACTUAL
EXAM/NEWEST UPDATE 2026!!!
Question 1
Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) a fractured sternum.
B) gastric distention.
C) rib fractures.
D) liver laceration.
E) myocardial contusion.
Correct Answer: B) gastric distention.
Rationale: Gastric distention is a complication resulting from artificial ventilations—
particularly when breaths are delivered too quickly, with excessive volume, or when the
airway is not properly opened. Sternal fractures, rib fractures, liver lacerations, splenic
injuries, and myocardial contusions are recognized mechanical complications directly
caused by external chest compressions.
Question 2
CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman in her third trimester. Shortly after manually displacing
her uterus to the left, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurs. Which of the following
would MOST likely explain this physiological change?
A) Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which increased blood flow to her
heart.
B) Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop fibrillating, which restored her
pulse.
C) Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully, which restored her pulse.
D) Pressure was relieved from her aorta and inferior vena cava, which improved venous return
and compression effectiveness.
E) Shifting the fetus stimulated the sympathetic nervous system via abdominal baroreceptor
activation.
Correct Answer: D) Pressure was relieved from her aorta and inferior vena cava, which
improved venous return and compression effectiveness.
Rationale: In the second half of pregnancy, the gravid uterus compresses the inferior vena
cava and descending aorta (aortocaval compression) when the patient lies supine. This
drastically impedes venous return to the heart, which severely diminishes cardiac output
during compressions. Manual left uterine displacement relieves this vascular compression,
restoring venous return and significantly improving coronary perfusion pressure and
compression effectiveness.
, 2
Question 3
CPR retraining is the MOST effective when it:
A) occurs once every 24 months.
B) is delivered strictly by computer-based modules.
C) involves frequent hands-on practice.
D) is entirely self-paced, lecture-based, and brief.
E) relies solely on passive observational video reviews.
Correct Answer: C) involves frequent hands-on practice.
Rationale: Psychomotor resuscitation skills degrade rapidly over time, often within months
of certification. Evidence consistently demonstrates that frequent, low-dose, high-
frequency, hands-on simulation practice is vastly superior to infrequent, purely didactic, or
online retraining programs for psychomotor skill retention.
Question 4
CPR should be initiated when:
A) rigor mortis is obvious.
B) signs of putrefaction are present.
C) dependent lividity is evident.
D) a valid living will is unavailable.
E) a signed, validated state-specific out-of-hospital DNR order is presented.
Correct Answer: D) a valid living will is unavailable.
Rationale: In the prehospital setting, resuscitation must be initiated immediately on any
pulseless, apneic patient unless definitive signs of irreversible death are present (rigor
mortis, dependent lividity, putrefaction, nonsurvivable trauma) or an original, valid, out-
of-hospital DNR/POLST form is produced. A living will requires legal interpretation and
hospital execution; if it is unavailable or unsupported by an authorized surrogate/DNR
order in the field, full resuscitation must begin.
Question 5
CPR will NOT be effective if the patient is:
A) supine.
B) prone.
C) horizontal.
D) on a firm surface.
E) on a backboard.
Correct Answer: B) prone.
Rationale: For closed-chest compressions to effectively squeeze the heart between the
EXAM/NEWEST UPDATE 2026!!!
Question 1
Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) a fractured sternum.
B) gastric distention.
C) rib fractures.
D) liver laceration.
E) myocardial contusion.
Correct Answer: B) gastric distention.
Rationale: Gastric distention is a complication resulting from artificial ventilations—
particularly when breaths are delivered too quickly, with excessive volume, or when the
airway is not properly opened. Sternal fractures, rib fractures, liver lacerations, splenic
injuries, and myocardial contusions are recognized mechanical complications directly
caused by external chest compressions.
Question 2
CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman in her third trimester. Shortly after manually displacing
her uterus to the left, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurs. Which of the following
would MOST likely explain this physiological change?
A) Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which increased blood flow to her
heart.
B) Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop fibrillating, which restored her
pulse.
C) Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully, which restored her pulse.
D) Pressure was relieved from her aorta and inferior vena cava, which improved venous return
and compression effectiveness.
E) Shifting the fetus stimulated the sympathetic nervous system via abdominal baroreceptor
activation.
Correct Answer: D) Pressure was relieved from her aorta and inferior vena cava, which
improved venous return and compression effectiveness.
Rationale: In the second half of pregnancy, the gravid uterus compresses the inferior vena
cava and descending aorta (aortocaval compression) when the patient lies supine. This
drastically impedes venous return to the heart, which severely diminishes cardiac output
during compressions. Manual left uterine displacement relieves this vascular compression,
restoring venous return and significantly improving coronary perfusion pressure and
compression effectiveness.
, 2
Question 3
CPR retraining is the MOST effective when it:
A) occurs once every 24 months.
B) is delivered strictly by computer-based modules.
C) involves frequent hands-on practice.
D) is entirely self-paced, lecture-based, and brief.
E) relies solely on passive observational video reviews.
Correct Answer: C) involves frequent hands-on practice.
Rationale: Psychomotor resuscitation skills degrade rapidly over time, often within months
of certification. Evidence consistently demonstrates that frequent, low-dose, high-
frequency, hands-on simulation practice is vastly superior to infrequent, purely didactic, or
online retraining programs for psychomotor skill retention.
Question 4
CPR should be initiated when:
A) rigor mortis is obvious.
B) signs of putrefaction are present.
C) dependent lividity is evident.
D) a valid living will is unavailable.
E) a signed, validated state-specific out-of-hospital DNR order is presented.
Correct Answer: D) a valid living will is unavailable.
Rationale: In the prehospital setting, resuscitation must be initiated immediately on any
pulseless, apneic patient unless definitive signs of irreversible death are present (rigor
mortis, dependent lividity, putrefaction, nonsurvivable trauma) or an original, valid, out-
of-hospital DNR/POLST form is produced. A living will requires legal interpretation and
hospital execution; if it is unavailable or unsupported by an authorized surrogate/DNR
order in the field, full resuscitation must begin.
Question 5
CPR will NOT be effective if the patient is:
A) supine.
B) prone.
C) horizontal.
D) on a firm surface.
E) on a backboard.
Correct Answer: B) prone.
Rationale: For closed-chest compressions to effectively squeeze the heart between the
