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NYS EMT-B STATE EXAM WRITTEN LATEST EXAM
2026 COMPLETE REAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES NEW
UPDATED VERSION LATEST 2026 | GUARANTEED A+
1. You arrive at a motor-vehicle collision and observe a damaged
vehicle, leaking fuel, and downed electrical wires near the patient. What
should you do first?
A. Immediately enter the vehicle and begin patient care
B. Establish scene safety and identify hazards before approaching
C. Remove the patient from the vehicle
D. Apply a cervical collar before assessing the scene
Answer: B. Establish scene safety and identify hazards before
approaching
Rationale: The EMT must assess scene safety before entering a
hazardous environment. Identifying traffic, fire, electrical, chemical,
structural, and other hazards protects both the crew and the patient.
2. A conscious adult patient with severe chest pressure states that the
pain began 10 minutes ago and radiates to the jaw. The patient is pale
and diaphoretic. What is the EMT's priority?
A. Obtain a complete medical history before providing care
B. Recognize a potentially life-threatening cardiac emergency and
rapidly initiate appropriate assessment and treatment
C. Have the patient walk to the ambulance
D. Give the patient food to prevent hypoglycemia
Answer: B. Recognize a potentially life-threatening cardiac
emergency and rapidly initiate appropriate assessment and
treatment
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Rationale: Chest pressure with radiation, diaphoresis, and pallor is
concerning for acute coronary syndrome. The EMT should rapidly
assess ABCs, obtain vital signs and relevant history, provide appropriate
oxygen when indicated, and follow applicable NYS protocols.
3. An unresponsive adult is found without normal breathing. You check
for a pulse and do not detect one within the appropriate assessment
period. What should you do?
A. Begin high-quality CPR and use an AED as soon as available
B. Place the patient in the recovery position
C. Obtain a complete SAMPLE history
D. Wait for ALS before beginning resuscitation
Answer: A. Begin high-quality CPR and use an AED as soon as
available
Rationale: An unresponsive patient without normal breathing and
without a pulse should be treated as cardiac arrest. Early high-quality
CPR and rapid defibrillation when indicated are critical.
4. A patient is unconscious and has an obstructed airway caused by the
tongue. Which intervention is generally appropriate when spinal trauma
is not suspected?
A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
B. Abdominal thrusts
C. Blind finger sweep
D. Apply a tourniquet
Answer: A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
Rationale: The head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver is used to open the airway
when cervical spine injury is not suspected. If spinal trauma is
suspected, the jaw-thrust maneuver is generally preferred.
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5. A patient with suspected cervical spine trauma requires airway
management. Which maneuver should generally be used to open the
airway while minimizing cervical movement?
A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
C. Hyperextension of the neck
D. Prone positioning
Answer: B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
Rationale: The jaw-thrust maneuver is designed to open the airway
while minimizing movement of the cervical spine in patients with
suspected spinal injury.
6. A patient has severe respiratory distress, cyanosis, and a respiratory
rate of 34/min. The patient is conscious but unable to speak in complete
sentences. What is the priority?
A. Delay treatment until a complete medical history is obtained
B. Address the patient's airway and breathing immediately
C. Obtain a detailed family history
D. Have the patient lie flat
Answer: B. Address the patient's airway and breathing immediately
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress is an immediate threat to life. The
EMT should prioritize airway and breathing assessment and provide
appropriate respiratory support according to the patient's condition and
applicable protocol.
7. Which finding is most consistent with inadequate breathing in an
adult?
A. Respiratory rate of 16/min with normal depth and mental status
B. Regular respirations with normal skin color
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C. Slow, shallow respirations with altered mental status
D. Normal breathing after exertion
Answer: C. Slow, shallow respirations with altered mental status
Rationale: Respiratory rate alone does not determine adequacy. Shallow
respirations combined with altered mental status and other signs of poor
ventilation indicate inadequate breathing requiring intervention.
8. A patient with asthma is experiencing severe wheezing and difficulty
speaking. Which finding would indicate worsening respiratory failure?
A. Ability to speak normally
B. Increasing fatigue with decreasing air movement
C. Mild anxiety only
D. Normal mental status with improving breathing
Answer: B. Increasing fatigue with decreasing air movement
Rationale: A patient with severe asthma who becomes fatigued and
develops markedly decreased air movement may be progressing toward
respiratory failure. A decrease in wheezing does not necessarily mean
improvement if airflow is becoming critically limited.
9. A patient with suspected opioid overdose is unconscious and
breathing only four times per minute. What is the immediate priority?
A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support and follow applicable opioid-
overdose protocol
B. Obtain a complete medication history before intervening
C. Place the patient in a seated position
D. Give oral glucose immediately
Answer: A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support and follow
applicable opioid-overdose protocol
NYS EMT-B STATE EXAM WRITTEN LATEST EXAM
2026 COMPLETE REAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES NEW
UPDATED VERSION LATEST 2026 | GUARANTEED A+
1. You arrive at a motor-vehicle collision and observe a damaged
vehicle, leaking fuel, and downed electrical wires near the patient. What
should you do first?
A. Immediately enter the vehicle and begin patient care
B. Establish scene safety and identify hazards before approaching
C. Remove the patient from the vehicle
D. Apply a cervical collar before assessing the scene
Answer: B. Establish scene safety and identify hazards before
approaching
Rationale: The EMT must assess scene safety before entering a
hazardous environment. Identifying traffic, fire, electrical, chemical,
structural, and other hazards protects both the crew and the patient.
2. A conscious adult patient with severe chest pressure states that the
pain began 10 minutes ago and radiates to the jaw. The patient is pale
and diaphoretic. What is the EMT's priority?
A. Obtain a complete medical history before providing care
B. Recognize a potentially life-threatening cardiac emergency and
rapidly initiate appropriate assessment and treatment
C. Have the patient walk to the ambulance
D. Give the patient food to prevent hypoglycemia
Answer: B. Recognize a potentially life-threatening cardiac
emergency and rapidly initiate appropriate assessment and
treatment
,2|Page
Rationale: Chest pressure with radiation, diaphoresis, and pallor is
concerning for acute coronary syndrome. The EMT should rapidly
assess ABCs, obtain vital signs and relevant history, provide appropriate
oxygen when indicated, and follow applicable NYS protocols.
3. An unresponsive adult is found without normal breathing. You check
for a pulse and do not detect one within the appropriate assessment
period. What should you do?
A. Begin high-quality CPR and use an AED as soon as available
B. Place the patient in the recovery position
C. Obtain a complete SAMPLE history
D. Wait for ALS before beginning resuscitation
Answer: A. Begin high-quality CPR and use an AED as soon as
available
Rationale: An unresponsive patient without normal breathing and
without a pulse should be treated as cardiac arrest. Early high-quality
CPR and rapid defibrillation when indicated are critical.
4. A patient is unconscious and has an obstructed airway caused by the
tongue. Which intervention is generally appropriate when spinal trauma
is not suspected?
A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
B. Abdominal thrusts
C. Blind finger sweep
D. Apply a tourniquet
Answer: A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
Rationale: The head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver is used to open the airway
when cervical spine injury is not suspected. If spinal trauma is
suspected, the jaw-thrust maneuver is generally preferred.
,3|Page
5. A patient with suspected cervical spine trauma requires airway
management. Which maneuver should generally be used to open the
airway while minimizing cervical movement?
A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
C. Hyperextension of the neck
D. Prone positioning
Answer: B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
Rationale: The jaw-thrust maneuver is designed to open the airway
while minimizing movement of the cervical spine in patients with
suspected spinal injury.
6. A patient has severe respiratory distress, cyanosis, and a respiratory
rate of 34/min. The patient is conscious but unable to speak in complete
sentences. What is the priority?
A. Delay treatment until a complete medical history is obtained
B. Address the patient's airway and breathing immediately
C. Obtain a detailed family history
D. Have the patient lie flat
Answer: B. Address the patient's airway and breathing immediately
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress is an immediate threat to life. The
EMT should prioritize airway and breathing assessment and provide
appropriate respiratory support according to the patient's condition and
applicable protocol.
7. Which finding is most consistent with inadequate breathing in an
adult?
A. Respiratory rate of 16/min with normal depth and mental status
B. Regular respirations with normal skin color
, 4|Page
C. Slow, shallow respirations with altered mental status
D. Normal breathing after exertion
Answer: C. Slow, shallow respirations with altered mental status
Rationale: Respiratory rate alone does not determine adequacy. Shallow
respirations combined with altered mental status and other signs of poor
ventilation indicate inadequate breathing requiring intervention.
8. A patient with asthma is experiencing severe wheezing and difficulty
speaking. Which finding would indicate worsening respiratory failure?
A. Ability to speak normally
B. Increasing fatigue with decreasing air movement
C. Mild anxiety only
D. Normal mental status with improving breathing
Answer: B. Increasing fatigue with decreasing air movement
Rationale: A patient with severe asthma who becomes fatigued and
develops markedly decreased air movement may be progressing toward
respiratory failure. A decrease in wheezing does not necessarily mean
improvement if airflow is becoming critically limited.
9. A patient with suspected opioid overdose is unconscious and
breathing only four times per minute. What is the immediate priority?
A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support and follow applicable opioid-
overdose protocol
B. Obtain a complete medication history before intervening
C. Place the patient in a seated position
D. Give oral glucose immediately
Answer: A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support and follow
applicable opioid-overdose protocol
