Paramedic
SOE PARAMEDIC FINAL EXAM | QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED PARAMEDIC 2026/2027
SOE Paramedic
1. What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an
unresponsive patient?
A. Vomitus
B. The tongue
C. A foreign body
D. Laryngeal edema
B. The tongue
In an unresponsive patient, muscle tone is lost and the tongue falls back
against the posterior pharynx, so a head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw thrust
usually relieves the obstruction.
2. How is the correct size of an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) selected?
A. From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw or earlobe
B. From the nostril to the earlobe
C. From the chin to the sternal notch
D. From the lips to the thyroid cartilage
A. From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw or earlobe
Measuring from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe or angle of the
jaw ensures the flange rests at the teeth while the tip sits at the base of
the tongue.
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, Paramedic
3. An oropharyngeal airway is contraindicated in a patient who has:
A. No cough reflex
B. Agonal respirations
C. An intact gag reflex
D. A decreased level of consciousness
C. An intact gag reflex
An OPA will trigger vomiting and laryngospasm in a patient with a gag
reflex, so it is used only in unresponsive patients.
4. Which finding is a relative contraindication to placing a
nasopharyngeal airway?
A. A clenched jaw
B. Decreased level of consciousness
C. A present gag reflex
D. Suspected basilar skull fracture with significant midface trauma
D. Suspected basilar skull fracture with significant midface trauma
Passing an NPA through a fractured cribriform plate carries a risk of
entering the cranial vault, so caution is required in severe midface or
skull base trauma.
5. What is the recommended ventilation rate for an adult in cardiac
arrest with an advanced airway in place?
A. One breath every 3 seconds
B. One breath every 10 seconds
C. Two breaths after every 30 compressions
D. One breath every 6 seconds
D. One breath every 6 seconds
With an advanced airway, ventilations are delivered asynchronously at
about 10 per minute while continuous compressions are performed.
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, Paramedic
6. What is the normal range for end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) in a
healthy adult?
A. 35 to 45 mmHg
B. 20 to 30 mmHg
C. 45 to 60 mmHg
D. 60 to 80 mmHg
A. 35 to 45 mmHg
Normal alveolar ventilation produces an ETCO2 of 35 to 45 mmHg,
which closely approximates arterial PaCO2.
7. Which method is the most reliable for confirming and continuously
monitoring endotracheal tube placement?
A. Auscultation of the epigastrium
B. Continuous waveform capnography
C. Observation of chest rise
D. Condensation in the tube
B. Continuous waveform capnography
Waveform capnography provides objective, continuous confirmation and
detects dislodgement that clinical signs may miss.
8. What size cuffed endotracheal tube is estimated for an 8-year-old
child using the formula (age/4) + 3.5?
A. 4.5 mm
B. 6.5 mm
C. 5.5 mm
D. 7.0 mm
C. 5.5 mm
Dividing 8 by 4 gives 2, and adding 3.5 yields a 5.5 mm cuffed tube.
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, Paramedic
9. In an intubated patient who suddenly deteriorates, what does the
letter "P" in the DOPE mnemonic represent?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulse loss
D. Pressure sensor failure
B. Pneumothorax
DOPE stands for Displacement, Obstruction, Pneumothorax, and
Equipment failure, the four common causes of sudden decline after
intubation.
10. Where is the incision made for a surgical cricothyrotomy?
A. Between the thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone
B. Below the cricoid cartilage at the third tracheal ring
C. Through the thyroid cartilage midline
D. Through the cricothyroid membrane
D. Through the cricothyroid membrane
The cricothyroid membrane lies between the thyroid and cricoid
cartilages and is the most superficial, least vascular entry to the airway.
SECTION 2: ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY AND DYSRHYTHMIAS
11. What is the normal PR interval in an adult?
A. 0.04 to 0.10 seconds
B. 0.20 to 0.30 seconds
C. 0.36 to 0.44 seconds
D. 0.12 to 0.20 seconds
D. 0.12 to 0.20 seconds
The PR interval measures atrial depolarization and AV nodal delay and
normally lasts three to five small boxes.
Page 4
SOE PARAMEDIC FINAL EXAM | QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED PARAMEDIC 2026/2027
SOE Paramedic
1. What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an
unresponsive patient?
A. Vomitus
B. The tongue
C. A foreign body
D. Laryngeal edema
B. The tongue
In an unresponsive patient, muscle tone is lost and the tongue falls back
against the posterior pharynx, so a head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw thrust
usually relieves the obstruction.
2. How is the correct size of an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) selected?
A. From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw or earlobe
B. From the nostril to the earlobe
C. From the chin to the sternal notch
D. From the lips to the thyroid cartilage
A. From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw or earlobe
Measuring from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe or angle of the
jaw ensures the flange rests at the teeth while the tip sits at the base of
the tongue.
Page 1
, Paramedic
3. An oropharyngeal airway is contraindicated in a patient who has:
A. No cough reflex
B. Agonal respirations
C. An intact gag reflex
D. A decreased level of consciousness
C. An intact gag reflex
An OPA will trigger vomiting and laryngospasm in a patient with a gag
reflex, so it is used only in unresponsive patients.
4. Which finding is a relative contraindication to placing a
nasopharyngeal airway?
A. A clenched jaw
B. Decreased level of consciousness
C. A present gag reflex
D. Suspected basilar skull fracture with significant midface trauma
D. Suspected basilar skull fracture with significant midface trauma
Passing an NPA through a fractured cribriform plate carries a risk of
entering the cranial vault, so caution is required in severe midface or
skull base trauma.
5. What is the recommended ventilation rate for an adult in cardiac
arrest with an advanced airway in place?
A. One breath every 3 seconds
B. One breath every 10 seconds
C. Two breaths after every 30 compressions
D. One breath every 6 seconds
D. One breath every 6 seconds
With an advanced airway, ventilations are delivered asynchronously at
about 10 per minute while continuous compressions are performed.
Page 2
, Paramedic
6. What is the normal range for end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) in a
healthy adult?
A. 35 to 45 mmHg
B. 20 to 30 mmHg
C. 45 to 60 mmHg
D. 60 to 80 mmHg
A. 35 to 45 mmHg
Normal alveolar ventilation produces an ETCO2 of 35 to 45 mmHg,
which closely approximates arterial PaCO2.
7. Which method is the most reliable for confirming and continuously
monitoring endotracheal tube placement?
A. Auscultation of the epigastrium
B. Continuous waveform capnography
C. Observation of chest rise
D. Condensation in the tube
B. Continuous waveform capnography
Waveform capnography provides objective, continuous confirmation and
detects dislodgement that clinical signs may miss.
8. What size cuffed endotracheal tube is estimated for an 8-year-old
child using the formula (age/4) + 3.5?
A. 4.5 mm
B. 6.5 mm
C. 5.5 mm
D. 7.0 mm
C. 5.5 mm
Dividing 8 by 4 gives 2, and adding 3.5 yields a 5.5 mm cuffed tube.
Page 3
, Paramedic
9. In an intubated patient who suddenly deteriorates, what does the
letter "P" in the DOPE mnemonic represent?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulse loss
D. Pressure sensor failure
B. Pneumothorax
DOPE stands for Displacement, Obstruction, Pneumothorax, and
Equipment failure, the four common causes of sudden decline after
intubation.
10. Where is the incision made for a surgical cricothyrotomy?
A. Between the thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone
B. Below the cricoid cartilage at the third tracheal ring
C. Through the thyroid cartilage midline
D. Through the cricothyroid membrane
D. Through the cricothyroid membrane
The cricothyroid membrane lies between the thyroid and cricoid
cartilages and is the most superficial, least vascular entry to the airway.
SECTION 2: ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY AND DYSRHYTHMIAS
11. What is the normal PR interval in an adult?
A. 0.04 to 0.10 seconds
B. 0.20 to 0.30 seconds
C. 0.36 to 0.44 seconds
D. 0.12 to 0.20 seconds
D. 0.12 to 0.20 seconds
The PR interval measures atrial depolarization and AV nodal delay and
normally lasts three to five small boxes.
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