,Chapter 1: Emergency Medical Service Systems, Research, and Public Health
Multiple-Choice Questions (1–80)
Question 1: What is a primary purpose of the modern-day EMS system?
A) Provide a means of transport to and from the hospital
B) Ensure that all members of society have equal access to hospitals
C) Decrease the incidence of death and disability related to injury and illness
D) Provide emergency health care services to medically underserved areas
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The fundamental purpose of the modern EMS system is to reduce death and disability from
injury and illness through rapid emergency care and transport. While transport and access are
components, they are means to this primary end goal.
Question 2: Most authorities agree that the modern-day EMS system evolved after the release of which
document?
A) The Emergency Medical Services Act of 1973
B) The white paper "Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society," in 1966
C) The American Heart Association's Guidelines for Cardiac Resuscitation
D) Emergency Medical Services: Agenda for the Future, in 1996
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1966 white paper published by the National Academy of Sciences/National Research
Council is widely recognized as the catalyst for the development of organized EMS systems in the United
States.
Question 3: An Emergency Medical Responder states they would like to work for your emergency
ambulance service full-time. Knowing the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, what element do you
inform them they need to attain?
A) They can only care for patients with non-life-threatening complaints
B) They need approval from your service's medical director
C) They can work only with an Advanced EMT or paramedic
D) They must first become an Emergency Medical Technician
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, an EMR must achieve EMT certification to
work on an ambulance providing emergency care on a full-time basis.
Question 4: As defined by the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, the four levels of EMS
practitioners include: A) Ambulance drivers
B) EMS medical director
C) Paramedics
D) Emergency medical dispatchers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four recognized levels are Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), and Paramedic.
,Question 5: You are dispatched for a 61-year-old female in cardiac arrest. EMRs are on scene. Based on
the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, what care do you expect the EMRs to be providing?
A) Emergency medication administration
B) Automated external defibrillation
C) Intravenous therapy
D) Reading an electrocardiogram
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EMRs are trained in basic lifesaving interventions including CPR and AED use. Medication
administration, IV therapy, and ECG interpretation are beyond the EMR scope of practice.
Question 6: Which statement shows that the EMT has a good understanding of their role and
responsibilities related to being an EMT?
A) "The patient's needs come before anyone else's needs."
B) "At the scene of an emergency, my responsibility is to get to the patient no matter what."
C) "My safety comes first, and then the patient's safety."
D) "As an EMT, I recognize that the public's safety comes before the safety of me or my partner."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The EMT's personal safety is the highest priority. An EMT cannot effectively help others if
injured or incapacitated.
Question 7: An ambulance with two EMTs arrives in front of a house for an unknown medical
emergency. On scene, bystanders report that a female patient was beaten by her husband in the
driveway and then dragged back into the house. They state that the patient appeared unconscious and
was bleeding from the head. Which action would the EMTs perform next? A) Do not enter the scene
until it has been controlled by law enforcement
B) Quietly enter the home and quickly move the patient to the ambulance
C) Remove the husband from the house, then provide emergency care to the wife
D) Enter the home to protect the patient while waiting for the police to arrive
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Scene safety is paramount. The EMTs must not enter a potentially dangerous scene until law
enforcement has secured it.
Question 8: Why is EMS in a unique position to contribute significantly to mobile integrated health care?
A) EMS providers are familiar with and capable of functioning in the out-of-hospital environment
B) Ambulances are easily identified
C) The community trusts uniformed health care providers
D) EMS providers are familiar with the many routes of medication administration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: EMS providers' unique ability to function effectively in the out-of-hospital environment and
their understanding of community resources position them ideally for mobile integrated healthcare
roles.
Question 9: You have arrived on the scene of a motor vehicle collision. A car has gone off the road and
into a utility pole. The pole is broken and wires are hanging just above the car. You do not see any
, sparking or arcing of the wires. The driver of the car is slumped over the steering wheel and not moving.
Several bystanders around the car are yelling for you to help. Which steps represent the correct order of
your response?
A) Clear the bystanders, allow the fire department to secure the wires, access the patient, extricate
the patient, transport
B) Access the patient, clear the bystanders, allow the fire department to secure the wires, extricate
the patient, transport
C) Clear the bystanders, access the patient, extricate the patient, transport, allow the fire
department to secure the wires
D) Access the patient, allow the fire department to secure the wires, clear the bystanders, extricate
the patient, transport
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Safety comes first: clear bystanders from danger, then have fire department secure electrical
hazards before accessing the patient.
Question 10: Once a scene is free of safety hazards, the EMT must recognize and focus on the needs of
the: A) Rescuers
B) Patient
C) Family
D) Bystanders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once scene safety has been ensured, the EMT's focus shifts to the patient and providing
appropriate emergency care.
Question 11: You have been asked to sit on your service's quality improvement (QI) committee. As a
knowledgeable EMT, you recognize that in this role you will be involved in projects that are primarily
designed to:
A) Communicate with insurance companies for increased reimbursement
B) Recruit and educate EMTs about the Emergency Medical Services profession
C) Develop ways in which the delivery of emergency care can be improved
D) Identify and reeducate EMTs who routinely do not provide proper care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Quality improvement committees focus on developing ways to improve the delivery of
emergency care through systematic review and enhancement of protocols, training, and outcomes.
Question 12: What would be a logical project to be undertaken and developed by a quality improvement
(QI) committee?
A) Termination of EMTs who are chronically late to work
B) A program by which pay raises are based on performance and attitude
C) Community fundraiser to raise money for new EMS equipment
D) Monthly continuing education programs in which seldom-used skills are practiced
Correct Answer: D
Multiple-Choice Questions (1–80)
Question 1: What is a primary purpose of the modern-day EMS system?
A) Provide a means of transport to and from the hospital
B) Ensure that all members of society have equal access to hospitals
C) Decrease the incidence of death and disability related to injury and illness
D) Provide emergency health care services to medically underserved areas
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The fundamental purpose of the modern EMS system is to reduce death and disability from
injury and illness through rapid emergency care and transport. While transport and access are
components, they are means to this primary end goal.
Question 2: Most authorities agree that the modern-day EMS system evolved after the release of which
document?
A) The Emergency Medical Services Act of 1973
B) The white paper "Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society," in 1966
C) The American Heart Association's Guidelines for Cardiac Resuscitation
D) Emergency Medical Services: Agenda for the Future, in 1996
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1966 white paper published by the National Academy of Sciences/National Research
Council is widely recognized as the catalyst for the development of organized EMS systems in the United
States.
Question 3: An Emergency Medical Responder states they would like to work for your emergency
ambulance service full-time. Knowing the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, what element do you
inform them they need to attain?
A) They can only care for patients with non-life-threatening complaints
B) They need approval from your service's medical director
C) They can work only with an Advanced EMT or paramedic
D) They must first become an Emergency Medical Technician
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, an EMR must achieve EMT certification to
work on an ambulance providing emergency care on a full-time basis.
Question 4: As defined by the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, the four levels of EMS
practitioners include: A) Ambulance drivers
B) EMS medical director
C) Paramedics
D) Emergency medical dispatchers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four recognized levels are Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), and Paramedic.
,Question 5: You are dispatched for a 61-year-old female in cardiac arrest. EMRs are on scene. Based on
the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, what care do you expect the EMRs to be providing?
A) Emergency medication administration
B) Automated external defibrillation
C) Intravenous therapy
D) Reading an electrocardiogram
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EMRs are trained in basic lifesaving interventions including CPR and AED use. Medication
administration, IV therapy, and ECG interpretation are beyond the EMR scope of practice.
Question 6: Which statement shows that the EMT has a good understanding of their role and
responsibilities related to being an EMT?
A) "The patient's needs come before anyone else's needs."
B) "At the scene of an emergency, my responsibility is to get to the patient no matter what."
C) "My safety comes first, and then the patient's safety."
D) "As an EMT, I recognize that the public's safety comes before the safety of me or my partner."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The EMT's personal safety is the highest priority. An EMT cannot effectively help others if
injured or incapacitated.
Question 7: An ambulance with two EMTs arrives in front of a house for an unknown medical
emergency. On scene, bystanders report that a female patient was beaten by her husband in the
driveway and then dragged back into the house. They state that the patient appeared unconscious and
was bleeding from the head. Which action would the EMTs perform next? A) Do not enter the scene
until it has been controlled by law enforcement
B) Quietly enter the home and quickly move the patient to the ambulance
C) Remove the husband from the house, then provide emergency care to the wife
D) Enter the home to protect the patient while waiting for the police to arrive
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Scene safety is paramount. The EMTs must not enter a potentially dangerous scene until law
enforcement has secured it.
Question 8: Why is EMS in a unique position to contribute significantly to mobile integrated health care?
A) EMS providers are familiar with and capable of functioning in the out-of-hospital environment
B) Ambulances are easily identified
C) The community trusts uniformed health care providers
D) EMS providers are familiar with the many routes of medication administration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: EMS providers' unique ability to function effectively in the out-of-hospital environment and
their understanding of community resources position them ideally for mobile integrated healthcare
roles.
Question 9: You have arrived on the scene of a motor vehicle collision. A car has gone off the road and
into a utility pole. The pole is broken and wires are hanging just above the car. You do not see any
, sparking or arcing of the wires. The driver of the car is slumped over the steering wheel and not moving.
Several bystanders around the car are yelling for you to help. Which steps represent the correct order of
your response?
A) Clear the bystanders, allow the fire department to secure the wires, access the patient, extricate
the patient, transport
B) Access the patient, clear the bystanders, allow the fire department to secure the wires, extricate
the patient, transport
C) Clear the bystanders, access the patient, extricate the patient, transport, allow the fire
department to secure the wires
D) Access the patient, allow the fire department to secure the wires, clear the bystanders, extricate
the patient, transport
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Safety comes first: clear bystanders from danger, then have fire department secure electrical
hazards before accessing the patient.
Question 10: Once a scene is free of safety hazards, the EMT must recognize and focus on the needs of
the: A) Rescuers
B) Patient
C) Family
D) Bystanders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once scene safety has been ensured, the EMT's focus shifts to the patient and providing
appropriate emergency care.
Question 11: You have been asked to sit on your service's quality improvement (QI) committee. As a
knowledgeable EMT, you recognize that in this role you will be involved in projects that are primarily
designed to:
A) Communicate with insurance companies for increased reimbursement
B) Recruit and educate EMTs about the Emergency Medical Services profession
C) Develop ways in which the delivery of emergency care can be improved
D) Identify and reeducate EMTs who routinely do not provide proper care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Quality improvement committees focus on developing ways to improve the delivery of
emergency care through systematic review and enhancement of protocols, training, and outcomes.
Question 12: What would be a logical project to be undertaken and developed by a quality improvement
(QI) committee?
A) Termination of EMTs who are chronically late to work
B) A program by which pay raises are based on performance and attitude
C) Community fundraiser to raise money for new EMS equipment
D) Monthly continuing education programs in which seldom-used skills are practiced
Correct Answer: D
