WEST COAST EMT FINAL EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
VERIFIED BY EXPERTS. 2026/2027
1. A 68-year-old male presents with sudden onset of ‘worst headache of my life’,
photophobia, and a stiff neck. He is most likely suffering from which of the following?
A. Ischemic Stroke
B. Transient Ischemic Attack
C. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
D. Epidural Hematoma
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A subarachnoid hemorrhage often presents as a ‘thunderclap’
headache, often described as the worst headache of the patient’s life, frequently
accompanied by signs of meningeal irritation like neck stiffness.
,2. Which of the following findings is most suggestive of a tension pneumothorax rather than a
simple pneumothorax?
A. Jugular Venous Distention (JVD)
B. Absent breath sounds on the affected side
C. Tachypnea and tachycardia
D. Sharp pleuritic chest pain
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: While both cause absent breath sounds, JVD and obstructive
shock signs (like tracheal deviation, which is a late sign) differentiate tension
pneumothorax from a simple one.
3. You are treating a patient with a suspected T6 spinal cord injury. The patient is
hypotensive, bradycardic, and has warm, dry skin below the injury site. What type of shock is
this?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Septic shock
Answer: A
, Conceptual Explanation: Neurogenic shock is a type of distributive shock where the loss
of sympathetic tone leads to vasodilation (warm/dry skin) and a lack of compensatory
tachycardia (bradycardia).
4. A patient in their third trimester of pregnancy is experiencing painless, bright red vaginal
bleeding. This condition is most likely:
A. Abruptio Placentae
B. Placenta Previa
C. Preeclampsia
D. Ectopic Pregnancy
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Placenta previa is characterized by painless vaginal bleeding,
whereas abruptio placentae typically involves significant pain and dark red blood.
5. During the assessment of a neonate 1 minute after birth, you find: HR 90, slow/irregular
respirations, some flexion of extremities, grimace when flicking the feet, and a pink body
with blue extremities. What is the APGAR score?
A. 4
B. 7
C. 6
D. 5
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
VERIFIED BY EXPERTS. 2026/2027
1. A 68-year-old male presents with sudden onset of ‘worst headache of my life’,
photophobia, and a stiff neck. He is most likely suffering from which of the following?
A. Ischemic Stroke
B. Transient Ischemic Attack
C. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
D. Epidural Hematoma
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A subarachnoid hemorrhage often presents as a ‘thunderclap’
headache, often described as the worst headache of the patient’s life, frequently
accompanied by signs of meningeal irritation like neck stiffness.
,2. Which of the following findings is most suggestive of a tension pneumothorax rather than a
simple pneumothorax?
A. Jugular Venous Distention (JVD)
B. Absent breath sounds on the affected side
C. Tachypnea and tachycardia
D. Sharp pleuritic chest pain
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: While both cause absent breath sounds, JVD and obstructive
shock signs (like tracheal deviation, which is a late sign) differentiate tension
pneumothorax from a simple one.
3. You are treating a patient with a suspected T6 spinal cord injury. The patient is
hypotensive, bradycardic, and has warm, dry skin below the injury site. What type of shock is
this?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Septic shock
Answer: A
, Conceptual Explanation: Neurogenic shock is a type of distributive shock where the loss
of sympathetic tone leads to vasodilation (warm/dry skin) and a lack of compensatory
tachycardia (bradycardia).
4. A patient in their third trimester of pregnancy is experiencing painless, bright red vaginal
bleeding. This condition is most likely:
A. Abruptio Placentae
B. Placenta Previa
C. Preeclampsia
D. Ectopic Pregnancy
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Placenta previa is characterized by painless vaginal bleeding,
whereas abruptio placentae typically involves significant pain and dark red blood.
5. During the assessment of a neonate 1 minute after birth, you find: HR 90, slow/irregular
respirations, some flexion of extremities, grimace when flicking the feet, and a pink body
with blue extremities. What is the APGAR score?
A. 4
B. 7
C. 6
D. 5
