West Coast EMT Exam Practice Questions With 100% Correct Answers 2023/2024 (Graded A+)

Which of the following would provide the EMT with the BEST cover in a situation involving active gunfire? Select one: A. A concrete barricade B. Behind a car door C. A large cluster of shrubs D. Stacked empty barrels - Answer A. A concrete barricade While providing care to a patient, blood got onto the ambulance stretcher. Because the stretcher was not properly cleaned afterward, a virus was transmitted to another emergency medical technician (EMT) several days later. Which route of transmission does this scenario describe? Select one: A. Direct contact B. Airborne transmission C. Indirect contact D. Vector-borne transmission - Answer C. Indirect contact You are transporting an elderly woman who has possibly experienced a stroke. She is obviously scared but is unable to talk and cannot move the entire right side of her body. In addition to providing the medical care that she needs, you should: Select one: A. reassure her that after proper treatment in the hospital, she will regain her speech in time. B. maintain eye contact at all times and tell her that there is no need for her to be scared. C. acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her. D. tell her that you understand why she is scared and that everything will likely be okay. - Answer C. acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her. As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on: Select one: A. locally accepted protocols. B. the wishes of the general public. C. a consensus among paramedic supervisors. D. the priorities of the medical director. - Answer A. locally accepted protocols. During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you: Select one: A. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand. B. violated the patient's privacy because you should have discussed the information only with the EMTs involved. C. acted appropriately but must have each EMT sign a waiver stating that he or she will not discuss the cases with others. D. adequately safeguarded the patient's PHI because the cases were discussed internally. - Answer A. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand. In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information? Select one: A. A police officer requests a copy to place on file B. The family requests a copy for insurance purposes C. A media representative inquires about the patient D. The patient is competent and signs a release form - Answer D. The patient is competent and signs a release form In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist? Select one: A. The EMT hears of a cardiac arrest after his or her shift ends. B. The EMT witnesses a vehicle crash while off duty. C. A bystander encounters a victim who is not breathing. D. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change. - Answer D. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change. Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include: Select one: A. quickly moving any weapons out of the patient's sight. B. placing the patient in a private area until the police arrive. C. making brief notes at the scene and then completing them later. D. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons. - Answer D. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons. Putrefaction is defined as: Select one: A. profound cyanosis to the trunk and face. B. blood settling to the lowest point of the body. C. separation of the torso from the rest of the body. D. decomposition of the body's tissues. - Answer D. decomposition of the body's tissues. The EMT's scope of practice within his or her local response area is defined by the: Select one: A. medical director. B. EMS supervisor. C. state EMS office. D. local health district. - Answer A. medical director. To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have __________. Select one: A. online access to patient records B. public forums with their medical director C. an anonymous reporting system D. a privacy officer to answer questions - Answer D. a privacy officer to answer questions When is forcible restraint permitted? Select one: A. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others B. Only if law enforcement personnel have witnessed threatening behavior C. Anytime that the EMT feels threatened D. Only if consent to restrain is given by a family member - Answer A. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to: Select one: A. exercise reasonable care and act prudently. B. function above his or her scope of practice. C. contact medical control on every EMS call. D. consistently exceed the standard of care. - Answer A. exercise reasonable care and act prudently. Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor? Select one: A. Insurance card B. Social Security card C. Voter registration card D. Driver's license - Answer D. Driver's license Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel? Select one: A. Preventing insurance fraud B. Controlling insurance costs C. Protecting patient privacy D. Ensuring access to insurance - Answer C. Protecting patient privacy Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence? Select one: A. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation B. Abandonment, breach of duty, damages, and causation C. Duty to act, abandonment, breach of duty, and causation D. Breach of duty, injury/damages, abandonment, and causation - Answer A. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct? Select one: A. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated. B. Patients who are intoxicated are generally allowed to refuse treatment. C. All patients older than 18 years can legally refuse treatment or transport. D. Expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member. - Answer A. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated. Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct? Select one: a. It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report. b. EMTs are not liable for any actions that are accurately documented. c. Patient care cannot be discredited based on poor documentation. d. Incomplete reports are common and accepted in EMS. - Answer a. It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report. Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital? Select one: A. Formal B. Implied C. Expressed D. Informed - Answer C. Expressed You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should: Select one: A. ventilate the patient for 5 minutes and then stop if there is no response. B. stop any active bleeding and advise dispatch to send a paramedic crew. C. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased. D. request the fire department to extricate the patient so you can begin CPR. - Answer C. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased. You are called to attend to an elderly patient with an extensive medical history who is now in cardiac arrest. The patient's family tells you that the patient has a DNR order. There is no paperwork available but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should: Select one: A. initiate resuscitation in the absence of paperwork. B. transport with minimal care. C. confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet. D. confirm the patient's identity and honor the DNR order. - Answer C. confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet. You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do? Select one: A. Withhold treatment until the parents arrive and give you consent for treatment. B. Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital. C. Begin transport at once and have the parents meet you en route to the hospital. D. Treat the child at the scene and wait for the parents to arrive and give consent. - Answer B. Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital. You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious; has slow, shallow breathing; and has a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should: Select one: A. decide on further action once the DNR order is produced. B. honor the patient's wishes and withhold all treatment. C. transport the patient without providing any treatment. D. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed. - Answer D. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed. A 4-year-old boy had an apparent seizure. He is conscious and calm and is sitting on his mother's lap. His father is sitting in a nearby chair. The child's mother suddenly begins crying uncontrollably, which causes the child to start crying. You should: Select one: A. attempt to calm the child's mother, but avoid separating her from her child because this will increase her anxiety. B. ask the father to hold the child so you can assess him while your partner tries to calm the mother. C. reassure the child's mother that seizures in children are very common and that there is nothing to worry about. D. give the child a favorite toy or blanket to hold onto and perform your assessment to the best of your ability. - Answer B. ask the father to hold the child so you can assess him while your partner tries to calm the mother. As you are wheeling your patient through the emergency department doors, you receive another call for a major motor vehicle crash. You should: