West Coast EMT Block 2 Exam
Questions and Answers (RATED A+)
A 30-year-old male was rescued after being lost in the woods for approximately 18
hours. The outside temperature is 30°F (-1°C). He is immediately placed in the warmed
ambulance, where you perform a primary assessment. He is unresponsive, pale, and
apneic. You should:
Select one:
A. assess for a carotid pulse for up to 60 seconds.
B. apply chemical heat packs to his groin and axillae.
C. apply an AED and assess his cardiac rhythm.
D. open his airway and give two rescue breaths. - ANSWER-A. assess for a carotid
pulse for up to 60 seconds.
A 31-year-old male was bitten on the leg by an unidentified snake. The patient is
conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. Your assessment of his leg reveals two
small puncture marks with minimal pain and swelling. In addition to administering
oxygen and providing reassurance, further care for this patient should include:
Select one:
A. elevating the lower extremities and giving antivenin.
B. supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
C. applying ice to the wound and transporting quickly.
D. transporting only with close, continuous monitoring. - ANSWER-B. supine
positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
All of the following terms refer to a body part that is cold but not frozen, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. trench foot.
B. frostnip.
C. frostbite.
D. immersion foot. - ANSWER-C. frostbite.
,Burns associated with lightning strikes are typically:
Select one:
A. full-thickness.
B. superficial.
C. partial-thickness.
D. third-degree. - ANSWER-B. superficial.
Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. headache.
B. hot, dry skin.
C. nausea.
D. tachycardia. - ANSWER-
Drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
A. water in the lungs following submersion in water.
B. death beyond 24 hours after submersion in water.
C. temporary survival after submersion in water.
D. death from suffocation after submersion in water. - ANSWER-D. death from
suffocation after submersion in water.
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below:
Select one:
A. 88°F (31°C).
B. 98°F (37°C).
C. 95°F (35°C).
D. 90°F (32°C). - ANSWER-C. 95°F (35°C).
,In contrast to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever:
Select one:
A. causes painful joint swelling after a few days or weeks.
C. may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis.
D. presents with flu-like symptoms and a bull's-eye rash. - ANSWER-B. can cause
paralysis and cardiorespiratory collapse.
Most of the serious injuries associated with scuba diving are caused by:
Select one:
A. alcohol consumption.
B. cold water temperature.
C. too rapid of an ascent.
D. too rapid of a descent. - ANSWER-C. too rapid of an ascent.
The body's natural cooling mechanism, in which sweat is converted to a gas, is called:
Select one:
A. convection.
B. radiation.
C. evaporation.
D. conduction. - ANSWER-C. evaporation.
The EMT must assume that any unwitnessed water-related incident is accompanied by:
Select one:
A. cold-water immersion.
B. an air embolism.
C. alcohol intoxication.
D. possible spinal injury. - ANSWER-D. possible spinal injury.
, The MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness is:
Select one:
A. abdominal or joint pain.
B. difficulty with vision.
C. tightness in the chest.
D. dizziness and nausea. - ANSWER-A. abdominal or joint pain.
The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to the:
Select one:
A. cardiovascular system.
B. renal system.
C. respiratory system.
D. nervous system. - ANSWER-D. nervous system.
When a warm hand is immersed in water that is 70°F (21°C), heat is transferred from
the hand to the water through a process called:
Select one:
A. evaporation.
B. conduction.
C. radiation.
D. convection. - ANSWER-B. conduction.
Which of the following is an early sign of pit viper envenomation?
Select one:
A. Signs and symptoms of hypoperfusion
B. Syncope and bleeding at distal sites
C. General weakness and diaphoresis
D. Local swelling and ecchymosis - ANSWER-D. Local swelling and ecchymosis
Questions and Answers (RATED A+)
A 30-year-old male was rescued after being lost in the woods for approximately 18
hours. The outside temperature is 30°F (-1°C). He is immediately placed in the warmed
ambulance, where you perform a primary assessment. He is unresponsive, pale, and
apneic. You should:
Select one:
A. assess for a carotid pulse for up to 60 seconds.
B. apply chemical heat packs to his groin and axillae.
C. apply an AED and assess his cardiac rhythm.
D. open his airway and give two rescue breaths. - ANSWER-A. assess for a carotid
pulse for up to 60 seconds.
A 31-year-old male was bitten on the leg by an unidentified snake. The patient is
conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. Your assessment of his leg reveals two
small puncture marks with minimal pain and swelling. In addition to administering
oxygen and providing reassurance, further care for this patient should include:
Select one:
A. elevating the lower extremities and giving antivenin.
B. supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
C. applying ice to the wound and transporting quickly.
D. transporting only with close, continuous monitoring. - ANSWER-B. supine
positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
All of the following terms refer to a body part that is cold but not frozen, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. trench foot.
B. frostnip.
C. frostbite.
D. immersion foot. - ANSWER-C. frostbite.
,Burns associated with lightning strikes are typically:
Select one:
A. full-thickness.
B. superficial.
C. partial-thickness.
D. third-degree. - ANSWER-B. superficial.
Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. headache.
B. hot, dry skin.
C. nausea.
D. tachycardia. - ANSWER-
Drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
A. water in the lungs following submersion in water.
B. death beyond 24 hours after submersion in water.
C. temporary survival after submersion in water.
D. death from suffocation after submersion in water. - ANSWER-D. death from
suffocation after submersion in water.
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below:
Select one:
A. 88°F (31°C).
B. 98°F (37°C).
C. 95°F (35°C).
D. 90°F (32°C). - ANSWER-C. 95°F (35°C).
,In contrast to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever:
Select one:
A. causes painful joint swelling after a few days or weeks.
C. may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis.
D. presents with flu-like symptoms and a bull's-eye rash. - ANSWER-B. can cause
paralysis and cardiorespiratory collapse.
Most of the serious injuries associated with scuba diving are caused by:
Select one:
A. alcohol consumption.
B. cold water temperature.
C. too rapid of an ascent.
D. too rapid of a descent. - ANSWER-C. too rapid of an ascent.
The body's natural cooling mechanism, in which sweat is converted to a gas, is called:
Select one:
A. convection.
B. radiation.
C. evaporation.
D. conduction. - ANSWER-C. evaporation.
The EMT must assume that any unwitnessed water-related incident is accompanied by:
Select one:
A. cold-water immersion.
B. an air embolism.
C. alcohol intoxication.
D. possible spinal injury. - ANSWER-D. possible spinal injury.
, The MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness is:
Select one:
A. abdominal or joint pain.
B. difficulty with vision.
C. tightness in the chest.
D. dizziness and nausea. - ANSWER-A. abdominal or joint pain.
The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to the:
Select one:
A. cardiovascular system.
B. renal system.
C. respiratory system.
D. nervous system. - ANSWER-D. nervous system.
When a warm hand is immersed in water that is 70°F (21°C), heat is transferred from
the hand to the water through a process called:
Select one:
A. evaporation.
B. conduction.
C. radiation.
D. convection. - ANSWER-B. conduction.
Which of the following is an early sign of pit viper envenomation?
Select one:
A. Signs and symptoms of hypoperfusion
B. Syncope and bleeding at distal sites
C. General weakness and diaphoresis
D. Local swelling and ecchymosis - ANSWER-D. Local swelling and ecchymosis
