WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 3 PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES 2025 (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Question 1
You arrive on the scene where a patient has fallen from a second-story window.
The patient is conscious but complaining of severe neck pain. What is your first
priority?
A) Apply a cervical collar and begin rapid transport
B) Assess airway and breathing before spinal precautions
C) Perform a rapid trauma assessment
D) Open the airway using the head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
Answer: B) Assess airway and breathing before spinal precautions
Rationale: Airway and breathing take priority in trauma patients to ensure
oxygenation. Spinal precautions should be applied after airway patency and
breathing are secured.
Question 2
A 55-year-old patient complains of sudden onset of chest pain radiating to the left
arm. What is your next step?
A) Assist the patient with prescribed nitroglycerin if systolic BP > 90 mmHg
,B) Immediately prepare for defibrillation
C) Administer aspirin if not contraindicated
D) Both A and C
Answer: D) Both A and C
Rationale: For suspected acute coronary syndrome, assist with nitroglycerin if
blood pressure permits and administer aspirin to inhibit platelet aggregation
unless contraindicated.
Question 3
Which of the following best describes a SAMPLE history?
A) Signs, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events
leading to illness/injury
B) Symptoms, Allergies, Medication, Past medical history, Last oral intake,
Events leading to illness/injury
C) Symptoms, Allergies, Medication, Physical exam, Last oral intake, Events
leading to illness/injury
D) Signs, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake,
Examination findings
Answer: B) Symptoms, Allergies, Medication, Past medical history, Last oral
intake, Events leading to illness/injury
Rationale: SAMPLE is an acronym used to gather key patient history during
assessment and stands for Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical
history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the current condition.
,Question 4
During the primary assessment, you notice the patient is unconscious and not
breathing but has a pulse. What is the appropriate intervention?
A) Start chest compressions immediately
B) Provide rescue breaths at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute
C) Apply an automated external defibrillator (AED)
D) Position the patient in the recovery position
Answer: B) Provide rescue breaths at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute
Rationale: An unconscious patient with a pulse but no breathing needs assisted
ventilation with rescue breaths to maintain oxygenation.
Question 5
You are treating a patient with suspected opioid overdose. The patient is
unconscious and has shallow respirations. What is the correct dosage of
intranasal naloxone to administer?
A) 0.4 mg
B) 2 mg
C) 4 mg
D) 10 mg
Answer: C) 4 mg
Rationale: The recommended initial dose of intranasal naloxone for opioid
overdose in the field is typically 4 mg. This dose can be repeated if there is no
response.
, Question 6
Which of the following is a sign of compensated shock?
A) Hypotension
B) Tachycardia
C) Altered mental status
D) Weak or absent pulses
Answer: B) Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia is an early sign of compensated shock as the body tries to
maintain cardiac output despite decreasing perfusion.
Question 7
What is the correct compression to ventilation ratio for a single rescuer
performing CPR on an adult?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 15:1
D) 30:1
Answer: B) 30:2
Rationale: The American Heart Association recommends 30 compressions to 2
ventilations for adult CPR by a single rescuer.
Question 8
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES 2025 (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Question 1
You arrive on the scene where a patient has fallen from a second-story window.
The patient is conscious but complaining of severe neck pain. What is your first
priority?
A) Apply a cervical collar and begin rapid transport
B) Assess airway and breathing before spinal precautions
C) Perform a rapid trauma assessment
D) Open the airway using the head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
Answer: B) Assess airway and breathing before spinal precautions
Rationale: Airway and breathing take priority in trauma patients to ensure
oxygenation. Spinal precautions should be applied after airway patency and
breathing are secured.
Question 2
A 55-year-old patient complains of sudden onset of chest pain radiating to the left
arm. What is your next step?
A) Assist the patient with prescribed nitroglycerin if systolic BP > 90 mmHg
,B) Immediately prepare for defibrillation
C) Administer aspirin if not contraindicated
D) Both A and C
Answer: D) Both A and C
Rationale: For suspected acute coronary syndrome, assist with nitroglycerin if
blood pressure permits and administer aspirin to inhibit platelet aggregation
unless contraindicated.
Question 3
Which of the following best describes a SAMPLE history?
A) Signs, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events
leading to illness/injury
B) Symptoms, Allergies, Medication, Past medical history, Last oral intake,
Events leading to illness/injury
C) Symptoms, Allergies, Medication, Physical exam, Last oral intake, Events
leading to illness/injury
D) Signs, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake,
Examination findings
Answer: B) Symptoms, Allergies, Medication, Past medical history, Last oral
intake, Events leading to illness/injury
Rationale: SAMPLE is an acronym used to gather key patient history during
assessment and stands for Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical
history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the current condition.
,Question 4
During the primary assessment, you notice the patient is unconscious and not
breathing but has a pulse. What is the appropriate intervention?
A) Start chest compressions immediately
B) Provide rescue breaths at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute
C) Apply an automated external defibrillator (AED)
D) Position the patient in the recovery position
Answer: B) Provide rescue breaths at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute
Rationale: An unconscious patient with a pulse but no breathing needs assisted
ventilation with rescue breaths to maintain oxygenation.
Question 5
You are treating a patient with suspected opioid overdose. The patient is
unconscious and has shallow respirations. What is the correct dosage of
intranasal naloxone to administer?
A) 0.4 mg
B) 2 mg
C) 4 mg
D) 10 mg
Answer: C) 4 mg
Rationale: The recommended initial dose of intranasal naloxone for opioid
overdose in the field is typically 4 mg. This dose can be repeated if there is no
response.
, Question 6
Which of the following is a sign of compensated shock?
A) Hypotension
B) Tachycardia
C) Altered mental status
D) Weak or absent pulses
Answer: B) Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia is an early sign of compensated shock as the body tries to
maintain cardiac output despite decreasing perfusion.
Question 7
What is the correct compression to ventilation ratio for a single rescuer
performing CPR on an adult?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 15:1
D) 30:1
Answer: B) 30:2
Rationale: The American Heart Association recommends 30 compressions to 2
ventilations for adult CPR by a single rescuer.
Question 8
