West Coast EMT Block #2 Exam(Questions And
Answers)
"PASTE" is an alternate assessment tool for ___________.
m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. respiratory patients
m m
B. seizure patients
m m
C. stroke patients
m m
D. cardiac patients - ANSWER-A. respiratory patients
m m m m m m
A 19-year-old female is found unconscious by her roommate. Your primary assessment reveals that
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
her breathing is inadequate. As you insert an oropharyngeal airway, she begins to gag violently. You
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
should:
m
Select one: m
A. select a smaller oropharyngeal airway and attempt to insert it.
m m m m m m m m m m
B. insert the airway no further but leave it in place as a bite block.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. remove the airway and be prepared to suction her oropharynx.
m m m m m m m m m m
D. continue to insert the airway as you suction her oropharynx. - ANSWER-C. remove the airway and
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
be prepared to suction her oropharynx
m m m m m m
A 20-year-old male has a large laceration to his wrist. He is holding a blood-soaked towel over the
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
wound, but it continues to bleed rapidly. You should:
m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. administer high-flow supplemental oxygen.
m m m m
B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
m m m m m m m
C. apply pressure to the brachial artery.
m m m m m m
D. wrap the towel with pressure bandages. - ANSWER-B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 25-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car hit a tree
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
while traveling at a high rate of speed. She has signs and symptoms of shock, which you suspect are
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
the result of intrathoracic bleeding. Which of the following interventions will provide this patient with
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
the greatest chance for survival?
m m m m m
Select one: m
A. High-flow oxygen administration
m m m
,B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
m m m m m m
C. Full immobilization of her spine
m m m m m
D. Intravenous fluid administration - ANSWER-B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
m m m m m m m m m m m
A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
wheezing over all the lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
beats/min. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
is:
m
Select one: m
A. epinephrine.
m
B. a beta-antagonist.
m m
C. albuterol.
m
D. an antihistamine. - ANSWER-A. epinephrine.
m m m m m
A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should:
m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. administer another treatment in 30 seconds if she is still in distress.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
B. contact medical control and apprise him or her of what you did.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. check the drug's expiration date to ensure that it is still current.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
D. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication. - ANSWER-D. reassess the
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
patient and document her response to the medication.
m m m m m m m m
A 39-year-old male sustained a stab wound to the groin during an altercation at a bar. As you
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
approach the patient, you note that he is conscious. He is screaming in pain and is attempting to
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
control the bleeding, which is bright red and spurting from his groin area. You should:
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. elevate his legs and keep him warm.
m m m m m m m
B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
m m m m m m
C. administer 100% supplemental oxygen.
m m m m
D. ensure that his airway is patent. - ANSWER-B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 49-year-old male presents with an acute onset of crushing chest pain and diaphoresis. You should:
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin.
m m m m m m m
,B. administer up to 324 mg of baby aspirin.
m m m m m m m m
C. obtain vital signs and a SAMPLE history.
m m m m m m m
D. assess the adequacy of his respirations. - ANSWER-D. assess the adequacy of his respirations.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
patient's condition?
m m
Select one: m
A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
m m
B. Exacerbation of his COPD
m m m m
C. Acute pulmonary embolism
m m m
D. Rupture of the diaphragm - ANSWER-A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
m m m m m m m m
A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:
m m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
m m m m m
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
m m m m m m m
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
m m m m m m
D. determine if he has a valid living will. - ANSWER-B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has not
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
taken any. After administering supplemental oxygen if needed and contacting medical control, you
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
should:
m
Select one: m
A. administer the nitroglycerin unless he has taken Viagra within the past 72 hours.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
B. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin before assessing his blood pressure.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. begin immediate transport and request a rendezvous with a paramedic unit.
m m m m m m m m m m m
D. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg. -
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
ANSWER-D. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
pressure of 2 hours' duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
irregular, her respirations are 22 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 92%. The patient does not
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
have prescribed nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should:
m m m m m m m m m
, Select one: m
A. give her one nitroglycerin and reassess her systolic blood pressure.
m m m m m m m m m m
B. administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. obtain a SAMPLE history and contact medical control for advice.
m m m m m m m m m m
D. give her high-flow oxygen, attach the AED, and transport at once. - ANSWER-B. administer oxygen,
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
m m m m m m m m m m
A by-product of involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation is:
m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. oxygen.
m
B. lactic acid.
m m
C. heat.
m
D. nitrogen. - ANSWER-C. heat.
m m m m
A dissecting aortic aneurysm occurs when:
m m m m m
Select one: m
A. a weakened area develops in the aortic wall.
m m m m m m m m
B. the aorta ruptures, resulting in profound bleeding.
m m m m m m m
C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
m m m m m m m m
D. all layers of the aorta suddenly contract. - ANSWER-C. the inner layers of the aorta become
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
separated.
m
A man was found unresponsive in his bed at home. There is no evidence of injury and the patient's
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
medical history is not known. The patient's face is cyanotic, yet the pulse oximeter reads 98%. Which
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
of the following would MOST likely explain this?
m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. Severe pulmonary edema
m m m
B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
m m m
C. Increased body temperature
m m m
D. His extremities are cold - ANSWER-B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
m m m m m m m m m
A palpable pulse is created by:
m m m m m
Select one: m
A. electrical conduction in the heart producing ventricular contraction.
m m m m m m m m
Answers)
"PASTE" is an alternate assessment tool for ___________.
m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. respiratory patients
m m
B. seizure patients
m m
C. stroke patients
m m
D. cardiac patients - ANSWER-A. respiratory patients
m m m m m m
A 19-year-old female is found unconscious by her roommate. Your primary assessment reveals that
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
her breathing is inadequate. As you insert an oropharyngeal airway, she begins to gag violently. You
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
should:
m
Select one: m
A. select a smaller oropharyngeal airway and attempt to insert it.
m m m m m m m m m m
B. insert the airway no further but leave it in place as a bite block.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. remove the airway and be prepared to suction her oropharynx.
m m m m m m m m m m
D. continue to insert the airway as you suction her oropharynx. - ANSWER-C. remove the airway and
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
be prepared to suction her oropharynx
m m m m m m
A 20-year-old male has a large laceration to his wrist. He is holding a blood-soaked towel over the
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
wound, but it continues to bleed rapidly. You should:
m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. administer high-flow supplemental oxygen.
m m m m
B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
m m m m m m m
C. apply pressure to the brachial artery.
m m m m m m
D. wrap the towel with pressure bandages. - ANSWER-B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 25-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car hit a tree
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
while traveling at a high rate of speed. She has signs and symptoms of shock, which you suspect are
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
the result of intrathoracic bleeding. Which of the following interventions will provide this patient with
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
the greatest chance for survival?
m m m m m
Select one: m
A. High-flow oxygen administration
m m m
,B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
m m m m m m
C. Full immobilization of her spine
m m m m m
D. Intravenous fluid administration - ANSWER-B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
m m m m m m m m m m m
A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
wheezing over all the lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
beats/min. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
is:
m
Select one: m
A. epinephrine.
m
B. a beta-antagonist.
m m
C. albuterol.
m
D. an antihistamine. - ANSWER-A. epinephrine.
m m m m m
A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should:
m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. administer another treatment in 30 seconds if she is still in distress.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
B. contact medical control and apprise him or her of what you did.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. check the drug's expiration date to ensure that it is still current.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
D. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication. - ANSWER-D. reassess the
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
patient and document her response to the medication.
m m m m m m m m
A 39-year-old male sustained a stab wound to the groin during an altercation at a bar. As you
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
approach the patient, you note that he is conscious. He is screaming in pain and is attempting to
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
control the bleeding, which is bright red and spurting from his groin area. You should:
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. elevate his legs and keep him warm.
m m m m m m m
B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
m m m m m m
C. administer 100% supplemental oxygen.
m m m m
D. ensure that his airway is patent. - ANSWER-B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 49-year-old male presents with an acute onset of crushing chest pain and diaphoresis. You should:
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin.
m m m m m m m
,B. administer up to 324 mg of baby aspirin.
m m m m m m m m
C. obtain vital signs and a SAMPLE history.
m m m m m m m
D. assess the adequacy of his respirations. - ANSWER-D. assess the adequacy of his respirations.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
patient's condition?
m m
Select one: m
A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
m m
B. Exacerbation of his COPD
m m m m
C. Acute pulmonary embolism
m m m
D. Rupture of the diaphragm - ANSWER-A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
m m m m m m m m
A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:
m m m m m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
m m m m m
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
m m m m m m m
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
m m m m m m
D. determine if he has a valid living will. - ANSWER-B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has not
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
taken any. After administering supplemental oxygen if needed and contacting medical control, you
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
should:
m
Select one: m
A. administer the nitroglycerin unless he has taken Viagra within the past 72 hours.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
B. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin before assessing his blood pressure.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. begin immediate transport and request a rendezvous with a paramedic unit.
m m m m m m m m m m m
D. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg. -
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
ANSWER-D. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest
m m m m m m m m m m m m m
pressure of 2 hours' duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
irregular, her respirations are 22 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 92%. The patient does not
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
have prescribed nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should:
m m m m m m m m m
, Select one: m
A. give her one nitroglycerin and reassess her systolic blood pressure.
m m m m m m m m m m
B. administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
m m m m m m m m m m m m
C. obtain a SAMPLE history and contact medical control for advice.
m m m m m m m m m m
D. give her high-flow oxygen, attach the AED, and transport at once. - ANSWER-B. administer oxygen,
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
m m m m m m m m m m
A by-product of involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation is:
m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. oxygen.
m
B. lactic acid.
m m
C. heat.
m
D. nitrogen. - ANSWER-C. heat.
m m m m
A dissecting aortic aneurysm occurs when:
m m m m m
Select one: m
A. a weakened area develops in the aortic wall.
m m m m m m m m
B. the aorta ruptures, resulting in profound bleeding.
m m m m m m m
C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
m m m m m m m m
D. all layers of the aorta suddenly contract. - ANSWER-C. the inner layers of the aorta become
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
separated.
m
A man was found unresponsive in his bed at home. There is no evidence of injury and the patient's
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
medical history is not known. The patient's face is cyanotic, yet the pulse oximeter reads 98%. Which
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
of the following would MOST likely explain this?
m m m m m m m m
Select one: m
A. Severe pulmonary edema
m m m
B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
m m m
C. Increased body temperature
m m m
D. His extremities are cold - ANSWER-B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
m m m m m m m m m
A palpable pulse is created by:
m m m m m
Select one: m
A. electrical conduction in the heart producing ventricular contraction.
m m m m m m m m
