West Coast EMT Block Exam #1 |Correct
100%|Questions And Answers
"PASTE" is an alternate assessment tool for ___________.
b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. respiratory patients
b b
B. seizure patients
b b
C. stroke patients
b b
D. cardiac patients - ANSWER-A. respiratory patients
b b b b b b
A 19-year-old female is found unconscious by her roommate. Your primary assessment reveals that her
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
breathing is inadequate. As you insert an oropharyngeal airway, she begins to gag violently. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. select a smaller oropharyngeal airway and attempt to insert it.
b b b b b b b b b b
B. insert the airway no further but leave it in place as a bite block.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. remove the airway and be prepared to suction her oropharynx.
b b b b b b b b b b
D. continue to insert the airway as you suction her oropharynx. - ANSWER-C. remove the airway and be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
prepared to suction her oropharynx
b b b b b
A 20-year-old male has a large laceration to his wrist. He is holding a blood-soaked towel over the wound,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
but it continues to bleed rapidly. You should:
b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer high-flow supplemental oxygen.
b b b b
B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
b b b b b b b
C. apply pressure to the brachial artery.
b b b b b b
D. wrap the towel with pressure bandages. - ANSWER-B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 25-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car hit a tree while
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
traveling at a high rate of speed. She has signs and symptoms of shock, which you suspect are the result
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
of intrathoracic bleeding. Which of the following interventions will provide this patient with the greatest
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
chance for survival?
b b b
Select one: b
A. High-flow oxygen administration
b b b
,B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
b b b b b b
C. Full immobilization of her spine
b b b b b
D. Intravenous fluid administration - ANSWER-B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
b b b b b b b b b b b
A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear wheezing
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
over all the lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. epinephrine.
b
B. a beta-antagonist.
b b
C. albuterol.
b
D. an antihistamine. - ANSWER-A. epinephrine.
b b b b b
A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should:
b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer another treatment in 30 seconds if she is still in distress.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
B. contact medical control and apprise him or her of what you did.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. check the drug's expiration date to ensure that it is still current.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
D. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication. - ANSWER-D. reassess the patient
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
and document her response to the medication.
b b b b b b b
A 39-year-old male sustained a stab wound to the groin during an altercation at a bar. As you approach
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
the patient, you note that he is conscious. He is screaming in pain and is attempting to control the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bleeding, which is bright red and spurting from his groin area. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. elevate his legs and keep him warm.
b b b b b b b
B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
b b b b b b
C. administer 100% supplemental oxygen.
b b b b
D. ensure that his airway is patent. - ANSWER-B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 49-year-old male presents with an acute onset of crushing chest pain and diaphoresis. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin.
b b b b b b b
,B. administer up to 324 mg of baby aspirin.
b b b b b b b b
C. obtain vital signs and a SAMPLE history.
b b b b b b b
D. assess the adequacy of his respirations. - ANSWER-D. assess the adequacy of his respirations.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
patient's condition?
b b
Select one: b
A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
b b
B. Exacerbation of his COPD
b b b b
C. Acute pulmonary embolism
b b b
D. Rupture of the diaphragm - ANSWER-A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
b b b b b b b b
A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
b b b b b
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
b b b b b b b
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
b b b b b b
D. determine if he has a valid living will. - ANSWER-B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has not taken
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
any. After administering supplemental oxygen if needed and contacting medical control, you should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer the nitroglycerin unless he has taken Viagra within the past 72 hours.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin before assessing his blood pressure.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. begin immediate transport and request a rendezvous with a paramedic unit.
b b b b b b b b b b b
D. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg. - ANSWER-D.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest pressure
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
of 2 hours' duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and irregular, her
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
respirations are 22 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 92%. The patient does not have prescribed
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should:
b b b b b b b
Select one: b
, A. give her one nitroglycerin and reassess her systolic blood pressure.
b b b b b b b b b b
B. administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. obtain a SAMPLE history and contact medical control for advice.
b b b b b b b b b b
D. give her high-flow oxygen, attach the AED, and transport at once. - ANSWER-B. administer oxygen,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
b b b b b b b b b b
A by-product of involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation is:
b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. oxygen.
b
B. lactic acid.
b b
C. heat.b
D. nitrogen. - ANSWER-C. heat.
b b b b
A dissecting aortic aneurysm occurs when:
b b b b b
Select one: b
A. a weakened area develops in the aortic wall.
b b b b b b b b
B. the aorta ruptures, resulting in profound bleeding.
b b b b b b b
C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
b b b b b b b b
D. all layers of the aorta suddenly contract. - ANSWER-C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A man was found unresponsive in his bed at home. There is no evidence of injury and the patient's
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
medical history is not known. The patient's face is cyanotic, yet the pulse oximeter reads 98%. Which of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
the following would MOST likely explain this?
b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. Severe pulmonary edema
b b b
B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
b b b
C. Increased body temperature
b b b
D. His extremities are cold - ANSWER-B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
b b b b b b b b b
A palpable pulse is created by:
b b b b b
Select one: b
A. electrical conduction in the heart producing ventricular contraction.
b b b b b b b b
B. the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the arteries.
b b b b b b b b b b b
C. pressure waves through the arteries caused by cardiac contraction.
b b b b b b b b b
100%|Questions And Answers
"PASTE" is an alternate assessment tool for ___________.
b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. respiratory patients
b b
B. seizure patients
b b
C. stroke patients
b b
D. cardiac patients - ANSWER-A. respiratory patients
b b b b b b
A 19-year-old female is found unconscious by her roommate. Your primary assessment reveals that her
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
breathing is inadequate. As you insert an oropharyngeal airway, she begins to gag violently. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. select a smaller oropharyngeal airway and attempt to insert it.
b b b b b b b b b b
B. insert the airway no further but leave it in place as a bite block.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. remove the airway and be prepared to suction her oropharynx.
b b b b b b b b b b
D. continue to insert the airway as you suction her oropharynx. - ANSWER-C. remove the airway and be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
prepared to suction her oropharynx
b b b b b
A 20-year-old male has a large laceration to his wrist. He is holding a blood-soaked towel over the wound,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
but it continues to bleed rapidly. You should:
b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer high-flow supplemental oxygen.
b b b b
B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
b b b b b b b
C. apply pressure to the brachial artery.
b b b b b b
D. wrap the towel with pressure bandages. - ANSWER-B. apply a tourniquet proximal to the wrist.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 25-year-old unrestrained female struck the steering wheel with her chest when her car hit a tree while
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
traveling at a high rate of speed. She has signs and symptoms of shock, which you suspect are the result
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
of intrathoracic bleeding. Which of the following interventions will provide this patient with the greatest
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
chance for survival?
b b b
Select one: b
A. High-flow oxygen administration
b b b
,B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
b b b b b b
C. Full immobilization of her spine
b b b b b
D. Intravenous fluid administration - ANSWER-B. Rapid transport to a trauma center
b b b b b b b b b b b
A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear wheezing
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
over all the lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. epinephrine.
b
B. a beta-antagonist.
b b
C. albuterol.
b
D. an antihistamine. - ANSWER-A. epinephrine.
b b b b b
A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should:
b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer another treatment in 30 seconds if she is still in distress.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
B. contact medical control and apprise him or her of what you did.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. check the drug's expiration date to ensure that it is still current.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
D. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication. - ANSWER-D. reassess the patient
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
and document her response to the medication.
b b b b b b b
A 39-year-old male sustained a stab wound to the groin during an altercation at a bar. As you approach
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
the patient, you note that he is conscious. He is screaming in pain and is attempting to control the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bleeding, which is bright red and spurting from his groin area. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. elevate his legs and keep him warm.
b b b b b b b
B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
b b b b b b
C. administer 100% supplemental oxygen.
b b b b
D. ensure that his airway is patent. - ANSWER-B. apply direct pressure to the wound.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 49-year-old male presents with an acute onset of crushing chest pain and diaphoresis. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin.
b b b b b b b
,B. administer up to 324 mg of baby aspirin.
b b b b b b b b
C. obtain vital signs and a SAMPLE history.
b b b b b b b
D. assess the adequacy of his respirations. - ANSWER-D. assess the adequacy of his respirations.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
patient's condition?
b b
Select one: b
A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
b b
B. Exacerbation of his COPD
b b b b
C. Acute pulmonary embolism
b b b
D. Rupture of the diaphragm - ANSWER-A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
b b b b b b b b
A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
b b b b b
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
b b b b b b b
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
b b b b b b
D. determine if he has a valid living will. - ANSWER-B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has not taken
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
any. After administering supplemental oxygen if needed and contacting medical control, you should:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. administer the nitroglycerin unless he has taken Viagra within the past 72 hours.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin before assessing his blood pressure.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. begin immediate transport and request a rendezvous with a paramedic unit.
b b b b b b b b b b b
D. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg. - ANSWER-D.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest pressure
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
of 2 hours' duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and irregular, her
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
respirations are 22 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 92%. The patient does not have prescribed
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should:
b b b b b b b
Select one: b
, A. give her one nitroglycerin and reassess her systolic blood pressure.
b b b b b b b b b b
B. administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C. obtain a SAMPLE history and contact medical control for advice.
b b b b b b b b b b
D. give her high-flow oxygen, attach the AED, and transport at once. - ANSWER-B. administer oxygen,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further.
b b b b b b b b b b
A by-product of involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation is:
b b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. oxygen.
b
B. lactic acid.
b b
C. heat.b
D. nitrogen. - ANSWER-C. heat.
b b b b
A dissecting aortic aneurysm occurs when:
b b b b b
Select one: b
A. a weakened area develops in the aortic wall.
b b b b b b b b
B. the aorta ruptures, resulting in profound bleeding.
b b b b b b b
C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
b b b b b b b b
D. all layers of the aorta suddenly contract. - ANSWER-C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A man was found unresponsive in his bed at home. There is no evidence of injury and the patient's
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
medical history is not known. The patient's face is cyanotic, yet the pulse oximeter reads 98%. Which of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
the following would MOST likely explain this?
b b b b b b b
Select one: b
A. Severe pulmonary edema
b b b
B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
b b b
C. Increased body temperature
b b b
D. His extremities are cold - ANSWER-B. Carbon monoxide poisoning
b b b b b b b b b
A palpable pulse is created by:
b b b b b
Select one: b
A. electrical conduction in the heart producing ventricular contraction.
b b b b b b b b
B. the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the arteries.
b b b b b b b b b b b
C. pressure waves through the arteries caused by cardiac contraction.
b b b b b b b b b
