Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Exam
Questions and Answers Latest
QUESTION 1
QUESTION: What is the primary objective of an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)?
A. To provide on-scene medical treatment
B. To coordinate emergency vehicle maintenance
C. To dispatch appropriate resources and provide pre-arrival instructions
D. To collect patient billing information
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: The core mission of an EMD is to rapidly assess emergency calls, dispatch the
correct level of response, and provide potentially life-saving pre-arrival instructions while help is
en route.
QUESTION 2
QUESTION: Which of the following best describes the “Chain of Survival” in emergency medical
services?
A. Call receipt, dispatch, response, hospital transport
B. Early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care
C. Dispatch coordination, ambulance response, hospital transfer
D. Patient handover, emergency treatment, discharge, follow-up
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: The Chain of Survival emphasizes timely recognition and intervention at each step
from bystander action to advanced care, improving outcomes in cardiac arrest.
QUESTION 3
QUESTION: What is the most important initial question an EMD should ask during a 911 medical
call?
A. “What medications are you taking?”
B. “What is your date of birth?”
,C. “Where is your location?”
D. “How are you feeling?”
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: Determining the exact location ensures that help is dispatched promptly even if the
call is disconnected.
QUESTION 4
QUESTION: The term “pre-arrival instructions” refers to:
A. Advice given to emergency crews before departure
B. Directions given to callers to provide immediate care before responders arrive
C. Hospital updates on patient conditions
D. Traffic management strategies for ambulances
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Pre-arrival instructions allow callers to provide CPR, control bleeding, or manage
choking before professional responders arrive.
QUESTION 5
QUESTION: Which of the following medical emergencies requires immediate dispatcher-guided
CPR instructions?
A. Unconscious and breathing
B. Chest pain with nausea
C. Unconscious and not breathing
D. Broken wrist with bleeding
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: The absence of breathing and consciousness indicates cardiac arrest, necessitating
prompt CPR initiation.
QUESTION 6
QUESTION: An EMD should verify the caller’s phone number because:
A. It helps for future non-emergency follow-up calls
,B. It ensures billing accuracy
C. It allows recontact in case the call is disconnected
D. It is required for post-incident reports
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: Recontacting the caller is crucial for maintaining communication if the call drops or
additional information is needed.
QUESTION 7
QUESTION: Which communication technique is most critical during high-stress calls?
A. Speaking quickly to expedite response
B. Using assertive but calm language
C. Interrupting the caller for clarification
D. Using medical jargon for precision
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: A calm yet authoritative tone reassures the caller, maintains control, and helps
convey information effectively.
QUESTION 8
QUESTION: What is the standard priority level for cardiac arrest dispatch?
A. Priority 1 – Immediate response
B. Priority 2 – Urgent response
C. Priority 3 – Routine transport
D. Priority 4 – Non-emergency
CORRECT ANSWER: A.
RATIONALE: Cardiac arrest demands the most rapid response possible to initiate CPR and
defibrillation.
QUESTION 9
QUESTION: When giving CPR instructions, what rate should chest compressions be performed
at?
, A. 60–80 per minute
B. 100–120 per minute
C. 40–60 per minute
D. 140–160 per minute
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Current guidelines recommend compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute to
maximize perfusion.
QUESTION 10
QUESTION: During a choking incident, if the patient becomes unresponsive, the dispatcher
should instruct the caller to:
A. Start abdominal thrusts
B. Begin chest compressions immediately
C. Attempt to scoop out the obstruction
D. Pour water down the throat
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Once unresponsive, CPR should begin to dislodge the obstruction and maintain
circulation and oxygenation.
QUESTION 11
QUESTION: Which of the following is a correct description of the EMD’s role in quality
assurance?
A. Discipline field crews for mistakes
B. Review call recordings and assess protocol compliance
C. Modify dispatch protocols independently
D. Determine ambulance staffing levels
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Quality assurance ensures call handling and protocol adherence meet professional
standards, improving service delivery.
QUESTION 12
Questions and Answers Latest
QUESTION 1
QUESTION: What is the primary objective of an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)?
A. To provide on-scene medical treatment
B. To coordinate emergency vehicle maintenance
C. To dispatch appropriate resources and provide pre-arrival instructions
D. To collect patient billing information
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: The core mission of an EMD is to rapidly assess emergency calls, dispatch the
correct level of response, and provide potentially life-saving pre-arrival instructions while help is
en route.
QUESTION 2
QUESTION: Which of the following best describes the “Chain of Survival” in emergency medical
services?
A. Call receipt, dispatch, response, hospital transport
B. Early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care
C. Dispatch coordination, ambulance response, hospital transfer
D. Patient handover, emergency treatment, discharge, follow-up
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: The Chain of Survival emphasizes timely recognition and intervention at each step
from bystander action to advanced care, improving outcomes in cardiac arrest.
QUESTION 3
QUESTION: What is the most important initial question an EMD should ask during a 911 medical
call?
A. “What medications are you taking?”
B. “What is your date of birth?”
,C. “Where is your location?”
D. “How are you feeling?”
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: Determining the exact location ensures that help is dispatched promptly even if the
call is disconnected.
QUESTION 4
QUESTION: The term “pre-arrival instructions” refers to:
A. Advice given to emergency crews before departure
B. Directions given to callers to provide immediate care before responders arrive
C. Hospital updates on patient conditions
D. Traffic management strategies for ambulances
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Pre-arrival instructions allow callers to provide CPR, control bleeding, or manage
choking before professional responders arrive.
QUESTION 5
QUESTION: Which of the following medical emergencies requires immediate dispatcher-guided
CPR instructions?
A. Unconscious and breathing
B. Chest pain with nausea
C. Unconscious and not breathing
D. Broken wrist with bleeding
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: The absence of breathing and consciousness indicates cardiac arrest, necessitating
prompt CPR initiation.
QUESTION 6
QUESTION: An EMD should verify the caller’s phone number because:
A. It helps for future non-emergency follow-up calls
,B. It ensures billing accuracy
C. It allows recontact in case the call is disconnected
D. It is required for post-incident reports
CORRECT ANSWER: C.
RATIONALE: Recontacting the caller is crucial for maintaining communication if the call drops or
additional information is needed.
QUESTION 7
QUESTION: Which communication technique is most critical during high-stress calls?
A. Speaking quickly to expedite response
B. Using assertive but calm language
C. Interrupting the caller for clarification
D. Using medical jargon for precision
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: A calm yet authoritative tone reassures the caller, maintains control, and helps
convey information effectively.
QUESTION 8
QUESTION: What is the standard priority level for cardiac arrest dispatch?
A. Priority 1 – Immediate response
B. Priority 2 – Urgent response
C. Priority 3 – Routine transport
D. Priority 4 – Non-emergency
CORRECT ANSWER: A.
RATIONALE: Cardiac arrest demands the most rapid response possible to initiate CPR and
defibrillation.
QUESTION 9
QUESTION: When giving CPR instructions, what rate should chest compressions be performed
at?
, A. 60–80 per minute
B. 100–120 per minute
C. 40–60 per minute
D. 140–160 per minute
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Current guidelines recommend compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute to
maximize perfusion.
QUESTION 10
QUESTION: During a choking incident, if the patient becomes unresponsive, the dispatcher
should instruct the caller to:
A. Start abdominal thrusts
B. Begin chest compressions immediately
C. Attempt to scoop out the obstruction
D. Pour water down the throat
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Once unresponsive, CPR should begin to dislodge the obstruction and maintain
circulation and oxygenation.
QUESTION 11
QUESTION: Which of the following is a correct description of the EMD’s role in quality
assurance?
A. Discipline field crews for mistakes
B. Review call recordings and assess protocol compliance
C. Modify dispatch protocols independently
D. Determine ambulance staffing levels
CORRECT ANSWER: B.
RATIONALE: Quality assurance ensures call handling and protocol adherence meet professional
standards, improving service delivery.
QUESTION 12