ESTUDYR
FISDAP OPERATIONS (EMS OPERATIONS EXAM) MOST TESTED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. A 150-lb patient is found unresponsive in a very small bathroom. Two EMTs can reach
him but cannot stand side-by-side to perform a direct ground lift. Which method is the
quickest and most practical way to move him out of the bathroom?
A. Extremity lift
B. Long backboard
C. Direct ground lift
D. Stair chair device
Correct — A. Extremity lift
Rationale: In confined spaces where providers cannot stand side-by-side and the patient
is not entrapped, the extremity lift (one EMT at the head/arms, one at the legs) is the
safest and most practical option. A long backboard or stair chair is impractical in a very
tight bathroom.
2. A semiconscious patient is pinned at the legs by the steering wheel after a high-speed
crash. You have gained access to her. What should you do first?
A. Perform a primary assessment and provide any life-saving care before extrication.
B. Immediately apply high-flow oxygen and allow extrication to begin.
C. Rapidly assess head-to-toe, obtain vitals, and apply a cervical collar.
D. Have the fire department disentangle the patient and remove her quickly.
Correct — A. Perform a primary assessment and provide any life-saving care before
extrication.
Rationale: Unless there is an immediate scene danger (fire, explosion), you must assess
and treat life-threatening problems as soon as you gain access. Extrication can be
delayed while you address immediate airway, breathing, or severe hemorrhage.
3. Your ambulance is parked facing oncoming traffic at a night MVC scene. What is the
correct lighting action?
A. Position road flares around the front of the ambulance.
B. Turn all emergency lighting off to avoid blinding traffic.
C. Turn the high-beam headlights on to alert oncoming traffic.
D. Turn headlights off but keep emergency lights on.
Correct — D. Turn headlights off but keep emergency lights on.
,ESTUDYR
Rationale: Facing traffic with headlights on can blind oncoming drivers. Keep emergency
lights on for visibility but turn headlights (especially high beams) off. Use safety triangles
instead of flares if needed.
4. A 72-year-old with a hip injury needs to be moved down a narrow flight of stairs from
the second floor. Which device is most appropriate?
A. Stair chair
B. Long backboard
C. Wheeled stretcher
D. Scoop (split) stretcher
Correct — D. Scoop (split) stretcher
Rationale: A scoop stretcher is contoured for hip/pelvic injuries, minimizes patient
movement, and is practical for stairs. A wheeled stretcher is top-heavy on stairs; a stair
chair is contraindicated with hip fractures.
5. When giving a radio report to the receiving hospital, which statement describes best
practice?
A. Include the patient’s name.
B. Be brief, concise, and factual.
C. Give your report only to a physician.
D. Break the report into 60-second increments.
Correct — B. Be brief, concise, and factual.
Rationale: Radio reports should be succinct, including age, sex, chief complaint,
pertinent findings, treatments, and response. Do not include unnecessary identifiers
(HIPAA) and pause every ~30 seconds if long.
6. At an MCI you notice an emotionally upset bystander. What is an appropriate action?
A. Tell the bystander to leave immediately.
B. Have the bystander assist with patient care.
C. Notify police and have the bystander removed.
D. Assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.
Correct — D. Assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.
Rationale: Giving a distressed bystander a low-risk role (e.g., handing out water, crowd
control) reduces panic and helps scene operations. Do not put untrained people into
patient-care roles.
,ESTUDYR
7. After completing duties in the treatment area at an MCI, the EMT should:
A. Notify the incident commander and return to service.
B. Report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
C. Report to the transportation area to assist with loading.
D. Report to triage to check for remaining patients.
Correct — B. Report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
Rationale: You should return to the supervisor who assigned you (treatment officer) for
reassignment to maintain organized scene operations and avoid freelancing.
8. A patient requests transport to Hospital A. The EMT discourages the choice, saying the
doctors there are incompetent and recommends Hospital B. The EMT’s behavior is:
A. Legal and ethical.
B. Ethical, but illegal.
C. Legal, but unethical.
D. Illegal and unethical.
Correct — C. Legal, but unethical.
Rationale: The EMT may legally express opinions but it is unprofessional and unethical
to unduly influence a patient’s choice of facility; it risks slander and violates patient
autonomy.
9. An 80-year-old woman is weak and lightheaded. Her son asks you to transport her to
the hospital. You should:
A. Advise the son he can probably drive her.
B. Comply with the son’s request and transport the woman.
C. Take vitals and apply oxygen if needed.
D. Assess the woman and determine if she wishes to be treated and transported.
Correct — D. Assess the woman and determine if she wishes to be treated and
transported.
Rationale: Obtain consent directly from a competent adult patient. If she refuses, assess
decision-making capacity. The son’s request does not override the patient’s
autonomous decision.
, ESTUDYR
10. When using the power lift to lift a stretcher, what hand position helps reduce wrist
injury?
A. Maintain a slight inward curve to your back.
B. Bend at the waist and keep your back straight.
C. Ensure that you lift with your palms facing up.
D. Maintain a slight outward curve to your back.
Correct — C. Ensure that you lift with your palms facing up.
Rationale: Palms-up grip provides better wrist alignment and less strain. Use leg
muscles, keep the back straight, and lift with knees—not waist.
11. When lifting a long backboard with a secured trauma patient onto the stretcher, you
should:
A. Lift from the sides rather than from the ends.
B. Use the powerful muscles of your back to lift.
C. Recall most weight is at the foot end of the board.
D. Ensure the strongest EMT is positioned at the head end.
Correct — D. Ensure the strongest EMT is positioned at the head end.
Rationale: Patient weight distribution is often heavier toward the head; placing the
strongest lifter at the head reduces risk of drop and injury. Lift from the ends and use
leg muscles.
12. Regarding HEPA (N-95) respirators, which statement is correct?
A. Place a HEPA respirator on any patient with TB.
B. Long sideburns or a beard will prevent proper HEPA fit.
C. A surgical mask gives better TB protection than HEPA.
D. HEPA is needed only if the patient is coughing.
Correct — B. Long sideburns or a beard will prevent proper HEPA fit.
Rationale: Facial hair prevents a tight seal, compromising respirator efficacy. HEPA
respirators are for providers; place a surgical mask on the patient regardless of coughing
to reduce droplet spread.
13. A conscious, alert motor-vehicle crash patient refuses transport. She has minor injuries.
You should:
A. Advise she’s too upset to refuse.
B. Ask police to breathalyze her.
FISDAP OPERATIONS (EMS OPERATIONS EXAM) MOST TESTED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. A 150-lb patient is found unresponsive in a very small bathroom. Two EMTs can reach
him but cannot stand side-by-side to perform a direct ground lift. Which method is the
quickest and most practical way to move him out of the bathroom?
A. Extremity lift
B. Long backboard
C. Direct ground lift
D. Stair chair device
Correct — A. Extremity lift
Rationale: In confined spaces where providers cannot stand side-by-side and the patient
is not entrapped, the extremity lift (one EMT at the head/arms, one at the legs) is the
safest and most practical option. A long backboard or stair chair is impractical in a very
tight bathroom.
2. A semiconscious patient is pinned at the legs by the steering wheel after a high-speed
crash. You have gained access to her. What should you do first?
A. Perform a primary assessment and provide any life-saving care before extrication.
B. Immediately apply high-flow oxygen and allow extrication to begin.
C. Rapidly assess head-to-toe, obtain vitals, and apply a cervical collar.
D. Have the fire department disentangle the patient and remove her quickly.
Correct — A. Perform a primary assessment and provide any life-saving care before
extrication.
Rationale: Unless there is an immediate scene danger (fire, explosion), you must assess
and treat life-threatening problems as soon as you gain access. Extrication can be
delayed while you address immediate airway, breathing, or severe hemorrhage.
3. Your ambulance is parked facing oncoming traffic at a night MVC scene. What is the
correct lighting action?
A. Position road flares around the front of the ambulance.
B. Turn all emergency lighting off to avoid blinding traffic.
C. Turn the high-beam headlights on to alert oncoming traffic.
D. Turn headlights off but keep emergency lights on.
Correct — D. Turn headlights off but keep emergency lights on.
,ESTUDYR
Rationale: Facing traffic with headlights on can blind oncoming drivers. Keep emergency
lights on for visibility but turn headlights (especially high beams) off. Use safety triangles
instead of flares if needed.
4. A 72-year-old with a hip injury needs to be moved down a narrow flight of stairs from
the second floor. Which device is most appropriate?
A. Stair chair
B. Long backboard
C. Wheeled stretcher
D. Scoop (split) stretcher
Correct — D. Scoop (split) stretcher
Rationale: A scoop stretcher is contoured for hip/pelvic injuries, minimizes patient
movement, and is practical for stairs. A wheeled stretcher is top-heavy on stairs; a stair
chair is contraindicated with hip fractures.
5. When giving a radio report to the receiving hospital, which statement describes best
practice?
A. Include the patient’s name.
B. Be brief, concise, and factual.
C. Give your report only to a physician.
D. Break the report into 60-second increments.
Correct — B. Be brief, concise, and factual.
Rationale: Radio reports should be succinct, including age, sex, chief complaint,
pertinent findings, treatments, and response. Do not include unnecessary identifiers
(HIPAA) and pause every ~30 seconds if long.
6. At an MCI you notice an emotionally upset bystander. What is an appropriate action?
A. Tell the bystander to leave immediately.
B. Have the bystander assist with patient care.
C. Notify police and have the bystander removed.
D. Assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.
Correct — D. Assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.
Rationale: Giving a distressed bystander a low-risk role (e.g., handing out water, crowd
control) reduces panic and helps scene operations. Do not put untrained people into
patient-care roles.
,ESTUDYR
7. After completing duties in the treatment area at an MCI, the EMT should:
A. Notify the incident commander and return to service.
B. Report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
C. Report to the transportation area to assist with loading.
D. Report to triage to check for remaining patients.
Correct — B. Report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
Rationale: You should return to the supervisor who assigned you (treatment officer) for
reassignment to maintain organized scene operations and avoid freelancing.
8. A patient requests transport to Hospital A. The EMT discourages the choice, saying the
doctors there are incompetent and recommends Hospital B. The EMT’s behavior is:
A. Legal and ethical.
B. Ethical, but illegal.
C. Legal, but unethical.
D. Illegal and unethical.
Correct — C. Legal, but unethical.
Rationale: The EMT may legally express opinions but it is unprofessional and unethical
to unduly influence a patient’s choice of facility; it risks slander and violates patient
autonomy.
9. An 80-year-old woman is weak and lightheaded. Her son asks you to transport her to
the hospital. You should:
A. Advise the son he can probably drive her.
B. Comply with the son’s request and transport the woman.
C. Take vitals and apply oxygen if needed.
D. Assess the woman and determine if she wishes to be treated and transported.
Correct — D. Assess the woman and determine if she wishes to be treated and
transported.
Rationale: Obtain consent directly from a competent adult patient. If she refuses, assess
decision-making capacity. The son’s request does not override the patient’s
autonomous decision.
, ESTUDYR
10. When using the power lift to lift a stretcher, what hand position helps reduce wrist
injury?
A. Maintain a slight inward curve to your back.
B. Bend at the waist and keep your back straight.
C. Ensure that you lift with your palms facing up.
D. Maintain a slight outward curve to your back.
Correct — C. Ensure that you lift with your palms facing up.
Rationale: Palms-up grip provides better wrist alignment and less strain. Use leg
muscles, keep the back straight, and lift with knees—not waist.
11. When lifting a long backboard with a secured trauma patient onto the stretcher, you
should:
A. Lift from the sides rather than from the ends.
B. Use the powerful muscles of your back to lift.
C. Recall most weight is at the foot end of the board.
D. Ensure the strongest EMT is positioned at the head end.
Correct — D. Ensure the strongest EMT is positioned at the head end.
Rationale: Patient weight distribution is often heavier toward the head; placing the
strongest lifter at the head reduces risk of drop and injury. Lift from the ends and use
leg muscles.
12. Regarding HEPA (N-95) respirators, which statement is correct?
A. Place a HEPA respirator on any patient with TB.
B. Long sideburns or a beard will prevent proper HEPA fit.
C. A surgical mask gives better TB protection than HEPA.
D. HEPA is needed only if the patient is coughing.
Correct — B. Long sideburns or a beard will prevent proper HEPA fit.
Rationale: Facial hair prevents a tight seal, compromising respirator efficacy. HEPA
respirators are for providers; place a surgical mask on the patient regardless of coughing
to reduce droplet spread.
13. A conscious, alert motor-vehicle crash patient refuses transport. She has minor injuries.
You should:
A. Advise she’s too upset to refuse.
B. Ask police to breathalyze her.
