NATIONAL FIREFIGHTER SELECTION TEST (NFST) 2026 | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | BRAND NEW VERSION!
Question 1
Which of the following best describes an "inhaled toxin"?
A) A substance that enters the body through the intestinal tract.
B) A toxin that is absorbed through the pores of the skin.
C) Toxins that usually affect the airways, lungs, or brain, making it hard to breathe.
D) A toxin injected directly into the bloodstream by an insect.
E) A substance that causes localized swelling but does not reach the lungs.
Correct Answer: C) Toxins that usually affect the airways, lungs, or brain, making it hard to
breathe.
Rationale: Inhaled toxins are categorized by their point of entry—the respiratory system.
Because the lungs provide a direct interface with the bloodstream through delicate tissue,
these toxins can quickly impair respiratory function or travel to the brain. Common
examples include smoke, carbon monoxide, or chemical vapors, which frequently lead to
hypoxia or immediate respiratory distress in fire-related scenarios.
Question 2
What is considered the first and most vital medical treatment for a patient suffering from
inhalation poisoning?
A) Forcing the patient to drink large amounts of water.
B) Applying a cold compress to the patient's chest.
C) Oxygen treatment.
D) Administering activated charcoal.
E) Applying a tourniquet to the nearest extremity.
Correct Answer: C) Oxygen treatment.
Rationale: Inhalation poisoning typically involves the displacement of oxygen in the lungs or
the chemical inhibition of oxygen transport in the blood (as seen with carbon monoxide).
Providing high-concentration supplemental oxygen is the primary intervention to ensure
the brain and vital organs receive necessary oxygenation while the body attempts to clear
the toxins from the respiratory system.
, 2
Question 3
Which of the following is the defining characteristic of an "injected toxin"?
A) It enters through a garden insecticide spray.
B) It is a toxin that is injected into the body by animals or insects, causing weakness, dizziness,
and fever.
C) It is always a synthetic chemical created in a laboratory.
D) It only affects the skin and never enters the bloodstream.
E) It is primarily absorbed through the lining of the stomach.
Correct Answer: B) It is a toxin that is injected into the body by animals or insects, causing
weakness, dizziness, and fever.
Rationale: Injected toxins bypass the body's natural barriers (like the skin or digestive
tract) through a puncture, typically from a sting or a bite. Once under the skin or in the
muscle/veins, the toxin spreads through the circulatory or lymphatic systems, leading to
systemic symptoms such as fever, dizziness, and potential anaphylaxis.
Question 4
When dealing with an "absorbed toxin," which of the following is a standard component of
emergency medical care?
A) Performing a tracheotomy.
B) Inducing vomiting immediately.
C) Removing the substance from the skin.
D) Administering an Epi-Pen regardless of symptoms.
E) Encouraging the patient to exercise to sweat the toxin out.
Correct Answer: C) Removing the substance from the skin.
Rationale: Absorbed toxins enter the body through contact with the skin or mucous
membranes. The primary goal of treatment is to stop the absorption process. This is
achieved by removing contaminated clothing and flushing the skin with water or
appropriate neutralizing agents to prevent the toxin from penetrating deeper into the
subcutaneous layers or the bloodstream.
, 3
Question 5
Which of the following is cited as a common source of absorbed toxins in a residential setting?
A) Carbon monoxide from a faulty heater.
B) Spoiled dairy products.
C) Garden insecticides.
D) A venomous rattlesnake.
E) Uncooked poultry.
Correct Answer: C) Garden insecticides.
Rationale: Many garden chemicals and pesticides are designed to be potent and can easily
penetrate human skin upon contact. Unlike inhaled toxins (smoke) or ingested toxins
(spoiled food), insecticides are a classic example of chemicals that a person might get on
their hands or arms, leading to poisoning via skin absorption.
Question 6
A poisonous snake bite is a clinical example of which type of poisoning?
A) Ingested.
B) Absorbed.
C) Inhaled.
D) Injected.
E) Atmospheric.
Correct Answer: D) Injected.
Rationale: Because a snake uses fangs to puncture the skin and deliver venom into the
tissue, it is classified as an injected toxin. This delivery method allows the venom to act
much faster than if it were absorbed through the skin or swallowed, making it a high-
priority medical emergency.
Question 7
Which of the following statements regarding inhaled toxins is FALSE?
A) They can affect the brain's ability to function.
B) They can make it difficult for a patient to breathe.
C) They are absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal tract.
, 4
D) They are often encountered by firefighters in the form of smoke.
E) They can cause a patient to lose consciousness.
Correct Answer: C) They are absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal tract.
Rationale: This statement is false because inhaled toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream
through the lung tissue (alveoli), not the intestinal tract. The intestinal tract is the route for
ingested toxins (swallowed substances). Understanding the route of entry is critical for
firefighters to determine the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and treatment.
Question 8
Which of the following symptoms is unique and highly characteristic of ingested toxins?
A) Fever and chills.
B) Difficulty breathing.
C) Stomach ache.
D) Dizziness.
E) Skin rash at the site of contact.
Correct Answer: C) Stomach ache.
Rationale: While many toxins cause systemic symptoms like dizziness or fever, ingested
toxins (those that are swallowed) directly irritate the gastrointestinal system. Therefore,
stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the hallmark signs that a toxin has
entered via the digestive route.
Question 9
If a Paramedic arrives at a scene where a victim has been exposed to toxic fumes in a confined
space, what is the most likely first action?
A) Apply a rigid splint to the patient's leg.
B) Give oxygen to the patient.
C) Check the patient's vision using an eye chart.
D) Administer 500mg of aspirin.
E) Interview the neighbors about the patient's history.
Correct Answer: B) Give oxygen to the patient.
Rationale: Confined space exposures almost always result in inhalation poisoning or oxygen
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | BRAND NEW VERSION!
Question 1
Which of the following best describes an "inhaled toxin"?
A) A substance that enters the body through the intestinal tract.
B) A toxin that is absorbed through the pores of the skin.
C) Toxins that usually affect the airways, lungs, or brain, making it hard to breathe.
D) A toxin injected directly into the bloodstream by an insect.
E) A substance that causes localized swelling but does not reach the lungs.
Correct Answer: C) Toxins that usually affect the airways, lungs, or brain, making it hard to
breathe.
Rationale: Inhaled toxins are categorized by their point of entry—the respiratory system.
Because the lungs provide a direct interface with the bloodstream through delicate tissue,
these toxins can quickly impair respiratory function or travel to the brain. Common
examples include smoke, carbon monoxide, or chemical vapors, which frequently lead to
hypoxia or immediate respiratory distress in fire-related scenarios.
Question 2
What is considered the first and most vital medical treatment for a patient suffering from
inhalation poisoning?
A) Forcing the patient to drink large amounts of water.
B) Applying a cold compress to the patient's chest.
C) Oxygen treatment.
D) Administering activated charcoal.
E) Applying a tourniquet to the nearest extremity.
Correct Answer: C) Oxygen treatment.
Rationale: Inhalation poisoning typically involves the displacement of oxygen in the lungs or
the chemical inhibition of oxygen transport in the blood (as seen with carbon monoxide).
Providing high-concentration supplemental oxygen is the primary intervention to ensure
the brain and vital organs receive necessary oxygenation while the body attempts to clear
the toxins from the respiratory system.
, 2
Question 3
Which of the following is the defining characteristic of an "injected toxin"?
A) It enters through a garden insecticide spray.
B) It is a toxin that is injected into the body by animals or insects, causing weakness, dizziness,
and fever.
C) It is always a synthetic chemical created in a laboratory.
D) It only affects the skin and never enters the bloodstream.
E) It is primarily absorbed through the lining of the stomach.
Correct Answer: B) It is a toxin that is injected into the body by animals or insects, causing
weakness, dizziness, and fever.
Rationale: Injected toxins bypass the body's natural barriers (like the skin or digestive
tract) through a puncture, typically from a sting or a bite. Once under the skin or in the
muscle/veins, the toxin spreads through the circulatory or lymphatic systems, leading to
systemic symptoms such as fever, dizziness, and potential anaphylaxis.
Question 4
When dealing with an "absorbed toxin," which of the following is a standard component of
emergency medical care?
A) Performing a tracheotomy.
B) Inducing vomiting immediately.
C) Removing the substance from the skin.
D) Administering an Epi-Pen regardless of symptoms.
E) Encouraging the patient to exercise to sweat the toxin out.
Correct Answer: C) Removing the substance from the skin.
Rationale: Absorbed toxins enter the body through contact with the skin or mucous
membranes. The primary goal of treatment is to stop the absorption process. This is
achieved by removing contaminated clothing and flushing the skin with water or
appropriate neutralizing agents to prevent the toxin from penetrating deeper into the
subcutaneous layers or the bloodstream.
, 3
Question 5
Which of the following is cited as a common source of absorbed toxins in a residential setting?
A) Carbon monoxide from a faulty heater.
B) Spoiled dairy products.
C) Garden insecticides.
D) A venomous rattlesnake.
E) Uncooked poultry.
Correct Answer: C) Garden insecticides.
Rationale: Many garden chemicals and pesticides are designed to be potent and can easily
penetrate human skin upon contact. Unlike inhaled toxins (smoke) or ingested toxins
(spoiled food), insecticides are a classic example of chemicals that a person might get on
their hands or arms, leading to poisoning via skin absorption.
Question 6
A poisonous snake bite is a clinical example of which type of poisoning?
A) Ingested.
B) Absorbed.
C) Inhaled.
D) Injected.
E) Atmospheric.
Correct Answer: D) Injected.
Rationale: Because a snake uses fangs to puncture the skin and deliver venom into the
tissue, it is classified as an injected toxin. This delivery method allows the venom to act
much faster than if it were absorbed through the skin or swallowed, making it a high-
priority medical emergency.
Question 7
Which of the following statements regarding inhaled toxins is FALSE?
A) They can affect the brain's ability to function.
B) They can make it difficult for a patient to breathe.
C) They are absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal tract.
, 4
D) They are often encountered by firefighters in the form of smoke.
E) They can cause a patient to lose consciousness.
Correct Answer: C) They are absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal tract.
Rationale: This statement is false because inhaled toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream
through the lung tissue (alveoli), not the intestinal tract. The intestinal tract is the route for
ingested toxins (swallowed substances). Understanding the route of entry is critical for
firefighters to determine the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and treatment.
Question 8
Which of the following symptoms is unique and highly characteristic of ingested toxins?
A) Fever and chills.
B) Difficulty breathing.
C) Stomach ache.
D) Dizziness.
E) Skin rash at the site of contact.
Correct Answer: C) Stomach ache.
Rationale: While many toxins cause systemic symptoms like dizziness or fever, ingested
toxins (those that are swallowed) directly irritate the gastrointestinal system. Therefore,
stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the hallmark signs that a toxin has
entered via the digestive route.
Question 9
If a Paramedic arrives at a scene where a victim has been exposed to toxic fumes in a confined
space, what is the most likely first action?
A) Apply a rigid splint to the patient's leg.
B) Give oxygen to the patient.
C) Check the patient's vision using an eye chart.
D) Administer 500mg of aspirin.
E) Interview the neighbors about the patient's history.
Correct Answer: B) Give oxygen to the patient.
Rationale: Confined space exposures almost always result in inhalation poisoning or oxygen
