EMS 131 EXAM 3 (SECTION 4) QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
The symptoms or circumstances for which a medication is given are called:
contraindications.
indications.
side effects.
untoward effects. - CORRECT ANSWER -indications.
Which of the following best describes a contraindication to a medication?
An unintended action of the drug
The way in which a drug causes its effects
A reason why you should not give a medication to a patient
A reason why you should give a medication to a patient - CORRECT ANSWER -
A reason why you should not give a medication to a patient
Why would an EMT give aspirin to a patient?
Aspirin reduces the heart's ability to beat fast and works to prevent a rapid heart rate.
Aspirin reduces the pain level in patients who are in pain.
Aspirin reduces the blood's ability to clot and works to prevent further clot formation in patients
suffering chest pain.
It is given to calm the patient by reducing the pain because stress is the real killer. -
CORRECT ANSWER -
Aspirin reduces the blood's ability to clot and works to prevent further clot formation in patients s
uffering chest pain.
Which of the following statements concerning oxygen is true?
Never give oxygen to a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Always document the need for oxygen by pulse oximetry before giving it to the patient.
Only withhold oxygen from anyone who is allergic to it.
Never withhold oxygen from any patient who needs it. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Never withhold oxygen from any patient who needs it.
,Nitroglycerin is indicated for which of the following chief complaints?
Decreased level of consciousness
Chest pain
Headache
Difficulty breathing - CORRECT ANSWER -Chest pain
Which of the following is a desired action of epinephrine delivered by auto-injector?
Constriction of blood vessels
Decreased perfusion of tissues
Dilation of coronary arteries
Decrease in blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER -Constriction of blood vessels
You respond to a medical call for a 59-year-
old female complaining of tightness in her chest. You place her on a high concentration of oxygen
and prepare for a short 5-
minute transport to the hospital. The patient tells you she is on nitroglycerin, which she has not ta
ken. Your partner tells you that you can give aspirin per protocol. Should you delay the patient tra
nsport to give the medication, and why?
No, any delay will cause the patient more heart damage, each delay weakens the myocardium.
Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and the
aspirin will slow the clotting process.
Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the heart to beat stronger and restore some blood flow, and the
aspirin will ease the pain.
No, any delay will cause the patient more stress, she needs to be in a definitive care facility. -
CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and the a
spirin will slow the clotting process.
You are on the scene of a 68-year-
old patient with a history of COPD who is breathing 44 times per minute and has a diminished lev
el of consciousness. His wife states he has an albuterol inhaler and nitroglycerin tablets for angina.
What is the most important drug you can administer to the patient?
, Oxygen by bag-valve mask
Oxygen by nonrebreather mask
Albuterol
Nitroglycerin - CORRECT ANSWER -Oxygen by bag-valve mask
Albuterol and epinephrine both have bronchodilation properties that improve the amount of oxyge
n that a person can inhale and absorb. However, albuterol is administered only for asthma, wherea
s epinephrine is administered for both asthma and anaphylaxis. Why is epinephrine, and not Albut
erol, the first choice for anaphylaxis?
Albuterol makes the heart rate increase too much.
Albuterol slows down the heart rate too much.
Albuterol drops the blood pressure too low.
Albuterol is not a vasoconstrictor. - CORRECT ANSWER -Albuterol is not a vasoconstrictor.
Which of the following is a potential side effect of nitroglycerin?
Decreased blood pressure
Sudden increase in heart rate
Difficulty breathing
All of these - CORRECT ANSWER -Decreased blood pressure
Which of the following respiratory rates is considered an abnormal respiratory rate for an adult?
20 breaths/min
12 breaths/min
16 breaths/min
8 breaths/min - CORRECT ANSWER -8 breaths/min
A patient who has shallow, slow, irregular, gasping breaths is said to have respirations.
confused
agonal
hypoxic
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
The symptoms or circumstances for which a medication is given are called:
contraindications.
indications.
side effects.
untoward effects. - CORRECT ANSWER -indications.
Which of the following best describes a contraindication to a medication?
An unintended action of the drug
The way in which a drug causes its effects
A reason why you should not give a medication to a patient
A reason why you should give a medication to a patient - CORRECT ANSWER -
A reason why you should not give a medication to a patient
Why would an EMT give aspirin to a patient?
Aspirin reduces the heart's ability to beat fast and works to prevent a rapid heart rate.
Aspirin reduces the pain level in patients who are in pain.
Aspirin reduces the blood's ability to clot and works to prevent further clot formation in patients
suffering chest pain.
It is given to calm the patient by reducing the pain because stress is the real killer. -
CORRECT ANSWER -
Aspirin reduces the blood's ability to clot and works to prevent further clot formation in patients s
uffering chest pain.
Which of the following statements concerning oxygen is true?
Never give oxygen to a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Always document the need for oxygen by pulse oximetry before giving it to the patient.
Only withhold oxygen from anyone who is allergic to it.
Never withhold oxygen from any patient who needs it. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Never withhold oxygen from any patient who needs it.
,Nitroglycerin is indicated for which of the following chief complaints?
Decreased level of consciousness
Chest pain
Headache
Difficulty breathing - CORRECT ANSWER -Chest pain
Which of the following is a desired action of epinephrine delivered by auto-injector?
Constriction of blood vessels
Decreased perfusion of tissues
Dilation of coronary arteries
Decrease in blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER -Constriction of blood vessels
You respond to a medical call for a 59-year-
old female complaining of tightness in her chest. You place her on a high concentration of oxygen
and prepare for a short 5-
minute transport to the hospital. The patient tells you she is on nitroglycerin, which she has not ta
ken. Your partner tells you that you can give aspirin per protocol. Should you delay the patient tra
nsport to give the medication, and why?
No, any delay will cause the patient more heart damage, each delay weakens the myocardium.
Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and the
aspirin will slow the clotting process.
Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the heart to beat stronger and restore some blood flow, and the
aspirin will ease the pain.
No, any delay will cause the patient more stress, she needs to be in a definitive care facility. -
CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and the a
spirin will slow the clotting process.
You are on the scene of a 68-year-
old patient with a history of COPD who is breathing 44 times per minute and has a diminished lev
el of consciousness. His wife states he has an albuterol inhaler and nitroglycerin tablets for angina.
What is the most important drug you can administer to the patient?
, Oxygen by bag-valve mask
Oxygen by nonrebreather mask
Albuterol
Nitroglycerin - CORRECT ANSWER -Oxygen by bag-valve mask
Albuterol and epinephrine both have bronchodilation properties that improve the amount of oxyge
n that a person can inhale and absorb. However, albuterol is administered only for asthma, wherea
s epinephrine is administered for both asthma and anaphylaxis. Why is epinephrine, and not Albut
erol, the first choice for anaphylaxis?
Albuterol makes the heart rate increase too much.
Albuterol slows down the heart rate too much.
Albuterol drops the blood pressure too low.
Albuterol is not a vasoconstrictor. - CORRECT ANSWER -Albuterol is not a vasoconstrictor.
Which of the following is a potential side effect of nitroglycerin?
Decreased blood pressure
Sudden increase in heart rate
Difficulty breathing
All of these - CORRECT ANSWER -Decreased blood pressure
Which of the following respiratory rates is considered an abnormal respiratory rate for an adult?
20 breaths/min
12 breaths/min
16 breaths/min
8 breaths/min - CORRECT ANSWER -8 breaths/min
A patient who has shallow, slow, irregular, gasping breaths is said to have respirations.
confused
agonal
hypoxic
