Exam Covers
Airway Anatomy & Physiology
Airway Assessment
Airway Sounds
Airway Obstruction & Choking
Airway Adjuncts
Suctioning
Oxygen Therapy
Ventilation
Respiratory Emergencies
Respiratory Failure
Special Airway Problems
Disease Processes & Critical Thinking
1. You arrive to find an adult patient with severe respiratory distress who is sitting
upright and using accessory muscles. What should you do first?
A. Place the patient supine
B. Assess the airway and breathing while providing appropriate oxygen support
C. Obtain a blood pressure
D. Administer oral glucose
Correct Answer: B. Assess the airway and breathing while providing appropriate
oxygen support
Explanation: Airway and breathing are immediate priorities in a patient with severe
respiratory distress. Keeping the patient in a position of comfort can improve
ventilation. Oxygen or ventilatory support should be provided according to the
patient's clinical condition.
2. Which finding is most concerning for inadequate breathing in an adult?
A. Respiratory rate of 18/min
B. Speaking in complete sentences
C. Cyanosis with shallow respirations
D. Mild anxiety
Correct Answer: C. Cyanosis with shallow respirations
Explanation: Cyanosis accompanied by shallow breathing suggests inadequate
oxygenation and ventilation. The EMT should rapidly assess the airway and provide
ventilatory assistance when indicated. A normal respiratory rate alone does not
guarantee adequate ventilation.
,3. What is the primary purpose of the airway?
A. Pump blood to the lungs
B. Deliver medications to the stomach
C. Provide a passage for air to enter and leave the lungs
D. Remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream directly
Correct Answer: C. Provide a passage for air to enter and leave the lungs
Explanation: The airway provides a pathway between the atmosphere and the
lungs. Maintaining airway patency is essential for oxygen delivery and carbon
dioxide removal. Obstruction can rapidly result in hypoxia and cardiac arrest.
4. An unresponsive patient has no suspected spinal injury. Which maneuver is
generally preferred to open the airway?
A. Jaw-thrust maneuver
B. Head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver
C. Abdominal thrust
D. Recovery position only
Correct Answer: B. Head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver
Explanation: The head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver is used to open the airway when
spinal trauma is not suspected. It moves the tongue away from the posterior
pharynx. If spinal injury is suspected, a jaw-thrust maneuver is generally preferred.
5. Which airway structure prevents food from entering the trachea during
swallowing?
A. Uvula
B. Epiglottis
C. Diaphragm
D. Hard palate
Correct Answer: B. Epiglottis
Explanation: The epiglottis helps cover the entrance to the larynx during
swallowing. This helps direct food and liquid toward the esophagus. Failure of
airway protection can result in aspiration.
6. Which sound is most characteristic of an upper-airway obstruction?
A. Stridor
B. Crackles
C. Wheezing
D. Pleural friction rub
Correct Answer: A. Stridor
Explanation: Stridor is a harsh, high-pitched sound associated with obstruction of
the upper airway. It may occur with swelling, foreign bodies, or other airway
problems. Significant stridor should be treated as a potentially life-threatening
finding.
, 7. Wheezing is most commonly associated with obstruction or narrowing of the:
A. Upper airway
B. Lower airways
C. Esophagus
D. Nasal cavity only
Correct Answer: B. Lower airways
Explanation: Wheezing is generally produced when air moves through narrowed
lower airways. Conditions such as asthma and COPD can produce wheezing. Severe
obstruction may eventually produce very little or no air movement.
8. A patient with asthma suddenly has extremely diminished breath sounds
bilaterally. What does this finding suggest?
A. Improvement
B. Severe airway obstruction
C. Normal ventilation
D. Hyperventilation only
Correct Answer: B. Severe airway obstruction
Explanation: A severe asthma patient with very little air movement may have a
"silent chest." This can indicate critically narrowed airways and impending
respiratory failure. Immediate assessment and aggressive supportive care are
necessary.
9. Which patient is most likely to require positive-pressure ventilation?
A. Alert patient breathing 16/min with normal skin color
B. Patient with adequate respirations and mild anxiety
C. Unresponsive patient with inadequate respirations
D. Patient with a minor nosebleed
Correct Answer: C. Unresponsive patient with inadequate respirations
Explanation: Positive-pressure ventilation is indicated when a patient cannot
adequately ventilate independently. An EMT may provide ventilations using a bag-
valve mask and appropriate oxygen. Ventilatory failure is an immediate life threat.
10. What is the best method for delivering ventilations to an apneic adult when
adequate personnel are available?
A. Mouth-to-mouth only
B. Bag-valve mask with supplemental oxygen
C. Nasal cannula
D. Nonrebreather mask
Correct Answer: B. Bag-valve mask with supplemental oxygen
Explanation: A bag-valve mask allows the EMT to provide positive-pressure
ventilation. Supplemental oxygen can increase the oxygen concentration delivered
to the patient. Proper mask seal and ventilation technique are essential.
11. What is the recommended ventilation rate for an adult who has a pulse but is
Airway Anatomy & Physiology
Airway Assessment
Airway Sounds
Airway Obstruction & Choking
Airway Adjuncts
Suctioning
Oxygen Therapy
Ventilation
Respiratory Emergencies
Respiratory Failure
Special Airway Problems
Disease Processes & Critical Thinking
1. You arrive to find an adult patient with severe respiratory distress who is sitting
upright and using accessory muscles. What should you do first?
A. Place the patient supine
B. Assess the airway and breathing while providing appropriate oxygen support
C. Obtain a blood pressure
D. Administer oral glucose
Correct Answer: B. Assess the airway and breathing while providing appropriate
oxygen support
Explanation: Airway and breathing are immediate priorities in a patient with severe
respiratory distress. Keeping the patient in a position of comfort can improve
ventilation. Oxygen or ventilatory support should be provided according to the
patient's clinical condition.
2. Which finding is most concerning for inadequate breathing in an adult?
A. Respiratory rate of 18/min
B. Speaking in complete sentences
C. Cyanosis with shallow respirations
D. Mild anxiety
Correct Answer: C. Cyanosis with shallow respirations
Explanation: Cyanosis accompanied by shallow breathing suggests inadequate
oxygenation and ventilation. The EMT should rapidly assess the airway and provide
ventilatory assistance when indicated. A normal respiratory rate alone does not
guarantee adequate ventilation.
,3. What is the primary purpose of the airway?
A. Pump blood to the lungs
B. Deliver medications to the stomach
C. Provide a passage for air to enter and leave the lungs
D. Remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream directly
Correct Answer: C. Provide a passage for air to enter and leave the lungs
Explanation: The airway provides a pathway between the atmosphere and the
lungs. Maintaining airway patency is essential for oxygen delivery and carbon
dioxide removal. Obstruction can rapidly result in hypoxia and cardiac arrest.
4. An unresponsive patient has no suspected spinal injury. Which maneuver is
generally preferred to open the airway?
A. Jaw-thrust maneuver
B. Head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver
C. Abdominal thrust
D. Recovery position only
Correct Answer: B. Head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver
Explanation: The head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver is used to open the airway when
spinal trauma is not suspected. It moves the tongue away from the posterior
pharynx. If spinal injury is suspected, a jaw-thrust maneuver is generally preferred.
5. Which airway structure prevents food from entering the trachea during
swallowing?
A. Uvula
B. Epiglottis
C. Diaphragm
D. Hard palate
Correct Answer: B. Epiglottis
Explanation: The epiglottis helps cover the entrance to the larynx during
swallowing. This helps direct food and liquid toward the esophagus. Failure of
airway protection can result in aspiration.
6. Which sound is most characteristic of an upper-airway obstruction?
A. Stridor
B. Crackles
C. Wheezing
D. Pleural friction rub
Correct Answer: A. Stridor
Explanation: Stridor is a harsh, high-pitched sound associated with obstruction of
the upper airway. It may occur with swelling, foreign bodies, or other airway
problems. Significant stridor should be treated as a potentially life-threatening
finding.
, 7. Wheezing is most commonly associated with obstruction or narrowing of the:
A. Upper airway
B. Lower airways
C. Esophagus
D. Nasal cavity only
Correct Answer: B. Lower airways
Explanation: Wheezing is generally produced when air moves through narrowed
lower airways. Conditions such as asthma and COPD can produce wheezing. Severe
obstruction may eventually produce very little or no air movement.
8. A patient with asthma suddenly has extremely diminished breath sounds
bilaterally. What does this finding suggest?
A. Improvement
B. Severe airway obstruction
C. Normal ventilation
D. Hyperventilation only
Correct Answer: B. Severe airway obstruction
Explanation: A severe asthma patient with very little air movement may have a
"silent chest." This can indicate critically narrowed airways and impending
respiratory failure. Immediate assessment and aggressive supportive care are
necessary.
9. Which patient is most likely to require positive-pressure ventilation?
A. Alert patient breathing 16/min with normal skin color
B. Patient with adequate respirations and mild anxiety
C. Unresponsive patient with inadequate respirations
D. Patient with a minor nosebleed
Correct Answer: C. Unresponsive patient with inadequate respirations
Explanation: Positive-pressure ventilation is indicated when a patient cannot
adequately ventilate independently. An EMT may provide ventilations using a bag-
valve mask and appropriate oxygen. Ventilatory failure is an immediate life threat.
10. What is the best method for delivering ventilations to an apneic adult when
adequate personnel are available?
A. Mouth-to-mouth only
B. Bag-valve mask with supplemental oxygen
C. Nasal cannula
D. Nonrebreather mask
Correct Answer: B. Bag-valve mask with supplemental oxygen
Explanation: A bag-valve mask allows the EMT to provide positive-pressure
ventilation. Supplemental oxygen can increase the oxygen concentration delivered
to the patient. Proper mask seal and ventilation technique are essential.
11. What is the recommended ventilation rate for an adult who has a pulse but is
