Exam Content
Scene Size-Up & Scene Safety
Mass-Casualty Incidents (MCI)
Communication
Documentation & Patient Care Reports
Legal & Ethical Issues
EMS Systems & Medical Direction
Crew Resource Management & Teamwork
Infection Control & PPE
Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
Mutual Aid & Multiagency Coordination
Equipment & Ambulance Readiness
Quality Improvement & Professionalism
1. Which action should an EMT take first when arriving at an unfamiliar scene?
A. Begin assessing the patient
B. Determine the mechanism of injury
C. Perform a scene-size-up and identify hazards
D. Obtain the patient's medical history
Correct Answer: C. Perform a scene-size-up and identify hazards
Rationale: Scene safety is the EMT's first priority. The EMT should identify hazards,
determine the number of patients, and assess the need for additional resources.
Entering an unsafe scene can create additional victims.
,2. An EMT arrives at a motor-vehicle collision involving a leaking fuel tank. What
should the EMT do?
A. Enter immediately to remove the driver
B. Approach from downwind
C. Stay at a safe distance and request appropriate resources
D. Turn off the vehicle's ignition
Correct Answer: C. Stay at a safe distance and request appropriate resources
Rationale: Fuel leakage creates a significant fire and explosion hazard. EMTs should
not enter an unsafe scene simply because a patient needs assistance. Fire/rescue
or hazardous-material resources may be required before patient access.
3. Which organization establishes many national standards and recommendations
for EMS systems?
A. OSHA
B. NHTSA
C. EPA
D. FDA
Correct Answer: B. NHTSA
Rationale: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has played
a major role in developing national EMS standards and educational guidelines.
OSHA primarily addresses workplace safety. EPA focuses on environmental
protection.
4. What is the primary purpose of medical direction?
A. To replace EMT education
B. To provide clinical oversight and authorization
C. To determine ambulance maintenance schedules
D. To conduct police investigations
Correct Answer: B. To provide clinical oversight and authorization
Rationale: Medical direction provides clinical oversight for EMS personnel. It may be
provided through standing orders, protocols, or direct communication with a
physician. Medical direction helps ensure patient care is consistent with established
standards.
5. An EMT is operating under written protocols that allow certain treatments
without contacting a physician. This is an example of:
A. Online medical direction
B. Indirect medical direction
, C. Direct medical direction
D. Hospital consultation
Correct Answer: B. Indirect medical direction
Rationale: Indirect medical direction consists of written protocols, standing orders,
and other predetermined instructions. Direct medical direction involves real-time
communication with a physician or authorized medical-control provider. EMTs must
remain within their authorized scope.
6. Which communication method is most appropriate when transmitting patient
information over the radio?
A. Use slang to save time
B. Give only the patient's name
C. Provide concise, organized clinical information
D. Discuss unrelated information first
Correct Answer: C. Provide concise, organized clinical information
Rationale: Radio reports should be brief, organized, and clinically relevant.
Important information includes the patient's age, chief complaint, assessment
findings, vital signs, treatment, and response. Clear communication reduces errors
during transfer of care.
7. Which information should generally be included in a radio report?
A. EMT's personal opinions about the patient
B. Relevant assessment findings and treatment provided
C. The patient's entire life history
D. Unverified information from bystanders
Correct Answer: B. Relevant assessment findings and treatment provided
Rationale: The receiving facility needs information that affects patient care and
preparation. The EMT should communicate objective findings and interventions.
Irrelevant or speculative information should be excluded.
8. What is the primary purpose of an EMS patient care report?
A. To advertise the EMS agency
B. To document patient assessment and care
C. To replace verbal communication
D. To determine ambulance fuel consumption
Correct Answer: B. To document patient assessment and care
Rationale: The patient care report documents the patient's condition, assessment,
Scene Size-Up & Scene Safety
Mass-Casualty Incidents (MCI)
Communication
Documentation & Patient Care Reports
Legal & Ethical Issues
EMS Systems & Medical Direction
Crew Resource Management & Teamwork
Infection Control & PPE
Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
Mutual Aid & Multiagency Coordination
Equipment & Ambulance Readiness
Quality Improvement & Professionalism
1. Which action should an EMT take first when arriving at an unfamiliar scene?
A. Begin assessing the patient
B. Determine the mechanism of injury
C. Perform a scene-size-up and identify hazards
D. Obtain the patient's medical history
Correct Answer: C. Perform a scene-size-up and identify hazards
Rationale: Scene safety is the EMT's first priority. The EMT should identify hazards,
determine the number of patients, and assess the need for additional resources.
Entering an unsafe scene can create additional victims.
,2. An EMT arrives at a motor-vehicle collision involving a leaking fuel tank. What
should the EMT do?
A. Enter immediately to remove the driver
B. Approach from downwind
C. Stay at a safe distance and request appropriate resources
D. Turn off the vehicle's ignition
Correct Answer: C. Stay at a safe distance and request appropriate resources
Rationale: Fuel leakage creates a significant fire and explosion hazard. EMTs should
not enter an unsafe scene simply because a patient needs assistance. Fire/rescue
or hazardous-material resources may be required before patient access.
3. Which organization establishes many national standards and recommendations
for EMS systems?
A. OSHA
B. NHTSA
C. EPA
D. FDA
Correct Answer: B. NHTSA
Rationale: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has played
a major role in developing national EMS standards and educational guidelines.
OSHA primarily addresses workplace safety. EPA focuses on environmental
protection.
4. What is the primary purpose of medical direction?
A. To replace EMT education
B. To provide clinical oversight and authorization
C. To determine ambulance maintenance schedules
D. To conduct police investigations
Correct Answer: B. To provide clinical oversight and authorization
Rationale: Medical direction provides clinical oversight for EMS personnel. It may be
provided through standing orders, protocols, or direct communication with a
physician. Medical direction helps ensure patient care is consistent with established
standards.
5. An EMT is operating under written protocols that allow certain treatments
without contacting a physician. This is an example of:
A. Online medical direction
B. Indirect medical direction
, C. Direct medical direction
D. Hospital consultation
Correct Answer: B. Indirect medical direction
Rationale: Indirect medical direction consists of written protocols, standing orders,
and other predetermined instructions. Direct medical direction involves real-time
communication with a physician or authorized medical-control provider. EMTs must
remain within their authorized scope.
6. Which communication method is most appropriate when transmitting patient
information over the radio?
A. Use slang to save time
B. Give only the patient's name
C. Provide concise, organized clinical information
D. Discuss unrelated information first
Correct Answer: C. Provide concise, organized clinical information
Rationale: Radio reports should be brief, organized, and clinically relevant.
Important information includes the patient's age, chief complaint, assessment
findings, vital signs, treatment, and response. Clear communication reduces errors
during transfer of care.
7. Which information should generally be included in a radio report?
A. EMT's personal opinions about the patient
B. Relevant assessment findings and treatment provided
C. The patient's entire life history
D. Unverified information from bystanders
Correct Answer: B. Relevant assessment findings and treatment provided
Rationale: The receiving facility needs information that affects patient care and
preparation. The EMT should communicate objective findings and interventions.
Irrelevant or speculative information should be excluded.
8. What is the primary purpose of an EMS patient care report?
A. To advertise the EMS agency
B. To document patient assessment and care
C. To replace verbal communication
D. To determine ambulance fuel consumption
Correct Answer: B. To document patient assessment and care
Rationale: The patient care report documents the patient's condition, assessment,
