WEST COAST EMT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:
Select one:
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
D. determine if he has a valid living will. Correct Answer - B. begin CPR until an AED is
available.
Basic life support (BLS) is defined as:
Select one:
A. basic lifesaving treatment that is performed by bystanders while EMS providers are en
route to the scene of an emergency.
B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway obstruction,
respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
C. invasive emergency medical interventions such as intravenous therapy, manual
defibrillation, and advanced airway management.
D. any form of emergency medical treatment that is performed by advanced EMTs,
paramedics, physicians, and emergency nurses. Correct Answer - B. noninvasive
,emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway obstruction, respiratory
arrest, and cardiac arrest.
Between each chest compression, you should _ .
Select one:
A. check for a pulse
B. allow full chest recoil
C. administer a breath
D. remove your hands from the chest Correct Answer - B. allow full chest recoil
Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. a fractured sternum.
B. gastric distention.
C. rib fractures.
,D. liver laceration. Correct Answer - B. gastric distention.
CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman. Shortly after manually displacing her uterus to
the left, return of spontaneous circulation occurs. Which of the following would MOST
likely explain this?
Select one:
A. Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which increased blood flow
to her heart.
B. Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop fibrillating, which
restored her pulse.
C. Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully, which restored her
pulse.
D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved chest compression
effectiveness. Correct Answer - D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava,
which improved chest compression effectiveness.
CPR retraining is the MOST effective when it:
Select one:
, A. occurs every 24 months.
B. is delivered by computer.
C. involves hands-on practice.
D. is self-paced and brief. Correct Answer - C. involves hands-on practice.
CPR should be initiated when:
Select one:
A. rigor mortis is obvious.
B. signs of putrefaction are present.
C. the carotid pulse is very weak.
D. a valid living will is unavailable. Correct Answer - D. a valid living will is unavailable.
CPR will NOT be effective if the patient is:
Select one:
A. supine.
B. prone.
C. horizontal.
D. on a firm surface. Correct Answer - B. prone.
A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:
Select one:
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
D. determine if he has a valid living will. Correct Answer - B. begin CPR until an AED is
available.
Basic life support (BLS) is defined as:
Select one:
A. basic lifesaving treatment that is performed by bystanders while EMS providers are en
route to the scene of an emergency.
B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway obstruction,
respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
C. invasive emergency medical interventions such as intravenous therapy, manual
defibrillation, and advanced airway management.
D. any form of emergency medical treatment that is performed by advanced EMTs,
paramedics, physicians, and emergency nurses. Correct Answer - B. noninvasive
,emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway obstruction, respiratory
arrest, and cardiac arrest.
Between each chest compression, you should _ .
Select one:
A. check for a pulse
B. allow full chest recoil
C. administer a breath
D. remove your hands from the chest Correct Answer - B. allow full chest recoil
Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. a fractured sternum.
B. gastric distention.
C. rib fractures.
,D. liver laceration. Correct Answer - B. gastric distention.
CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman. Shortly after manually displacing her uterus to
the left, return of spontaneous circulation occurs. Which of the following would MOST
likely explain this?
Select one:
A. Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which increased blood flow
to her heart.
B. Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop fibrillating, which
restored her pulse.
C. Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully, which restored her
pulse.
D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved chest compression
effectiveness. Correct Answer - D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava,
which improved chest compression effectiveness.
CPR retraining is the MOST effective when it:
Select one:
, A. occurs every 24 months.
B. is delivered by computer.
C. involves hands-on practice.
D. is self-paced and brief. Correct Answer - C. involves hands-on practice.
CPR should be initiated when:
Select one:
A. rigor mortis is obvious.
B. signs of putrefaction are present.
C. the carotid pulse is very weak.
D. a valid living will is unavailable. Correct Answer - D. a valid living will is unavailable.
CPR will NOT be effective if the patient is:
Select one:
A. supine.
B. prone.
C. horizontal.
D. on a firm surface. Correct Answer - B. prone.
