EMT Practice Examination Question And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. The first priority when arriving at any emergency scene is to:
a) Check the patient’s pulse
b) Begin CPR immediately
c) Ensure scene safety
d) Move the patient to the ambulance
Answer: c) Ensure scene safety
Rationale: Scene safety must be confirmed before patient contact to protect the
rescuer and others.
2. Which body system is responsible for oxygenating blood?
a) Nervous system
b) Digestive system
c) Respiratory system
d) Endocrine system
Answer: c) Respiratory system
Rationale: The lungs and airways oxygenate the blood.
3. A patient who is alert and oriented to person, place, time, and event is documented as:
a) A&O x1
b) A&O x2
c) A&O x3
d) A&O x4
Answer: d) A&O x4
Rationale: Full orientation includes person, place, time, and event.
4. Normal adult respiratory rate is:
a) 6–10 breaths/min
b) 10–20 breaths/min
c) 20–30 breaths/min
d) 30–40 breaths/min
, Answer: b) 10–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult breathing rate falls between 10 and 20 breaths per minute.
5. Which device is used to open the airway in an unconscious patient without a gag reflex?
a) Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
b) Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)
c) Bag-valve mask (BVM)
d) Non-rebreather mask
Answer: b) Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)
Rationale: OPA is used in unconscious patients without a gag reflex.
6. The leading cause of preventable death in trauma is:
a) Head injury
b) Airway obstruction
c) Infection
d) Internal bleeding
Answer: d) Internal bleeding
Rationale: Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the most common preventable cause of trauma
death.
7. When assessing circulation, you should first check:
a) Blood pressure
b) Skin temperature
c) Pulse
d) Capillary refill
Answer: c) Pulse
Rationale: Pulse confirms presence of circulation.
8. A patient with pale, cool, clammy skin is most likely experiencing:
a) Fever
b) Shock
c) Stroke
d) Allergic reaction
Answer: b) Shock
Rationale: These are classic signs of poor perfusion.
9. The best site to check a pulse in an unconscious adult is the:
a) Radial artery
b) Brachial artery
c) Carotid artery
, d) Femoral artery
Answer: c) Carotid artery
Rationale: The carotid pulse is most reliable in unconscious adults.
10. What is the normal adult systolic blood pressure?
a) 60–80 mmHg
b) 80–100 mmHg
c) 100–120 mmHg
d) 140–160 mmHg
Answer: c) 100–120 mmHg
Rationale: Normal adult systolic pressure averages around 100–120 mmHg.
11. A patient who is breathing fewer than 8 times per minute is experiencing:
a) Tachypnea
b) Hypotension
c) Bradypnea
d) Hypoxia
Answer: c) Bradypnea
Rationale: Bradypnea is abnormally slow breathing.
12. The preferred method for controlling severe external bleeding is:
a) Tourniquet first
b) Direct pressure
c) Ice packs
d) Elevating the limb
Answer: b) Direct pressure
Rationale: Direct pressure is the first-line bleeding control method.
13. A shock position means the patient is:
a) Sitting upright
b) Lying flat with legs elevated
c) On their side
d) Prone
Answer: b) Lying flat with legs elevated
Rationale: This position helps improve venous return.
14. A patient with chest pain that radiates to the left arm may be experiencing:
a) Asthma
b) Heart attack
c) Stroke
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. The first priority when arriving at any emergency scene is to:
a) Check the patient’s pulse
b) Begin CPR immediately
c) Ensure scene safety
d) Move the patient to the ambulance
Answer: c) Ensure scene safety
Rationale: Scene safety must be confirmed before patient contact to protect the
rescuer and others.
2. Which body system is responsible for oxygenating blood?
a) Nervous system
b) Digestive system
c) Respiratory system
d) Endocrine system
Answer: c) Respiratory system
Rationale: The lungs and airways oxygenate the blood.
3. A patient who is alert and oriented to person, place, time, and event is documented as:
a) A&O x1
b) A&O x2
c) A&O x3
d) A&O x4
Answer: d) A&O x4
Rationale: Full orientation includes person, place, time, and event.
4. Normal adult respiratory rate is:
a) 6–10 breaths/min
b) 10–20 breaths/min
c) 20–30 breaths/min
d) 30–40 breaths/min
, Answer: b) 10–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult breathing rate falls between 10 and 20 breaths per minute.
5. Which device is used to open the airway in an unconscious patient without a gag reflex?
a) Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
b) Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)
c) Bag-valve mask (BVM)
d) Non-rebreather mask
Answer: b) Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)
Rationale: OPA is used in unconscious patients without a gag reflex.
6. The leading cause of preventable death in trauma is:
a) Head injury
b) Airway obstruction
c) Infection
d) Internal bleeding
Answer: d) Internal bleeding
Rationale: Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the most common preventable cause of trauma
death.
7. When assessing circulation, you should first check:
a) Blood pressure
b) Skin temperature
c) Pulse
d) Capillary refill
Answer: c) Pulse
Rationale: Pulse confirms presence of circulation.
8. A patient with pale, cool, clammy skin is most likely experiencing:
a) Fever
b) Shock
c) Stroke
d) Allergic reaction
Answer: b) Shock
Rationale: These are classic signs of poor perfusion.
9. The best site to check a pulse in an unconscious adult is the:
a) Radial artery
b) Brachial artery
c) Carotid artery
, d) Femoral artery
Answer: c) Carotid artery
Rationale: The carotid pulse is most reliable in unconscious adults.
10. What is the normal adult systolic blood pressure?
a) 60–80 mmHg
b) 80–100 mmHg
c) 100–120 mmHg
d) 140–160 mmHg
Answer: c) 100–120 mmHg
Rationale: Normal adult systolic pressure averages around 100–120 mmHg.
11. A patient who is breathing fewer than 8 times per minute is experiencing:
a) Tachypnea
b) Hypotension
c) Bradypnea
d) Hypoxia
Answer: c) Bradypnea
Rationale: Bradypnea is abnormally slow breathing.
12. The preferred method for controlling severe external bleeding is:
a) Tourniquet first
b) Direct pressure
c) Ice packs
d) Elevating the limb
Answer: b) Direct pressure
Rationale: Direct pressure is the first-line bleeding control method.
13. A shock position means the patient is:
a) Sitting upright
b) Lying flat with legs elevated
c) On their side
d) Prone
Answer: b) Lying flat with legs elevated
Rationale: This position helps improve venous return.
14. A patient with chest pain that radiates to the left arm may be experiencing:
a) Asthma
b) Heart attack
c) Stroke
