EMT Basic Practice Exam 1 UPDATED
Study Guide QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
EMTs should wear high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirators when they
are in contact with contact with patients who have which of the following?
A. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome)
B. Tuberculosis (TB)
C. Open Wounds
D. Hepatitis B - CORRECT ANSWERS B. Tuberculosis
HEPA respirators are worn when in contact with patients airborne infections
such as TB. HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B are both blood-borne pathogens.
Contaminants from open wounds would also be blood-borne.
You are called to assist a 60-year-old female who complains of a severe
headache. Upon entering the home, you smell a strong odor of natural gas. What
is your first reaction?
A. Check the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation.
B. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assess vital signs.
C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance.
D. Open all windows and determine the source of the gas leak. - CORRECT
ANSWERS C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance.
Your first action should be to remove your crew and the patient from the
possible noxious gas and to notify the gas company of the leak. You may also be
required to alert hazardous material response team. Treatment for the patient
will begin with an ABC assessment and management of any problems you
might encounter.
,The most common electrical rhythm disturbance that results in sudden cardiac
arrest.
A. Pulseless Electrical Activity
B. Ventricular Fibrillation
C. Ventricular Tachycardia
D. Asystole - CORRECT ANSWERS B. Ventricular Fibrillation
Because ventricular fibrillation is the most common cause of sudden cardiac
arrest., it is critical to apply an AED on an unconscious apneic and pulseless
patient as quickly as possible. The other rhythms can also cause a patient to be
in cardiac arrest, but they do not occur as frequently as "V-fib".
Which of the following is the highest priority patient?
A. 57-year-old male with chest pain and systolic blood pressure of 80.
B. 40-year-old female with moderate pain from a leg injury.
C. 75-year-old male who appears confused but responds to commands.
D. 25-year-old female in labor with contractions six minutes apart. - CORRECT
ANSWERS A. 57-year-old male with chest pain and systolic blood
pressure of 80.
The patient with chest pain and systolic blood pressure less than 100 is the
highest priority patient of the four. A leg injury may be life-threatening if the
femoral artery is injured, but most often, a single extremity injury is not a threat
to life. The elderly gentleman may be exhibiting his normal mental status, or he
may be having problems due to an ongoing health problem. You need more
information before you can make that determination, but he is not in any
imminent danger right now. Labor with contractions 6 minutes apart is not
considered imminent delivery. If you have any questions, however, you should
continue assessing this patient as well by asking pertinent questions and
checking for crowning.
,Of the following, which body fluid has the most potential to transmit blood-
borne diseases?
A. Nasal Discharge
B. Vomitus
C. Amniotic Fluid
D. Feces - CORRECT ANSWERS C. Amniotic Fluid
Fluids containing blood have the highest potential for disease transmission.
Your patient is an 11-month-old female. How can you determine if she has a
decreased mental status and is responsive to verbal stimuli?
A. She will be upset when you take her from her mother's arms.
B. She will be unable to tell you how old she is if you ask her.
C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they speak.
D. She will try to pull away from a painful stimulus on her toe. - CORRECT
ANSWERS C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they
speak.
An infant who is alert to verbal stimuli will still try to locate the parents' voices;
choice A describes an alert infant; choice D describes an infant who is
responsive to painful stimuli; choice B is incorrect because infants of this age
are not developed enough to tell you their age regardless of their mental status.
What is the best method to assess circulation in an infant?
A. Palpate the carotid pulse.
B. Palpate the brachial pulse.
C. Palpate the radial pulse.
D. Observe capillary refill time. - CORRECT ANSWERS B. Palpate the
brachial pulse.
, Assess circulation in an infant by palpating the brachial pulse in the upper arm.
The carotid and radial pulses are difficult to locate in infants. Capillary refill
time shows that the patient has impaired circulation, but it is not the first tool to
use in assessing circulation because it is affected by external factors (like the
environment) as well as internal factors like poor perfusion.
A 45-year-old male is experiencing chest discomfort. After placing him in his
position of comfort, your next action should be?
A. Ventilate the patient with a nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min.
B. Ventilate the patient with the bag-valve mask at 15 L/min.
C. Administer oxygen by rebreather mask at 15 L/min.
D. Administer oxygen by the nasal cannula at 6 L/min. - CORRECT
ANSWERS C. Administer oxygen by rebreather mask at 15 L/min.
There is no information to indicate that the patient requires ventilatory support.
Any patient experiencing chest discomfort should receive the highest possible
concentration of oxygen.
Which patient should receive a rapid trauma survey to determine hidden
injuries?
A. Alert 2-year-old child in a car seat who was in a medium speed crash.
B.Alert 20-year-old male who fell 10 feet off of a ladder.
C. Alert 65-year-old female who fell in the bathtub and is complaining of wrist
pain.
D. Alert 11-year-old female who tripped while roller skating and fell down three
steps. - CORRECT ANSWERS A. Alert 2-year-old child in a car seat
who was in a medium speed crash.
The rapid trauma survey is used when you are unsure of the presence of hidden
injuries or f the mechanism of injury (MOI) is unclear or severe enough to
suggest the need for a rapid assessment. A 2-year-old child could be severely
injured by a medium speed collision, even if he or she appears alert and was
Study Guide QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
EMTs should wear high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirators when they
are in contact with contact with patients who have which of the following?
A. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome)
B. Tuberculosis (TB)
C. Open Wounds
D. Hepatitis B - CORRECT ANSWERS B. Tuberculosis
HEPA respirators are worn when in contact with patients airborne infections
such as TB. HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B are both blood-borne pathogens.
Contaminants from open wounds would also be blood-borne.
You are called to assist a 60-year-old female who complains of a severe
headache. Upon entering the home, you smell a strong odor of natural gas. What
is your first reaction?
A. Check the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation.
B. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assess vital signs.
C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance.
D. Open all windows and determine the source of the gas leak. - CORRECT
ANSWERS C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance.
Your first action should be to remove your crew and the patient from the
possible noxious gas and to notify the gas company of the leak. You may also be
required to alert hazardous material response team. Treatment for the patient
will begin with an ABC assessment and management of any problems you
might encounter.
,The most common electrical rhythm disturbance that results in sudden cardiac
arrest.
A. Pulseless Electrical Activity
B. Ventricular Fibrillation
C. Ventricular Tachycardia
D. Asystole - CORRECT ANSWERS B. Ventricular Fibrillation
Because ventricular fibrillation is the most common cause of sudden cardiac
arrest., it is critical to apply an AED on an unconscious apneic and pulseless
patient as quickly as possible. The other rhythms can also cause a patient to be
in cardiac arrest, but they do not occur as frequently as "V-fib".
Which of the following is the highest priority patient?
A. 57-year-old male with chest pain and systolic blood pressure of 80.
B. 40-year-old female with moderate pain from a leg injury.
C. 75-year-old male who appears confused but responds to commands.
D. 25-year-old female in labor with contractions six minutes apart. - CORRECT
ANSWERS A. 57-year-old male with chest pain and systolic blood
pressure of 80.
The patient with chest pain and systolic blood pressure less than 100 is the
highest priority patient of the four. A leg injury may be life-threatening if the
femoral artery is injured, but most often, a single extremity injury is not a threat
to life. The elderly gentleman may be exhibiting his normal mental status, or he
may be having problems due to an ongoing health problem. You need more
information before you can make that determination, but he is not in any
imminent danger right now. Labor with contractions 6 minutes apart is not
considered imminent delivery. If you have any questions, however, you should
continue assessing this patient as well by asking pertinent questions and
checking for crowning.
,Of the following, which body fluid has the most potential to transmit blood-
borne diseases?
A. Nasal Discharge
B. Vomitus
C. Amniotic Fluid
D. Feces - CORRECT ANSWERS C. Amniotic Fluid
Fluids containing blood have the highest potential for disease transmission.
Your patient is an 11-month-old female. How can you determine if she has a
decreased mental status and is responsive to verbal stimuli?
A. She will be upset when you take her from her mother's arms.
B. She will be unable to tell you how old she is if you ask her.
C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they speak.
D. She will try to pull away from a painful stimulus on her toe. - CORRECT
ANSWERS C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they
speak.
An infant who is alert to verbal stimuli will still try to locate the parents' voices;
choice A describes an alert infant; choice D describes an infant who is
responsive to painful stimuli; choice B is incorrect because infants of this age
are not developed enough to tell you their age regardless of their mental status.
What is the best method to assess circulation in an infant?
A. Palpate the carotid pulse.
B. Palpate the brachial pulse.
C. Palpate the radial pulse.
D. Observe capillary refill time. - CORRECT ANSWERS B. Palpate the
brachial pulse.
, Assess circulation in an infant by palpating the brachial pulse in the upper arm.
The carotid and radial pulses are difficult to locate in infants. Capillary refill
time shows that the patient has impaired circulation, but it is not the first tool to
use in assessing circulation because it is affected by external factors (like the
environment) as well as internal factors like poor perfusion.
A 45-year-old male is experiencing chest discomfort. After placing him in his
position of comfort, your next action should be?
A. Ventilate the patient with a nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min.
B. Ventilate the patient with the bag-valve mask at 15 L/min.
C. Administer oxygen by rebreather mask at 15 L/min.
D. Administer oxygen by the nasal cannula at 6 L/min. - CORRECT
ANSWERS C. Administer oxygen by rebreather mask at 15 L/min.
There is no information to indicate that the patient requires ventilatory support.
Any patient experiencing chest discomfort should receive the highest possible
concentration of oxygen.
Which patient should receive a rapid trauma survey to determine hidden
injuries?
A. Alert 2-year-old child in a car seat who was in a medium speed crash.
B.Alert 20-year-old male who fell 10 feet off of a ladder.
C. Alert 65-year-old female who fell in the bathtub and is complaining of wrist
pain.
D. Alert 11-year-old female who tripped while roller skating and fell down three
steps. - CORRECT ANSWERS A. Alert 2-year-old child in a car seat
who was in a medium speed crash.
The rapid trauma survey is used when you are unsure of the presence of hidden
injuries or f the mechanism of injury (MOI) is unclear or severe enough to
suggest the need for a rapid assessment. A 2-year-old child could be severely
injured by a medium speed collision, even if he or she appears alert and was
