EMS 131 Actual Questions and Correct Answers
Q1
Your patient is breathing 4 shallow breaths per minute due to overdosing on his pain
medication but he has a palpable radial pulse. He vomited prior to your arrival and is choking.
You should: insert an oropharyngeal airway and ventilate. roll him onto his side to clear the
airway. perform chest thrusts to clear the lungs. move the patient to the ambulance and
suction.
Answer: B) roll him onto his side to clear the airway
Q2
The high-pitched sound caused by an upper airway obstruction is known as: gurgling. stridor.
hoarseness. snoring.
Answer: B) stridor.
Q3
The jaw-thrust maneuver is the only airway procedure for an unconscious patient with possible
head, neck, or spine injury or an unknown mechanism of injury. recommended required
prohibited discouraged
Answer: A) recommended
Q4
You are ventilating a cardiac arrest patient when he begins to vomit copious amounts of large
pieces of undigested food. Which of the following would be most effective in clearing the
airway? Using a rigid pharyngeal suction tip Irrigating the mouth with sterile water to dilute the
material before suctioning Using a 14 French suction catheter Using large bore suction tubing
without a tip or catheter attached
Answer: D) Using large bore suction tubing without a tip or catheter attached
Q5
You have performed a head tilt-chin lift maneuver on a 17-month-old boy and are attempting to
ventilate him with a bag-valve mask. You are experiencing a lot of resistance with each breath
and the chest is barely rising. Prior to attempting ventilations again, you should: finger sweep
the airway. tilt the head back further. perform chest thrusts. ease the head forward a little to
make sure the airway is open.
Answer: D) ease the head forward a little to make sure the airway is open.
,Q6
You are ventilating an 85-year-old male without difficulty. A nurse tells you that the patient has
dentures. To ensure a good mask seal, you should: tape the dentures in place. remove the
dentures. leave the dentures in place. use an infant mask over the nose.
Answer: C) leave the dentures in place.
Q7
What signs and symptoms would indicate inadequate breathing in a patient? Increased effort to
breathe, increased depth of respiration, normal skin, normal mental status Rapid breathing,
pale skin, and normal mental status Decreased depth of respiration, decreased rate of
breathing, clammy skin, normal mental status Increased effort to breathe, cyanosis, clammy
skin, altered mental status
Answer: D) Increased effort to breathe, cyanosis, clammy skin, altered mental status
Q8
The process of air moving in and out of the chest is called: tidal volume. inhalation. respiration.
ventilation.
Answer: D) ventilation.
Q9
The normal urge to breathe is stimulated by chemoreceptors that measure changing levels of
what two gases? Hydrogen and carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide and oxygen Hydrogen and
carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Answer: D) Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Q10
A 21-year-old patient
Answer: C) Ventilate with a bag-valve mask with high oxygen
Q11
A) Supplement the
Answer: A) Supplement the
, Q12
B) Use a pocket mask,
Answer: B) Use a pocket mask,
Q13
C) Ventilate with a bag-
Answer: C) Ventilate with a bagvalve mask with high
Q14
D) Give mouth-to-mouth
Answer: D) Give mouth-to-mouth
Q15
Your patient is a 65-year-old male with a history of COPD. He is sitting up and complaining of a
severe shortness of breath. You should: suction the airway with a rigid suction catheter.
administer 4 lpm of oxygen via nasal cannula. insert a nasal airway and ventilate. apply a
nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen.
Answer: D) apply a nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen.
Q16
You are transporting a 44-year-old female with chest pain and sudden respiratory distress. She
is agitated, anxious, and refuses to have a nonrebreather mask applied. Which of the following
is the best option? Use a nasal cannula instead. Have her breathe into a paper bag to control
her hyperventilation. Do not make further attempts to administer oxygen as it will only agitate
the patient further. Consult with medical control about restraining the patient.
Answer: A) Use a nasal cannula instead
Q17
The paramedic is intubating a patient and asks you to assist by gently pressing your thumb and
index finger to either side of the throat just over the patient's Adam's apple. As you press, you
gently direct the throat upward and to the patient's right. What is the purpose of this
maneuver? It prevents the tube from entering the right mainstem bronchus. It lessens the
patient's gag reflex and eases tube insertion. It pushes the patient's vocal cords into the
paramedic's view. It keeps the tube from becoming displaced and entering the esophagus.
Answer: C) It pushes the patient's vocal cords into the paramedic's view.
Q1
Your patient is breathing 4 shallow breaths per minute due to overdosing on his pain
medication but he has a palpable radial pulse. He vomited prior to your arrival and is choking.
You should: insert an oropharyngeal airway and ventilate. roll him onto his side to clear the
airway. perform chest thrusts to clear the lungs. move the patient to the ambulance and
suction.
Answer: B) roll him onto his side to clear the airway
Q2
The high-pitched sound caused by an upper airway obstruction is known as: gurgling. stridor.
hoarseness. snoring.
Answer: B) stridor.
Q3
The jaw-thrust maneuver is the only airway procedure for an unconscious patient with possible
head, neck, or spine injury or an unknown mechanism of injury. recommended required
prohibited discouraged
Answer: A) recommended
Q4
You are ventilating a cardiac arrest patient when he begins to vomit copious amounts of large
pieces of undigested food. Which of the following would be most effective in clearing the
airway? Using a rigid pharyngeal suction tip Irrigating the mouth with sterile water to dilute the
material before suctioning Using a 14 French suction catheter Using large bore suction tubing
without a tip or catheter attached
Answer: D) Using large bore suction tubing without a tip or catheter attached
Q5
You have performed a head tilt-chin lift maneuver on a 17-month-old boy and are attempting to
ventilate him with a bag-valve mask. You are experiencing a lot of resistance with each breath
and the chest is barely rising. Prior to attempting ventilations again, you should: finger sweep
the airway. tilt the head back further. perform chest thrusts. ease the head forward a little to
make sure the airway is open.
Answer: D) ease the head forward a little to make sure the airway is open.
,Q6
You are ventilating an 85-year-old male without difficulty. A nurse tells you that the patient has
dentures. To ensure a good mask seal, you should: tape the dentures in place. remove the
dentures. leave the dentures in place. use an infant mask over the nose.
Answer: C) leave the dentures in place.
Q7
What signs and symptoms would indicate inadequate breathing in a patient? Increased effort to
breathe, increased depth of respiration, normal skin, normal mental status Rapid breathing,
pale skin, and normal mental status Decreased depth of respiration, decreased rate of
breathing, clammy skin, normal mental status Increased effort to breathe, cyanosis, clammy
skin, altered mental status
Answer: D) Increased effort to breathe, cyanosis, clammy skin, altered mental status
Q8
The process of air moving in and out of the chest is called: tidal volume. inhalation. respiration.
ventilation.
Answer: D) ventilation.
Q9
The normal urge to breathe is stimulated by chemoreceptors that measure changing levels of
what two gases? Hydrogen and carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide and oxygen Hydrogen and
carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Answer: D) Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Q10
A 21-year-old patient
Answer: C) Ventilate with a bag-valve mask with high oxygen
Q11
A) Supplement the
Answer: A) Supplement the
, Q12
B) Use a pocket mask,
Answer: B) Use a pocket mask,
Q13
C) Ventilate with a bag-
Answer: C) Ventilate with a bagvalve mask with high
Q14
D) Give mouth-to-mouth
Answer: D) Give mouth-to-mouth
Q15
Your patient is a 65-year-old male with a history of COPD. He is sitting up and complaining of a
severe shortness of breath. You should: suction the airway with a rigid suction catheter.
administer 4 lpm of oxygen via nasal cannula. insert a nasal airway and ventilate. apply a
nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen.
Answer: D) apply a nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen.
Q16
You are transporting a 44-year-old female with chest pain and sudden respiratory distress. She
is agitated, anxious, and refuses to have a nonrebreather mask applied. Which of the following
is the best option? Use a nasal cannula instead. Have her breathe into a paper bag to control
her hyperventilation. Do not make further attempts to administer oxygen as it will only agitate
the patient further. Consult with medical control about restraining the patient.
Answer: A) Use a nasal cannula instead
Q17
The paramedic is intubating a patient and asks you to assist by gently pressing your thumb and
index finger to either side of the throat just over the patient's Adam's apple. As you press, you
gently direct the throat upward and to the patient's right. What is the purpose of this
maneuver? It prevents the tube from entering the right mainstem bronchus. It lessens the
patient's gag reflex and eases tube insertion. It pushes the patient's vocal cords into the
paramedic's view. It keeps the tube from becoming displaced and entering the esophagus.
Answer: C) It pushes the patient's vocal cords into the paramedic's view.
