EMS 131 Actual Questions and Correct Answers
Q1
The high-pitched sound caused by an upper airway obstruction is known as: stridor. snoring.
gurgling. hoarseness.
Answer: Stridor.
Q2
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: move the patient to the ambulance and suction. roll him onto his side to clear the
airway. insert an oropharyngeal airway and ventilate. perform chest thrusts to clear the lungs.
Answer: Roll him onto his side to clear the airway.
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. discouraged recommended
required prohibited
Answer: 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 Using large bore suction tubing without a tip or
catheter attached Using a 14 French suction catheter Irrigating the mouth with sterile water to
dilute the material before suctioning
Answer: 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: tilt the head
back further. ease the head forward a little. perform chest thrusts. finger sweep the airway.
Answer: Ease the head forward a little.
,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. use an infant mask over the nose. leave the dentures in place.
Answer: 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 Decreased depth of
respiration, decreased rate of breathing, clammy skin, normal mental status Rapid breathing,
pale skin, and normal mental status Increased effort to breathe, cyanosis, clammy skin, altered
mental status
Answer: 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. ventilation.
respiration.
Answer: Ventilation.
Q9
The normal urge to breathe is stimulated by chemoreceptors that measure changing levels of
what two gases? Carbon monoxide and oxygen Hydrogen and carbon monoxide Hydrogen and
carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Answer: Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Q10
A 21-year-old patient
Answer: Ventilate with a bag-valve mask with high oxygen or
Q11
Ventilate with a bag-valve
Answer: Ventilate with a bag-valve
, Q12
Supplement the breaths
Answer: Supplement the breaths
Q13
Use a pocket mask, which
Answer: Use a pocket mask, which
Q14
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: administer 4 lpm of oxygen via nasal cannula. apply a
nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen. suction the airway with a rigid suction catheter.
insert a nasal airway and ventilate.
Answer: apply a nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen.
Q15
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? Do not make further attempts to administer oxygen as it will only agitate the
patient further. Consult with medical control about restraining the patient. Have her breathe
into a paper bag to control her hyperventilation. Use a nasal cannula instead.
Answer: Use a nasal cannula instead.
Q16
While ventilating an intubated patient with a bag-valve-mask-unit, you notice increased
resistance to the ventilations. This may indicate that: the gag reflex is returning. air is escaping
through a hole in the lung and filling the pleural space. the patient is becoming more alert and
is breathing independently. cardiac arrest is imminent.
Answer: Air is escaping through a hole in the lung and filling the pleural space.
Q1
The high-pitched sound caused by an upper airway obstruction is known as: stridor. snoring.
gurgling. hoarseness.
Answer: Stridor.
Q2
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: move the patient to the ambulance and suction. roll him onto his side to clear the
airway. insert an oropharyngeal airway and ventilate. perform chest thrusts to clear the lungs.
Answer: Roll him onto his side to clear the airway.
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. discouraged recommended
required prohibited
Answer: 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 Using large bore suction tubing without a tip or
catheter attached Using a 14 French suction catheter Irrigating the mouth with sterile water to
dilute the material before suctioning
Answer: 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: tilt the head
back further. ease the head forward a little. perform chest thrusts. finger sweep the airway.
Answer: Ease the head forward a little.
,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. use an infant mask over the nose. leave the dentures in place.
Answer: 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 Decreased depth of
respiration, decreased rate of breathing, clammy skin, normal mental status Rapid breathing,
pale skin, and normal mental status Increased effort to breathe, cyanosis, clammy skin, altered
mental status
Answer: 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. ventilation.
respiration.
Answer: Ventilation.
Q9
The normal urge to breathe is stimulated by chemoreceptors that measure changing levels of
what two gases? Carbon monoxide and oxygen Hydrogen and carbon monoxide Hydrogen and
carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Answer: Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Q10
A 21-year-old patient
Answer: Ventilate with a bag-valve mask with high oxygen or
Q11
Ventilate with a bag-valve
Answer: Ventilate with a bag-valve
, Q12
Supplement the breaths
Answer: Supplement the breaths
Q13
Use a pocket mask, which
Answer: Use a pocket mask, which
Q14
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: administer 4 lpm of oxygen via nasal cannula. apply a
nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen. suction the airway with a rigid suction catheter.
insert a nasal airway and ventilate.
Answer: apply a nonrebreather mask giving 15 lpm of oxygen.
Q15
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? Do not make further attempts to administer oxygen as it will only agitate the
patient further. Consult with medical control about restraining the patient. Have her breathe
into a paper bag to control her hyperventilation. Use a nasal cannula instead.
Answer: Use a nasal cannula instead.
Q16
While ventilating an intubated patient with a bag-valve-mask-unit, you notice increased
resistance to the ventilations. This may indicate that: the gag reflex is returning. air is escaping
through a hole in the lung and filling the pleural space. the patient is becoming more alert and
is breathing independently. cardiac arrest is imminent.
Answer: Air is escaping through a hole in the lung and filling the pleural space.
