West Coast EMT - Block 4 Exam 2026/2027 Update Questions With
Verified Answers | Pdf
A 43-year-old man is experiencing a severe nosebleed. His blood pressure is
190/110 mm Hg and his heart rate is 90 beats/min and bounding. Preferred
treatment for this patient includes:
Select one:
A. packing both nostrils with gauze pads until the bleeding stops.
B. placing a rolled 4² × 4² dressing between his lower lip and gum.
C. pinching the patient's nostrils and having him lean forward.
D. having the patient pinch his own nostrils and then lie supine.
C. pinching the patient's nostrils and having him lean forward.
A 67-year-old male presents with weakness, dizziness, and melena that began
approximately 2 days ago. He denies a history of trauma. His blood pressure is
90/50 mm Hg and his pulse is 120 beats/min and thready. You should be MOST
suspicious that this patient is experiencing:
Select one:
A. an aortic aneurysm.
B. acute appendicitis.
C. gastrointestinal bleeding.
D. intrathoracic hemorrhaging.
C. gastrointestinal bleeding.
A young male was shot in the abdomen by an unknown type of gun. He is
semiconscious, has shallow breathing, and is bleeding externally from the
wound. As you control the external bleeding, your partner should:
Select one:
A. perform a secondary assessment.
B. apply a nonrebreathing mask.
C. obtain baseline vital signs.
D. assist the patient's ventilations.
D. assist the patient's ventilations.
Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the
cells' oxygen, nutritional, and waste-removal needs is termed _______.
Select one:
A. perfusion
B. hypoperfusion
C. coagulation
D. hemorrhage
,A. perfusion
Following blunt trauma to the abdomen, a 21-year-old female complains of diffuse
abdominal pain and pain to the left shoulder. Your assessment reveals that her
abdomen is distended and tender to palpation. On the basis of these findings,
you should be MOST suspicious of injury to the:
Select one:
A. spleen.
B. gallbladder.
C. pancreas.
D. liver.
A. spleen.
Hypovolemic shock occurs when:
Select one:
A. the patient's systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
B. the clotting ability of the blood is enhanced.
C. the body cannot compensate for rapid blood loss.
D. at least 10% of the patient's blood volume is lost.
C. the body cannot compensate for rapid blood loss.
If applying a dressing to control the bleeding of a patient's arm, the EMT should
________.
Select one:
A. apply direct pressure first
B. use large or small gauze pads or dressings depending upon the size of the
wound
C. cover the entire wound, above and below, with the dressing
D. All of these answers are correct.
D. All of these answers are correct.
If direct pressure fails to immediately stop severe bleeding from an extremity, you
should apply:
Select one:
A. a splint and elevate the extremity.
B. a tourniquet proximal to the injury.
C. digital pressure to a proximal artery.
D. additional sterile dressings.
B. a tourniquet proximal to the injury.
In older patients, the first indicator of nontraumatic internal bleeding may be:
Select one:
A. a low blood pressure.
,B. a heart rate over 120 beats/min.
C. diaphoresis and pale skin.
D. weakness or dizziness.
D. weakness or dizziness.
Internal bleeding into a fractured extremity is MOST often controlled by:
Select one:
A. applying chemical ice pack.
B. keeping the patient warm.
C. applying a tourniquet.
D. splinting the extremity.
D. splinting the extremity.
Significant vital sign changes will occur if the typical adult acutely loses more
than ______ of his or her total blood volume.
Select one:
A. 10%
B. 5%
C. 20%
D. 15%
C. 20%
The severity of bleeding should be based on all of the following findings,
EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. systolic blood pressure.
B. poor general appearance.
C. the mechanism of injury.
D. clinical signs and symptoms.
A. systolic blood pressure.
What mechanism(s) does the body use to control bleeding?
Select one:
A. Clotting
B. Coagulation
C. Vasoconstriction
D. All of these answers are correct.
D. All of these answers are correct.
Whether you are using a commercial device or a stick and triangular bandage as
a tourniquet, it is important to remember that:
Select one:
A. bulky dressings should be securely applied over the tourniquet to further
, assist in controlling the bleeding.
B. you should try to control the bleeding by applying pressure to a proximal
arterial pressure point first.
C. the tourniquet should be applied directly over a joint if possible because this
provides better bleeding control.
D. the tourniquet should only be removed at the hospital because bleeding may
return if the tourniquet is released.
D. the tourniquet should only be removed at the hospital because bleeding may return if
the tourniquet is released.
Which of the following findings would be the MOST significant when assessing a
patient with possible internal bleeding?
Select one:
A. The patient takes rivaroxaban (Xeralto).
B. The patient has a history of hypertension.
C. The patient has not eaten in 24 hours.
D. The patient had a stroke 5 years prior.
A. The patient takes rivaroxaban (Xeralto).
Which of the following splinting devices would be MOST appropriate to use for a
patient who has an open fracture of the forearm with external bleeding?
Select one:
A. Air splint
B. Cardboard splint
C. Vacuum splint
D. Sling and swathe
A. Air splint
Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is correct?
Select one:
A. Hemophilia is defined as a total lack of platelets.
B. Hemophiliacs take aspirin to enhance blood clotting.
C. Approximately 25% of the population has hemophilia.
D. Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously.
D. Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously.
Which organ or organ system has the greatest tolerance for lack of perfusion
(shock)?
Select one:
A. Brain
B. Kidneys
C. Gastrointestinal system
D. Skeletal muscle
Verified Answers | Pdf
A 43-year-old man is experiencing a severe nosebleed. His blood pressure is
190/110 mm Hg and his heart rate is 90 beats/min and bounding. Preferred
treatment for this patient includes:
Select one:
A. packing both nostrils with gauze pads until the bleeding stops.
B. placing a rolled 4² × 4² dressing between his lower lip and gum.
C. pinching the patient's nostrils and having him lean forward.
D. having the patient pinch his own nostrils and then lie supine.
C. pinching the patient's nostrils and having him lean forward.
A 67-year-old male presents with weakness, dizziness, and melena that began
approximately 2 days ago. He denies a history of trauma. His blood pressure is
90/50 mm Hg and his pulse is 120 beats/min and thready. You should be MOST
suspicious that this patient is experiencing:
Select one:
A. an aortic aneurysm.
B. acute appendicitis.
C. gastrointestinal bleeding.
D. intrathoracic hemorrhaging.
C. gastrointestinal bleeding.
A young male was shot in the abdomen by an unknown type of gun. He is
semiconscious, has shallow breathing, and is bleeding externally from the
wound. As you control the external bleeding, your partner should:
Select one:
A. perform a secondary assessment.
B. apply a nonrebreathing mask.
C. obtain baseline vital signs.
D. assist the patient's ventilations.
D. assist the patient's ventilations.
Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the
cells' oxygen, nutritional, and waste-removal needs is termed _______.
Select one:
A. perfusion
B. hypoperfusion
C. coagulation
D. hemorrhage
,A. perfusion
Following blunt trauma to the abdomen, a 21-year-old female complains of diffuse
abdominal pain and pain to the left shoulder. Your assessment reveals that her
abdomen is distended and tender to palpation. On the basis of these findings,
you should be MOST suspicious of injury to the:
Select one:
A. spleen.
B. gallbladder.
C. pancreas.
D. liver.
A. spleen.
Hypovolemic shock occurs when:
Select one:
A. the patient's systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.
B. the clotting ability of the blood is enhanced.
C. the body cannot compensate for rapid blood loss.
D. at least 10% of the patient's blood volume is lost.
C. the body cannot compensate for rapid blood loss.
If applying a dressing to control the bleeding of a patient's arm, the EMT should
________.
Select one:
A. apply direct pressure first
B. use large or small gauze pads or dressings depending upon the size of the
wound
C. cover the entire wound, above and below, with the dressing
D. All of these answers are correct.
D. All of these answers are correct.
If direct pressure fails to immediately stop severe bleeding from an extremity, you
should apply:
Select one:
A. a splint and elevate the extremity.
B. a tourniquet proximal to the injury.
C. digital pressure to a proximal artery.
D. additional sterile dressings.
B. a tourniquet proximal to the injury.
In older patients, the first indicator of nontraumatic internal bleeding may be:
Select one:
A. a low blood pressure.
,B. a heart rate over 120 beats/min.
C. diaphoresis and pale skin.
D. weakness or dizziness.
D. weakness or dizziness.
Internal bleeding into a fractured extremity is MOST often controlled by:
Select one:
A. applying chemical ice pack.
B. keeping the patient warm.
C. applying a tourniquet.
D. splinting the extremity.
D. splinting the extremity.
Significant vital sign changes will occur if the typical adult acutely loses more
than ______ of his or her total blood volume.
Select one:
A. 10%
B. 5%
C. 20%
D. 15%
C. 20%
The severity of bleeding should be based on all of the following findings,
EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. systolic blood pressure.
B. poor general appearance.
C. the mechanism of injury.
D. clinical signs and symptoms.
A. systolic blood pressure.
What mechanism(s) does the body use to control bleeding?
Select one:
A. Clotting
B. Coagulation
C. Vasoconstriction
D. All of these answers are correct.
D. All of these answers are correct.
Whether you are using a commercial device or a stick and triangular bandage as
a tourniquet, it is important to remember that:
Select one:
A. bulky dressings should be securely applied over the tourniquet to further
, assist in controlling the bleeding.
B. you should try to control the bleeding by applying pressure to a proximal
arterial pressure point first.
C. the tourniquet should be applied directly over a joint if possible because this
provides better bleeding control.
D. the tourniquet should only be removed at the hospital because bleeding may
return if the tourniquet is released.
D. the tourniquet should only be removed at the hospital because bleeding may return if
the tourniquet is released.
Which of the following findings would be the MOST significant when assessing a
patient with possible internal bleeding?
Select one:
A. The patient takes rivaroxaban (Xeralto).
B. The patient has a history of hypertension.
C. The patient has not eaten in 24 hours.
D. The patient had a stroke 5 years prior.
A. The patient takes rivaroxaban (Xeralto).
Which of the following splinting devices would be MOST appropriate to use for a
patient who has an open fracture of the forearm with external bleeding?
Select one:
A. Air splint
B. Cardboard splint
C. Vacuum splint
D. Sling and swathe
A. Air splint
Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is correct?
Select one:
A. Hemophilia is defined as a total lack of platelets.
B. Hemophiliacs take aspirin to enhance blood clotting.
C. Approximately 25% of the population has hemophilia.
D. Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously.
D. Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously.
Which organ or organ system has the greatest tolerance for lack of perfusion
(shock)?
Select one:
A. Brain
B. Kidneys
C. Gastrointestinal system
D. Skeletal muscle
