West Coast EMT Block 3 Exam
Study Questions with Elaborate
Answers (Latest Edition)
1. A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You
should:
Select one:
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
D. determine if he has a valid living will. - ANSWER B. begin CPR
until an AED is available.
2. Basic life support (BLS) is defined as:
Select one:
A. basic lifesaving treatment that is performed by bystanders while EMS
providers are en route to the scene of an emergency.
B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as
airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
C. invasive emergency medical interventions such as intravenous
therapy, manual defibrillation, and advanced airway management.
D. any form of emergency medical treatment that is performed by
advanced EMTs, paramedics, physicians, and emergency nurses. -
ANSWER B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat
conditions such as airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac
arrest.
3. Between each chest compression, you should __________.
,Select one:
A. check for a pulse
B. allow full chest recoil
C. administer a breath
D. remove your hands from the chest - ANSWER B. allow full chest
recoil
4. Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the
following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. a fractured sternum.
B. gastric distention.
C. rib fractures.
D. liver laceration. - ANSWER B. gastric distention.
5. CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman. Shortly after manually displacing
her uterus to the left, return of spontaneous circulation occurs. Which of the
following would MOST likely explain this?
Select one:
A. Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which
increased blood flow to her heart.
B. Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop
fibrillating, which restored her pulse.
C. Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully,
which restored her pulse.
D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved
chest compression effectiveness. - ANSWER D. Pressure was
relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved chest
compression effectiveness.
6. CPR retraining is the MOST effective when it:
,Select one:
A. occurs every 24 months.
B. is delivered by computer.
C. involves hands-on practice.
D. is self-paced and brief. - ANSWER C. involves hands-on practice.
7. CPR should be initiated when:
Select one:
A. rigor mortis is obvious.
B. signs of putrefaction are present.
C. the carotid pulse is very weak.
D. a valid living will is unavailable. - ANSWER D. a valid living will is
unavailable.
8. CPR will NOT be effective if the patient is:
Select one:
A. supine.
B. prone.
C. horizontal.
D. on a firm surface. - ANSWER B. prone.
9. If an object is visible in the unconscious patient's airway, you should
__________.
Select one:
A. leave it in place
B. continue chest compressions
C. remove it
D. place the patient on his or her side - ANSWER C. remove it
, 10.In 2009, the H1N1 virus accounted for over 200,000 deaths worldwide in the
form of the swine flu. In 1919, a similar outbreak of the H1N1 occurred in
the form of the Spanish flu. Starting in Kansas City, the virus spread rapidly
worldwide, claiming up to 50 million lives. These are both examples of:
Select one:
A. epidemics.
B. parasitic infection.
C. uncontrolled outbreaks.
D. pandemics. - ANSWER D. pandemics.
11.In which of the following situations would it be MOST appropriate to utilize
an air medical transportation service?
Select one:
A. 29-year-old woman who is 18 weeks pregnant, has light vaginal
bleeding, and stable vital signs
B. 50-year-old conscious woman with severe nausea and vomiting, fever,
and chills of 3 days' duration
C. 43-year-old man experiencing a heart attack, and the closest
appropriate hospital is 15 minutes away
D. 61-year-old man with signs and symptoms of a stroke and a ground
transport time of 50 minutes - ANSWER D. 61-year-old man with
signs and symptoms of a stroke and a ground transport time of 50
minutes
12.It is especially important to assess pulse, sensation, and movement in all
extremities as well as pupillary reactions in patients with a suspected
___________ problem.
Select one:
A. endocrine
B. respiratory
C. cardiac
D. neurologic - ANSWER D. neurologic
Study Questions with Elaborate
Answers (Latest Edition)
1. A 60-year-old man is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You
should:
Select one:
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
D. determine if he has a valid living will. - ANSWER B. begin CPR
until an AED is available.
2. Basic life support (BLS) is defined as:
Select one:
A. basic lifesaving treatment that is performed by bystanders while EMS
providers are en route to the scene of an emergency.
B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as
airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
C. invasive emergency medical interventions such as intravenous
therapy, manual defibrillation, and advanced airway management.
D. any form of emergency medical treatment that is performed by
advanced EMTs, paramedics, physicians, and emergency nurses. -
ANSWER B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat
conditions such as airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac
arrest.
3. Between each chest compression, you should __________.
,Select one:
A. check for a pulse
B. allow full chest recoil
C. administer a breath
D. remove your hands from the chest - ANSWER B. allow full chest
recoil
4. Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the
following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. a fractured sternum.
B. gastric distention.
C. rib fractures.
D. liver laceration. - ANSWER B. gastric distention.
5. CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman. Shortly after manually displacing
her uterus to the left, return of spontaneous circulation occurs. Which of the
following would MOST likely explain this?
Select one:
A. Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which
increased blood flow to her heart.
B. Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop
fibrillating, which restored her pulse.
C. Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully,
which restored her pulse.
D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved
chest compression effectiveness. - ANSWER D. Pressure was
relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved chest
compression effectiveness.
6. CPR retraining is the MOST effective when it:
,Select one:
A. occurs every 24 months.
B. is delivered by computer.
C. involves hands-on practice.
D. is self-paced and brief. - ANSWER C. involves hands-on practice.
7. CPR should be initiated when:
Select one:
A. rigor mortis is obvious.
B. signs of putrefaction are present.
C. the carotid pulse is very weak.
D. a valid living will is unavailable. - ANSWER D. a valid living will is
unavailable.
8. CPR will NOT be effective if the patient is:
Select one:
A. supine.
B. prone.
C. horizontal.
D. on a firm surface. - ANSWER B. prone.
9. If an object is visible in the unconscious patient's airway, you should
__________.
Select one:
A. leave it in place
B. continue chest compressions
C. remove it
D. place the patient on his or her side - ANSWER C. remove it
, 10.In 2009, the H1N1 virus accounted for over 200,000 deaths worldwide in the
form of the swine flu. In 1919, a similar outbreak of the H1N1 occurred in
the form of the Spanish flu. Starting in Kansas City, the virus spread rapidly
worldwide, claiming up to 50 million lives. These are both examples of:
Select one:
A. epidemics.
B. parasitic infection.
C. uncontrolled outbreaks.
D. pandemics. - ANSWER D. pandemics.
11.In which of the following situations would it be MOST appropriate to utilize
an air medical transportation service?
Select one:
A. 29-year-old woman who is 18 weeks pregnant, has light vaginal
bleeding, and stable vital signs
B. 50-year-old conscious woman with severe nausea and vomiting, fever,
and chills of 3 days' duration
C. 43-year-old man experiencing a heart attack, and the closest
appropriate hospital is 15 minutes away
D. 61-year-old man with signs and symptoms of a stroke and a ground
transport time of 50 minutes - ANSWER D. 61-year-old man with
signs and symptoms of a stroke and a ground transport time of 50
minutes
12.It is especially important to assess pulse, sensation, and movement in all
extremities as well as pupillary reactions in patients with a suspected
___________ problem.
Select one:
A. endocrine
B. respiratory
C. cardiac
D. neurologic - ANSWER D. neurologic
