EMT OPERATIONS ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
2026
▶ The EMT should avoid focusing all of his or her attention on a single
critical patient during the triage process because:
A) three EMTs are required to effectively manage a critical patient.
B) other patients may die from causes that could have been prevented.
C) all of his or her supplies will likely be depleted on that one patient.
D) the patient will most likely die before he or she can be transported..
Answer: B) other patients may die from causes that could have been
prevented.
Triage is the process of rapidly assessing patients to determine their
treatment priority. Focusing your attention on one patient during the triage
process not
only defeats the purpose of triage (to do the greatest good for the greatest
number of people), but also neglects other patients who might die from
injuries or
conditions that could have been corrected if detected earlier.
▶ You are caring for a 6-year-old child with a swollen, painful deformity to
the left forearm. As you communicate with the parents of this
child, you should:
A) ask them repeatedly how the child was injured.
B) use appropriate medical terminology at all times.
C) make sure that they remain aware of what you are doing.
D) tell them that the child will be transported to the hospital.. Answer: C)
make sure that they remain aware of what you are doing.
When caring for any patient, it is important to keep both the patient and the
family aware of what you are doing. You should avoid medical terminology
whenever possible because most laypeople will not understand what you
are saying. The plain English approach is much more effective. When
caring for
,children specifically, you should inform the parents of the need for
ambulance transportation and why; doing so will provide them with the
information
necessary to make an informed decision. Asking the parents repeatedly
how the child was injured may be construed by some as implying that the
child was
abused.
▶ You receive a call at 3:00 a.m. for a patient who is slumped over the
steering wheel of his car, which is parked on the shoulder of the road.
Your unit and a police officer arrive at the scene at the same time. You
should:
A) stay in your unit until the police officer checks the patient.
B) park the ambulance 25 feet in front of the patient's vehicle.
C) shine a spotlight in the side view mirror of the patient's vehicle.
D) approach the vehicle from the front to ensure maximum visibility..
Answer: A) stay in your unit until the police officer checks the patient.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to fake illness or injury with
the intent of harming responding personnel. In this situation, you should
utilize
the safety resource at the scene: the police officer. You and your partner
should stay in the unit until the police officer checks the patient to ensure it
is safe
for you to approach. Remember, the safety of you and your partner comes
first!
▶ You are called to a residence for a woman in cardiac arrest. Shortly after
you start CPR, the patient's husband presents you with an unsigned
document that states "do not attempt resuscitation." You should:
A) stop all resuscitative efforts in accordance with the document.
B) stop CPR until the document can be validated by a physician.
C) continue CPR until you have contacted medical control for guidance.
D) contact medical control prior to continuing any resuscitative efforts..
Answer: C) continue CPR until you have contacted medical control for
guidance.
Do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR} orders can be challenging for EMS
providers. When presented with documentation, especially if it does not
appear to
,be valid (in this case, an unsigned document), you should err on the side of
patient care and continue resuscitative efforts until medical control orders
you to
stop.
▶ While caring for a trauma patient, blood splashes into an EMT's eyes.
This is an example of:
A) exposure.
B) infection.
C) transmission.
D) indirect contact.. Answer: A) exposure.
Exposure occurs when an individual comes in direct contact with blood or
other bodily fluids. Examples of direct exposure include blood splashing
into the
eyes or mouth and an accidental stick with a contaminated needle or other
sharp object. Exposure does not always result in disease transmission and
subsequent infection; that depends on whether the patient has an
infectious disease. Routine use of standard precautions will afford the EMT
the best
protection from exposure to an infectious disease.
▶ Failure of the EMT to obtain consent from a responsive patient before
taking his or her blood pressure may constitute:
A) battery.
B) negligence.
C) abandonment.
D) assault.. Answer: A) battery.
Battery is defined as unlawfully touching another person without his or her
consent. Obtaining consent from every responsive patient prior to rendering
care is of paramount importance. Assault is defined as instilling fear into
another person, but does not necessarily involve actually touching him or
her. Laws
can vary from state to state as to these definitions. Negligence occurs
when the EMT fa ils to act as another prudent EMT would have acted in the
same or
similar situation. Abandonment occurs when the EMT terminates patient
care without the patient's consent or transfers care of a patient to a
provider of
, lesser training.
▶ Which of the fo llowing is an example of informed consent?
A) Prior to starting treatment, the EMT asks a patient if he has permission
to begin treatment
B) The EMT informs a conscious patient of the risk of refusing EMS
treatment and transport
C) The EMT informs a patient of the potential risks associated with his
proposed treatment
D) EMTs treat an unresponsive patient under the assumption that he would
consent if he was conscious. Answer: C) The EMT informs a patient of the
potential risks associated with his proposed treatment
EMTs should obtain consent to assess and treat from every patient who is
of legal age and has decision-making capacity. In order for consent to be
informed,
the patient must be informed of the EMT's proposed treatment plan, as well
as the risks and benefits of said treatment. If this information is not
disclosed to
the patient, then consent is not informed. If a patient refuses EMS
treatment, the EMT must inform him or her, in layman's terms, of the risks
of refusing EMS
treatment; this is called an informed refusal. Regardless of whether the
patient accepts or refuses EMS treatment, he or she must be properly
informed of
risks and benefits. Treating an unresponsive patient based on the
assumption that he or she would otherwise accept treatment is called
implied consent.
▶ Which of the following is an example of an error that was caused by
knowledge-based fai lure?
A) The EMT administers a medication that his protocols do not allow him to
administer
B) EMTs accidentally drop a patient during off-loading at the emergency
department
C) The EMT administers nitroglycerin to a hypotensive patient and the
patient's BP drops further
D) The EMT improperly inserts an oropharyngeal airway and is unable to
ventilate an apneic patient. Answer: C) The EMT administers nitroglycerin
to a hypotensive patient and the patient's BP drops further
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
2026
▶ The EMT should avoid focusing all of his or her attention on a single
critical patient during the triage process because:
A) three EMTs are required to effectively manage a critical patient.
B) other patients may die from causes that could have been prevented.
C) all of his or her supplies will likely be depleted on that one patient.
D) the patient will most likely die before he or she can be transported..
Answer: B) other patients may die from causes that could have been
prevented.
Triage is the process of rapidly assessing patients to determine their
treatment priority. Focusing your attention on one patient during the triage
process not
only defeats the purpose of triage (to do the greatest good for the greatest
number of people), but also neglects other patients who might die from
injuries or
conditions that could have been corrected if detected earlier.
▶ You are caring for a 6-year-old child with a swollen, painful deformity to
the left forearm. As you communicate with the parents of this
child, you should:
A) ask them repeatedly how the child was injured.
B) use appropriate medical terminology at all times.
C) make sure that they remain aware of what you are doing.
D) tell them that the child will be transported to the hospital.. Answer: C)
make sure that they remain aware of what you are doing.
When caring for any patient, it is important to keep both the patient and the
family aware of what you are doing. You should avoid medical terminology
whenever possible because most laypeople will not understand what you
are saying. The plain English approach is much more effective. When
caring for
,children specifically, you should inform the parents of the need for
ambulance transportation and why; doing so will provide them with the
information
necessary to make an informed decision. Asking the parents repeatedly
how the child was injured may be construed by some as implying that the
child was
abused.
▶ You receive a call at 3:00 a.m. for a patient who is slumped over the
steering wheel of his car, which is parked on the shoulder of the road.
Your unit and a police officer arrive at the scene at the same time. You
should:
A) stay in your unit until the police officer checks the patient.
B) park the ambulance 25 feet in front of the patient's vehicle.
C) shine a spotlight in the side view mirror of the patient's vehicle.
D) approach the vehicle from the front to ensure maximum visibility..
Answer: A) stay in your unit until the police officer checks the patient.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to fake illness or injury with
the intent of harming responding personnel. In this situation, you should
utilize
the safety resource at the scene: the police officer. You and your partner
should stay in the unit until the police officer checks the patient to ensure it
is safe
for you to approach. Remember, the safety of you and your partner comes
first!
▶ You are called to a residence for a woman in cardiac arrest. Shortly after
you start CPR, the patient's husband presents you with an unsigned
document that states "do not attempt resuscitation." You should:
A) stop all resuscitative efforts in accordance with the document.
B) stop CPR until the document can be validated by a physician.
C) continue CPR until you have contacted medical control for guidance.
D) contact medical control prior to continuing any resuscitative efforts..
Answer: C) continue CPR until you have contacted medical control for
guidance.
Do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR} orders can be challenging for EMS
providers. When presented with documentation, especially if it does not
appear to
,be valid (in this case, an unsigned document), you should err on the side of
patient care and continue resuscitative efforts until medical control orders
you to
stop.
▶ While caring for a trauma patient, blood splashes into an EMT's eyes.
This is an example of:
A) exposure.
B) infection.
C) transmission.
D) indirect contact.. Answer: A) exposure.
Exposure occurs when an individual comes in direct contact with blood or
other bodily fluids. Examples of direct exposure include blood splashing
into the
eyes or mouth and an accidental stick with a contaminated needle or other
sharp object. Exposure does not always result in disease transmission and
subsequent infection; that depends on whether the patient has an
infectious disease. Routine use of standard precautions will afford the EMT
the best
protection from exposure to an infectious disease.
▶ Failure of the EMT to obtain consent from a responsive patient before
taking his or her blood pressure may constitute:
A) battery.
B) negligence.
C) abandonment.
D) assault.. Answer: A) battery.
Battery is defined as unlawfully touching another person without his or her
consent. Obtaining consent from every responsive patient prior to rendering
care is of paramount importance. Assault is defined as instilling fear into
another person, but does not necessarily involve actually touching him or
her. Laws
can vary from state to state as to these definitions. Negligence occurs
when the EMT fa ils to act as another prudent EMT would have acted in the
same or
similar situation. Abandonment occurs when the EMT terminates patient
care without the patient's consent or transfers care of a patient to a
provider of
, lesser training.
▶ Which of the fo llowing is an example of informed consent?
A) Prior to starting treatment, the EMT asks a patient if he has permission
to begin treatment
B) The EMT informs a conscious patient of the risk of refusing EMS
treatment and transport
C) The EMT informs a patient of the potential risks associated with his
proposed treatment
D) EMTs treat an unresponsive patient under the assumption that he would
consent if he was conscious. Answer: C) The EMT informs a patient of the
potential risks associated with his proposed treatment
EMTs should obtain consent to assess and treat from every patient who is
of legal age and has decision-making capacity. In order for consent to be
informed,
the patient must be informed of the EMT's proposed treatment plan, as well
as the risks and benefits of said treatment. If this information is not
disclosed to
the patient, then consent is not informed. If a patient refuses EMS
treatment, the EMT must inform him or her, in layman's terms, of the risks
of refusing EMS
treatment; this is called an informed refusal. Regardless of whether the
patient accepts or refuses EMS treatment, he or she must be properly
informed of
risks and benefits. Treating an unresponsive patient based on the
assumption that he or she would otherwise accept treatment is called
implied consent.
▶ Which of the following is an example of an error that was caused by
knowledge-based fai lure?
A) The EMT administers a medication that his protocols do not allow him to
administer
B) EMTs accidentally drop a patient during off-loading at the emergency
department
C) The EMT administers nitroglycerin to a hypotensive patient and the
patient's BP drops further
D) The EMT improperly inserts an oropharyngeal airway and is unable to
ventilate an apneic patient. Answer: C) The EMT administers nitroglycerin
to a hypotensive patient and the patient's BP drops further
