EMT OPERATIONS EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ 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
Errors in patient care can stem from three possible sources. They can
occur as a result of a rules-based failure, a knowledge-based failure, or a
skills-based
failure (or any combination of these). For example, if the EMT administers a
medication or performs an intervention that the medical director has not
authorized him or her to perform, a rules-based failure has occurred. If the
EMT administers an inappropriate drug to a patient, such as giving
nitroglycerin
to a hypotensive patient, then a knowledge-based failure has occurred. If
equipment is not used properly, such as an improperly-sized oropharyngeal
airway,
then a skills-based failure has occurred. Any error can come from multiple
sources. Accidents do not fall into any of the failure categories; however,
an
investigation should occur to determine, if possible, how and why the
accident occurred, as well as how to prevent it from happening again.
▶ A 10-year-old child was struck by a car while crossing the street. He has
bilateral femur fractures and a head injury. His father has been
notified and is 20 minutes away from the scene. The EMT should:
A) contact medical control to see if he/she will take custody of the child.
B) attempt to contact the child's mother to see if she can be there sooner.
C) begin immediate transport and have law enforcement update the father.
D) stabilize the child at the scene until the father arrives and gives
consent.. Answer: C) begin immediate transport and have law enforcement
update the father.
The child in this scenario is critically- injured and needs immediate
treatment and transport. In the interest of the child, it should be presumed
that the
,parents would give consent to treat and transport if they were at the scene
(implied consent). Begin emergency care, transport without delay, and ask
a law
enforcement officer to apprise the child's parents of your transport
destination.
▶ At the scene of a hazardous materials incident, medical monitoring of
patients and emergency personnel should occur:
A) in the hot zone.
B) In the warm zone.
C) In the cold zone.
D) before decontamination.. Answer: C) In the cold zone.
The cold zone is a safe area where personnel do not need to wear any
special protective clothing for safe operation. Personnel staging, the
command post,
EMS providers, and the area for medical monitoring, support, and/or
treatment after decontamination are all located in the cold zone. The hot
zone is the
area immediately surrounding the release and is the most contaminated
area; personnel should wear full protective clothing while in the hot zone,
and the
only operation that should occur is patient rescue. Decontamination of
patients and rescue personnel should occur in the warm zone.
▶ While functioning at a large-scale terrorist incident, it is important for the
EMT to:
A) use triage and base patient care on available resources.
B) identify the person or persons responsible for the event.
C) begin immediate treatment of the most critically injured patients.
D) avoid placing any casualty in a "delayed" treatment status.. Answer: A)
use triage and base patient care on available resources.
During a terrorist incident, the basic foundations of triage and patient care
remain the same; however, the treatment can and will vary. Terrorist
incidents
can produce a single casualty, hundreds of casualties, or thousands of
casualties. When presented with mass casualties, you must remember the
importance
, of situational awareness. What you do in one situation may not be
appropriate for another situation. In large-scale terrorist incidents, it is
important to use
triage and base patient care on available resources. When triaging
casualties, use the same triage process that you would for any other mass-
casualty
incident. Remain focused on providing the greatest good for the greatest
number of people, not the person or persons responsible for the incident.
▶ In which of the following situations is an emergency move of a patient
from his or her wrecked vehicle clearly indicated?
A) The patient appears unresponsive and a high-power line is lying across
the hood.
B) Your primary assessment reveals that the patient has signs and
symptoms of shock.
C) The patient has an altered mental status; diaphoresis; and rapid,
shallow breathing.
D) Gas is leaking from the vehicle and there is a small fire in the engine
compartment.. Answer: D) Gas is leaking from the vehicle and there is a
small fire in the engine compartment.
An emergency move is indicated if your own or the patient's life is in
immediate danger. Gas leaking from the vehicle and a fire in the engine
compartment
are clear indicators that you and the patient are in imminent danger. An
emergency move involves grabbing the patient by the clothing, protecting
his or her spine as much as possible, and dragging the patient from the
vehicle to a safe place. The rapid extrication technique, which involves
manually stabilizing the
patient's head, applying a cervical collar, and removing the patient from the
vehicle onto a long backboard, is indicated if the patient's condition is
unstable
and/or he or she is in need of treatment that requires a supine position.
Never approach or touch a vehicle that is in contact with a high-power line;
have the
power company cut the power to the line first and then remove the patient
from the vehicle.
▶ The technique of rapid extrication from a vehicle involves:
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ 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
Errors in patient care can stem from three possible sources. They can
occur as a result of a rules-based failure, a knowledge-based failure, or a
skills-based
failure (or any combination of these). For example, if the EMT administers a
medication or performs an intervention that the medical director has not
authorized him or her to perform, a rules-based failure has occurred. If the
EMT administers an inappropriate drug to a patient, such as giving
nitroglycerin
to a hypotensive patient, then a knowledge-based failure has occurred. If
equipment is not used properly, such as an improperly-sized oropharyngeal
airway,
then a skills-based failure has occurred. Any error can come from multiple
sources. Accidents do not fall into any of the failure categories; however,
an
investigation should occur to determine, if possible, how and why the
accident occurred, as well as how to prevent it from happening again.
▶ A 10-year-old child was struck by a car while crossing the street. He has
bilateral femur fractures and a head injury. His father has been
notified and is 20 minutes away from the scene. The EMT should:
A) contact medical control to see if he/she will take custody of the child.
B) attempt to contact the child's mother to see if she can be there sooner.
C) begin immediate transport and have law enforcement update the father.
D) stabilize the child at the scene until the father arrives and gives
consent.. Answer: C) begin immediate transport and have law enforcement
update the father.
The child in this scenario is critically- injured and needs immediate
treatment and transport. In the interest of the child, it should be presumed
that the
,parents would give consent to treat and transport if they were at the scene
(implied consent). Begin emergency care, transport without delay, and ask
a law
enforcement officer to apprise the child's parents of your transport
destination.
▶ At the scene of a hazardous materials incident, medical monitoring of
patients and emergency personnel should occur:
A) in the hot zone.
B) In the warm zone.
C) In the cold zone.
D) before decontamination.. Answer: C) In the cold zone.
The cold zone is a safe area where personnel do not need to wear any
special protective clothing for safe operation. Personnel staging, the
command post,
EMS providers, and the area for medical monitoring, support, and/or
treatment after decontamination are all located in the cold zone. The hot
zone is the
area immediately surrounding the release and is the most contaminated
area; personnel should wear full protective clothing while in the hot zone,
and the
only operation that should occur is patient rescue. Decontamination of
patients and rescue personnel should occur in the warm zone.
▶ While functioning at a large-scale terrorist incident, it is important for the
EMT to:
A) use triage and base patient care on available resources.
B) identify the person or persons responsible for the event.
C) begin immediate treatment of the most critically injured patients.
D) avoid placing any casualty in a "delayed" treatment status.. Answer: A)
use triage and base patient care on available resources.
During a terrorist incident, the basic foundations of triage and patient care
remain the same; however, the treatment can and will vary. Terrorist
incidents
can produce a single casualty, hundreds of casualties, or thousands of
casualties. When presented with mass casualties, you must remember the
importance
, of situational awareness. What you do in one situation may not be
appropriate for another situation. In large-scale terrorist incidents, it is
important to use
triage and base patient care on available resources. When triaging
casualties, use the same triage process that you would for any other mass-
casualty
incident. Remain focused on providing the greatest good for the greatest
number of people, not the person or persons responsible for the incident.
▶ In which of the following situations is an emergency move of a patient
from his or her wrecked vehicle clearly indicated?
A) The patient appears unresponsive and a high-power line is lying across
the hood.
B) Your primary assessment reveals that the patient has signs and
symptoms of shock.
C) The patient has an altered mental status; diaphoresis; and rapid,
shallow breathing.
D) Gas is leaking from the vehicle and there is a small fire in the engine
compartment.. Answer: D) Gas is leaking from the vehicle and there is a
small fire in the engine compartment.
An emergency move is indicated if your own or the patient's life is in
immediate danger. Gas leaking from the vehicle and a fire in the engine
compartment
are clear indicators that you and the patient are in imminent danger. An
emergency move involves grabbing the patient by the clothing, protecting
his or her spine as much as possible, and dragging the patient from the
vehicle to a safe place. The rapid extrication technique, which involves
manually stabilizing the
patient's head, applying a cervical collar, and removing the patient from the
vehicle onto a long backboard, is indicated if the patient's condition is
unstable
and/or he or she is in need of treatment that requires a supine position.
Never approach or touch a vehicle that is in contact with a high-power line;
have the
power company cut the power to the line first and then remove the patient
from the vehicle.
▶ The technique of rapid extrication from a vehicle involves:
