FISDAP OPERATIONS PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ A 72-year-old woman fell and has a hip injury. She is on the second floor
of her home. Which of the following devices should you use to
move her down the flight of stairs
A) Stair chair
B) Long backboard
C) Wheeled stretcher
D) Scoop stretcher. Answer: D) Scoop stretcher
Of the options listed, the scoop stretcher, also called an orthopaedic
stretcher or split litter, would be the most appropriate to use. The scoop
stretcher is
contoured and allows for the placement of straps to secure the patient; it
also allows you to place padding around and under the patient. The long
backboard,
unlike the scoop stretcher, is flat; therefore, the patient can slide from side
to side or top to bottom, even when straps are placed. The wheeled
ambulance
stretcher is top heavy and is not safe for patient movement down a flight of
stairs or across rough terrain. Because the patient has a hip injury, the stair
chair would not be appropriate to use.
▶ When calling in your radio report to the receiving hospital, you should:
A) include the patient's name.
B) be brief, concise, and factual.
C) give your report only to a physician.
D) break your report into 60-second increments.. Answer: B) be brief,
concise, and factual.
A radio report should be brief, concise, and factual. It should include the
patient's age and sex, his or her chief complaint, associated assessment
findings,
,vital signs, treatment that you provided, and the patient's response to your
treatment. Avoid speculative statements regarding the patient's condition;
report
only what you know to be fact. Longer radio reports should be broken into
30-second increments; after 30 seconds, pause and ensure the listener
heard
your previous traffic. The patient's name is not vital to your report; thus,
there is no need to disclose it. Unless you are requesting medical direction,
it is
acceptable, and routine practice, to give your report to a registered nurse.
▶ At the scene of a mass-casualty incident, you notice a bystander who is
emotionally upset. An appropriate action to take would be to:
A) tell the bystander to leave the scene at once.
B) have the bystander assist you with patient care.
C) notify the police and have the bystander removed.
D) assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.. Answer: D)
assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.
One of the most effective ways to reduce stress in a bystander at the scene
of a mass-casualty incident is to assign the bystander a task that is not
related to
patient care. This may involve assisting other bystanders who are having
difficulties as well or providing water to the rescuers. An obviously
distressed
bystander should not simply be sent away from the scene, but should be
looked at as a patient as well. Clearly, if the bystander becomes aggressive
or violent,
law enforcement personnel should get involved.
▶ Upon arriving at a mass-casualty incident, the EMT is assigned to the
treatment area. Upon completion of duties in the treatment area, the
EMT should:
A) notify the incident commander and return to service.
B) report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
C) report to the transportation area to assist with transport.
D) report to the triage section to check for remaining patients.. Answer: B)
report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
,Organized operations at the scene of a mass-casualty incident are crucial
in order to achieve the best possible outcome and maximize the number of
lives
saved. When the EMT is given an assignment, he or she should complete
the assignment and then return to the individual who gave the assignment
for
further instructions. Self-assigning at the scene (freelancing) is dangerous
and can compromise the effectiveness of the overall operation.
▶ A patient injured his arm and asks to be transported to a specific hospital
because he has been there before. The EMT states that he does
not feel the doctors there are competent and recommends a different
hospital. The EMT's behavior is:
A) legal and ethical.
B) ethical, but illegal.
C) legal, but unethical.
D) illegal and unethical.. Answer: C) legal, but unethical.
The EMT's actions in this case are not illegal; he cannot go to jail for
making such comments. However, his actions are clearly unethical and
unprofessional,
and could lead to allegations of slander by the physician; this would be a
civil case, not a criminal one. You must not allow your personal feelings to
influence
a patient's decision as to who treats him or her, or where he or she is
treated.
▶ You arrive at the scene of an 80-year-old woman who is weak and
lightheaded. Her son, who called 911, is present and asks you to transport
his mother to the hospital. You should:
A) advise the son that he can probably drive his mother to the hospital.
B) comply with the son's request and transport the woman to the hospital.
C) take the woman's vital signs and apply supplemental oxygen if
necessary.
D) assess the woman and determine if she wishes to be treated and
transported.. Answer: D) assess the woman and determine if she wishes
to be treated and transported.
, You must obtain consent from any mentally competent adult patient prior to
initiating treatment. Just because the patient is 80 years old does not mean
that
she does not have decision-making capacity. Also, just because her son
wants her to be transported does not mean that she agrees with this
request. Ask her
if she wishes to be treated and transported to the hospital. If she does, then
you have obtained consent and should proceed accordingly. If she does
not, you
should determine if she has decision-making capacity--that is, whether she
is mentally competent. If she is determined to have decision-making
capacity,
then you cannot legally treat or transport her. If she does not have
decision-making capacity (eg, she is confused, she is under the influence
of drugs or
alcohol), then you may treat and transport under the law of implied consent.
It is not the EMT's decision to determine, let alone recommend, that a
patient be
taken to the hospital via privately owned vehicle (POV}. If the patient
requests EMS treatment and transport, you are legally obligated to do so.
▶ When using the power lift to lift a stretcher, you should:
A) maintain a slight inward curve to your back.
B) bend at the waist and keep your back straight
C) ensure that you lift with your palms facing up.
D) maintain a slight outward curve to your back.. Answer: C) ensure that
you lift with your palms facing up.
To achieve the best grip and to avoid injury to your wrists, you should lift a
stretcher, backboard, or other carrying device with your palms facing up.
Do not
bend at the waist; rather, bend at the knees and keep your back in a
straight, locked-in position.
▶ You and your partner have secured a trauma patient to a long backboard
and are preparing to lift the backboard onto the stretcher. When
doing so, you should:
A) lift the backboard from the sides instead of from the ends.
B) be sure to lift the backboard with the powerful muscles of your back.
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ A 72-year-old woman fell and has a hip injury. She is on the second floor
of her home. Which of the following devices should you use to
move her down the flight of stairs
A) Stair chair
B) Long backboard
C) Wheeled stretcher
D) Scoop stretcher. Answer: D) Scoop stretcher
Of the options listed, the scoop stretcher, also called an orthopaedic
stretcher or split litter, would be the most appropriate to use. The scoop
stretcher is
contoured and allows for the placement of straps to secure the patient; it
also allows you to place padding around and under the patient. The long
backboard,
unlike the scoop stretcher, is flat; therefore, the patient can slide from side
to side or top to bottom, even when straps are placed. The wheeled
ambulance
stretcher is top heavy and is not safe for patient movement down a flight of
stairs or across rough terrain. Because the patient has a hip injury, the stair
chair would not be appropriate to use.
▶ When calling in your radio report to the receiving hospital, you should:
A) include the patient's name.
B) be brief, concise, and factual.
C) give your report only to a physician.
D) break your report into 60-second increments.. Answer: B) be brief,
concise, and factual.
A radio report should be brief, concise, and factual. It should include the
patient's age and sex, his or her chief complaint, associated assessment
findings,
,vital signs, treatment that you provided, and the patient's response to your
treatment. Avoid speculative statements regarding the patient's condition;
report
only what you know to be fact. Longer radio reports should be broken into
30-second increments; after 30 seconds, pause and ensure the listener
heard
your previous traffic. The patient's name is not vital to your report; thus,
there is no need to disclose it. Unless you are requesting medical direction,
it is
acceptable, and routine practice, to give your report to a registered nurse.
▶ At the scene of a mass-casualty incident, you notice a bystander who is
emotionally upset. An appropriate action to take would be to:
A) tell the bystander to leave the scene at once.
B) have the bystander assist you with patient care.
C) notify the police and have the bystander removed.
D) assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.. Answer: D)
assign the bystander a simple, non-patient-care task.
One of the most effective ways to reduce stress in a bystander at the scene
of a mass-casualty incident is to assign the bystander a task that is not
related to
patient care. This may involve assisting other bystanders who are having
difficulties as well or providing water to the rescuers. An obviously
distressed
bystander should not simply be sent away from the scene, but should be
looked at as a patient as well. Clearly, if the bystander becomes aggressive
or violent,
law enforcement personnel should get involved.
▶ Upon arriving at a mass-casualty incident, the EMT is assigned to the
treatment area. Upon completion of duties in the treatment area, the
EMT should:
A) notify the incident commander and return to service.
B) report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
C) report to the transportation area to assist with transport.
D) report to the triage section to check for remaining patients.. Answer: B)
report to the treatment officer for further instructions.
,Organized operations at the scene of a mass-casualty incident are crucial
in order to achieve the best possible outcome and maximize the number of
lives
saved. When the EMT is given an assignment, he or she should complete
the assignment and then return to the individual who gave the assignment
for
further instructions. Self-assigning at the scene (freelancing) is dangerous
and can compromise the effectiveness of the overall operation.
▶ A patient injured his arm and asks to be transported to a specific hospital
because he has been there before. The EMT states that he does
not feel the doctors there are competent and recommends a different
hospital. The EMT's behavior is:
A) legal and ethical.
B) ethical, but illegal.
C) legal, but unethical.
D) illegal and unethical.. Answer: C) legal, but unethical.
The EMT's actions in this case are not illegal; he cannot go to jail for
making such comments. However, his actions are clearly unethical and
unprofessional,
and could lead to allegations of slander by the physician; this would be a
civil case, not a criminal one. You must not allow your personal feelings to
influence
a patient's decision as to who treats him or her, or where he or she is
treated.
▶ You arrive at the scene of an 80-year-old woman who is weak and
lightheaded. Her son, who called 911, is present and asks you to transport
his mother to the hospital. You should:
A) advise the son that he can probably drive his mother to the hospital.
B) comply with the son's request and transport the woman to the hospital.
C) take the woman's vital signs and apply supplemental oxygen if
necessary.
D) assess the woman and determine if she wishes to be treated and
transported.. Answer: D) assess the woman and determine if she wishes
to be treated and transported.
, You must obtain consent from any mentally competent adult patient prior to
initiating treatment. Just because the patient is 80 years old does not mean
that
she does not have decision-making capacity. Also, just because her son
wants her to be transported does not mean that she agrees with this
request. Ask her
if she wishes to be treated and transported to the hospital. If she does, then
you have obtained consent and should proceed accordingly. If she does
not, you
should determine if she has decision-making capacity--that is, whether she
is mentally competent. If she is determined to have decision-making
capacity,
then you cannot legally treat or transport her. If she does not have
decision-making capacity (eg, she is confused, she is under the influence
of drugs or
alcohol), then you may treat and transport under the law of implied consent.
It is not the EMT's decision to determine, let alone recommend, that a
patient be
taken to the hospital via privately owned vehicle (POV}. If the patient
requests EMS treatment and transport, you are legally obligated to do so.
▶ When using the power lift to lift a stretcher, you should:
A) maintain a slight inward curve to your back.
B) bend at the waist and keep your back straight
C) ensure that you lift with your palms facing up.
D) maintain a slight outward curve to your back.. Answer: C) ensure that
you lift with your palms facing up.
To achieve the best grip and to avoid injury to your wrists, you should lift a
stretcher, backboard, or other carrying device with your palms facing up.
Do not
bend at the waist; rather, bend at the knees and keep your back in a
straight, locked-in position.
▶ You and your partner have secured a trauma patient to a long backboard
and are preparing to lift the backboard onto the stretcher. When
doing so, you should:
A) lift the backboard from the sides instead of from the ends.
B) be sure to lift the backboard with the powerful muscles of your back.
