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Paramedic FISDAP Airway Actual Exam 2026-2027 BANK
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS EXAM
QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM HERE (100% CORRECT
ANSWERS A+ GRADED
1. A patient with a suspected spinal injury requires airway
management. Which maneuver is most appropriate?
A. Head-tilt, chin-lift
B. Jaw-thrust
C. Oropharyngeal airway insertion
D. Nasopharyngeal airway insertion
Answer: B. Jaw-thrust. The jaw-thrust maneuver is indicated for
patients with suspected spinal injuries because it allows for opening the
airway without manipulating the cervical spine, reducing the risk of
further cord damage. Head-tilt, chin-lift involves neck extension and is
contraindicated. An airway adjunct alone is inserted after the airway is
opened.
2. What is the primary danger of prolonged suctioning in an adult
patient?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypoxia
C. Gagging
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D. Bronchospasm
Answer: B. Hypoxia. Prolonged suctioning removes oxygen-rich air from
the airway and lungs, rapidly leading to hypoxemia. While vagal
stimulation can cause bradycardia, the immediate and most direct life
threat is hypoxia. Pre-oxygenation and limiting suction time to under 15
seconds are essential to mitigate this.
3. A patient presents with stridor, drooling, and a high fever. What is
the most likely cause of the airway obstruction?
A. Foreign body aspiration
B. Epiglottitis
C. Croup
D. Peritonsillar abscess
Answer: B. Epiglottitis. The classic triad of stridor, drooling, and high
fever in a toxic-appearing patient is indicative of epiglottitis, a bacterial
infection causing inflammation of the epiglottis and a true airway
emergency. Croup typically features a barking cough. Foreign body
aspiration is usually sudden with a history of choking.
4. Which nerve can be stimulated during intubation, leading to
bradycardia?
A. Hypoglossal nerve
B. Vagus nerve
C. Glossopharyngeal nerve
D. Trigeminal nerve
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Answer: B. Vagus nerve. The vagus nerve (CN X) provides
parasympathetic innervation to the heart. Direct laryngoscopy can
stimulate the vagus nerve, or it can be stimulated by hypoxia, leading to
a reflexive bradycardia. This is a common indication for anticholinergic
premedication.
5. The volume of gas remaining in the lungs after a normal exhalation is
the:
A. Tidal volume
B. Residual volume
C. Functional residual capacity
D. Inspiratory reserve volume
Answer: C. Functional residual capacity. FRC is the volume of air present
in the lungs at the end of passive expiration, consisting of expiratory
reserve volume and residual volume. It plays a critical role in preventing
alveolar collapse and buffering changes in arterial oxygen levels.
6. An unresponsive patient is breathing inadequately at 8 times per
minute. What is the immediate intervention?
A. Non-rebreather mask at 15 LPM
B. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen
C. Insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway
D. Recovery position
Answer: B. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen. A
respiratory rate of 8/min is insufficient and requires immediate positive
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pressure ventilation to ensure adequate oxygen delivery and carbon
dioxide removal. An NRB requires adequate spontaneous respirations.
An airway adjunct is helpful but secondary to ventilation.
7. A patient who aspirated gastric contents is at highest risk for
developing which condition?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Tension pneumothorax
C. Aspiration pneumonitis
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: C. Aspiration pneumonitis. Aspiration of sterile gastric contents
causes a chemical injury to the lung parenchyma, known as aspiration
pneumonitis (Mendelson's syndrome). This chemical pneumonitis can
rapidly lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
8. What finding during intubation definitively confirms proper
endotracheal tube placement?
A. Bilateral breath sounds
B. Mist in the tube during exhalation
C. Waveform capnography
D. Absence of epigastric sounds
Answer: C. Waveform capnography. Continuous waveform
capnography is the gold standard for confirming and monitoring ETT
placement because it demonstrates the presence of exhaled CO2 from
the lungs. Bilateral breath sounds and tube misting can be misleading,
Paramedic FISDAP Airway Actual Exam 2026-2027 BANK
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS EXAM
QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM HERE (100% CORRECT
ANSWERS A+ GRADED
1. A patient with a suspected spinal injury requires airway
management. Which maneuver is most appropriate?
A. Head-tilt, chin-lift
B. Jaw-thrust
C. Oropharyngeal airway insertion
D. Nasopharyngeal airway insertion
Answer: B. Jaw-thrust. The jaw-thrust maneuver is indicated for
patients with suspected spinal injuries because it allows for opening the
airway without manipulating the cervical spine, reducing the risk of
further cord damage. Head-tilt, chin-lift involves neck extension and is
contraindicated. An airway adjunct alone is inserted after the airway is
opened.
2. What is the primary danger of prolonged suctioning in an adult
patient?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypoxia
C. Gagging
,2|Page
D. Bronchospasm
Answer: B. Hypoxia. Prolonged suctioning removes oxygen-rich air from
the airway and lungs, rapidly leading to hypoxemia. While vagal
stimulation can cause bradycardia, the immediate and most direct life
threat is hypoxia. Pre-oxygenation and limiting suction time to under 15
seconds are essential to mitigate this.
3. A patient presents with stridor, drooling, and a high fever. What is
the most likely cause of the airway obstruction?
A. Foreign body aspiration
B. Epiglottitis
C. Croup
D. Peritonsillar abscess
Answer: B. Epiglottitis. The classic triad of stridor, drooling, and high
fever in a toxic-appearing patient is indicative of epiglottitis, a bacterial
infection causing inflammation of the epiglottis and a true airway
emergency. Croup typically features a barking cough. Foreign body
aspiration is usually sudden with a history of choking.
4. Which nerve can be stimulated during intubation, leading to
bradycardia?
A. Hypoglossal nerve
B. Vagus nerve
C. Glossopharyngeal nerve
D. Trigeminal nerve
,3|Page
Answer: B. Vagus nerve. The vagus nerve (CN X) provides
parasympathetic innervation to the heart. Direct laryngoscopy can
stimulate the vagus nerve, or it can be stimulated by hypoxia, leading to
a reflexive bradycardia. This is a common indication for anticholinergic
premedication.
5. The volume of gas remaining in the lungs after a normal exhalation is
the:
A. Tidal volume
B. Residual volume
C. Functional residual capacity
D. Inspiratory reserve volume
Answer: C. Functional residual capacity. FRC is the volume of air present
in the lungs at the end of passive expiration, consisting of expiratory
reserve volume and residual volume. It plays a critical role in preventing
alveolar collapse and buffering changes in arterial oxygen levels.
6. An unresponsive patient is breathing inadequately at 8 times per
minute. What is the immediate intervention?
A. Non-rebreather mask at 15 LPM
B. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen
C. Insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway
D. Recovery position
Answer: B. Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen. A
respiratory rate of 8/min is insufficient and requires immediate positive
, 4|Page
pressure ventilation to ensure adequate oxygen delivery and carbon
dioxide removal. An NRB requires adequate spontaneous respirations.
An airway adjunct is helpful but secondary to ventilation.
7. A patient who aspirated gastric contents is at highest risk for
developing which condition?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Tension pneumothorax
C. Aspiration pneumonitis
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: C. Aspiration pneumonitis. Aspiration of sterile gastric contents
causes a chemical injury to the lung parenchyma, known as aspiration
pneumonitis (Mendelson's syndrome). This chemical pneumonitis can
rapidly lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
8. What finding during intubation definitively confirms proper
endotracheal tube placement?
A. Bilateral breath sounds
B. Mist in the tube during exhalation
C. Waveform capnography
D. Absence of epigastric sounds
Answer: C. Waveform capnography. Continuous waveform
capnography is the gold standard for confirming and monitoring ETT
placement because it demonstrates the presence of exhaled CO2 from
the lungs. Bilateral breath sounds and tube misting can be misleading,
