NREMT Part One Practice Exam 2026/2027
New Questions and Answers| A+Graded.
DOMAIN 1: AIRWAY, RESPIRATION & VENTILATION (12 Questions)
Question 1 (Multiple-Choice)
You arrive on scene to find a 34-year-old male who was ejected from his vehicle during a high-
speed collision. He is unconscious but breathing at 8 breaths/min. His airway appears partially
obstructed by secretions. What is the FIRST airway-opening maneuver you should perform?
A. Head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver without head extension
C. Modified jaw-thrust with slight head tilt
D. Finger sweep to clear the airway
Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale: The jaw-thrust maneuver without head extension is the only airway-opening
technique that can be safely used for a patient with a suspected cervical spine injury, because
it does not require the extension of the neck. Per the NHTSA EMT Airway Management Skill
Sheet, the EMT must kneel at the head of the patient and lift the angles of the mandible
forward to displace the tongue from the posterior pharynx without moving the cervical spine.
This patient sustained significant mechanism of injury (ejection from vehicle) that mandates
spinal precautions.
Question 2 (Multiple-Choice)
A 67-year-old female was found at the bottom of a staircase after a suspected fall. She is
responsive to verbal stimuli but confused. Her breathing is labored, and you note deformity to
her cervical collar area. What is the CORRECT positioning and technique for performing the
jaw-thrust maneuver on this patient?
A. Stand at the patient's side, place fingers behind the angles of the mandible, and tilt the
head backward
B. Kneel at the head of the patient, place two or three fingers behind the angles of the
mandible, and lift the mandible forward and upward
C. Stand at the foot of the patient, grasp the chin with both hands, and pull downward
,D. Kneel at the side of the patient, place the thumb on the forehead, and lift the jaw with the
index finger
Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale: Per the NHTSA EMT Airway Management Skill Sheet and PHTLS 10th Edition
protocol, the jaw-thrust maneuver must be performed by kneeling at the head of the patient
and placing two or three fingers behind the angles of the mandible to lift the mandible
forward and upward. This action displaces the tongue anteriorly without extending the neck,
maintaining inline spinal stabilization critical for trauma patients.
Question 3 (Select-All-That-Apply)
Which of the following statements about the jaw-thrust maneuver for a patient with
suspected spinal injury are CORRECT? (Select all that apply)
A. The EMT must maintain inline manual stabilization of the cervical spine while performing
the maneuver
B. The jaw-thrust maneuver is contraindicated in patients who are breathing spontaneously
C. The maneuver involves lifting the angles of the mandible forward without tilting the neck
D. If the jaw-thrust does not open the airway, a slight head tilt may be attempted as a last
resort
E. The EMT should kneel at the head of the patient to perform the maneuver
F. The jaw-thrust maneuver is the preferred technique for all patients, regardless of trauma
mechanism
Answer: A, C, D, E [CORRECT]
Rationale: Per the NHTSA EMT Airway Management Skill Sheet and AHA BLS Guidelines, the
jaw-thrust maneuver requires inline manual stabilization of the cervical spine (A) and involves
lifting the angles of the mandible forward without neck extension (C). The EMT must kneel at
the head for proper leverage (E). If the jaw-thrust alone is insufficient, a slight head tilt may
be used as a last resort (D) per AHA BLS trauma airway protocol. The jaw-thrust is specifically
indicated for suspected spinal injury, not all patients (F is incorrect), and is not
contraindicated in spontaneously breathing patients (B is incorrect).
Question 4 (Scenario-Based / Ordered Sequence)
, You are the first EMT to arrive at a motorcycle crash. The rider is unconscious, supine on the
pavement, with a helmet still in place. Place the following steps in the CORRECT order for
airway management with suspected spinal injury:
Perform the jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway
Assess breathing rate and quality
Manually stabilize the cervical spine in a neutral inline position
Suction visible secretions from the oropharynx
Kneel at the head of the patient
A. 3, 5, 2, 4, 1
B. 3, 5, 1, 4, 2
C. 5, 3, 1, 4, 2
D. 3, 5, 4, 1, 2
Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale: Per the NHTSA EMT Trauma Assessment Skill Sheet and PHTLS Primary Survey
protocol, the correct sequence is: (3) Manually stabilize the cervical spine in a neutral inline
position first to prevent secondary spinal cord injury; (5) Kneel at the head of the patient for
optimal positioning; (1) Perform the jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway without neck
extension; (4) Suction visible secretions to clear the airway; (2) Assess breathing rate and
quality to determine ventilatory status. This sequence prioritizes spinal protection while
ensuring airway patency.
Question 5 (Multiple-Choice)
You and your partner are ventilating an apneic 58-year-old male with a bag-valve mask (BVM).
Your partner is maintaining the airway with a head-tilt chin-lift while you squeeze the bag.
After several ventilations, you note minimal chest rise. What is the MOST important indicator
that your ventilations are adequate?
A. The bag fully collapses with each squeeze
B. You observe visible chest rise and fall with each ventilation
C. The patient has bilateral breath sounds on auscultation
D. The reservoir bag remains full at all times
New Questions and Answers| A+Graded.
DOMAIN 1: AIRWAY, RESPIRATION & VENTILATION (12 Questions)
Question 1 (Multiple-Choice)
You arrive on scene to find a 34-year-old male who was ejected from his vehicle during a high-
speed collision. He is unconscious but breathing at 8 breaths/min. His airway appears partially
obstructed by secretions. What is the FIRST airway-opening maneuver you should perform?
A. Head-tilt chin-lift maneuver
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver without head extension
C. Modified jaw-thrust with slight head tilt
D. Finger sweep to clear the airway
Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale: The jaw-thrust maneuver without head extension is the only airway-opening
technique that can be safely used for a patient with a suspected cervical spine injury, because
it does not require the extension of the neck. Per the NHTSA EMT Airway Management Skill
Sheet, the EMT must kneel at the head of the patient and lift the angles of the mandible
forward to displace the tongue from the posterior pharynx without moving the cervical spine.
This patient sustained significant mechanism of injury (ejection from vehicle) that mandates
spinal precautions.
Question 2 (Multiple-Choice)
A 67-year-old female was found at the bottom of a staircase after a suspected fall. She is
responsive to verbal stimuli but confused. Her breathing is labored, and you note deformity to
her cervical collar area. What is the CORRECT positioning and technique for performing the
jaw-thrust maneuver on this patient?
A. Stand at the patient's side, place fingers behind the angles of the mandible, and tilt the
head backward
B. Kneel at the head of the patient, place two or three fingers behind the angles of the
mandible, and lift the mandible forward and upward
C. Stand at the foot of the patient, grasp the chin with both hands, and pull downward
,D. Kneel at the side of the patient, place the thumb on the forehead, and lift the jaw with the
index finger
Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale: Per the NHTSA EMT Airway Management Skill Sheet and PHTLS 10th Edition
protocol, the jaw-thrust maneuver must be performed by kneeling at the head of the patient
and placing two or three fingers behind the angles of the mandible to lift the mandible
forward and upward. This action displaces the tongue anteriorly without extending the neck,
maintaining inline spinal stabilization critical for trauma patients.
Question 3 (Select-All-That-Apply)
Which of the following statements about the jaw-thrust maneuver for a patient with
suspected spinal injury are CORRECT? (Select all that apply)
A. The EMT must maintain inline manual stabilization of the cervical spine while performing
the maneuver
B. The jaw-thrust maneuver is contraindicated in patients who are breathing spontaneously
C. The maneuver involves lifting the angles of the mandible forward without tilting the neck
D. If the jaw-thrust does not open the airway, a slight head tilt may be attempted as a last
resort
E. The EMT should kneel at the head of the patient to perform the maneuver
F. The jaw-thrust maneuver is the preferred technique for all patients, regardless of trauma
mechanism
Answer: A, C, D, E [CORRECT]
Rationale: Per the NHTSA EMT Airway Management Skill Sheet and AHA BLS Guidelines, the
jaw-thrust maneuver requires inline manual stabilization of the cervical spine (A) and involves
lifting the angles of the mandible forward without neck extension (C). The EMT must kneel at
the head for proper leverage (E). If the jaw-thrust alone is insufficient, a slight head tilt may
be used as a last resort (D) per AHA BLS trauma airway protocol. The jaw-thrust is specifically
indicated for suspected spinal injury, not all patients (F is incorrect), and is not
contraindicated in spontaneously breathing patients (B is incorrect).
Question 4 (Scenario-Based / Ordered Sequence)
, You are the first EMT to arrive at a motorcycle crash. The rider is unconscious, supine on the
pavement, with a helmet still in place. Place the following steps in the CORRECT order for
airway management with suspected spinal injury:
Perform the jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway
Assess breathing rate and quality
Manually stabilize the cervical spine in a neutral inline position
Suction visible secretions from the oropharynx
Kneel at the head of the patient
A. 3, 5, 2, 4, 1
B. 3, 5, 1, 4, 2
C. 5, 3, 1, 4, 2
D. 3, 5, 4, 1, 2
Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale: Per the NHTSA EMT Trauma Assessment Skill Sheet and PHTLS Primary Survey
protocol, the correct sequence is: (3) Manually stabilize the cervical spine in a neutral inline
position first to prevent secondary spinal cord injury; (5) Kneel at the head of the patient for
optimal positioning; (1) Perform the jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway without neck
extension; (4) Suction visible secretions to clear the airway; (2) Assess breathing rate and
quality to determine ventilatory status. This sequence prioritizes spinal protection while
ensuring airway patency.
Question 5 (Multiple-Choice)
You and your partner are ventilating an apneic 58-year-old male with a bag-valve mask (BVM).
Your partner is maintaining the airway with a head-tilt chin-lift while you squeeze the bag.
After several ventilations, you note minimal chest rise. What is the MOST important indicator
that your ventilations are adequate?
A. The bag fully collapses with each squeeze
B. You observe visible chest rise and fall with each ventilation
C. The patient has bilateral breath sounds on auscultation
D. The reservoir bag remains full at all times
