EMT BASIC (NREMT LEVEL) EXAM
BANK – COMPREHENSIVE EXAM WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. What is the first step in the primary assessment of
a patient?
A) Check for pulse
B) Form a general impression
C) Open the airway
D) Check for breathing
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The primary assessment begins with
forming a general impression (age, sex, position,
level of consciousness, obvious bleeding or
deformity) before proceeding to ABCs.
2. The proper method to open the airway in a non-
trauma patient is:
A) Jaw thrust maneuver
B) Head tilt-chin lift
C) Neck extension only
D) Chin lift without head tilt
,Correct answer: B
Rationale: Head tilt-chin lift is the standard airway
maneuver for non-trauma patients; jaw thrust is used
when cervical spine injury is suspected.
3. A patient is breathing 6 times per minute. This is
classified as:
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Apnea
D) Eupnea
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Bradypnea is abnormally slow breathing
(<12 breaths/min in adults); tachypnea >20; apnea is
absent breathing.
4. The maximum amount of time to assess for a pulse
in an unresponsive patient is:
A) 5 seconds
B) 10 seconds
C) 20 seconds
D) 30 seconds
Correct answer: B
,Rationale: Check for a carotid pulse (adult) or
brachial pulse (infant) for no more than 10 seconds; if
absent, begin CPR.
5. In an adult, the correct compression depth for CPR
is:
A) 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B) 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)
C) At least 2 inches (5 cm)
D) At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Correct answer: C
Rationale: AHA guidelines: adult compression depth
at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches
(6 cm).
6. The correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for
single-rescuer adult CPR is:
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 30:1
D) 100:1
Correct answer: B
, Rationale: 30:2 for single-rescuer adult CPR; 15:2 for
two-rescuer infant/child CPR.
7. What is the preferred site for pulse check in an
infant?
A) Carotid
B) Radial
C) Brachial
D) Femoral
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The brachial artery (inside the upper arm)
is the preferred pulse check site for infants due to
short neck and difficulty palpating carotid.
8. Which of the following is an indication for
oropharyngeal airway (OPA) placement?
A) Conscious patient with intact gag reflex
B) Unconscious patient without a gag reflex
C) Any trauma patient
D) Patient with suspected c-spine injury
Correct answer: B
BANK – COMPREHENSIVE EXAM WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. What is the first step in the primary assessment of
a patient?
A) Check for pulse
B) Form a general impression
C) Open the airway
D) Check for breathing
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The primary assessment begins with
forming a general impression (age, sex, position,
level of consciousness, obvious bleeding or
deformity) before proceeding to ABCs.
2. The proper method to open the airway in a non-
trauma patient is:
A) Jaw thrust maneuver
B) Head tilt-chin lift
C) Neck extension only
D) Chin lift without head tilt
,Correct answer: B
Rationale: Head tilt-chin lift is the standard airway
maneuver for non-trauma patients; jaw thrust is used
when cervical spine injury is suspected.
3. A patient is breathing 6 times per minute. This is
classified as:
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Apnea
D) Eupnea
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Bradypnea is abnormally slow breathing
(<12 breaths/min in adults); tachypnea >20; apnea is
absent breathing.
4. The maximum amount of time to assess for a pulse
in an unresponsive patient is:
A) 5 seconds
B) 10 seconds
C) 20 seconds
D) 30 seconds
Correct answer: B
,Rationale: Check for a carotid pulse (adult) or
brachial pulse (infant) for no more than 10 seconds; if
absent, begin CPR.
5. In an adult, the correct compression depth for CPR
is:
A) 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B) 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)
C) At least 2 inches (5 cm)
D) At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Correct answer: C
Rationale: AHA guidelines: adult compression depth
at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches
(6 cm).
6. The correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for
single-rescuer adult CPR is:
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 30:1
D) 100:1
Correct answer: B
, Rationale: 30:2 for single-rescuer adult CPR; 15:2 for
two-rescuer infant/child CPR.
7. What is the preferred site for pulse check in an
infant?
A) Carotid
B) Radial
C) Brachial
D) Femoral
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The brachial artery (inside the upper arm)
is the preferred pulse check site for infants due to
short neck and difficulty palpating carotid.
8. Which of the following is an indication for
oropharyngeal airway (OPA) placement?
A) Conscious patient with intact gag reflex
B) Unconscious patient without a gag reflex
C) Any trauma patient
D) Patient with suspected c-spine injury
Correct answer: B
