EMT Exam 1 Review Questions
During the scene size-up, you should routinely determine all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) the mechanism of injury or nature of illness.
B) the ratio of pediatric patients to adult patients.
C) whether or not additional resources are needed.
D) if there are any hazards that will jeopardize safety. - Answer: B
Rationale: Components of the scene size-up—after taking standard precautions—include
determining if the scene is safe for entry, determining the mechanism of injury or nature of
illness, determining the number of patients, and determining if additional resources are
needed at the scene.
You arrive at the scene of an "injured person." As you exit the ambulance, you see a man
lying on the front porch of his house. He appears to have been shot in the head and is lying
in a pool of blood. You should:
A) immediately assess the patient.
B) proceed to the patient with caution.
C) quickly assess the scene for a gun.
D) retreat to a safe place and wait for law enforcement to arrive. - Answer: D
Rationale: Your primary responsibility as an EMT is to protect yourself. Prior to entering
any scene, you must assess for potential dangers. In cases where violence has occurred, you
must retreat to a safe place and wait for law enforcement personnel to arrive.
Findings such as inadequate breathing or an altered level of consciousness should be
identified in the:
A) primary assessment.
B) focused assessment.
C) secondary assessment.
D) reassessment. - Answer: A
Rationale: The purpose of the primary assessment is to identify and manage any life threats
to the patient, such as inadequate breathing, an altered level of consciousness, or severe
hemorrhage.
Which of the following would you NOT detect while determining your initial general
impression of a patient?
A) Cyanosis
B) Gurgling respirations
C) Severe bleeding
D) Rapid heart rate - Answer: D
, Rationale: The initial general impression is what you first notice as you approach the
patient, but before physical contact with the patient is made. It is what you see, hear, or
smell. A rapid heart rate (tachycardia) would not be detected until you actually perform the
entire primary assessment; you cannot see, hear, or smell tachycardia.
Your primary assessment of an elderly woman who fell reveals an altered level of
consciousness and a large hematoma to her forehead. After protecting her spine and
administering oxygen, you should:
A) reassess your interventions.
B) perform a rapid exam.
C) transport the patient
D) immediately.
perform a focused assessment of her head. - Answer: B
Rationale: If any life-threatening problems are discovered in the primary assessment, they
should be addressed immediately. The EMT should then perform a rapid exam to look for
other potentially life-threatening injuries or conditions.
A semiconscious patient pushes your hand away when you pinch his earlobe. You should
describe his level of consciousness as:
A) alert.
B) unresponsive.
C) responsive to painful stimuli.
D) responsive to verbal stimuli. - Answer: C
Rationale: Semiconscious patients are not alert, nor are they unresponsive. The fact that
the patient pushes your hand away when you pinch his earlobe indicates that he is
responsive to painful stimuli. If he opens his eyes or responds when you speak to him, he
would be described as being responsive to verbal stimuli.
Assessment of an unconscious patient's breathing begins by:
A) inserting an oral airway.
B) manually positioning the head.
C) assessing respiratory rate and depth.
D) clearing the mouth with suction as needed. - Answer: B
Rationale: You cannot assess or treat an unconscious patient's breathing until the airway is
patent—that is, open and free of obstructions. Manually open the patient's airway (eg, head
tilt-chin lift, jaw-thrust), use suction as needed to clear the airway of blood or other liquids,
insert an airway adjunct to assist in maintaining airway patency, and then assess the
patient's respiratory effort.
Your 12-year-old patient can speak only two or three words without pausing to take a
breath. He has a serious breathing problem known as:
A) nasal flaring.
During the scene size-up, you should routinely determine all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) the mechanism of injury or nature of illness.
B) the ratio of pediatric patients to adult patients.
C) whether or not additional resources are needed.
D) if there are any hazards that will jeopardize safety. - Answer: B
Rationale: Components of the scene size-up—after taking standard precautions—include
determining if the scene is safe for entry, determining the mechanism of injury or nature of
illness, determining the number of patients, and determining if additional resources are
needed at the scene.
You arrive at the scene of an "injured person." As you exit the ambulance, you see a man
lying on the front porch of his house. He appears to have been shot in the head and is lying
in a pool of blood. You should:
A) immediately assess the patient.
B) proceed to the patient with caution.
C) quickly assess the scene for a gun.
D) retreat to a safe place and wait for law enforcement to arrive. - Answer: D
Rationale: Your primary responsibility as an EMT is to protect yourself. Prior to entering
any scene, you must assess for potential dangers. In cases where violence has occurred, you
must retreat to a safe place and wait for law enforcement personnel to arrive.
Findings such as inadequate breathing or an altered level of consciousness should be
identified in the:
A) primary assessment.
B) focused assessment.
C) secondary assessment.
D) reassessment. - Answer: A
Rationale: The purpose of the primary assessment is to identify and manage any life threats
to the patient, such as inadequate breathing, an altered level of consciousness, or severe
hemorrhage.
Which of the following would you NOT detect while determining your initial general
impression of a patient?
A) Cyanosis
B) Gurgling respirations
C) Severe bleeding
D) Rapid heart rate - Answer: D
, Rationale: The initial general impression is what you first notice as you approach the
patient, but before physical contact with the patient is made. It is what you see, hear, or
smell. A rapid heart rate (tachycardia) would not be detected until you actually perform the
entire primary assessment; you cannot see, hear, or smell tachycardia.
Your primary assessment of an elderly woman who fell reveals an altered level of
consciousness and a large hematoma to her forehead. After protecting her spine and
administering oxygen, you should:
A) reassess your interventions.
B) perform a rapid exam.
C) transport the patient
D) immediately.
perform a focused assessment of her head. - Answer: B
Rationale: If any life-threatening problems are discovered in the primary assessment, they
should be addressed immediately. The EMT should then perform a rapid exam to look for
other potentially life-threatening injuries or conditions.
A semiconscious patient pushes your hand away when you pinch his earlobe. You should
describe his level of consciousness as:
A) alert.
B) unresponsive.
C) responsive to painful stimuli.
D) responsive to verbal stimuli. - Answer: C
Rationale: Semiconscious patients are not alert, nor are they unresponsive. The fact that
the patient pushes your hand away when you pinch his earlobe indicates that he is
responsive to painful stimuli. If he opens his eyes or responds when you speak to him, he
would be described as being responsive to verbal stimuli.
Assessment of an unconscious patient's breathing begins by:
A) inserting an oral airway.
B) manually positioning the head.
C) assessing respiratory rate and depth.
D) clearing the mouth with suction as needed. - Answer: B
Rationale: You cannot assess or treat an unconscious patient's breathing until the airway is
patent—that is, open and free of obstructions. Manually open the patient's airway (eg, head
tilt-chin lift, jaw-thrust), use suction as needed to clear the airway of blood or other liquids,
insert an airway adjunct to assist in maintaining airway patency, and then assess the
patient's respiratory effort.
Your 12-year-old patient can speak only two or three words without pausing to take a
breath. He has a serious breathing problem known as:
A) nasal flaring.
