NC EMT STATE EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND
NC EMT State Exam
WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
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1. I. AIRWAY, RESPIRA- ANATOMY OF THE AIRWAY
TION & VENTILATION AIRWAY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
OXYGEN DELIVERY DEVICES
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS AND FAILURE
2. Question: Correct Answer:
Which anatomical A. Above the umbilicus and below the lower tip of the sternum
landmark(s) may be
involved when per-
forming abdominal
Why It's Correct:
thrusts on a con-
scious child with an
airway obstruction? The correct hand placement for abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) in
a conscious child with a severe airway obstruction is:
Answer Choices:
A. Above the umbili- Just above the navel (umbilicus)
cus and below the Below the xiphoid process (lower tip of the sternum)
lower tip of the ster-
num
B. Along the body of
This position allows effective pressure to be applied to the diaphragm,
the sternum
helping expel the foreign object by increasing intra-abdominal pressure.
C. Below the cricoid
cartilage and above
the upper tip of the
sternum
D. Approximately at
the level of the umbili-
cus
3. Question: Correct Answer:
An adult male has inef- A. Improved skin color
fective spontaneous
, NC EMT State Exam
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respirations. His ven-
tilations are assist-
Why It's Correct:
ed with a bag-valve
mask and supple-
mental oxygen. Improved skin color — particularly return of pink tone to lips, nail beds,
and face — is a direct and visible sign that oxygenation and perfusion are
Which of the follow-
improving.
ing is the most re-
This indicates that your ventilations are effectively delivering oxygen into
liable indicator that
the lungs and it's reaching peripheral tissues.
ventilations are being
Other signs may help assess, but skin color changes quickly in response to
delivered effectively?
hypoxia and is highly reliable in a field setting.
Answer Choices:
A. Improved skin col-
or
B. Pulse rate LWhy the Other Answers Are Incorrect:
C. Respiratory rate
D. Diminished breath
B. Pulse rate
sounds
’May respond indirectly to improved oxygenation, but it can also be in-
fluenced by shock, anxiety, pain, or medications. Not the most reliable
stand-alone indicator.
C. Respiratory rate
’You're providing ventilations manually, so spontaneous rate is not relevant
here. Respiratory rate may remain abnormal even if assisted ventilations
are effective.
D. Diminished breath sounds
’Suggests poor ventilation, not effective ones. You want to hear bilateral
breath sounds, not diminished ones. This choice may indicate incorrect
BVM technique or obstruction.
4. Question: Correct Answer:
What occurs when D. The exhalation phase of spontaneous respiration
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an adult's diaphragm
and intercostal mus-
cles relax?
Answer Choices:
A. Apnea
B. The inhalation
phase of sponta-
neous respiration
C. Ataxic respirations
D. The exhalation
phase of sponta-
neous respiration
5. Question: Correct Answers:
During the assess- B. Stridor
ment of a patient with E. Snoring
suspected respiratory
failure, which breath
sounds would indi-
cate a potential upper
airway obstruction?
A. Wheezing
B. Stridor
C. Rhonchi
D. Crackles
E. Snoring
6. Question: Correct Answer:
What is the C. To relieve an obstruction blocking an otherwise-patent airway when
purpose of spinal trauma is not suspected
, NC EMT State Exam
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the head-tilt/chin-lift
technique?
Why It's Correct:
Answer Choices:
A. To prevent further
The head-tilt/chin-lift is the preferred airway-opening technique for
damage until a C-col-
non-trauma patients.
lar can be applied
It works by:
B. To allow access to
a foreign body for re- Tilting the head back and
moval Lifting the chin, which
C. To relieve an ob- Moves the tongue away from the back of the throat.
struction blocking an
otherwise-patent air- This action relieves soft-tissue obstruction (often the tongue) in unrespon-
way when spinal trau- sive patients with no suspected spinal injury.
ma is not suspected
D. To relieve an ob-
struction blocking an
otherwise-patent air- LWhy the Other Answers Are Incorrect:
way when spinal trau-
ma is suspected
A. To prevent further damage until a C-collar can be applied
’This describes a spinal motion restriction goal, not the purpose of the
head-tilt/chin-lift. Also, this maneuver can potentially harm a patient with
spinal trauma.
B. To allow access to a foreign body for removal
’This maneuver is not performed to physically remove foreign bodies—it's
done to open the airway, especially in the absence of trauma.
D. To relieve an obstruction blocking an otherwise-patent airway when
spinal trauma is suspected
’Incorrect technique for suspected spinal injury. Use the jaw-thrust maneu-
ver instead to avoid cervical spine movement.
NC EMT State Exam
WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hfrlnu
1. I. AIRWAY, RESPIRA- ANATOMY OF THE AIRWAY
TION & VENTILATION AIRWAY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
OXYGEN DELIVERY DEVICES
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS AND FAILURE
2. Question: Correct Answer:
Which anatomical A. Above the umbilicus and below the lower tip of the sternum
landmark(s) may be
involved when per-
forming abdominal
Why It's Correct:
thrusts on a con-
scious child with an
airway obstruction? The correct hand placement for abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) in
a conscious child with a severe airway obstruction is:
Answer Choices:
A. Above the umbili- Just above the navel (umbilicus)
cus and below the Below the xiphoid process (lower tip of the sternum)
lower tip of the ster-
num
B. Along the body of
This position allows effective pressure to be applied to the diaphragm,
the sternum
helping expel the foreign object by increasing intra-abdominal pressure.
C. Below the cricoid
cartilage and above
the upper tip of the
sternum
D. Approximately at
the level of the umbili-
cus
3. Question: Correct Answer:
An adult male has inef- A. Improved skin color
fective spontaneous
, NC EMT State Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hfrlnu
respirations. His ven-
tilations are assist-
Why It's Correct:
ed with a bag-valve
mask and supple-
mental oxygen. Improved skin color — particularly return of pink tone to lips, nail beds,
and face — is a direct and visible sign that oxygenation and perfusion are
Which of the follow-
improving.
ing is the most re-
This indicates that your ventilations are effectively delivering oxygen into
liable indicator that
the lungs and it's reaching peripheral tissues.
ventilations are being
Other signs may help assess, but skin color changes quickly in response to
delivered effectively?
hypoxia and is highly reliable in a field setting.
Answer Choices:
A. Improved skin col-
or
B. Pulse rate LWhy the Other Answers Are Incorrect:
C. Respiratory rate
D. Diminished breath
B. Pulse rate
sounds
’May respond indirectly to improved oxygenation, but it can also be in-
fluenced by shock, anxiety, pain, or medications. Not the most reliable
stand-alone indicator.
C. Respiratory rate
’You're providing ventilations manually, so spontaneous rate is not relevant
here. Respiratory rate may remain abnormal even if assisted ventilations
are effective.
D. Diminished breath sounds
’Suggests poor ventilation, not effective ones. You want to hear bilateral
breath sounds, not diminished ones. This choice may indicate incorrect
BVM technique or obstruction.
4. Question: Correct Answer:
What occurs when D. The exhalation phase of spontaneous respiration
, NC EMT State Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hfrlnu
an adult's diaphragm
and intercostal mus-
cles relax?
Answer Choices:
A. Apnea
B. The inhalation
phase of sponta-
neous respiration
C. Ataxic respirations
D. The exhalation
phase of sponta-
neous respiration
5. Question: Correct Answers:
During the assess- B. Stridor
ment of a patient with E. Snoring
suspected respiratory
failure, which breath
sounds would indi-
cate a potential upper
airway obstruction?
A. Wheezing
B. Stridor
C. Rhonchi
D. Crackles
E. Snoring
6. Question: Correct Answer:
What is the C. To relieve an obstruction blocking an otherwise-patent airway when
purpose of spinal trauma is not suspected
, NC EMT State Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hfrlnu
the head-tilt/chin-lift
technique?
Why It's Correct:
Answer Choices:
A. To prevent further
The head-tilt/chin-lift is the preferred airway-opening technique for
damage until a C-col-
non-trauma patients.
lar can be applied
It works by:
B. To allow access to
a foreign body for re- Tilting the head back and
moval Lifting the chin, which
C. To relieve an ob- Moves the tongue away from the back of the throat.
struction blocking an
otherwise-patent air- This action relieves soft-tissue obstruction (often the tongue) in unrespon-
way when spinal trau- sive patients with no suspected spinal injury.
ma is not suspected
D. To relieve an ob-
struction blocking an
otherwise-patent air- LWhy the Other Answers Are Incorrect:
way when spinal trau-
ma is suspected
A. To prevent further damage until a C-collar can be applied
’This describes a spinal motion restriction goal, not the purpose of the
head-tilt/chin-lift. Also, this maneuver can potentially harm a patient with
spinal trauma.
B. To allow access to a foreign body for removal
’This maneuver is not performed to physically remove foreign bodies—it's
done to open the airway, especially in the absence of trauma.
D. To relieve an obstruction blocking an otherwise-patent airway when
spinal trauma is suspected
’Incorrect technique for suspected spinal injury. Use the jaw-thrust maneu-
ver instead to avoid cervical spine movement.
