EMT & EMS Comprehensive Exam Prep | PPE, Pathogens, Consent, Lifting, Rescue & WMD Questions and Answers | 2025/2026 Updated Study Guide

EMT & EMS Comprehensive Exam Prep | PPE, Pathogens, Consent, Lifting, Rescue & WMD Questions and Answers | 2025/2026 Updated Study Guide What is PPE? - ANSWER-Personal Protective Equipment If blood or body fluid is present and is subject to "splashing", what type of PPE should you wear? - ANSWER-Gloves, a standard surgical mask, eye protection, and gown If large amounts of body fluids are present, what should you do? - ANSWER-Wear a gown and double gloves What are three things that you should always do to protect yourself from disease transmission? - ANSWER-Wear vinyl or letex gloves, assume every patient is potentially infected, and wash your hands after each patient interaction When should you apply your PPE's? - ANSWER-En route to a call What form of protection is most likely to stop the spread of disease? - ANSWER-Hand washing What should you do with sharp objects such as needles when in need of disposing? - ANSWER-Place in a "sharps" container The spread of pathogen through an inanimate object - ANSWER-Indirect contact What is a communicable disease? - ANSWER-A contagious disease What is the name of the medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body? - ANSWER-Infectious disease The transmission of an organism from person to person through touch. - ANSWER- Direct Contact Microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans - ANSWER-Bloodborne Pathogens The spread of infectious agents through mechanisms such as droplets or dust - ANSWER-Airborne Transmission The contamination of food or water with an organism that can cause disease - ANSWER-Foodborne Transmission The spread of infection by animals or insects that carry an organism from one person or place to another. - ANSWER-Vector-borne Transmission What are the five stages of the grieving process? - ANSWER-Denial, Anger/Hostility, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance What stage of the grieving process is identified by internalized anger, hopelessness, and the desire to die? - ANSWER-Depression The stage of the grieving process that involves refusal to accept diagnosis or care is known as - ANSWER-Denial The stage of the grieving process where an attempt is made to secure a prize for good behavior or promise to change one's lifestyle is known as - ANSWER-Bargaining The stage of grieving where the person is ready to die is known as - ANSWER- Acceptance What is the name of the team of psychological professionals that work with EMS professionals to work out stressful events? - ANSWER-Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) From the age of 1 to the age of 40, what is the leading cause of death? - ANSWER- Trauma What organization created the guidelines of EMS training? - ANSWER-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) As an EMT, what is your number one priority? - ANSWER-Personal Safety Who develops the guidelines concerning pathogen transmission prevention in the workplace? - ANSWER-OSHA What is the goal of standard precautions? - ANSWER-To interrupt the transmission of germs What is a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) system designed to do? - ANSWER- Identify areas of improvement and appropriate education to help fix them (always positive) If a patient has TB, you must wear a HEPA and give them a... - ANSWER-Surgical mask to wear If your eyes are exposed to blood or body fluid, what should you do? - ANSWER-Rinse them with water for 20 minutes then notify your department for further action What are the three stages to general adaption syndrome? - ANSWER-Alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and exhaustion What should EMS personnel do at violent situations? - ANSWER-Enter the scene only when law enforcement indicates it is safe What is the decomposition of a diseased body? - ANSWER-Putrefaction What is the stiffening of the body's muscles after death called? - ANSWER-Rigor mortis What is it called when the blood settles in a diseased body due to gravitational pull? - ANSWER-Dependent lividity What type of medical control are standing orders? - ANSWER-Offline Medical Direction When your patient is unresponsive and their condition is life threatening what type of consent exists? - ANSWER-Implied Consent What is the type of medical control where a physician may either confirm or modify a proposed treatment plan over the radio or telephone is referred to as? - ANSWER- Online Medical Direction For which type of consent must you tell the patient what you are doing so that they have knowledge of the events and have the ability to refuse types of care? - ANSWER- Informed Consent What type of consent is verbal? - ANSWER-Expressed If a mentally competent patient refuses transport to a hospital after you have thoroughly explained the risks of refusal what document must you have the patient sign? - ANSWER-AMA (Against Medical Advice) Any type of written document that specifies medical treatment for a patient who is unable to make their own decisions. Most commonly a DNR. - ANSWER-advanced directive What is a DNR and according to National regulations what must be provided for a DNR to be seen as valid? - ANSWER-Do not recusitate, the DNR papers must be present and valid What are untrue written accusations? - ANSWER-Libel What are untrue verbal accusation? - ANSWER-slander What is the name of the law that protects those who help someone from being sued for their actions? - ANSWER-The Good Samaritan law What is it called when a parent isn't present, but whoever is in charge (such as a teacher) can give consent to treatment? - ANSWER-In Loco Parentis Failure to provide care when able - ANSWER-Negligence What is the responsibility to care for a patient despite personal biases called? - ANSWER-Duty to act Termination of care without probable cause or consent is referred to as what? - ANSWER-Abandonment What is false imprisonment? - ANSWER-Unauthorized confinement What is the most effective communication? - ANSWER-Non-Verbal Communication What is the ability to transmit and receive info simultaneously called? - ANSWER- Duplex Why was the Emergency Medical Dispatch System developed? - ANSWER-To allow dispatchers the ability to provide medical instructions to the caller until EMS arrives Radio hardware containing a transmitter and receiver that is located in a fixed location - ANSWER-Base Station Radio frequencies between 300 and 3,000 MHz - ANSWER-UHF Radio frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz - ANSWER-VHF A process in which electronic signals are converted into coded, audible signals - ANSWER-Telemetry At what age is a person considered to be a neonate? - ANSWER-0-1 Month What is the standard BPS of a neonate? - ANSWER-90-180 At what age is a person considered to be an infant? - ANSWER-1 month to 1 year What is the standard BPS of an infant? - ANSWER-100-160 What is it called when the parents of an infant neglect to hold it, so it resists the care of others? - ANSWER-Anxious-avoidant attachment What is the name of the injury caused by excessive pressure to the lungs most often in infants while providing bag-mask ventilations? - ANSWER-Barotrauma What is the name of the response in infants when you touch their lips and they attempt to suck? - ANSWER-Sucking Reflex What is it called when an infant flexes their body when startled? - ANSWER-Moro Reflex When an infant turns towards a cheek when you touch it. - ANSWER-Rooting Reflex What is the name for the parts of the skull that have yet to develop (in those under 18 months)? - ANSWER-Fontanelles What is it called when an infant grasps an object? - ANSWER-Palmar Grasp When encountering a patient with depressed fontanelles, what symptom should you expect? - ANSWER-Dehydration At what age is a person considered to be a toddler? - ANSWER-1-3 Years What is the standard BPS for a toddler? - ANSWER-90-150 At what age is a person considered to be a preschooler? - ANSWER-3-6 Years What is the standard BPS for a preschooler? - ANSWER-80-140 At what age is a person considered to be school age? - ANSWER-6-12 years What is the standard BPS for a school age person? - ANSWER-70-120 At what age is a person considered to be an adolescent? - ANSWER-12-18 years What is the standard BPS for an adolescent? - ANSWER-60-100 At what age is a person considered an early adult? - ANSWER-19-40 years What is the standard BPS for all adults, although this may change based on health in late adults? - ANSWER-60-100 At what age is a person considered a middle adult? - ANSWER-41-60 years At what age is a person considered a late adult? - ANSWER-61 and older What is it called when the mind deteriorates during the last 5 years of life? - ANSWER- Terminal Drop Hypothesis What is cholesterol build up in the blood vessels that leads to plaque and constricts blood flow called? - ANSWER-Atherosclerosis What is the name of the basic filtering units in the kidneys? - ANSWER-Nephrons Kidney function declines by what percentage between the ages of 20 and 90 years? - ANSWER-50% What is the maximum life expectancy for humans? - ANSWER-120 Years What is the average life expectancy for humans today? - ANSWER-78 Years What is "vital capacity"? - ANSWER-The volume of air moved during the deepest points of respiration What is the weight limit on a standard wheeled stretcher? - ANSWER-650 pounds How much weight can a bariatric stretcher hold? - ANSWER-850-900 lbs A solid board that is used to stabilize a patient while transporting them to a Gurnee? - ANSWER-Back Board What transfer equipment should be used if CPR is needed? - ANSWER-Back Board When going down stairs and the patient doesn't have an apparent spinal injury what equipment should be used? - ANSWER-Stair Chair What direction should a patient be taken up or down stairs? - ANSWER-Head Up and Feet down What type of carrying equipment separates into two or four pieces? - ANSWER-Scoop Basket What is the name of the tubular framed stretcher with rigid fabric stretched across it? - ANSWER-Portable Stretcher What is the name of the equipment used in technical and water rescues; also known as a Stokes litter? - ANSWER-Basket Stretcher What is the name of the equipment that can be folded or rolled up? - ANSWER-Flexible Stretcher What is the name of the grip that we should always use to lift a patient in which our palms are facing up? - ANSWER-Power Grip When lifting or moving a patient, use your for strength. - ANSWER-Legs What is the name of the proper lifting technique in which you squat with a straight back prior to a lift? - ANSWER-Power Lift When carrying a patient, you must be between _-_ inches away from the immobilizing device. - ANSWER-15-20 inches What type of patients belong to bariatrics? - ANSWER-Obese How many rescuers are needed to carry a patient that weighs 250+ lbs? - ANSWER-4 or more What percentage of a persons body weight rests on the head end? - ANSWER-68-78% If there is a patient with kyphosis or spondylosis (extreme back curves/deformities), what should you do for transport?` - ANSWER-Pad the spaces between their back and the board How many rescuers are needed for a diamond carry? - ANSWER-4 What are the four emergency one rescuer dragging methods? - ANSWER-Emergency clothes drag, blanket drag, arm drag, arm-to-arm drag If you are alone and must remove an unconscious patient from a car, you should first move the patient's - ANSWER-Legs What is the name of the technique used for patients who are supine or sitting without an extremity or spinal injury? - ANSWER-Extremity lift What is the name of the technique used for patients who are found lying supine with no suspected spinal injury? - ANSWER-Direct Ground Lift What are they two primary types of EMS services that transport patients? - ANSWER- Private organizations and fire departments Where should you park at a scene where hazardous materials are or could be present? - ANSWER-Uphill and upwind At what speed can an ambulance hydroplane? - ANSWER-30 MPH Vehicles that meet federal specifications as licensed or certified ambulances are identified by the display of what? - ANSWER-Star of Life What are the federal specifications that cover basic ambulance design known as? - ANSWER-KKK-A-1822F, 2008 What is the first phase of an ambulance call? - ANSWER-Preperation If a patient is in critical condition and traffic or road conditions are going inhibit transportation to the hospital, what form of transportation should be used? - ANSWER- Medivac Where should you never approach a helicopter from? - ANSWER-The rear or under carriage What is emergency mode? - ANSWER-The use of Lights and Sirens What is a person who assists a driver in backing up an ambulance is known as? - ANSWER-Spotter What is the killing of pathogenic agents by direct application of chemicals? - ANSWER- Disenfection What is the process that removes microbial contamination? - ANSWER-Sterilization What is the process of removing dirt, dust, blood, or other visible contamination? - ANSWER-Cleaning What ages can oropharyngeal airways be used for? - ANSWER-All ages When is a rapid extrication technique used? - ANSWER-In a situation in which the patient is in immediate harm due to environmental hazards What is the removal of a patient from a dangerous situation or position, such as removal from a wrecked vehicle known as? - ANSWER-Extrication What is simple access? - ANSWER-Entry to the patient without the use of tools or force What should an EMT do when responding to a victim in a trench? - ANSWER-Wait for personnel trained in trench rescue to bring the patient to the ambulance What does the termination phase of the rescue operation involve? - ANSWER- Returning the emergency units and specialized equipment to service What is the first priority in rescue? - ANSWER-Rescuer Safety What is the term used to describe when a person is caught within a closed area with no way out or has a limb or other body part trapped? - ANSWER-Entrapment What are toxic, poisonous, radioactive, flammable, or explosive materials called? - ANSWER-Hazardous Material What is gaining entry to an enclosed area to reach a patient called? - ANSWER-Access Who is the individual who has overall command of the scene in the field? - ANSWER- Incident Commander What is the name of the special weapons and tactic team? - ANSWER-SWAT What is it called when access requires special tools and training? - ANSWER-Complex Access What is the removal of the motor vehicle from around the patient called? - ANSWER- Disentanglement What is an area where individuals can be exposed to sharp objects and hazardous materials known as? - ANSWER-Danger Zone Who has the primary responsibility of controlling traffic at a scene? - ANSWER-Law Enforcement Prior to attempting to gain access into a vehicle, the parking brake should be on and what should be disconnected? - ANSWER-Battery When arriving at the scene of a cave-in or trench collapse, response vehicles should be parked at least how far from the scene? - ANSWER-500 ft What is a glass, plastic, or steel container ranging in volume from 5 to 15 gallons called? - ANSWER-Carboys What is the safe area at a hazardous materials incident called? - ANSWER-Cold Zone Areas designated as hot, warm, or cold are all in what zone? - ANSWER-Control Zone What is the name of the area where you can be exposed to toxic substances, lethal rays, or explosion? - ANSWER-Danger zone What is the removal or neutralization of hazardous materials from patients and equipment called? - ANSWER-Decontamination What is it called when responders return to their facilities when work at a disaster is completed? - ANSWER-Demobilization What is a widespread event that disrupts community resources and function called? - ANSWER-Disaster What is the name of the area surrounding hazardous materials spill/incident that is directly dangerous called? - ANSWER-Hot Zone What are shipping and storage vessels that may or may not be pressurized called? - ANSWER-Intermodal Tanks What are required on all four sides of vehicles transporting hazardous materials? - ANSWER-Placards What is patient sorting used to rapidly categorize patients known as? - ANSWER- Primary Triage What controls spills when main containment vessel fails? - ANSWER-Secondary Containment What is patient sorting used in the treatment sector; involves retriage of patients known as? - ANSWER-Secondary Triage What is the supervisor-to-worker ratio known as? - ANSWER-Span of control What is the name of the area located between the hot zone and the cold zone? - ANSWER-Warm Zone What would a patient at a large scale incident who has stable vital signs with multiple suspected fractures be triaged as? - ANSWER-Yellow Where should you park the ambulance at a scene involving hazardous materials? - ANSWER-Uphill and Upwind What is a common symptom of nerve agents? - ANSWER-Miosis (pinpoint constricted pupils) What type of nerve agents were formed by Germans after WW1 and into WW2? - ANSWER-G Agents What kind of device are "dirty bombs" that secrete radioactive materials? - ANSWER- Radiological dispersal devices (RDD) What is another name for a suitcase nuke? - ANSWER-SAMD What type of chemical agent causes burn like blisters to the skin? - ANSWER-Vesicants What type of chemical agent causes cardiac arrest within seconds to minutes of exposure? - ANSWER-Nerve Agents What type of injuries can you expect from a pulmonary blast? - ANSWER-Contusions and hemorrhages What is used to eliminate an agent from the body? - ANSWER-2-PAM What is used as a counteraction for nerve agents? - ANSWER-Atropine What is the name of a second explosive that terrorists often plant that are meant to harm EMR's? - ANSWER-Secondary devices What is the term used to describe how terrorists spread an agent? - ANSWER- Dissemation What is the name of the substance that mutates and damages the structures of DNA in the body's cells? - ANSWER-Mutagen What is an animal that, once infected, spreads the disease to another animal called? - ANSWER-Disease Vector -What is a pulmonary agent that is a product of combustion called? - ANSWER- Phosgene What are biologic agents that are the most deadly substances known to humans called? - ANSWER-Neurotoxins What are microorganisms that reproduce by binary fission called? - ANSWER-Bacteria What is the term used to describe how long a chemical agent will stay on a surface before it evaporates? - ANSWER-Volatility What is the name of the agent that affects the body's ability to use oxygen? - ANSWER- Cyanide What is the name of the type of agent that enters the body through the respiratory tract? - ANSWER-Vapor Hazard The area of the lymphatic system where infection-fighting cells are housed is called what? - ANSWER-Lymph Nodes What is the term used to describe the period of time from exposure to onset of symptoms? - ANSWER-Incubation What is the name of the neurotoxin that is derived from mash that is left from the caster bean? - ANSWER-Ricin What is the name of germs that require a living host to multiply and survive? - ANSWER-viruses What are attacks against the citizens of one's own country known as? - ANSWER- Domestic Terrorism What are the four categories that terrorists are most likely to be affiliated with? - ANSWER-Single-issue, political extremist, doomsday religious groups, and technological What color is the DHS Advisory Systems when a current terror threat level is of significant risk? - ANSWER-Yellow Sulfur mustard, CX, and Lewisite are common forms of vesicants that are intended to cause: - ANSWER-burn-like blisters to form on the skin and in the respiratory tract Agents containing phosgene, chlorine, or ammonia are common forms of chemical weapons that are intended to cause: - ANSWER-Damage to lung tissues and severe pulmonary edema -Nerve agents, such as VX and Sarin gas are in the class of organophosphates, intended to cause: - ANSWER-The body's organs to become overstimulated and burn out, resulting in cardiac arrest What are the greatest threats to the EMT from weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)? - ANSWER-Contamination and cross-contamination from direct contact with exposed individuals Metabolic agents, such as hydrogen cyanide (AC) and cyanogen chloride (CK), are intended to cause: - ANSWER-Sudden death by affecting the body's ability to use oxygen Biological agents can pose many difficult issues when used as a WMD because: - ANSWER-They can be almost undetectable and cause disease similar to common minor illnesses What is the most powerful and fastest moving form of ratiation? - ANSWER-Neutron Energy What does the "M" in the mnemonic "DUMBELS" stand for? - ANSWER-Miosis How can you differentiate the small pox rash from other skin disorders? - ANSWER-All of the lesions will be identical in development Injury from flying debris is what type of blast injury? - ANSWER-Secondary Injury What two medications do MARK 1 antidote kits contain? - ANSWER-Atropine and 2- PAM chloride