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EMT COGNITIVE FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
When assessing a conscious patient with an MOI that suggests spinal
injury, you should: - Correct answer determine if the strength in all
extremities is equal. During your assessment of a 20-year-old man with a severe headache and nausea, you ask him when his headache began, but he does not answer
your question immediately. You should: - Correct answer allow him time
to think about the question and respond to it. While at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you determine that there are two critically injured patients and that another ambulance is needed. You attempt to contact the dispatcher with your portable radio but are
unsuccessful. You should: - Correct answer use the mobile radio in the
ambulance to contact dispatch.
The MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness is: - Correct
answer abdominal or joint pain.
A severe risk of terrorist attacks is indicated by the color _____ by the
Department of Homeland Security Security Advisory System. - Correct
answer red
When enlisting the help of an interpreter who signs, it is important for you to
ask the interpreter to: - Correct answer report exactly what the patient
signs and not to add any commentary. Which of the following statements regarding striated muscle is correct? -
Correct answer It forms the major muscle mass of the body and usually
crosses at least one joint. A mother who is pregnant with her first baby is typically in the first stage of
labor for approximately: - Correct answer 16 hours
You respond to the residence of a 70-year-old male who complains of weakness and severe shortness of breath. His wife tells you that he is a dialysis patient, but has missed his last two treatments. After applying high- flow oxygen, you auscultate his lungs and hear diffuse rhonchi. The patient is conscious, but appears confused. His blood pressure is 98/54 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 120 beats/min and irregular, and his respirations are 24
breaths/min and labored. You should: - Correct answer leave him in a
sitting position, keep him warm, and prepare for immediate transport. You are transporting a stable patient with a possible pneumothorax. The patient is receiving 100% oxygen and has an oxygen saturation of 95%. During your reassessment, you find that the patient is now confused, hypotensive, and profusely diaphoretic. What is MOST likely causing this
patient's deterioration? - Correct answer compression of the aorta and
vena cava A 60-year-old male is found to be unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic.
You should: - Correct answer begin CPR until an AED is available.
Equipment and supplies that are carried on an ambulance should be
stored: - Correct answer according to the urgency and frequency of
their use. Upon arriving at the scene of a law enforcement tactical situation, you
should ensure your own safety and then: - Correct answer report to the
incident commander for instructions. Which of the following statements regarding the scoop stretcher is NOT
correct? - Correct answer A scoop stretcher will provide adequate
immobilization of a patient's spinal column.
The exocrine gland of the pancreas secretes: - Correct answer
pancreatic juice In order to evaluate hazards present at the scene and determine the
number of patients, you should: - Correct answer perform a 360° walk-
around of the scene
According to the rule of palm method for estimating the extent of a patient's burns, the palm of the patient's hand is equal to _____ of his or her total
BSA. - Correct answer 1%
A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious respiratory distress. After assisting her
with her prescribed MDI, you should: - Correct answer reassess the
patient and document her response to the medication. In determining the potential for a terrorist attack, you should routinely
observe all of the following on every call, EXCEPT: - Correct answer
weather conditions Which of the following statements regarding gonorrhea is correct? -
Correct answer Painful urination is a common symptom of gonorrhea in
men and women. Accumulation of blood in the abdominal cavity will MOST likely cause: -
Correct answer distention
You are assessing a 30-year-old woman with multiple large bruises to her chest and abdomen that she experienced during an assault. She is conscious but restless, and her skin is cool and pale. You should be MOST
concerned with: - Correct answer the fact that her clinical signs could
indicate that she is bleeding internally.
Spina bifida is a developmental defect in which: - Correct answer a
portion of the spinal cord or meninges protrudes outside of the vertebrae. Correct
Calming and reassuring an anxious patient can be facilitated by: - Correct
answer maintaining eye contact with the patient whenever possible.
Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct? - Correct
answer The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen.
You are summoned to a convalescent center for an 88-year-old female with an altered mental status. A staff nurse advises you that the patient has
terminal cancer and her physician stated that she would probably die within the next few hours; a valid do not resuscitate (DNR) order is presented to
you. When caring for this patient, you should: - Correct answer make
her comfortable and provide emotional support. You are assessing a 45-year-old female who is severely depressed. She states that it seems as though her entire world is crashing down around her. She further states that she has had frequent thoughts of suicide, but is not sure if she can actually go through with it. How should you manage this
situation? - Correct answer Ask the patient if she has developed a
suicidal plan. Which of the following statements regarding the rapid extrication technique
is correct? - Correct answer The rapid extrication technique is indicated
if the scene is unsafe and the patient is not entrapped in his or her vehicle.
The six-pointed Star of Life® emblem identifies vehicles that: - Correct
answer meet federal specifications as licensed or certified ambulances.
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF), such as Ebola, cause the blood to: -
Correct answer seep out of the blood vessels and tissues.
To ensure that you will deliver the appropriate number of chest compressions during one-rescuer adult CPR, you should compress the
patient's chest at a rate of least _______ per minute. - Correct answer
A 19-year-old female was stung multiple times on the legs by fire ants. She states that she is allergic to fire ants, but does not carry her own epinephrine. The patient is conscious and alert and complains of pain to the area of the bites. Her blood pressure is 122/70 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and strong, and her respirations are 18 breaths/min and
unlabored. You should: - Correct answer administer oxygen and
transport her to the hospital. Which of the following conditions often requires transport to a hospital with specialized capabilities that may not be available at the closest hospital? -
Correct answer stroke and heart attacks
Following direct trauma to the left upper back, a 44-year-old male presents with diaphoresis and restlessness. His blood pressure is 100/50 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 120 beats/min and weak, and his respirations are 24 breaths/min and labored. Your assessment reveals abrasions and
contusions over the left scapula. You should: - Correct answer apply
high-flow oxygen, consider spinal precautions, and transport without delay. A young female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She complains of pain to her left eye, which appears to have a piece of glass impaled in it. Further assessment reveals a large laceration to her left forearm with active venous bleeding. As your partner manually stabilizes the patient's head,
you should: - Correct answer apply direct pressure to her arm wound
The general adaptation syndrome is characterized by which of the following
phases? - Correct answer alarm response, reaction and resistance, and
recovery The major side effect associated with ingestion of activated charcoal is: -
Correct answer black stools
Hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils would be expected
following an overdose of: - Correct answer oxycodone (Percocet).
When the body loses sweat, it also loses: - Correct answer electrolytes
When you begin an oral report, you should state the patient's age, sex,
and: - Correct answer chief complaint
If direct pressure with a sterile dressing fails to immediately stop severe
bleeding from an extremity, you should apply: - Correct answer a
tourniquet proximal to the injury. Common names for activated charcoal include all of the following,
EXCEPT: - Correct answer fructose
Which of the following is a metabolic cause of a seizure? - Correct
answer poisoning
In contrast to bleeding caused by external trauma to the vagina, bleeding
caused by conditions such as polyps or cancer: - Correct answer may
be relatively painless.
Successful treatment of a stroke depends on whether: - Correct answer
thrombolytic therapy is given within 3 hours after symptoms began. You respond to the scene of a motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, you find the driver, a young female, sitting on the curb. She is confused, is in obvious respiratory distress, and has pale, moist skin. As your partner manually stabilizes her head, you perform a primary assessment. After
performing any immediate livesaving treatment, you should: - Correct
answer perform a rapid scan of her entire body and prepare for
immediate transport. Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to increase a
person's risk of hypothermia? - Correct answer hyperglycemia
Which of the following statements regarding the physical examination of a
patient with a behavioral problem is correct? - Correct answer A
physical examination for a behavioral problem may be difficult to perform but may provide clues to the patient's state of mind and thought processes.
The term "behavioral crisis" is MOST accurately defined as: - Correct
answer any reaction that interferes with activities of daily living or is
deemed unacceptable by others. During two-rescuer CPR, the compressor and ventilator switch positions. While rescuer one is finishing his or her cycle of 30 compressions, rescuer
two should: - Correct answer move to the opposite side of the patient's
chest.
Bleeding from the nose following head trauma: - Correct answer is a
sign of a skull fracture and should not be stopped. As you enter the residence of a patient who has possibly overdosed, you
should: - Correct answer be alert for personal hazards.
is shivering, and complains of nausea. Her skin is cold and pale, her muscles appear rigid, and her respirations are rapid. In addition to monitoring her ABCs, administering oxygen, and turning up the heat in the
back of the ambulance, you should: - Correct answer place heat packs
to her groin, axillae, and behind her neck; cover her with warm blankets; and avoid rough handling A 29-year-old male has an anterior nosebleed after he was accidentally elbowed in the nose. His is conscious and alert with adequate breathing.
The MOST appropriate care for this patient includes: - Correct answer
leaning him forward and pinching his nostrils together.
Hypothermia can worsen internal bleeding secondary to: - Correct
answer blood clotting abnormalities.
The low normal systolic blood pressure for a 30-year-old is: - Correct
answer 90 mm Hg
After receiving online orders from medical control to perform a patient care
intervention, you should: - Correct answer repeat the order to medical
control word for word. Which of the following conditions is the diabetic patient at an increased risk
of developing? - Correct answer blindness
Elderly patients with abdominal problems may not exhibit the same pain
response as younger patients because of: - Correct answer age-related
deterioration of their sensory systems.
A ventilation/perfusion (V/Q ratio) mismatch occurs when: - Correct
answer a disruption in blood flow inhibits the exchange of oxygen and
carbon dioxide in the lungs, even though the alveoli are filled with fresh oxygen. A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go
to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should: - Correct
answer assess whether or not the patient's mental condition is impaired.
The presence of thick meconium in the amniotic fluid indicates: - Correct
answer that the baby's airway may be obstructed.
A female patient with a suspected spinal injury is breathing with a marked reduction in tidal volume. The MOST appropriate airway management for
her includes: - Correct answer assisting ventilations at an age-
appropriate rate.
A "hip" fracture is actually a fracture of the: - Correct answer proximal
femur
What is the function of the sternocleidomastoid muscle? - Correct
answer allows movement of the head
An EMT may administer aspirin to a patient if: - Correct answer
authorization from medical control has been obtained.
According to the terminal drop hypothesis: - Correct answer mental
function is presumed to decline in the 5 years preceding death. An 81-year-old female fell and struck her head. You find the patient lying on her left side. She is conscious and complains of neck and upper back pain. As you are assessing her, you note that she has a severely kyphotic spine. What is the MOST appropriate method of immobilizing this patient? -
Correct answer Leave her on her side and use blanket rolls to
immobilize her to the long backboard. Which of the following statements regarding pelvic inflammatory disease
(PID) is correct? - Correct answer PID can scar the fallopian tubes,
which increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding
and hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the: - Correct answer
liver
Which of the following is a function of the upper airway? - Correct
answer warms and humidifies inhaled air
Assessing the blood pressure and oxygen saturation of a patient with a
behavioral crisis should be performed: - Correct answer if doing so will
not worsen his or her emotional distress. Which of the following MOST accurately describes septic shock? -
Correct answer bacterial damage to the vessel wall, leaking blood
vessels, and vasodilation Your patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13, a systolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg, and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min, his
Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is: - Correct answer 9
A utility worker was trimming branches and was electrocuted when he accidentally cut a high-power line. He fell approximately 20′ and is lying unconscious on the ground; the power line is lying across his chest. You
should: - Correct answer rapidly assess the patient after ensuring that
the power line is not live.
After ________ minutes without oxygen, brain damage is likely. - Correct
answer 6
Which of the following statements regarding interaction with the caregiver
of a child or adult with special health care needs is correct? - Correct
answer Communication with the patient's caregiver or family members is
important because they are the most familiar with the patient's condition. If a technical rescue team is required at the scene, but is not present when
you arrive, you should: - Correct answer check with the incident
commander to ensure that the team is en route. You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a shooting. Law enforcement personnel are present and have the suspect in custody. You find the patient lying in a narrow space between the couch and coffee table of his small apartment. He is semiconscious and has a large gunshot
wound to his chest. You should: - Correct answer quickly move the
coffee table so you can access and treat the patient
Which of the following statements regarding the cranium is correct? -
Correct answer Eighty percent of the cranium is occupied by brain
tissue. When using a stick and square knot as a tourniquet to control severe
bleeding from an amputated arm, the EMT should: - Correct answer
stop twisting the stick when the bleeding stops. Which of the following statements regarding age-related changes in the
nervous system is correct? - Correct answer Interconnections between
brain cells often prevent a loss of knowledge or skill, despite a loss of neurons. You are assessing a 49-year-old man who complains of chest pressure that began the night before. He is conscious, but anxious, and tells you he has a history of angina and hypertension. After applying high-flow oxygen, you expose his chest to auscultate his lungs and note that he has a nitroglycerin patch on his right upper chest. His skin is cool and pale, his blood pressure is 78/50 mm Hg, and his pulse is 110 beats/min and
irregular. You should: - Correct answer remove the nitroglycerin patch,
place him in a supine position and elevate his lower extremities, and prepare for immediate transport.
The musculoskeletal system refers to the: - Correct answer bones and
voluntary muscles of the body
The single most significant factor that contributes to suicide is: - Correct
answer depression
Which of the following statements regarding rape is correct? - Correct
answer Rape is a legal diagnosis, not a medical diagnosis.
A 67-year-old female with severe chest pain becomes unresponsive,
pulseless, and apneic during transport. You should: - Correct answer
stop the ambulance, begin CPR, and attach the AED as soon as possible.
A 27-year-old male was stabbed in the chest during a disagreement at a poker game. As you approach him, you see that a knife is impaled in his chest. Before you make physical contact with the patient, it is MOST
important to: - Correct answer follow standard precautions
The __________ of a medication usually dictates the route by which it will
be administered. - Correct answer form
Delivering a patient to the hospital involves all of the following activities,
EXCEPT: - Correct answer giving a verbal report to the triage clerk.
Poor maintenance of home, poor personal care, and dietary neglect are all
possible indicators of ____________ elder abuse. - Correct answer
physical
The systemic veins function by: - Correct answer returning
deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should: - Correct
answer palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction beginning with the
quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful. Facial injuries should be identified and treated as soon as possible
because: - Correct answer of the risk for airway problems.
Which of the following statements regarding transport of patients from a
mass-casualty incident or disaster site is correct? - Correct answer
Immediate-priority patients should be transported two at a time. Talking about an elderly patient in front of him or her to other members of
the family: - Correct answer may cause the patient to think that he or
she has no say in making decisions. Information included in a radio report to the receiving hospital should
include all of the following, EXCEPT: - Correct answer a preliminary
diagnosis of the patient's problem.
Which of the following statements regarding the rule of nines is correct? -
Correct answer The anterior trunk of an adult is equal to 18% of the
BSA.
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), rales, and dependent edema are
clinical indicators of: - Correct answer congestive heart failure.
As an EMT, the performance of your duties will be compared to that of: -
Correct answer another EMT
Before positioning an infant or child's airway, you should: - Correct
answer place him or her on a firm surface.
Minimum airway and ventilation equipment that should be carried on every
ambulance include all of the following, EXCEPT: - Correct answer
Combitubes or laryngeal mask airways. You arrive at the home of a 50-year-old female with severe epistaxis. As
you are treating her, it is MOST important to recall that: - Correct
answer the patient is at risk for vomiting and aspiration
Which of the following is an example of a brand (trade) name of a drug? -
Correct answer Tylenol
Signs and symptoms of a sympathomimetic drug overdose include: -
Correct answer tachycardia
The average pulse rate of individuals between 19 and 60 years of age is
typically: - Correct answer 70 beats/min.
Asthma is caused by a response of the: - Correct answer immune
system
When introduced into the body, ricin causes: - Correct answer
pulmonary edema and circulatory failure.
The term primigravida refers to a woman who: - Correct answer is
pregnant for the first time
Substance abuse is MOST accurately defined as: - Correct answer
knowingly misusing a substance to produce a desired effect A 39-year-old female experienced a severe closed head injury. She is unconscious with her eyes slightly open; her pupils are bilaterally dilated and slow to react. In addition to managing problems with airway, breathing,
and circulation, you should: - Correct answer close her eyes and cover
them with a moist dressing. Which of the following interventions is the MOST critical to the outcome of
a patient with multisystem trauma? - Correct answer rapid transport to a
trauma center Early signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis include all of the following,
EXCEPT: - Correct answer jaundice and abdominal pain.
The function of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is to: -
Correct answer prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from
domestic incidents. When a motor vehicle strikes a tree while traveling at 40 mph, the
unrestrained occupant: - Correct answer remains in motion until acted
upon by an external force. Which of the following MOST accurately describes a mass-casualty
incident? - Correct answer an incident that greatly taxes or depletes a
system's available resources When assessing a patient with a hemothorax, you will MOST likely find: -
Correct answer signs and symptoms of shock.
During an altercation in a bar, two patrons got into a fist fight. The first patient, a 44-year-old female, was struck in the mouth and refuses EMS care. The second patient, a 39-year-old female, has a small laceration to
her left knuckle and also refuses EMS care. Which of the following
statements regarding this scenario is MOST correct? - Correct answer
The 39-year-old female is at high risk for an infection. Which of the following statements regarding crush syndrome is correct? -
Correct answer Compromised arterial blood flow leads to crush
syndrome and can occur when an area of the body is trapped for longer than 4 hours. If a newborn's heart rate is less than 60 beats/min following delivery, you
should: - Correct answer provide ventilations for 30 seconds
If a dislocated shoulder has spontaneously reduced before your arrival, the
only way to confirm the injury is by noting: - Correct answer the patient
history A fracture of the humerus just above the elbow would be described as a: -
Correct answer distal humerus fracture
The white portion of the eye is called the: - Correct answer sclera
A 70-year-old female was recently discharged from the hospital following a total hip replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure of 100/64 mm Hg. Her skin is warm and moist. You
should be MOST suspicious that she is experiencing: - Correct answer
septic shock Common signs and symptoms of a chest injury include all of the following,
EXCEPT: - Correct answer hematemesis.
Early signs and symptoms of smallpox include all of the following,
EXCEPT: - Correct answer skin blisters
When a person is standing upright, the weight of anything being lifted and
carried in the hands is FIRST reflected onto the: - Correct answer
shoulder girdle
