Free EMT Patient Treatment Practice Test – Part 4

1. What is the correct adult dose of aspirin for a patient with suspected acute coronary syndrome?

2. A 58-year-old male with a history of COPD is experiencing a respiratory emergency. He is using accessory muscles and has an SpO2 of 89%. You have his prescribed albuterol inhaler. What should you do?

3. A 64-year-old male has chest pain that he describes as “crushing” and radiates to his jaw. He is diaphoretic and nauseated. What is your PRIMARY intervention priority?

4. A 47-year-old diabetic male is confused and combative. His family states he took his insulin but may not have eaten. Blood glucose is 52 mg/dL. What is the BEST initial action?

5. A 30-year-old female was prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector for severe allergies. She is now having an allergic reaction with facial swelling and difficulty breathing. She asks you to administer her EpiPen. How should you proceed?

6. A 68-year-old female has a sudden severe headache described as “the worst of my life” and vomiting. Her blood pressure is 190/110. What condition should you suspect?

7. You respond to a possible overdose. The 24-year-old patient is unresponsive with a respiratory rate of 6 breaths/min. You have naloxone (Narcan) available. What should you do?

8. A 22-year-old male fell through the ice on a frozen pond. He was submerged for approximately 10 minutes and is now unresponsive with a core temperature of 86°F (30°C). What is the MOST appropriate action?

9. A patient with schizophrenia has not been taking his medication and is now exhibiting threatening behavior toward his family. He is pacing and shouting. What is the BEST initial approach?

10. A 3-year-old child is unresponsive with a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min and central cyanosis. What should you do FIRST?

11. Which of the following is the correct mechanism of action for glucagon in treating hypoglycemia?

12. A 61-year-old male with type 2 diabetes presents with confusion, dry mucous membranes, and blood glucose of 680 mg/dL. His family reports he has been urinating frequently and drinking large amounts of water over the past week. Which condition should you suspect?

13. You respond to a 44-year-old female with diabetes who is experiencing a seizure. Her husband states she took her insulin but forgot to eat breakfast. Her blood glucose reads 22 mg/dL. She is unresponsive with active seizure activity. What is your PRIORITY intervention?

14. A 29-year-old male with type 1 diabetes calls for help because he feels “shaky and weak.” His blood glucose is 62 mg/dL. He is alert, oriented, and able to swallow. After administering one tube of oral glucose, his symptoms persist and repeat glucose is 58 mg/dL. What should you do NEXT?

15. A 72-year-old female with a 15-year history of type 2 diabetes is found unresponsive in her home. Her neighbor reports finding her this morning and does not know when she last ate or took medications. Vital signs: BP 88/52, HR 118, RR 28, SpO2 94%. Blood glucose is 34 mg/dL. Skin is pale, cool, and diaphoretic. Which physiological response BEST explains her tachycardia and hypotension?

16. You are called to a scene where a 35-year-old male with type 1 diabetes was found acting “drunk” by police. The officers smell alcohol on his breath and want to arrest him for public intoxication. His blood glucose is 42 mg/dL. He is confused and unable to follow commands. Which statement BEST describes the appropriate medical-legal approach?

17. A 55-year-old female with diabetes is found unresponsive. Her husband states she has been sick with vomiting for two days and has not been able to keep food or medications down. Blood glucose is 78 mg/dL. She has rapid, deep breathing and a fruity odor on her breath. What should you suspect?

18. You are transporting a 48-year-old male with hypoglycemia after administering oral glucose. His blood glucose improved from 45 mg/dL to 92 mg/dL, and his mental status has returned to normal. He states he feels fine and wants to refuse further transport. What is the MOST appropriate action?

19. A 23-year-old female with type 1 diabetes is unresponsive. Her blood glucose is 18 mg/dL. You note she is wearing an insulin pump. After positioning her airway, which intervention should you prioritize?

20. Which of the following signs would differentiate hypoglycemia from hyperglycemia in a diabetic patient with altered mental status?

21. A 24-year-old male was thrown from his motorcycle at highway speeds. He is alert and complaining of neck pain. He is lying supine on the ground. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate initial intervention?

22. You are treating a 35-year-old construction worker who has a deep laceration to his right thigh with significant bright red bleeding that is spurting with each heartbeat. Direct pressure has been applied for 2 minutes but the bleeding continues to soak through the gauze. What is the MOST appropriate next intervention?

23. A 45-year-old male was involved in a motor vehicle collision. He has a bruise across his abdomen from the seatbelt. His vital signs are: BP 88/54 mmHg, HR 122/min, RR 26/min, SpO2 94% on room air. His skin is pale, cool, and diaphoretic. He is alert but anxious. Based on these findings, approximately how much blood volume has he likely lost?

24. Which of the following findings would be MOST concerning for a cervical spinal cord injury in a trauma patient?

25. You are assessing a 28-year-old male who was stabbed in the right side of the chest. He is alert but has significant respiratory distress. You note absent breath sounds on the right side, jugular venous distension, and a blood pressure of 84/58 mmHg. His trachea appears to be slightly deviated toward the left. Which condition should you suspect?

26. A 19-year-old female was involved in a high-speed motor vehicle collision. She was wearing a lap-only seatbelt. She has ecchymosis across her lower abdomen and is complaining of severe abdominal pain. Her vital signs are: BP 102/70 mmHg, HR 108/min, RR 22/min. Which injury pattern should you MOST suspect based on the mechanism and findings?

27. A 32-year-old male fell 20 feet from a ladder and is now complaining of weakness in both legs and inability to move them. His vital signs are: BP 84/50 mmHg, HR 58/min, RR 18/min. His skin is warm and dry. Which type of shock should you suspect, and what is the underlying mechanism?

28. A 22-year-old male was struck in the head during an assault. He was briefly unconscious but is now alert and oriented. He has a laceration on his scalp that is bleeding heavily. What is the MOST appropriate sequence of care for this patient?

29. You are treating a 40-year-old female who fell and has an obvious deformity to her right lower leg. The foot is pale, and she reports numbness and tingling in her toes. Capillary refill is greater than 3 seconds, and she has weak pulses distal to the injury. What is the PRIORITY intervention?

30. You are preparing to transport a 55-year-old female who fell down a flight of stairs. She has midline cervical spine tenderness and bilateral arm weakness. Vital signs are stable. The nearest trauma center is 45 minutes away, while a community hospital is 10 minutes away. What is the MOST appropriate transport decision?

31. You are assessing a 78-year-old female who lives alone. Her daughter called 911 because her mother has been “acting confused” for the past two days. The patient denies any pain or discomfort. Her vital signs are: BP 98/62 mmHg, HR 102/min, RR 24/min, SpO2 94% on room air. She is afebrile. What is the most likely cause of her altered mental status?

32. A 72-year-old male with a history of diabetes and hypertension presents with sudden onset of weakness and nausea. He describes feeling “tired and short of breath” but denies chest pain. His blood pressure is 148/94 mmHg, pulse is 92/min and irregular, respirations are 20/min. He appears diaphoretic. Which finding is most concerning for an atypical acute coronary syndrome presentation?

33. You are dispatched to a nursing home for an 84-year-old female who was found on the floor by staff. She is unable to tell you what happened. Staff report she has dementia and takes medication for hypertension and anxiety. On assessment, you note a small bruise on her forehead. Her vital signs are: BP 136/84 mmHg, HR 78/min, RR 16/min. What is your priority assessment action?

34. You are called to assist a 350-pound (159 kg) 58-year-old male experiencing respiratory distress. He was able to walk to the living room chair before becoming too short of breath to continue. He is sitting upright, using accessory muscles, with audible wheezing. His SpO2 is 86% on room air. Which intervention consideration is most critical for this patient?

35. A 76-year-old female presents with dizziness and a syncopal episode. She reports taking multiple medications for “her heart, blood pressure, and water retention.” Her vital signs are: BP 92/58 mmHg, HR 54/min, RR 16/min, SpO2 96%. She appears pale but is alert. Which medication combination is most likely contributing to her presentation?

36. You are called to a group home for a 42-year-old male with cerebral palsy who has a suspected respiratory infection. He uses a wheelchair and has limited verbal communication. Staff report he has had a fever and decreased appetite for two days. Today he is breathing faster than usual. What is the most appropriate approach to assess this patient?

37. During a winter response, you find a 79-year-old male in his unheated apartment. He is confused, shivering, and has cold, pale skin. His core temperature reads 90°F (32.2°C). His blood pressure is 102/64 mmHg, pulse is 56/min and irregular, and respirations are 12/min. Which intervention should you perform FIRST?

38. An 82-year-old female presents with vague abdominal discomfort that she describes as “not really pain, just not right.” She has had decreased appetite for three days and occasional nausea. Her abdomen is soft but mildly tender in the right lower quadrant. Vital signs are: BP 118/72 mmHg, HR 88/min, RR 18/min, Temp 99.2°F. What is your primary concern?

39. You are treating a 65-year-old female from a cultural background where medical decisions are made by family elders, not the patient. She requires emergency transport for chest pain, but her husband states she cannot go to the hospital until he calls their son. The patient appears anxious but defers to her husband. What is your most appropriate action?

40. A 69-year-old male with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure was discharged from the hospital three days ago with new medications. His wife called 911 because he is confused and weak today. She reports he has been taking “all his pills, including the new ones.” His blood glucose is 285 mg/dL, BP 88/52 mmHg, HR 110/min, RR 22/min. He is oriented only to person. What is the most likely cause of his presentation?

41. A 22-year-old female with a history of asthma is experiencing an acute exacerbation. She is alert, speaking in short phrases, and has audible wheezing in all lung fields. Her SpO2 is 91% on room air. What is the MOST appropriate initial intervention?

42. A 68-year-old male with COPD is experiencing increased shortness of breath. He is alert but appears anxious. His respirations are 24 breaths/min with labored effort, and SpO2 reads 88%. What is the MOST appropriate oxygen delivery approach?

43. A 35-year-old male was stung by a bee approximately 5 minutes ago. He is now experiencing difficulty breathing, widespread hives, and facial swelling. His BP is 90/60 mmHg, HR is 118 bpm, and he has audible stridor. What should you do FIRST?

44. A 52-year-old male with diabetes is found unresponsive in his home. Family reports he has been sick with the flu and has not been eating well. His skin is pale and diaphoretic. Blood glucose reads 38 mg/dL. The patient cannot swallow safely. What is the MOST appropriate treatment?

45. You are dispatched to a 74-year-old female with difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, you find her sitting upright in a tripod position. She reports a history of congestive heart failure and has not taken her medications in three days. Vitals: BP 182/98 mmHg, HR 102 bpm, RR 32 breaths/min, SpO2 86%. She has crackles heard in both lung bases and +2 pitting edema in both lower extremities. What is the MOST appropriate treatment sequence?

46. A 28-year-old male was found unresponsive by friends who report he may have taken several opioid pills. His respirations are 6 breaths/min and shallow. His pupils are pinpoint (1 mm bilaterally). What is the MOST appropriate treatment?

47. A 72-year-old nursing home resident has a productive cough with green sputum, fever, and increased work of breathing. Her SpO2 is 89% on room air. Auscultation reveals crackles in the right lower lung field. What is the MOST appropriate oxygen therapy for transport?

48. You arrive on scene to find a 19-year-old male actively seizing. Bystanders report he has a history of epilepsy and has been seizing for approximately 3 minutes. What should you do FIRST?

49. You are assessing a 66-year-old female whose husband reports she suddenly developed slurred speech and right-sided weakness while eating breakfast approximately 45 minutes ago. Vitals: BP 168/94 mmHg, HR 78 bpm, RR 16 breaths/min, SpO2 96% on room air. Blood glucose is 112 mg/dL. She is alert but has facial droop and cannot lift her right arm. What is the MOST important information to obtain and communicate to the receiving hospital?

50. A 45-year-old male is experiencing a panic attack. He is hyperventilating and reports feeling like he cannot catch his breath. He has a history of anxiety and takes prescribed medication. His SpO2 is 99%, and his vital signs are otherwise within normal limits. What is the MOST appropriate intervention?