Free EMT Practice Test – Part 8

1. A patient opens his eyes only when you pinch his trapezius muscle, mutters incomprehensible sounds, and localizes to the painful stimulus. What is his Glasgow Coma Scale score?

2. A 52-year-old male presents with severe headache and blurred vision. His blood pressure is 198/112 mmHg. When the EMT prepares to retake the blood pressure on the other arm, the patient asks, “Is that really high?” Which response is MOST appropriate?

3. You are called to a construction site where a worker fell 20 feet onto concrete. The patient is alert, ambulatory at the scene, and states, “I’m fine, I landed on my feet.” He has no visible injuries and refuses treatment. Based on the mechanism of injury, what is your BEST course of action?

4. 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?

5. What is the correct dose and route for oral glucose administration in an adult patient with suspected hypoglycemia who can swallow safely?

6. During a nighttime response to a single-vehicle crash on a rural highway, you notice downed power lines across the roadway near the collision. There is one patient visible inside the vehicle. What is the appropriate response?

7. You are performing CPR on a 68-year-old female in cardiac arrest. Your partner is ventilating with a bag-valve mask. You notice the patient’s chest is not rising adequately with each ventilation, despite proper head positioning and a good mask seal. Compressions are paused, and you attempt to reposition the airway, but chest rise remains inadequate. The patient’s abdomen is becoming distended. What is the MOST likely cause of the inadequate ventilation, and what should you do?

8. Which of the following is the MOST important element to document when a patient refuses transport?

9. You respond to a 28-year-old female in active labor. As you approach, you see she is lying on the couch, grimacing in pain, and states she feels the urge to push. You observe the infant’s head crowning. Your partner assesses vital signs: BP 118/72, pulse 88, respirations 20. How do you prioritize this patient?

10. You are dispatched to a 45-year-old male complaining of difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, you find him sitting upright in a tripod position, using accessory muscles, and speaking in two-word sentences. His skin is pale and diaphoretic. Auscultation reveals bilateral wheezing in all lung fields. His vital signs are: BP 136/84, pulse 118, respirations 28, SpO2 91% on room air. He has a history of asthma and used his rescue inhaler 20 minutes ago with no improvement. What should be your PRIMARY intervention?

11. An EMT is documenting a patient encounter and writes: “Patient appears to be exaggerating his pain.” Which documentation principle does this statement violate?

12. You respond to an industrial accident where a 45-year-old male worker fell 20 feet onto concrete. Bystanders report he landed on his left side and was initially complaining of severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain. When you arrive, he is pale and diaphoretic, lying on the ground. During your primary assessment: Airway is patent, he is speaking but his voice is weak, breathing is rapid at 28 breaths per minute, radial pulse is thready at 118 beats per minute. He reports feeling “dizzy and cold.” You note tenderness and bruising over his left upper abdomen. Based on these findings, what is the MOST likely injury pattern and immediate priority?

13. During your general impression of a patient, which finding would indicate a potentially critical patient?

14. A 3-year-old child is brought by his mother after a brief seizure at home. The child is now awake, crying loudly, and reaches for his mother when you approach. His skin is pink and warm. Using the Pediatric Assessment Triangle, how would you categorize this child?

15. A 29-year-old male was struck in the chest during a bar fight. Assessment reveals: absent breath sounds on the left, jugular vein distension, and a blood pressure of 88/54 mmHg. His trachea appears midline. Which condition should you suspect, and what intervention is most appropriate?

16. During a cardiac arrest call, an EMT is preparing to document the patient encounter. Which set of vital signs must be included in the PCR to meet minimum documentation requirements?

17. During the general impression, you should assess all of the following EXCEPT:

18. Which type of consent is obtained when an EMT explains a procedure to a conscious, alert patient and the patient agrees to the treatment?

19. During a mass-casualty incident at a shopping mall, you encounter a 22-year-old female with a 2-inch laceration to her forearm with bright red, spurting blood. She is alert, pale, and anxious. Her pulse is 110 and strong. Using simple triage, how should you categorize this patient?

20. A 19-year-old male was stabbed in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. He is alert but anxious. Vital signs are BP 94/62, HR 112, RR 22, skin is pale and cool. What do these findings most likely indicate?

21. You are dispatched to a two-vehicle collision. Upon arrival, you observe the following: Vehicle 1 has moderate front-end damage with the driver’s airbag deployed; the driver is ambulatory at the scene with a complaint of mild chest pain. Vehicle 2 has rolled over and is resting on its roof; the driver was partially ejected and is unconscious with obvious facial trauma. Both patients are the same age with no significant medical history. How should you prioritize your assessment approach for these two patients?

22. A 72-year-old female is found unresponsive. When you call her name, she does not respond. When you pinch her shoulder, her eyes open but she does not speak or follow commands. What is her AVPU status?

23. A 67-year-old female patient complains of dizziness and weakness. Her vital signs are: BP 102/68 mmHg, HR 48 bpm, RR 16 breaths/min, SpO2 96% on room air. Which vital sign finding is most concerning and requires immediate attention?

24. A patient opens his eyes when you call his name, but he is confused and cannot tell you where he is. What is his AVPU status?

25. What is the MOST important action an EMT must take when a competent adult patient refuses transport to the hospital?

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

27. You are dispatched to an industrial warehouse for a “worker collapsed.” Upon arrival, you see an employee lying unconscious on the floor near large machinery. A supervisor approaches and says, “I think he passed out from the heat.” However, you notice several warning signs on nearby equipment indicating “CONFINED SPACE – PERMIT REQUIRED” and smell a faint chemical odor. Another worker mentions the patient was working near a storage tank before collapsing. The supervisor is urging you to quickly enter and help the patient. What is your BEST course of action?

28. You respond to a single-vehicle collision on a rural highway. A 35-year-old pregnant female (third trimester) was driving and struck a tree at highway speed. She was unrestrained. Upon arrival, you find her still in the driver’s seat, conscious and screaming about abdominal pain. Her airway is patent, breathing is rapid at 28 breaths per minute, radial pulse is 118 and regular. Her abdomen is tender and rigid with visible bruising across the lower abdomen from the steering wheel impact. She reports feeling “wet” and you note blood on her inner thighs. What are the priority considerations for this patient?

29. What is the key difference between Mechanism of Injury (MOI) and Nature of Illness (NOI) in scene size-up?

30. Which piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered the minimum standard precaution for ALL patient contacts?

31. When assessing the mechanism of injury (MOI), which of the following pieces of information should the EMT consider?

32. You respond to a two-story residential home for a fall. Family reports the 72-year-old female patient fell down a flight of 14 stairs. She is now at the bottom of the stairs, alert but complaining of right hip pain. Based on this mechanism, which additional injuries should you have a high index of suspicion for?

33. Which of the following is the correct method for estimating a child’s weight using the age-based formula for children ages 1-10 years?

34. You are assessing a 28-year-old male involved in a motorcycle crash. He was wearing a helmet. His vital signs are BP 118/78, pulse 110, respirations 24. He is alert and answers questions appropriately. He has a visible deformity to his left thigh. Skin is pink, warm, and dry. Based on this information, which statement best describes this patient’s priority status?

35. You are caring for an unresponsive patient with copious secretions in the oropharynx. You begin suctioning with a rigid suction catheter (Yankauer). What is the maximum duration you should suction before allowing the patient to recover?

36. 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?

37. A 72-year-old male fell down a flight of stairs. On primary assessment, you find him unresponsive to voice but responds to painful stimuli by withdrawing. His radial pulse is absent, but carotid pulse is present at 96 beats per minute. His skin is pale, cool, and diaphoretic. You note significant bruising to his left flank. Based on this assessment, analyze the patient’s hemodynamic status and identify the most likely stage of shock.

38. You respond to a single-vehicle crash on a remote mountain road. The vehicle has gone down a steep embankment and is approximately 100 feet from the roadway. You can see one patient motionless in the driver’s seat. The vehicle appears stable, but access requires specialized equipment. What resources should you immediately request?

39. A patient can tell you his name but does not know where he is or what day it is. How would you describe his orientation?

40. 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?

41. A family calls 911 because their 68-year-old grandmother is “acting strange.” Upon arrival, the family says she has been confused and lethargic all day. They mention she is diabetic. What aspect of the nature of illness (NOI) should guide your assessment?

42. Which airway adjunct is appropriate for a semi-conscious patient who has an intact gag reflex?

43. You are caring for a 56-year-old male with altered mental status. His neighbor reports he was “acting normal” an hour ago. Assessment reveals: eyes do not open to voice, groans and withdraws from painful stimuli, rapid shallow breathing, and a fruity odor on his breath. Blood glucose reads 38 mg/dL. Which statement BEST explains the pathophysiology connecting his findings?

44. Upon arriving at a motor vehicle collision, you observe downed power lines lying across the damaged vehicle. What is the MOST appropriate initial action?

45. You are assessing an unresponsive 34-year-old male. His airway is patent, but you note his breathing is agonal – occasional gasping breaths at a rate of 4 per minute with minimal chest movement. His pulse is present at 72 beats per minute. What is the MOST accurate interpretation of these findings?

46. A patient describes substernal chest pain that radiates to the jaw and left arm, associated with nausea and diaphoresis. What should you suspect?

47. A 45-year-old male complains of chest pressure that started 30 minutes ago while watching television. When asked about relevant medical history, he says, “I’ve been healthy my whole life.” Which follow-up question would be MOST appropriate to clarify this statement?

48. A 30-year-old male was struck by a baseball bat during an altercation. He is alert and oriented, has a 3-inch laceration on his forehead, and states he “feels fine” and wants to go home. He refuses spinal immobilization. Police are on scene investigating. What is your best analysis of this situation?

49. What is the primary mechanism of action of epinephrine that makes it the drug of choice for anaphylaxis?

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

51. Which patient has signs of compensated shock?

52. You respond to a single-family home for a reported “unconscious person.” As you approach the front door, you notice the door is open, the house appears disheveled with furniture overturned, and you hear what sounds like a struggle inside. There are no police on scene yet. What is your best analysis and appropriate action?

53. A 72-year-old male with a history of atrial fibrillation and hypertension is found by his wife in bed, unresponsive. She states he complained of a “severe headache” before going to sleep last night and she found him like this this morning. On assessment, he does not respond to verbal stimuli. When you apply a trapezius squeeze, his left arm and leg remain flaccid while his right side moves slightly. His breathing is irregular with periods of apnea lasting 10-15 seconds. What is the most likely diagnosis, and what does the asymmetric motor response indicate?

54. A 22-year-old male was ejected from a vehicle during a high-speed collision. Upon arrival, the EMT finds the patient unresponsive, with shallow respirations at 8 breaths per minute. There is significant bleeding from a facial laceration. The EMT’s partner stabilizes the patient’s head. What is the most appropriate sequence of actions?

55. You arrive to find a 22-year-old male with a deep laceration to his thigh from a broken beer bottle. There is active, pulsatile bleeding. Your partner is preparing the stretcher. What PPE should you don before making patient contact?

56. You are assessing a 65-year-old male with a complaint of severe back pain that started suddenly 30 minutes ago. During your primary assessment, you palpate a bounding radial pulse at 98 beats per minute. His blood pressure is 190/110 mmHg. His skin is warm and dry. He reports the pain “tears through to my chest.” What does this circulation assessment suggest?

57. An EMT responds to a call where a patient dies despite resuscitation efforts. The death appears suspicious, with injuries inconsistent with the reported mechanism. Law enforcement is on scene. Which documentation approach is MOST appropriate for this situation?

58. A 62-year-old female complains of sudden, severe abdominal pain that began 2 hours ago while watching television. She describes the pain as “tearing” and rates it 10/10. She says the pain radiates to her back between her shoulder blades. She has a history of hypertension but is not compliant with her medications. Based on this OPQRST assessment, which condition should the EMT consider as the MOST likely diagnosis?

59. What is the purpose of the “buffer zone” when positioning an ambulance at a scene?

60. You are treating an unresponsive 52-year-old male with suspected opioid overdose. His respiratory rate is 6 breaths per minute with shallow chest rise. His SpO2 is 82% on room air. After administering naloxone 0.4mg IM, what is your MOST important immediate intervention?

61. A 22-year-old male was involved in a motorcycle collision. He was wearing a helmet but was traveling at an unknown speed when he lost control on a curve and slid into a guardrail. On assessment, you note road rash on his left leg and arm, his helmet is cracked, and he reports neck pain. He denies loss of consciousness. Analyze the mechanism of injury and determine which finding MOST increases his risk for serious injury.

62. A 67-year-old female with advanced dementia requires wound care but cannot understand the procedure. Her family is unavailable to consent. Under what principle can you provide care?

63. When assessing a patient’s breathing during the primary assessment, which finding indicates ADEQUATE ventilation?

64. A trauma patient meets criteria for transport to a trauma center but wants to go to a closer non-trauma hospital. What should you do?

65. What is the correct size OPA for a patient if the distance from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe is 8 cm?

66. You are caring for a patient who becomes combative and requires law enforcement restraint. Who should document the use of restraints?

67. A patient reports sudden onset of severe tearing back pain radiating to the abdomen. What should you suspect?

68. A 45-year-old female describes her abdominal pain as “sharp, stabbing, and tearing.” Based on OPQRST pain quality assessment, which condition should the EMT suspect as MOST likely?

69. A 16-year-old female patient has a broken arm from a skateboarding accident. She is alert and oriented but her parents are not reachable by phone. The patient is in significant pain and needs treatment. What is the appropriate course of action?

70. A 58-year-old male is complaining of substernal chest pain that began 20 minutes ago. He has a history of hypertension and has a prescribed bottle of nitroglycerin tablets. His vital signs are: BP 132/84 mmHg, pulse 88/min, respirations 18/min. Which of the following would be a contraindication to assisting with nitroglycerin?

71. A 45-year-old female rates her abdominal pain as 7 out of 10. Which follow-up question BEST addresses the “S” component of OPQRST?

72. A 54-year-old female is found unresponsive in her home. Her family states she has diabetes. Blood glucose is 38 mg/dL. She does not have a gag reflex. What should you do?

73. An EMT is performing a primary assessment on an unconscious adult patient. The radial pulse is not palpable, but the femoral pulse is present. Based on this finding, what is the estimated minimum systolic blood pressure?

74. You are assessing a 72-year-old male with severe respiratory distress. He is sitting upright in a tripod position, using accessory muscles, and can only say two words before gasping for air. His SpO2 is 88% on room air. Auscultation reveals absent breath sounds on the left side and distant sounds on the right. What is your priority intervention?

75. During a secondary assessment of a medical patient with abdominal pain, the EMT performs a focused physical exam. Which of the following best explains why a focused exam is used instead of a full head-to-toe exam for this medical patient?

76. During your general impression of a patient, you notice they are sitting upright, leaning forward with their hands on their knees, and appear anxious. This position is most indicative of which condition?

77. You are treating a 45-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the left thigh. After applying a tourniquet, the bleeding stops but you can still feel a weak distal pulse. What is the correct action?

78. You are called to a residence for a 56-year-old male with altered mental status. Family states he has type 1 diabetes and has not eaten today. The patient is conscious but confused, unable to follow commands. His blood glucose level is 42 mg/dL. What is the most appropriate treatment?

79. You are assessing a 70-year-old male who fell from a standing height. He is alert and oriented, complaining of left hip pain. His skin is pink, warm, and dry. His radial pulse is 76 and regular. How would you categorize this patient based on your general impression?

80. You respond to a 22-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He is alert and oriented, speaking in full sentences, with a respiratory rate of 20. His radial pulse is 104 beats per minute, strong and regular. His skin is pale and cool but dry. He reports pain of 8/10. Based on this primary assessment, analyze whether this patient meets criteria for priority transport and explain your reasoning.

81. You find an unresponsive adult patient. You do not feel a carotid pulse. What should you do?

82. A 42-year-old female with a history of alcoholism presents with confusion, ataxia, and nystagmus. Her friend reports she has not been eating well lately and has been drinking heavily. Blood glucose is 98 mg/dL. Which condition should you MOST suspect, and what is the appropriate field treatment?

83. A 67-year-old female with a history of COPD is found unresponsive with shallow, slow respirations. You begin BVM ventilation. After several breaths, the patient’s SpO2 drops from 94% to 88%, and you notice the chest is not rising. The BVM reservoir is attached to oxygen at 15 L/min. Which intervention is MOST appropriate?

84. A 34-year-old male was found unresponsive after a suspected overdose. He has gurgling respirations. What should you do?

85. What is the normal blood pressure range for an adult?

86. During the primary assessment, the “general impression” is formed within the first few seconds of patient contact. What is the PRIMARY purpose of forming this rapid impression?

87. You are dispatched to a known drug house for a reported overdose. As you approach the front door, you notice several used syringes on the porch and a strong chemical odor. The patient’s friend is waving you inside urgently. What should you do?

88. A 40-year-old female was involved in a bicycle accident. She has an open fracture of her right tibia with moderate bleeding controlled by direct pressure. She is alert, oriented, and speaking normally. Her vital signs are: pulse 88, respirations 16, blood pressure 118/78. Her skin is warm and dry. She complains of severe leg pain. Which statement best describes her priority status?

89. You respond to a residence for a 70-year-old female with “difficulty breathing.” As you enter, you see her sitting upright in a chair, using accessory muscles, with audible wheezing. Her skin is pale and diaphoretic. She is able to speak only two or three words between breaths. What is the MOST accurate interpretation of her general impression?

90. A 52-year-old male called 911 for severe abdominal pain. Upon your arrival, he is alert and oriented. After your assessment, you recommend transport due to the severity of his pain. He states, “I’m not going to the hospital. They’ll just give me pills that don’t work.” Which element is MOST critical to include in your documentation of this refusal?

91. You made a medication error during a call. What is the MOST appropriate action?

92. You arrive at a scene where a patient is lying on the ground after a fall. What should you do FIRST?

93. You have two patients. Patient A has obvious bilateral femur fractures with severe pain. Patient B is unresponsive with no obvious injuries. Who should be assessed FIRST?

94. An EMT is assessing a 67-year-old female found lying in bed at home. When the EMT speaks to her, she opens her eyes and mumbles something unintelligible but does not follow commands or answer questions appropriately. How should the EMT document her level of consciousness using the AVPU scale?

95. During primary assessment of an unresponsive adult patient, you note gurgling sounds in the upper airway. What is the correct sequence of actions?

96. You are dispatched to a motor vehicle collision involving a 32-year-old female who is 34 weeks pregnant. She was a restrained driver in a moderate-speed collision. She is complaining of mild abdominal discomfort but has no visible injuries. Which assessment finding would be most concerning for placental abruption?

97. You are dispatched to a residential address for a “psychiatric emergency.” Dispatch reports the patient has a history of violence and police are en route. Upon arrival, you see a man standing on the porch holding what appears to be a baseball bat. What is the MOST appropriate action?

98. A 28-year-old female was rescued from an apartment fire. She is conscious and coughing but has singed nasal hairs and carbonaceous sputum. Her SpO2 reads 92% on room air, and she has first-degree burns on her face and neck. Which oxygen delivery device should be applied FIRST?

99. You respond to a residence for a 67-year-old female with chest pain. Upon arrival, you find her sitting in a chair, clutching her chest. She is able to speak in full sentences but appears uncomfortable. Her vital signs are: BP 162/98 mmHg, pulse 98, respirations 20. Which additional finding would cause you to upgrade this patient to highest priority?

100. Why is epinephrine administered intramuscularly (IM) rather than subcutaneously (SC) during anaphylaxis?