EMR Practice test

As an emergency medical responder (EMR), you should be able to:

a. Assess electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs).

b. Insert intravenous (IV) devices.

c. Provide basic emergency care.

a. Perform advanced airway procedures.

c. Provide basic emergency care.

Vector-borne transmission of disease occurs when:

a. Blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) from one person enters another person's body through the correct entry site.

b. A person touches an object that contains the blood or other potentially infectious materials of an infected person, and that blood or OPIM enters the body through the correct entry site.

c. An infectious source, such as an animal or insect bite, penetrates the body's skin.

d. A person inhales droplets propelled from an infected person's cough or sneeze from within a few feet.

c. An infectious source, such as an animal or insect bite, penetrates the body's skin.

Which of the following is an example of an engineering control?

a. Using biohazard containers

b. Disinfecting equipment

c. Disposing of contaminated equipment

d. Avoiding splashing of infectious materials

a. Using biohazard containers

While providing care to a patient, some of the patient's blood inadvertently makes contact with your eyes. Which of the following should you do first?

a. Apply an antibiotic ointment.

b. Wash your face with soap and water.

c. Rinse your eyes with a disinfectant solution.

d. Flush your eyes with clean water, saline or a sterile irrigant for 20 minutes.

d. Flush your eyes with clean water, saline or a sterile irrigant for 20 minutes.

Which type of emergency medical services (EMS) system provider has the most in-depth training?

a. Emergency medical responder (EMR)

b. Emergency medical technician (EMT)

c. Advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT)

d. Paramedic

d. Paramedic

Good Samaritan laws generally protect people from legal liability when providing care in an emergency if they do which of the following?

a. Obtain verbal consent from the patient.

b. Tell the patient that they have a reasonable level of skill.

c. Offer help in the hope of being reimbursed for services.

d. Act in good faith.

d. Act in good faith.

You determine that a patient is competent when they demonstrate which of the following?

a. A verbal or nonverbal acceptance of the treatment to be provided

b. An understanding that information shared will remain private

c. The ability to understand questions and the implications of decisions

d. The capability to identify an appropriate healthcare proxy

c. The ability to understand questions and the implications of decisions

As an emergency medical responder (EMR), you are expected to provide care based on specific criteria. This is called:

a. Duty to act.

b. Standard of care.

c. Scope of practice.

d. Good faith action.

b. Standard of care.

Any body part that is toward the midline of the body is called:

a. Inferior

b. Proximal

c. Medial

d. Lateral

c. Medial

Which of the following is the least likely to be considered a vital organ?

a. Lungs

b. Brain

c. Heart

d. Kidneys

d. Kidneys

Which of the following situations is the least likely to warrant moving a patient?

a. A patient has fallen off a ladder onto the grass while painting a house.

b. A patient involved in a motor-vehicle collision is lying next to a vehicle that is smoking.

c. A patient has collapsed and is lying inside the doorway of a burning building.

d. A patient is blocking your access to another severely injured patient.

a. A patient has fallen off a ladder onto the grass while painting a house.

You suspect that your patient has a head, neck or spinal injury but needs to be moved. Which of the following techniques is most appropriate to use?

a. Shoulder drag

b. Blanket drag

c. Ankle drag

d. Firefighter's drag

b. Blanket drag

Which of the following is an example of a mechanism of injury?

a. Shock

b. Difficulty breathing

c. Abdominal pain

d. Explosion

d. Explosion

You are approaching the scene of an emergency and notice a strange odor and a large cloud of gas but no fire in the area of the emergency. You would suspect which of the following?

a. Explosion

b. Hazardous materials

c. Chocking

d. Penetrating trauma

b. Hazardous materials

Upon arriving at the scene of an emergency, which of the following is your first responsibility as an emergency medical responder (EMR)?

a. Keeping bystanders away from the area

b. Gaining access to the patients to provide care

c. Making sure that the scene is safe

d. Directing traffic away from the scene

c. Making sure that the scene is safe

Which of the following statements best reflects the principles of moving patients?

a. There are a number of different ways to move a patient to safety but only one way is best.

b. All team members should be trained in the proper techniques.

c. If the patient is conscious, do not explain what you are doing or what you are about to do so that you do not cause them to panic.

d. It is acceptable if the patient is injured in the process of being moved as long as the responders are not injured.

b. All team members should be trained in the proper techniques.

You are providing care to a patient and your assessment reveals that the patient is unstable. As a general rule, you should continue to reassess the patient at which of the following frequencies?

a. At least every 5 minutes

b. At least every 10 minutes

c. At least every 15 minutes

d. At least every 20 minutes

a. At least every 5 minutes

You are providing care to a patient at the scene of a motor-vehicle collision. The patient has a cut on their arm that is bleeding. You observe the bleeding as a steady stream oozing from the wound. Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) is the most important to use?

a. Gown

b. Mask

c. Disposable latex-free gloves

d. Safety goggles

c. Disposable latex-free gloves

Which of the following best reflects the purpose of an ongoing assessment?

a. Identify critical, life-threatening injuries.

b. Further assess signs and symptoms of an injury.

c. Identify and treat any changes in the patient's condition.

d. Provide a means of communication with arriving personnel.

c. Identify and treat any changes in the patient's condition.

When placing a blood pressure cuff on a patient's arm, ensure that the bladder of the cuff is centered over which of the following arteries?

a. Radial

b. Brachial

c. Ulnar

d. Femoral

b. Brachial

When communicating with medical control, which of the following should you do first?

a. Identify yourself.

b. Give the patient's chief complaint.

c. Report the patient's mental status.

d. Relay any changes in the patient's condition.

a. Identify yourself.

Which of the following is not a cause of mechanical airway obstruction?

a. A chunk of food

b. Loose dentures

c. Tongue

d. Vomitus

c. Tongue

The plane that divides the body horizontally into the superior and inferior planes is called the:

a. Frontal plane.

b. Axial plane.

c. Sagittal plane.

d. Coronal plane.

b. Axial plane.

Which of the following is most appropriate when performing the jaw-thrust (without head extension) maneuver to open the airway?

a. Tilting the head back

b. Thrusting the lower jaw upward without moving the head or neck

c. Maintaining pressure on the forehead

d. Lifting the chin in an upward motion

b. Thrusting the lower jaw upward without moving the head or neck

Which of the following should you do first when inserting an oral airway?

a. Insert the airway itself.

b. Select the proper size of airway.

c. Open the patient's mouth.

d. Ensure the patient is unconscious.

d. Ensure the patient is unconscious.

26. Which of the following structures separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity?

a. Diaphragm

b. Lungs

c. Bladder

d. Rib cage

a. Diaphragm

Which of the following organs is the largest body organ?

a. Liver

b. Skin

c. Alimentary tract

d. Skeleton

b. Skin

Which of the following would lead you to suspect that hazardous materials are most likely involved?

a. Downed utility lines

b. Broken glass bottles

c. Unusual odors

d. Activated sprinkler system

c. Unusual odors

Limit suctioning the mouth of an adult patient to no more than:

a. 5 seconds.

b. 10 seconds.

c. 15 seconds.

d. 20 seconds.

c. 15 seconds.

You are attempting to dislodge a foreign body from a conscious patient who is choking. The patient then becomes unconscious. Which of the following should you do next?

a. Carefully lower the patient to a firm, flat surface.

b. Open the patient's mouth.

c. Perform a finger sweep.

d. Give 2 ventilations.

a. Carefully lower the patient to a firm, flat surface.

The pressure gauge on an oxygen cylinder reads 200 pounds per square inch (psi). Which of the following actions is most appropriate?

a. Change the O-ring gasket.

b. Replace the oxygen cylinder with a new one.

c. Attach the flowmeter.

d. Lubricate the connection sites.

b. Replace the oxygen cylinder with a new one.

You are caring for a patient with a history of diabetes. The patient is awake but has cool, pale and sweaty skin. The patient's home glucometer shows a low blood glucose level. The patient is able to follow simple commands and can safely swallow. You should give this patient:

a. A glass of water.

b. A diet soda.

c. A teaspoon of honey.

d. 15 to 20 grams of sugar, preferably in the form of glucose tablets.

d. 15 to 20 grams of sugar, preferably in the form of glucose tablets.

Another term used to denote a heart attack is:

a. Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib).

b. Hypertension.

c. Myocardial infarction (MI).

d. Acute coronary syndrome.

c. Myocardial infarction (MI).

When should you not consider the use of an oropharyngeal airway (OPA)?

a. When the patient has no gag reflex

b. When the patient responds to verbal stimuli

c. When the patient is unresponsive

d. When the patient has no oral trauma

b. When the patient responds to verbal stimuli

When suctioning the mouth of a patient, which of the following is the most appropriate action?

a. Insert the suction tip as far back into the patient's throat as possible.

b. Measure the distance from the angle of the patient's jaw to the tip of their nose.

c. Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter in a sweeping motion.

d. Suction for at least 20 seconds each time.

c. Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter in a sweeping motion.

While interviewing a patient, you observe them grimace and hold their abdomen as they attempt to change position. Which of the following questions is least appropriate?

a. "Why did you make that face?"

b. "Are you having pain in your belly?"

c. "Does your abdomen feel strange?"

d. "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

a. "Why did you make that face?"

Which of the following should you interpret as indicating that a patient's airway is open and clear?

a. The patient's chest rises but does not fall.

b. You hear and feel air coming out of the patient's mouth and nose.

c. The patient is unable to speak.

d. The patient has a weak, high-pitched cough.

b. You hear and feel air coming out of the patient's mouth and nose.

You are providing care to a patient who is having a seizure. Which of the following is a priority?

a. Maintaining an open airway

b. Putting an object in the mouth to prevent tongue biting

c. Positioning the patient in the supine (face-up) position

d. Offering comfort and reassurance

a. Maintaining an open airway

Which of the following statements best describes stroke?

a. It is a temporary episode due to reduced blood flow to the brain.

b. It has a sudden onset and rapid disappearance of symptoms.

c. It is a disruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, which may cause permanent damage to brain tissue.

d. It results in irreversible brain damage each time.

c. It is a disruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, which may cause permanent damage to brain tissue.

Which of the following alerts you to the possibility that a patient is experiencing an overdose of a stimulant?

a. Sudden mood changes

b. Drowsiness

c. Rapid pulse

d. Slurred speech

c. Rapid pulse

When should a responder perform a finger sweep?

a. Anytime a patient is unconscious

b. When a conscious patient is choking

c. After providing chest compressions, checking the mouth, and seeing an object in the mouth

d. When an infant is crying

c. After providing chest compressions, checking the mouth, and seeing an object in the mouth

Upon arrival at an emergency scene, you suspect substance abuse. Which of the following is a priority?

a. Summoning more advanced medical personnel

b. Identifying the exact substance and dose that was involved

c. Securely restraining the patient

d. Maintaining the patient's body temperature

a. Summoning more advanced medical personnel

Which of the following is an example of a chief complaint?

a. The patient says, "I last drank water 1 hour ago."

b. The patient fell from a height of 6 feet.

c. The patient says, "I have a history of high blood pressure."

d. The patient says, "I was having some really severe pain in my chest."

d. The patient says, "I was having some really severe pain in my chest."

You arrive at an emergency scene and notice a strong smell of sulfur. You notice a patient lying unconscious inside the building. Which of the following should you do first?

a. Administer supplemental oxygen, based on local protocols.

b. Call specialized services for assistance.

c. Get the patient out of the building.

d. Open the patient's airway.

b. Call specialized services for assistance.

Water-rescue personnel summon you to an emergency scene. A child was stung by a jellyfish while swimming at the beach. Which of the following is the most appropriate for you to do?

a. Apply meat tenderizer to the area.

b. Flush the injured part in vinegar.

c. Apply aluminum sulfate to the area.

d. Irrigate the injured part with large amounts of seawater.

d. Irrigate the injured part with large amounts of seawater.

When dealing with a patient who is experiencing a behavioral emergency, which of the following is the most appropriate to establish a rapport?

a. Tell the patient that everything will be fine.

b. Touch the patient on the shoulder.

c. Speak directly to the patient and maintain eye contact.

d. Avoid making eye contact with the patient.

c. Speak directly to the patient and maintain eye contact.

Which of the following is the priority when caring for a child who may have been abused?

a. Reporting your findings to the authorities

b. Caring for the child's injuries or illness

c. Confronting the child's caretaker

d. Notifying local law enforcement

b. Caring for the child's injuries or illness

A patient has an open abdominal wound. If local protocols allow, which of the following dressings should you apply?

a. Occlusive dressing

b. Trauma dressing

c. Roller bandage

d. Adhesive compress

a. Occlusive dressing

Which of the following should you not do for a patient experiencing shock?

a. Give the patient a drink.

b. Administer supplemental oxygen, based on local protocols.

c. Take steps to minimize blood loss.

d. Cover the patient with a blanket.

a. Give the patient a drink.

When cardiac arrest occurs in children, it commonly results from which of the following?

a. Coronary artery disease

b. Airway and breathing problems

c. Myocardial infarction

d. Stroke

b. Airway and breathing problems

You are assessing an older adult for the signs and symptoms associated with a stroke using the FAST mnemonic. Which of the following findings reflects the T in the mnemonic?

a. The patient is unable to keep their left arm raised.

b. The patient is able to repeat words clearly and correctly.

c. The onset of symptoms occurred about 1 hour ago.

d. Drooling was observed from the left side of the patient's mouth.

c. The onset of symptoms occurred about 1 hour ago.

You are attempting to control moderate external bleeding. Which of the following should you do first?

a. Apply direct pressure to the wound.

b. Secure a dressing with a roller bandage.

c. Use a tourniquet.

d. Check for circulation beyond the injury.

a. Apply direct pressure to the wound.

To manage an emergency situation and provide appropriate care, a/an __________ must be established, organizing who is responsible for overall direction, the roles of other participants and the resources required.

a. National Response Framework (NRF)

b. Incident command system (ICS)

c. Triage system

d. National Incident Management System (NIMS)

b. Incident command system (ICS)

You arrive at the scene of an emergency and complete your primary assessment of a patient. You notice what looks like a bone protruding from an open and bleeding wound on the patient's lower leg. Which of the following should you do?

a. Apply direct pressure immediately above the open wound.

b. Raise the lower leg above the level of the heart.

c. Pack the area around the wound with sterile gauze.

d. Apply a tourniquet to the leg to constrict the blood vessels.

c. Pack the area around the wound with sterile gauze.

You arrive at the scene of an emergency in which a 35 year old caught their hand in the blades of a lawn mower. Two of the patient's fingers are completely severed, and a third finger is partially severed and is hanging loosely. You should identify the partially severed finger as which of the following?

a. Amputation

b. Avulsion

c. Crush injury

d. Laceration

b. Avulsion

Which of the following is the most common heart rhythm associated with sudden cardiac arrest?

a. Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)

b. Atrial fibrillation

c. Asystole

d. Sinus rhythm

a. Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)

You are providing care to a patient with a thermal burn injury. The patient has been removed from the source of the burn. You prepare to act, focusing on which of the following as the priority?

a. Minimizing shock

b. Cooling the burned area

c. Covering the burned area

d. Maintaining body temperature

b. Cooling the burned area

A closed abdominal injury dictates the patient be positioned:

a. On their side with arms flexed.

b. On their back with knees slightly bent.

c. Sitting up and leaning forward.

d. On their right side with their left leg raised.

b. On their back with knees slightly bent.

You are preparing to care for a patient with an open fracture to an extremity. The wound is oozing blood. Which of the following should you do first?

a. Check the patient's range of motion.

b. Attempt to straighten the extremity.

c. Control the bleeding.

d. Follow standard precautions.

d. Follow standard precautions.

You need to manually stabilize a patient's head and neck. The patient's head is turned sharply to the right. Which of the following should you do?

a. Ensure the patient's head is facing forward.

b. Place one hand on the side of the patient's head.

c. Apply a cervical collar (C-collar).

d. Support the head and neck in the position found.

d. Support the head and neck in the position found.

You suspect that a pregnant woman is experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions when the contractions:

a. Are irregular in nature.

b. Increase in intensity.

c. Occur with increasing frequency.

d. Occur at regular intervals.

a. Are irregular in nature.

Which of the following is the most appropriate to do to help cool a child with a high fever?

a. Remove any excess clothing or blankets.

b. Rub the child's skin vigorously with rubbing alcohol.

c. Sponge the child with cold tap water.

d. Place the child in a tub of ice water.

a. Remove any excess clothing or blankets.

A patient has fallen off a stepladder. During the fall, their chest hit the side of the ladder. You suspect that they may be experiencing traumatic asphyxia. Which of the following helps support your suspicions?

a. Slow breathing

b. Coughing up blood

c. Warm flushed skin

d. Slow bounding pulse

b. Coughing up blood

Which of the following is the most appropriate to remember when assessing and providing emergency care to an older adult?

a. Clear, slow, calm explanations are important.

b. The older adult's skin requires less gentle handling because it toughens with aging.

c. Dentures rarely interfere with maintaining an open airway.

d. Significant pressure is needed when giving ventilations.

a. Clear, slow, calm explanations are important.

You are providing care to a pregnant woman in labor. As you inspect the patient, you notice that the baby's head is crowning but there is a small loop of the umbilical cord coming out of the vaginal opening. Which of the following should you do immediately?

a. Gently massage the woman's abdomen.

b. Insert your gloved index and middle finger as a V into the vagina.

c. Have the woman assume a knee-chest position.

d. Refrain from touching or pulling on the baby.

c. Have the woman assume a knee-chest position.

When providing care to a child with autism, which of the following is the most appropriate?

a. Tell the child to look directly at you.

b. Use touch to communicate with the child.

c. Expect the child to exhibit age-appropriate behaviors.

d. Use verbal explanations of emotions.

d. Use verbal explanations of emotions.

Which of the following emergency situations is the least likely to require air medical transport?

a. Passengers unrestrained in a vehicle that has rolled over

b. A building fire involving multiple patients with severe burns

c. A patient experiencing chest pain

d. A patient who fell from a third-story window

c. A patient experiencing chest pain

A patient has an open wound through which several organs are protruding. Which of the following should you do first?

a. Position the patient on their back with knees bent.

b. Summon more advanced medical personnel.

c. Remove clothing from around the wound.

d. Apply moist clean dressings loosely over the wound.

b. Summon more advanced medical personnel.

The safe and appropriate removal of a patient trapped in a motor vehicle or dangerous situation is called:

a. Complex access.

b. Cribbing.

c. Chocking.

d. Extrication.

d. Extrication.

The term hazardous materials refers to which of the following?

a. Any chemical substance or material that can pose a threat to the health, safety and property of an individual

b. The probability that a substance is poisonous

c. The degree to which a substance may ignite or catch fire

d. The possibility of a reaction if a substance is exposed to another substance

a. Any chemical substance or material that can pose a threat to the health, safety and property of an individual

You are preparing to use the DuoDote™ antidote kit based on the understanding that the patient has been exposed to which of the following?

a. Radiological/nuclear agent

b. Nerve agent

c. Biological agent

d. Explosive

b. Nerve agent

You are preparing to administer supplemental oxygen to a patient. Your assessment reveals that the patient has a nasal injury. Which of the following delivery devices is least appropriate to use for this patient?

a. Nasal cannula

b. Resuscitation mask

c. Bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator

d. Non-rebreather mask

a. Nasal cannula

For severe, life-threatening bleeding, it is appropriate to apply a tourniquet as the first step for controlling bleeding in all of the following situations, except when:

a. An entrapped limb makes it impossible to apply direct pressure to control the bleeding.

b. It is possible to safely apply direct pressure over the wound.

c. A scene is unsafe.

d. A multiple-casualty incident involves several patients with life-threatening injuries and there are limited resources available.

c. A scene is unsafe.

Which of the following statements best describes the National Incident Management System (NIMS)?

a. It coordinates the response to and recovery from disasters in the United States when those disasters overwhelm local and state resources.

b. It is a comprehensive framework that outlines the structures for response activities for command and management.

c. It is responsible for bringing together facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications within a single organizational structure.

d. It is structured in five functional areas, including command, operations, planning, logistics and finance/administration.

b. It is a comprehensive framework that outlines the structures for response activities for command and management.

A person is trapped in a farm silo. This situation is considered which of the following?

a. Cave-in

b. Confined space

c. High-angle situation

d. Hazardous terrain

b. Confined space