EMT Skills and Training 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a jaw-thrust maneuver, what is the primary purpose of this technique?
- Open the airway without moving the cervical spine (Correct answer)
- Provide supplemental oxygen directly
- Stimulate the gag reflex
- Clear foreign body obstructions
Correct answer: Open the airway without moving the cervical spine
The jaw-thrust maneuver opens the airway while maintaining cervical spine stabilization, making it the preferred technique for trauma patients.
Question 2: An EMT is applying a tourniquet to a patient with severe extremity bleeding. How far above the wound should the tourniquet be placed?
- Directly over the wound
- 2-3 inches proximal to the wound (Correct answer)
- At least 6 inches above the wound
- At the nearest joint above the wound
Correct answer: 2-3 inches proximal to the wound
A tourniquet should be placed 2-3 inches proximal to the wound to effectively occlude arterial blood flow.
Question 3: During CPR on an adult, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single EMT?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 5:1
- 15:1
Correct answer: 30:2
The current AHA guidelines recommend a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR with a single rescuer.
Question 4: What is the minimum oxygen flow rate when using a nonrebreather mask for a critically ill patient?
- 4-6 L/min
- 6-8 L/min
- 10-15 L/min (Correct answer)
- 2-4 L/min
Correct answer: 10-15 L/min
A nonrebreather mask requires 10-15 L/min to keep the reservoir bag adequately inflated and deliver approximately 90% oxygen.
Question 5: When splinting a suspected femur fracture, what adjacent joints must be immobilized?
- Only the knee
- Only the hip
- Both the hip and the knee (Correct answer)
- The knee and ankle
Correct answer: Both the hip and the knee
Proper femur splinting requires immobilizing the joint above (hip) and the joint below (knee) the fracture site.
Question 6: A patient is found unresponsive with no pulse. After two minutes of CPR, what is the next appropriate action?
- Continue CPR for another five minutes
- Analyze the cardiac rhythm with an AED (Correct answer)
- Administer epinephrine
- Perform a secondary assessment
Correct answer: Analyze the cardiac rhythm with an AED
AHA guidelines call for a rhythm check every two minutes of CPR, using an AED to analyze and potentially deliver a shock.
Question 7: Which technique is used to confirm proper endotracheal tube placement in the field?
- Checking for bilateral breath sounds and watching for chest rise (Correct answer)
- Observing skin color changes only
- Measuring the tube depth at the teeth
- Auscultating over the stomach only
Correct answer: Checking for bilateral breath sounds and watching for chest rise
Field confirmation of ET tube placement includes auscultating bilateral breath sounds, watching chest rise, and using waveform capnography if available.
