Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Basic) Prometric exam questions with answers

1. Question 1Airway, Breathing and Circulationeasy

   Which measurement is used to select the correct size of an oropharyngeal airway?

   1. AFrom the tip of the chin to the notch at the top of the sternum
   2. BFrom the bridge of the nose to the angle of the lower jaw
   3. CFrom the corner of the mouth to the earlobe on the same side
   4. DFrom the tip of the nose to the tip of the earlobe on the same side
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. From the corner of the mouth to the earlobe on the same side

   An oropharyngeal airway should reach from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe or angle of the jaw, so that its tip rests in the pharynx and holds the tongue forward. Measuring from the nose to the earlobe is the method for a nasopharyngeal airway.

2. Question 2Airway, Breathing and Circulationmedium

   An AED delivers one shock to an adult in cardiac arrest. What is the next action?

   1. AResume chest compressions at once and continue for two minutes
   2. BGive two rescue breaths before restarting chest compressions
   3. CCheck the carotid pulse for ten seconds before doing anything else at all
   4. DWait about thirty seconds for the AED to re-analyse the rhythm on its own
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Resume chest compressions at once and continue for two minutes

   Compressions are restarted straight after the shock because the heart often shows no pulse for some time even after a successful defibrillation. A cycle of about two minutes is then given before the rhythm is analysed again.

3. Question 3Paediatricseasy

   Which three components make up the Pediatric Assessment Triangle used for a quick general impression of a sick child?

   1. AAirway, consciousness and blood glucose checked with a meter
   2. BSkin colour, body temperature and weight estimated by the crew
   3. CPulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate recorded on a chart
   4. DAppearance, work of breathing and circulation to the skin
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Appearance, work of breathing and circulation to the skin

   The triangle assesses appearance, work of breathing and circulation to skin, and these can be judged from the doorway in seconds without touching the child. It helps decide urgency before vital signs are measured.

4. Question 4Paediatricshard

   A febrile 3-year-old is sitting upright and leaning forward, drooling with a muffled voice, and looks toxic. What is the most appropriate management?

   1. AInsert an oropharyngeal airway to secure the airway before moving
   2. BKeep the child calm in a position of comfort, give oxygen and transport
   3. CLay the child flat and examine the throat with a tongue depressor
   4. DSeparate the child from the parent and give a nebulised saline treatment
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Keep the child calm in a position of comfort, give oxygen and transport

   These findings suggest epiglottitis, in which agitation or throat examination can trigger complete airway obstruction. The child is left in the position of comfort, given blow-by oxygen and moved quickly to a hospital that can secure the airway.

5. Question 5Medical, Behavioural and Obstetricseasy

   A 62-year-old man has chest pain consistent with acute coronary syndrome. He has no aspirin allergy and has not taken aspirin today. What should the EMT give?

   1. APlain (non-enteric-coated) aspirin 160 to 325 mg, chewed
   2. BIbuprofen 400 mg swallowed whole with a sip of water
   3. CAcetaminophen 1,000 mg swallowed whole with sips of water
   4. DEnteric-coated aspirin 650 mg swallowed whole with water
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Plain (non-enteric-coated) aspirin 160 to 325 mg, chewed

   Chewed aspirin is absorbed quickly and inhibits platelet aggregation, which lowers mortality in suspected acute coronary syndrome. Enteric-coated tablets swallowed whole absorb too slowly, and other analgesics have no antiplatelet benefit of this kind.

6. Question 6Medical, Behavioural and Obstetricsmedium

   A 20 kg child is stung by a bee and develops hives, wheeze and a falling blood pressure. The EMT carries 0.15 mg and 0.3 mg epinephrine auto-injectors. What is the appropriate treatment?

   1. AThe 0.3 mg auto-injector into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm
   2. BThe 0.15 mg auto-injector into the muscle of the anterolateral thigh
   3. CThe 0.15 mg auto-injector into the subcutaneous fat of the abdomen
   4. DAlbuterol by nebuliser first and epinephrine only if wheeze persists
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. The 0.15 mg auto-injector into the muscle of the anterolateral thigh

   Anaphylaxis with respiratory and circulatory signs needs epinephrine at once, and the lower-dose auto-injector is used for children of roughly 15 to 30 kg. The anterolateral thigh gives rapid absorption, and bronchodilators do not replace epinephrine.

7. Question 7EMS Operationsmedium

   An ambulance crew arrives at a crash involving a tanker with a placard on the side and a visible leak. What should be done first?

   1. AApproach the driver to confirm the product from the shipping papers at once
   2. BMove the patients away at once without protective equipment
   3. CStay uphill and upwind and read the placard from a safe distance
   4. DPark next to the tanker so that patient access is quick
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Stay uphill and upwind and read the placard from a safe distance

   Hazardous materials incidents require the crew to stay out of the danger zone, identify the substance from a safe distance and call specialist teams. Entering without the correct protection turns rescuers into additional casualties.

8. Question 8Patient Assessmenteasy

   An EMT asks a patient to rate the pain on a scale of zero to ten. Which element of the OPQRST history does this represent?

   1. AProvocation
   2. BRadiation
   3. CQuality
   4. DSeverity
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Severity

   Asking the patient to give the pain a numerical score assesses its severity. Quality describes the character of the pain, radiation where it spreads, and provocation what makes it better or worse.

9. Question 9Patient Assessmentmedium

   An unstable trauma patient is being transported. How often should vital signs be reassessed?

   1. AEvery thirty minutes until arrival at the emergency department
   2. BEvery five minutes, or more often if the condition changes
   3. COnce at the scene and once again on arrival at hospital
   4. DEvery fifteen minutes throughout the whole transport
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Every five minutes, or more often if the condition changes

   Unstable patients can deteriorate rapidly, so reassessment is repeated about every five minutes, while stable patients are reassessed about every fifteen minutes. Frequent checks enable early detection of changes such as developing shock.

10. Question 10Preparatorymedium

    An unresponsive adult with a life-threatening condition is found alone with no relatives present. On what legal basis may the EMT treat?

    1. AParental consent given by the nearest adult family member
    2. BExpressed consent given verbally by a patient who is awake
    3. CInformed written consent signed by a bystander on scene
    4. DImplied consent, since a reasonable person would accept care
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. Implied consent, since a reasonable person would accept care

    Implied consent assumes that a reasonable person would want life-saving care when unable to consent. Expressed or informed consent requires a patient who can understand and agree to the treatment.

11. Question 11Preparatoryeasy

    Which body mechanics technique reduces the risk of back injury when lifting a stretcher?

    1. ABend at the waist with straight legs and lift by pulling hard with the arms
    2. BTwist the torso while lifting to turn the stretcher towards the vehicle quickly
    3. CKeep the back straight, bend the knees, hold the load close and lift with the legs
    4. DHold the load away from the body to keep the arms free of strain on the back
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Keep the back straight, bend the knees, hold the load close and lift with the legs

    The strongest muscles for lifting are in the legs, so keeping the back straight and the load close to the body reduces strain on the spine. Twisting or bending forward while lifting is a common cause of injury.

12. Question 12Traumahard

    A man with a stab wound to the left chest has severe dyspnoea, distended neck veins, absent breath sounds on the left and a blood pressure of 78/50 mmHg. What is the most likely condition?

    1. ATension pneumothorax on the left
    2. BPericardial tamponade with a fluid collection around the heart
    3. CMassive left haemothorax with severe loss of circulating volume
    4. DSimple pneumothorax with only mild displacement of the lung
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Tension pneumothorax on the left

    Absent breath sounds with distended neck veins and shock indicates rising intrathoracic pressure that is obstructing venous return, which is tension pneumothorax. A massive haemothorax produces flat veins because of blood loss, and a simple pneumothorax does not cause shock.

13. Question 13Traumamedium

    What is the correct dressing for an open chest wound that makes a sucking sound during breathing?

    1. AA moist gauze pad left open at all edges
    2. BA dry gauze pad taped on all four sides
    3. CA pressure bandage wrapped around the chest
    4. DAn occlusive dressing taped on three sides
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. An occlusive dressing taped on three sides

    A dressing sealed on three sides lets air escape from the pleural space on expiration but prevents more entering on inspiration, avoiding tension pneumothorax. A fully sealed dressing can trap air, and an unsealed one allows air to be sucked in.

14. Question 14Traumahard

    An adult has burns to the entire front of the trunk and the whole of the left arm. Using the rule of nines, what is the approximate total body surface area burned?

    1. AApproximately 45 percent
    2. BApproximately 27 percent
    3. CApproximately 18 percent
    4. DApproximately 36 percent
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Approximately 27 percent

    The front of the trunk accounts for 18 percent and one entire arm for 9 percent, giving about 27 percent. Burn extent helps determine severity and destination hospital.

15. Question 15Traumamedium

    Which assessment must be repeated before and after an extremity is splinted?

    1. ABlood glucose and oxygen saturation levels
    2. BBlood pressure on the injured arm only
    3. CDistal pulse, motor function and sensation
    4. DSkin temperature of the unaffected limb
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Distal pulse, motor function and sensation

    Checking circulation, motor function and sensation distal to the injury shows whether the splint has compromised blood flow or nerves. A change after splinting means it must be loosened and reapplied.

Last reviewed September 2026. Questions are original and written to the published exam blueprint; they are not taken from any real paper.