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West Coast EMT Block 3 Exam Questions and Answers 2025
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A 30-year-old male experienced a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure, which stopped before you arrived at the scene. The patient is conscious, is answering your questions appropriately, and refuses EMS transport. Which of the following would be the MOST compelling reason to disagree with his refusal of transport?
Select one:
A. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 15
B. His wife states that this was his "usual" seizure
C. He has experienced seizures since he was 20
D. He is currently not prescribed any medications - ☑️ ☑️ D. He is currently not prescribed any medications
A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT eligible for thrombolytic (fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she:
Select one:
A. has had a prior heart attack.
B. has bleeding within the brain.
C. has a GCS score that is less than 8.
D. is older than 60 years of age. - ☑️ ☑️ B. has bleeding within the brain.
A patient whose speech is slurred and difficult to understand is experiencing:
Select one:
A. paraplegia.
B. dysphagia.
C. dysarthria.
D. aphasia. - ☑️ ☑️ C. dysarthria.
A patient with an altered mental status is:
Select one:
A. typically alert but is confused as to preceding events.
B. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused.
C. usually able to be aroused with a painful stimulus.
D. completely unresponsive to all forms of stimuli. - ☑️ ☑️ B. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused.
During the primary assessment of a semiconscious 70-year-old female, you should:
Select one:
A. insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assist ventilations.
B. ask family members if the patient has a history of stroke.
C. immediately determine the patient's blood glucose level.
D. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed. - ☑️ ☑️ D. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed.
Interruption of cerebral blood flow may result from all of the following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. an embolism.
B. cerebral vasodilation.
C. a thrombus.
D. an acute arterial rupture. - ☑️ ☑️ B. cerebral vasodilation.
The left cerebral hemisphere controls:
Select one:
A. heart rate and pupil reaction.
B. the right side of the face.
C. breathing and blood pressure.
B. respiratory distress.
C. an acute stroke.
D. a febrile convulsion. - ☑️ ☑️ A. a seizure.
When you are obtaining medical history from the family of a suspected stroke patient, it is MOST important to determine:
Select one:
A. if the patient has been hospitalized before.
B. if there is a family history of a stroke.
C. when the patient last appeared normal.
D. the patient's overall medication compliance. - ☑️ ☑️ C. when the patient last appeared normal.
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Select one:
A. Intracranial bleeding
B. A postictal state
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Hypovolemia - ☑️ ☑️ D. Hypovolemia
Which of the following conditions would MOST likely affect the entire brain?
Select one:
A. Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest
B. Ruptured cerebral artery in the occipital lobe
C. Blocked cerebral artery in the frontal lobe
D. Reduced blood supply to the left hemisphere - ☑️ ☑️ A. Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest
Which of the following MOST accurately describes a simple partial seizure?
Select one:
A. A generalized seizure without incontinence
B. A seizure that causes the patient to stare blankly
C. A seizure that begins in one extremity
D. A seizure that is not preceded by an aura - ☑️ ☑️ C. A seizure that begins in one extremity
Which of the following MOST accurately describes what the patient will experience during the postictal state that follows a seizure?
Select one:
A. A gradually decreasing level of consciousness
B. A rapidly improving level of consciousness
C. Hyperventilation and hypersalivation
D. Confusion and fatigue - ☑️ ☑️ D. Confusion and fatigue
Which of the following symptoms would lead the EMT to believe that a patient's headache is caused by sinus congestion?
Select one:
A. The headache began suddenly
B. There is associated neck stiffness
C. There is numbness in the extremities
D. The pain is worse when bending over - ☑️ ☑️ D. The pain is worse when bending over
You are caring for a 68-year-old man with sudden onset of left-sided paralysis and slurred speech. His airway is patent, his respirations are 14 breaths/min with adequate depth, and his oxygen saturation is 98%. Treatment for this patient should include:
Select one:
A. recovery position and transport.
C. esophageal varices.
D. acute pancreatitis. - ☑️ ☑️ A. Mallory-Weiss tear.
A 30-year-old woman with a history of alcoholism presents with severe upper abdominal pain and is vomiting large amounts of bright red blood. Her skin is cool, pale, and clammy; her heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak; and her blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg. Your MOST immediate action should be to:
Select one:
A. rapidly transport her to the hospital.
B. give her high-flow supplemental oxygen.
C. protect her airway from aspiration.
D. keep her supine and keep her warm. - ☑️ ☑️ C. protect her airway from aspiration.
A 47-year-old male presents with severe abdominal pain of 3 hours' duration. His abdomen is distended and guarded. Your MOST important consideration for this patient should be to:
Select one:
A. be alert for signs and symptoms of shock.
B. assess his blood pressure to determine perfusion adequacy.
C. transport him in a supine position.
D. determine the exact location and cause of his pain. - ☑️ ☑️ A. be alert for signs and symptoms of shock.
A 59-year-old male presents with sudden-onset severe lower back pain. He is conscious and alert, but very restless and diaphoretic. Your assessment reveals a pulsating mass to the left of his umbilicus. You should:
Select one:
A. request a paramedic unit to give the patient pain medication.
B. vigorously palpate the abdomen to establish pain severity.
C. administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport.
D. place the patient in a sitting position and transport at once. - ☑️ ☑️ C. administer oxygen and prepare for immediate transport.
A young female presents with costovertebral angle tenderness. She is conscious and alert with stable vital signs. Which of the following organs is MOST likely causing her pain?
Select one:
A. Pancreas
B. Liver
C. Kidney
D. Gallbladder - ☑️ ☑️ C. Kidney
An important aspect in the treatment of a patient with severe abdominal pain is to:
Select one:
A. provide emotional support en route to the hospital.
B. give 100% oxygen only if signs of shock are present.
C. encourage the patient to remain in a supine position.
D. administer analgesic medications to alleviate pain. - ☑️ ☑️ A. provide emotional support en route to the hospital.
For a patient with a gastrointestinal complaint, it is MOST important for the EMT to _________.
Select one:
A. avoid transporting the patient if the condition is minor
B. perform all interventions prior to transport
C. determine the cause of the patient's complaint
D. identify whether the patient requires rapid transport - ☑️ ☑️ D. identify whether the patient requires rapid transport
Most patients with abdominal pain prefer to:
D. sedentary adults - ☑️ ☑️ C. women
When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you should:
Select one:
A. visually assess the painful area of the abdomen, but avoid palpation because this could worsen his or her condition.
B. palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
C. ask the patient to point to the area of pain or tenderness and assess for rebound tenderness over that specific area.
D. observe for abdominal guarding, which is characterized by sudden relaxation of the abdominal muscles when palpated. - ☑️ ☑️ B. palpate the abdomen in a clockwise direction, beginning with the quadrant after the one the patient indicates is painful.
Which of the following helps filter the blood and has no digestive function?
Select one:
A. Large intestine
B. Spleen
C. Stomach
D. Small intestine - ☑️ ☑️ B. Spleen
Which of the following is correct about the secondary assessment for a high-priority patient?
Select one:
A. The secondary assessment must be performed prior to transport.
B. Never contact medical direction before completing the secondary assessment.
C. You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment.
D. Never perform a secondary assessment on a high-priority patient. - ☑️ ☑️ C. You may not have time to complete a secondary assessment.
Which of the following may help reduce your patient's nausea?
Select one:
A. Low-flow oxygen
B. Positive-pressure ventilation
C. Cricoid pressure
D. Oral glucose - ☑️ ☑️ A. Low-flow oxygen
Which of the following organs lies in the retroperitoneal space?
Select one:
A. Pancreas
B. Gallbladder
C. Spleen
D. Liver - ☑️ ☑️ A. Pancreas
Which of the following statements regarding dialysis is correct?
Select one:
A. Acute hypertension is a common adverse effect of dialysis.
B. The purpose of dialysis is to help the kidneys retain salt and water.
C. Hemodialysis is effective but carries a high risk of peritonitis.
D. Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness. - ☑️ ☑️ D. Patients who miss a dialysis treatment often present with weakness.
Which of the following statements regarding the acute abdomen is correct?
Select one:
A. The initial pain associated with an acute abdomen tends to be vague and poorly localized.
B. The parietal peritoneum is typically the first abdominal layer that becomes inflamed or irritated.
C. The most common cause of an acute abdomen is inflammation of the gallbladder and liver.
A 66-year-old woman experienced a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She has a history of type 2 diabetes and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). On the basis of her medical history, which of the following should the EMT suspect?
Select one:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Severe hypoglycemia
C. Diabetic ketoacidosis
D. Congestive heart failure - ☑️ ☑️ A. Pulmonary embolism
A 75-year-old male with type 1 diabetes presents with chest pain and a general feeling of weakness. He tells you that he took his insulin today and ate a regular meal approximately 2 hours ago. You should treat this patient as though he is experiencing:
Select one:
A. hyperglycemia.
B. hypoglycemia.
C. a heart attack.
D. an acute stroke. - ☑️ ☑️ C. a heart attack.
A man finds his 59-year-old wife unconscious on the couch. He states that she takes medications for type 2 diabetes. He further tells you that his wife has been ill recently and has not eaten for the past 24 hours. Your assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive. You should:
Select one:
A. open and maintain her airway and assess breathing.
B. administer 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.
C. assess for the presence of a medical identification tag.
D. administer oral glucose between her cheek and gum. - ☑️ ☑️ A. open and maintain her airway and assess breathing.
A patient with an altered mental status; high blood glucose levels; and deep, rapid breathing may have a condition known as __________.
Select one:
A. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma
B. hypoglycemic crisis
C. hyperglycemic crisis
D. diabetic ketoacidosis - ☑️ ☑️ D. diabetic ketoacidosis
A patient with hypoglycemia will often present with which of the following signs/symptoms?
Select one:
A. Warm, red, and dry skin
B. Deep, rapid respirations
C. Pale, cool, and clammy skin
D. Hypertension - ☑️ ☑️ C. Pale, cool, and clammy skin
Classic signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
Select one:
A. cool, clammy skin; weakness; tachycardia; and rapid respirations.
B. warm, dry skin; hunger; abdominal pain; and deep, slow respirations.
C. warm, dry skin; irritability; bradycardia; and rapid respirations.
D. cold, clammy skin; bradycardia; hunger; and deep, rapid respirations. - ☑️ ☑️ A. cool, clammy skin; weakness; tachycardia; and rapid respirations.
During your assessment of a 19-year-old male, you are told that he is being treated with factor VIII. This indicates that:
Select one:
A. his blood clots too quickly.
B. he has thrombophilia.
C. he has hemophilia A.
A. markedly overeats and misses an insulin dose.
B. takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin.
C. misses one or two prescribed insulin injections.
D. eats a regular meal followed by mild exertion. - ☑️ ☑️ B. takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin.
The EMT should assess for hypoglycemia in small children with a severe illness or injury because:
Select one:
A. children overproduce insulin during severe illness or injury.
B. children cannot store excess glucose as effectively as adults.
C. a child's cells do not uptake glucose as rapidly as adults' do.
D. illness or injury causes the pancreas to produce less insulin. - ☑️ ☑️ B. children cannot store excess glucose as effectively as adults.
The main function of the endocrine system is to _________.
Select one:
A. regulate blood flow
B. regulate glucose and calcium
C. produce glandular secretions
D. maintain homeostasis - ☑️ ☑️ D. maintain homeostasis
The normal blood glucose level is between:
Select one:
A. 30 and 150 mg/dL.
B. 60 and 80 mg/dL.
C. 160 and 200 mg/dL.
D. 80 and 120 mg/dL. - ☑️ ☑️ D. 80 and 120 mg/dL.
The two main types of cells contained in blood are called _________.
Select one:
A. erythrocytes and leukocytes
B. transport and clotting
C. platelets and plasma
D. hemoglobin A and S - ☑️ ☑️ A. erythrocytes and leukocytes
Which of the following conditions is the diabetic patient at an increased risk of developing?
Select one:
A. Alcoholism
B. Hepatitis B
C. Depression
D. Blindness - ☑️ ☑️ D. Blindness
Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct?
Select one:
A. The brain requires insulin to allow glucose to enter the cells.
B. The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen.
C. Blood glucose levels decrease in the absence of insulin.
D. Most cells will function normally without glucose. - ☑️ ☑️ B. The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen.
Which of the following statements regarding sickle cell disease is correct?
Select one:
A. Because of their abnormal shape, red blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease are less apt to lodge in a blood vessel.
A. Quickly determine if there are any bystanders who may carry epinephrine.
B. Administer oxygen, transport at once, and request a paramedic intercept.
C. Remain at the scene with the patient and request a paramedic ambulance.
D. Ask the patient if he has any diphenhydramine tablets that you can administer. - ☑️ ☑️ B. Administer oxygen, transport at once, and request a paramedic intercept.
After administering 0.3 mg of epinephrine via auto-injector to a 22-year-old woman with an allergic reaction, you note improvement in her breathing and dissipation of her hives. However, she is still anxious and tachycardic. You should:
Select one:
A. contact medical control and obtain authorization to administer another 0.3 mg of epinephrine.
B. consider administering 0.15 mg of epinephrine to completely resolve her allergic reaction.
C. transport her rapidly, as it is obvious that she is having a severe reaction to the epinephrine.
D. monitor her closely but recall that anxiety and tachycardia are side effects of epinephrine. - ☑️ ☑️ D. monitor her closely but recall that anxiety and tachycardia are side effects of epinephrine.
Anaphylaxis caused by stinging insects is typically an allergic reaction to ____________ rather than the bite or sting itself.
Select one:
A. injected poison
B. irritating toxin
C. deadly venom
D. All of these answers are correct. - ☑️ ☑️ D. All of these answers are correct.
Anaphylaxis is MOST accurately defined as a(n):
Select one:
A. moderate allergic reaction that primarily affects the vasculature.
B. extreme allergic reaction that may affect multiple body systems.
C. severe allergic reaction that typically resolves without treatment.
D. allergic reaction that causes bronchodilation and vasoconstriction. - ☑️ ☑️ B. extreme allergic reaction that may affect multiple body systems.
At the site of the injury, signs and symptoms of an animal or insect bite or sting may include pain, localized heat, and a wheal, which appears as __________.
Select one:
A. an uncomfortable depression in the skin
B. a large area of red, blotchy skin
C. a series of small, raised pustules
D. a raised, well-defined area of the skin - ☑️ ☑️ D. a raised, well-defined area of the skin
Care for a victim of an immunologic emergency who is severely hypotensive should include which of the following?
Select one:
A. Position the patient's airway and initiate positive-pressure ventilations.
B. Initiate basic life support measures, including the use of an automated external defibrillator, if necessary.
C. Routine spinal immobilization due to the potential for traumatic injury
D. Apply high-flow oxygen therapy, place the patient in a shock position, and help maintain the patient's body temperature. - ☑️ ☑️ D. Apply high-flow oxygen therapy, place the patient in a shock position, and help maintain the patient's body temperature.
Epinephrine stimulates the ________ response, increasing blood pressure and relieving bronchospasm.
Select one:
A. parasympathetic
B. cardiac
