EMR Emergency Medical Prep practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q11What is the recommended position for communicating effectively with a patient lying on a stretcher during an emergency response?
✓ Correct answer: A. Position yourself at the head of the stretcher, at eye level with the patient.
Answer: Position yourself at the head of the stretcher, at eye level with the patient. Maintaining eye level contact with a patient lying on a stretcher helps you appear non-threatening and reassuring, which is critical during emergency responses. Standing over the patient's chest can be intimidating and uncomfortable for the patient. Positioning yourself at the foot of the stretcher or on a chair beside it prevents effective eye contact.
Q12Your EMS unit responds to an elementary school at 2 p.m. for a 7-year-old female who is experiencing difficulty breathing. Upon your arrival, the girl is leaning forward, drooling, and appears to be in distress. What condition is this patient most likely experiencing?
✓ Correct answer: C. Epiglottitis
Epiglottitis is a serious condition characterized by inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis, leading to severe airway obstruction. The patient often appears in distress, leaning forward, and drooling due to difficulty swallowing. Croup, on the other hand, presents with a seal-like barking cough and is common in younger children. Asthma is characterized by wheezing due to airway constriction, while flu symptoms include body aches, fever, and nausea, which do not typically cause the airway distress seen in epiglottitis.
Q13During rescue breathing, what is the most common barrier-to-airflow encountered in patients experiencing a cardiac arrest?
✓ Correct answer: D. The tongue
Answer: The tongue When a patient is in cardiac arrest, the tongue relaxes and may obstruct the upper airway. This is why maneuvers such as the head-tilt/chin-lift and jaw-thrust are employed to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway. Additionally, airway adjuncts can help keep the tongue from causing an obstruction. A foreign body, blood, and vomit can also cause an airway obstruction, but the tongue is the most common cause in patients experiencing cardiac arrest.
Q14While preparing equipment for a community event, you notice the gauge on the portable oxygen concentrator reads 450 psi. When should you replace or recharge the oxygen concentrator for it to be ready for emergency use?
✓ Correct answer: A. When the concentrator reads under 500 psi
Answer: When the concentrator reads under 500 psi Oxygen concentrators should be replaced or recharged when the reading is under 500 psi. An oxygen level below 500 psi is considered too low for emergency use. It should be replaced or recharged to ensure it has sufficient oxygen pressure, ideally around 2,000 psi. Maintaining a reading above 500 psi ensures that there is enough remaining oxygen for emergency needs.
Q15You are assisting with bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation for an adult patient showing signs of respiratory distress. How often should you squeeze the bag to provide a breath after your initial two ventilations?
✓ Correct answer: A. Every 6 seconds
Answer: Every 6 seconds For an adult patient who is in respiratory distress and requires BVM ventilation, you should initially provide two ventilations spaced seconds apart. After these initial ventilations, continue to provide a breath every 6 seconds. This frequency ensures that the patient receives approximately 10 breaths per minute, which is essential for adequate ventilation. Providing a breath every 2, 5, or 8 seconds will not offer optimal oxygenation and may lead to either hyperventilation or hypoventilation.
Q16You are assisting in the care of a patient experiencing a suspected heart attack. You recognize that the patient’s heart is not pumping effectively. Which term describes the process by which the heart pumps blood throughout the body?
✓ Correct answer: D. Circulation
Answer: Circulation Circulation is the movement of blood throughout the body, facilitated by the heart. During a heart attack, the heart's ability to pump blood effectively can be compromised, necessitating medical intervention to restore proper circulation. Perfusion refers to the delivery of blood to the body's tissues and organs. Respiration is the process of breathing, involving the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that occurs in cells, involving the combination of oxygen with other substances.
Q17Which body system is responsible for delivering oxygen to tissues and removing carbon dioxide from the body?
✓ Correct answer: A. Respiratory system
The correct answer is the Respiratory system. The respiratory system includes the airways, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles that power the lungs. All these parts work together to move oxygen throughout the body and remove waste like carbon dioxide. Circulatory system: Although it transports blood, including oxygenated blood from the lungs to the body's tissues, it does not directly involve the exchange of gases. Skeletal system: Primarily responsible for supporting and shaping the body, it is not involved in the gas exchange process. Endocrine system: A collection of glands that produce hormones to regulate various functions, including metabolism and growth, but it does not play a role in gas exchange.
Q18In an emergency situation, a bystander without formal CPR training witnesses someone suddenly collapse and become unresponsive. Which type of CPR is recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) to be performed by this bystander?
✓ Correct answer: D. Hands-only CPR
Answer: Hands-only CPR The AHA recommends hands-only CPR for bystanders without formal CPR training. This method focuses on chest compressions only, without mouth-to-mouth ventilation. The goal is to perform two simple steps: Call 911 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest. Terms like chest-thrust CPR or Layperson CPR are not used by the AHA for this method. Ventilation-only CPR would imply providing only breaths without chest compressions, which is not recommended for laypeople in an untrained situation.
Q19An EMS team is preparing a landing zone for an incoming medical evacuation helicopter. What is the term used for the downwash created by the helicopter's rotors?
✓ Correct answer: B. A wash
Answer: A wash A wash refers to the downwash created by a helicopter's rotors. Understanding this technical term is crucial because EMS personnel may need to secure loose objects in the landing zone to ensure the helicopter can land safely. This downwash can reach speeds of 60 to 80 mph. The downwash is not referred to as a whirlwind, a gust, or a cyclone.
Q20Where should defibrillator pads be placed to ensure the most effective delivery of a shock during resuscitation?
✓ Correct answer: A. On the patient's bare chest at the right upper and left lower sides
Answer: On the patient's bare chest at the right upper and left lower sides Placement of defibrillator pads on the patient's bare chest at the right upper and left lower sides ensures optimal current pathways through the heart, making the shock delivery most effective. Pads should not be placed over clothing since it can impede the flow of electricity. Incorrect pad placement can result in ineffective defibrillation or burns. Ensure the pads are positioned correctly and make good contact with the skin.
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