Basic EMT Training Quiz: Are You A Life-Saver?
Written by Jessica Holom
Last updated · 8 min play time
Do you remain calm and level-headed in a state of emergency? Then you may have what it takes to become an EMT. Test your basic knowledge with our EMT quiz.
EMTs (emergency medical technicians) hold their patients' lives in their hands. More often than not, they're the first responders at the scene. They provide immediate medical treatment to patients in need and then transport the sick or injured to medical facilities if necessary. They work under pressure, often with very high stakes.
Depending on your goals and direction, becoming an EMT usually takes between 1 and 3 years. As an EMT, you must address first-response scenarios and know basic life support techniques. You should know how to treat wounds, apply tourniquets, give CPR – the works!
This quiz has been adapted from EMT training preparation exams across the board. Do you have the know-how to pass basic training? Then see if you can save a life with this EMT quiz!
Test your DIY Knowledge
Do you know how to deliver a baby? What is an EpiPen used for? What are the steps to perform CPR? Our fun online DIY quiz will test your basic first-response knowledge to see if you have the skills and know-how to be an EMT.
Think you know how to do a medical assessment? Why are topical medications used? What do you know of basic biology? EMT knowledge and skills are wide-ranging and require mnemonic devices to recall certain policies and procedures. This EMT Quiz will test your memory and your instinct to see if it's in your nature to be an EMT. Score high on our EMT Quiz, and you may just be a life-saver!
Try all of our DIY Quizzes
There's a certain amount of pride in doing things yourself, which is why our DIY quizzes will inspire you to get your hands dirty. Our DIY collection touches upon every topic, from cooking to gardening to woodworking, and so much more! And, as you can see after taking this EMT Quiz, our sub-series of career quizzes will allow you to test your DIY knowledge in certain fields of study.
The sub-series covers such careers as welding, piloting, policing, firefighting, and even dentistry. If a career piques your interest, take our quiz to see if it's possibly something to pursue. In tapping your knowledge, you might just find a new career path open up to you!
Quiz written by
Jessica HolomJessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.
Basic EMT Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 715 Plays · No comments
Question 1
It's a blistering hot day, and you arrive at the scene to find a conscious patient suffering from heat exhaustion. What should you do for her?
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AKeep her awake by pinching her
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BMake her run in place
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CSit her cross-legged and give her a cold bottle of Coca-Cola
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DMove her to a cool place, lay her down, and elevate her legs
Move her to a cool place, lay her down, and elevate her legs
If heat exhaustion progresses to heat stroke, your patient's life may be in jeopardy. So don't let it progress. Move her to a cool place – either in the shade or air-conditioning – remove tight or heavy clothing, lay her down and elevate her legs. Then give her a cool non-alcohol non-caffeinated beverage and spray or fan her.
Question 2
A 65-year-old patient with a history of diabetes is breathing deeply and rapidly. Her husband found her unconscious. Your patient is most likely suffering from what?
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AAn aneurysm
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BAsthma
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CDiabetic shock
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DDialysis
Diabetic shock
In a case of diabetic shock, blood sugar levels drop so low that another person's help is required. The patient is in a state of severe hypoglycemia (aka, dangerously low blood sugar), which can lead to a diabetic coma. The unconscious patient requires a glucagon shot, which should bring them back in about fifteen minutes.
Question 3
Rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, and fainting may be signs of what?
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ARunning a marathon
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BHeartburn
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CSevere dehydration
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DA migraine
Severe dehydration
While running a marathon may result in rapid breathing and heartbeat, you likely won't faint unless you've pushed yourself too hard. These are signs that you desperately need some water in your system. Other signs of dehydration include extremely dry skin, dizziness, sunken eyes, lack of energy, and dark yellow urine.
Question 4
Let's talk tools. What is an EpiPen used for?
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AHeart attacks
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BWriting on whiteboards
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CStrokes
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DAllergic reactions
Allergic reactions
Reversing anaphylaxis symptoms, epinephrine is used for an allergic reaction. When someone goes into anaphylactic shock, blood pressure reduces rapidly, as blood vessels dilate. EpiPens bring blood pressure back up by constricting the blood vessels.
Question 5
The SAMPLE history is a mnemonic device to assist medical assessments. What does the A stand for?
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AAlexander Graham Bell
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BAilments
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CAutoimmune disease
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DAllergies
Allergies
To keep in mind key questions for your patient's basic medical assessment, try the mnemonic device, SAMPLE. S stands for signs or symptoms; A for allergies; M for medications; P for past pertinent medical history; L for last oral intake; and E for events leading up to the illness or injury.
Question 6
Top me up! What are topical medications used to treat?
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ARecent news
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BBlood flow issues
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CHeart problems
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DLocalized area of skin
Localized area of skin
Creams, lotions, gels, ointments: these are topical medications used to treat such things as skin rashes or other localized health issues. They are most often applied directly to the skin surface or mucous membrane.
Question 7
You are called to assist in the delivery of a baby. What should you do as it first emerges from the birth canal?
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ASupport the head
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BPanic
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CWipe it clean
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DSpank it
Support the head
As the infant's head leaves the birth canal, you must support it as it emerges and turns. Next, assess the umbilical cord. If it's wrapped around the baby's neck, gently remove it over the baby's head.
Question 8
The Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive" is the ideal rhythm for CPR. What is NOT a step in providing CPR?
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AGive compressions
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BGive the Heimlich
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COpen the victim's airway
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DBreathe
Give the Heimlich
When someone doesn't appear to be breathing or responsive, CPR may be in order. Steps include checking for breathing, providing thirty compressions of 100-120 per minute (to the tune of "Stayin' Alive," for reference), opening the victim's airway, and giving them two breaths. Repeat as needed.
Question 9
What system involves a collection of glands that produces hormones?
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ATax system
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BNervous system
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CCirculatory system
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DEndocrine system
Endocrine system
Metabolism, sexual function, reproduction, tissue function, growth, development, mood, sleep: the endocrine system has a hand in all of these bodily functions and more! Hormones influence all of these things, and the collection of glands in the endocrine system is responsible for producing hormones.
Question 10
Count 'em up! How many bones are in the adult human body?
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A206
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B248
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C412
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D123
206
Although the human skeleton has around 270 bones at birth, it shrinks down to 206 bones by adulthood. Where do those other 60ish bones go? Many fuse together.
Question 11
Sounds like a fancy word, but a sphygmomanometer simply measures what?
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AHeartbeat
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BBlood pressure
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CBlood sugar
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DWeight
Blood pressure
Also called a blood pressure monitor, a sphygmomanometer measures – you guessed it! – blood pressure. The cuff inflates and then slowly collapses, releasing the artery and measuring its pressure and blood flow using a mercury or mechanical manometer.
Question 12
When the body does not have enough insulin to break down available sugars, what does it consume?
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AFructose
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BToast
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CGlucose
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DRed blood cells
Glucose
Cells begin to malfunction without insulin, as they can't use glucose – aka, blood sugar. In order to provide the body energy when blood sugar levels are low, the glucose that isn't being used is converted and stored as fat.
Question 13
How many chambers are there in the human heart?
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A3
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B5
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C8
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D4
4
The human heart has four chambers, including the lower right and left ventricle and the upper right and left atria. Mammals and birds have the same, but amphibians and reptiles have only three.
Question 14
When you arrive at the scene of the emergency, the patient's family says they think their father is having a stroke. What is NOT something you usually check for signs of a stroke?
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ABalance
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BEyes
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CSpeech
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DFeet
Feet
When assessing for signs of a stroke, remember to BE FAST. That is, check for Balance – loss of coordination or dizziness; Eyes – trouble seeing out of one or both eyes; Face – weakness or unevenness; Arms – weakness or inability to raise arms evenly; Speech – slurred or impaired; and Time – call emergency services quickly.
Question 15
Just breathe...When you hyperventilate, levels of what are reduced in your body?
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ACarbon dioxide
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BOxygen
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CBlood
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DPerspiration
Carbon dioxide
Having trouble breathing? Don't panic! Hyperventilation happens when your breathing rate rids of more carbon dioxide than your body is capable of producing, resulting in hypocapnia, a lower concentration of CO<sub>2</sub> dissolved in your blood.
Question 16
Which of the following may cause a patient to have a seizure?
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AEpilepsy
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BMedications
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CHead injury
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DAll of the above
All of the above
When abnormal electrical activity switches on in the brain, a seizure may occur. Seizures can be caused by medications, epilepsy, head injuries, drugs, brain infections, poison, and more.
Question 17
There are twelve organ systems in the body. Which organ is part of the integumentary system?
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AHeart
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BSkin
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CKeyboard
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DLungs
Skin
Hair, nails, nerves, and glands are part of the integumentary system, along with skin, the body's largest organ. For animals, hooves, scales, and feathers are also integral parts of the integumentary system.
Question 18
EMTs must know basic biology. To what do the carotid arteries carry blood?
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AHead, neck, and face
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BHeart
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CToes
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DStomach
Head, neck, and face
These major blood vessels are in the neck and pump blood from the heart to the neck, brain, and face. Two carotid arteries are located on the right and the left, with each artery splitting into two divisions, the internal one branching up to the brain.
Question 19
Put your vampiric knowledge to the test: A person of average size and weight (150-180 lbs) has approximately how much blood?
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A100 liters
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B8.8 to 9.9 liters
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C2.4 to 3.8 liters
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D4.7 to 5.5 liters
4.7 to 5.5 liters
The volume of blood in a human body is estimated at about 7 percent of an individual's body weight. Therefore, someone weighing around 150 to 180 pounds would contain approximately 4.7 to 5.5 liters of blood.
Question 20
OPQRST is yet another mnemonic device for patients with acute illnesses. What does the Q stand for?
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AQuantity
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BQuality
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CQuarantine
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DQualify
Quality
Another mnemonic device used by EMTs when writing up patients with acute illnesses is OPQRST. O stands for onset; P for provocation or palliation; Q for quality; R for region or radiation; S for severity; and T for time.
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