Paramedic Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. In a MIST handover, what information is represented by the letter T?
Transport destination
Treatments provided
Time spent on scene
Triage category
2. Which combination is most consistent with poor perfusion or shock?
Warm dry skin, a slow strong pulse, and normal alertness
Flushed skin, a bounding pulse, and increased appetite
Localized bruising with otherwise normal vital signs
Cool clammy skin, a rapid weak pulse, and altered mental status
3. After confirming the scene is safe, you find an adult unresponsive and only gasping. Which sequence best reflects basic resuscitation priorities?
Activate the emergency response, obtain an AED, and begin CPR
Place the person in the recovery position and observe the breathing pattern
Wait for the gasping to stop before deciding whether CPR is needed
Give several rescue breaths before arranging additional help
4. A patient develops widespread hives, wheezing, and signs of poor perfusion shortly after a bee sting. Which medication is the established first-line treatment for anaphylaxis?
Inhaled nitrous oxide
Oral aspirin
Intramuscular epinephrine
Activated charcoal
5. In the SAMPLE history framework, what does the letter A represent?
Assessment findings
Airway sounds
Age
Allergies
6. When using OPQRST to assess pain, which question addresses provocation or palliation?
“Can you describe what the pain feels like?”
“Does the pain travel anywhere?”
“What makes the pain better or worse?”
“When did the pain begin?”
7. During an initial assessment, an unresponsive patient makes occasional irregular gasps. How should these gasps be interpreted?
As abnormal breathing that may occur during cardiac arrest
As evidence that the airway is fully protected
As adequate breathing if the chest moves with each gasp
As a normal response to briefly losing consciousness
8. An unconscious patient has gurgling respirations and visible secretions in the mouth. What action most directly addresses the immediate airway problem?
Apply a pulse oximeter before touching the airway
Open the airway and suction the secretions using appropriate technique
Begin a detailed medical history with family members
Cover the patient to prevent heat loss and reassess later
9. A conscious patient with suspected hypoglycemia can follow commands and swallow safely. Under an applicable protocol, which intervention is most appropriate?
Give insulin to counter the abnormal blood glucose level
Withhold glucose until the patient becomes unresponsive
Administer oral glucose and reassess the patient's response
Force a drink into the patient's mouth while they lie flat
10. A patient suddenly develops facial droop and cannot repeat a simple sentence clearly. Which FAST finding is demonstrated by the speech problem?
Facial symmetry
Speech difficulty
Arm drift
Time of last oral intake
11. Which practice is appropriate when handling medical oxygen equipment?
Keep oxygen equipment away from flames, sparks, oil, and grease
Apply petroleum jelly to fittings that are difficult to connect
Allow an unsecured cylinder to lie across the ambulance bench
Test for a leak by passing a flame near the regulator
12. Following a bicycle collision, an alert patient reports midline neck pain. There is no immediate environmental danger. What is the most appropriate initial approach?
Manually stabilize the head and neck in the found position while assessing ABCs
Apply traction to straighten the neck before checking breathing
Ask the patient to sit upright so neck movement can be observed
Postpone airway assessment until a rigid collar has been fitted
13. Why should a paramedic reassess a patient after giving an intervention?
To replace the original assessment with a new chief complaint
To confirm that no further monitoring will be required
To avoid documenting the findings obtained before treatment
To determine whether the patient improved, worsened, or remained unchanged
14. An infant with respiratory distress initially has rapid breathing, nasal flaring, and chest retractions. Which later finding is especially concerning for impending respiratory failure?
Continued nasal flaring while crying strongly
A mildly elevated respiratory rate with normal responsiveness
Retractions that lessen after the infant is repositioned
Bradycardia accompanied by decreasing respiratory effort
15. Four patients are waiting for assessment. Which patient has the most immediate life threat based on the information given?
A patient with an isolated wrist deformity and normal circulation to the hand
A patient with severe breathing difficulty who can speak only one word at a time
A patient with ankle pain who can speak normally and walk with assistance
A patient with a small controlled scalp wound who is alert and oriented
16. You arrive at a roadside collision where traffic is still moving past damaged vehicles. What should you do before approaching a patient?
Move every patient away from the vehicles before assessing them
Go directly to the quietest patient to begin taking vital signs
Assess the scene for hazards and arrange appropriate traffic or scene control
Begin collecting the drivers' medical histories from bystanders