Practice Test Geeks(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test
← All EMD Flashcard Decks

Medical Priority Dispatch System Flashcards

7 cards from real EMD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Medical Priority Dispatch System flashcards as text

  1. What is the foundational MPDS principle regarding when to dispatch units relative to caller interrogation?

    Answer: Dispatch appropriate units first, then continue gathering information and providing instructions

    MPDS follows a 'dispatch first' principle so resources are moving toward the scene while the dispatcher continues questioning and giving instructions.

  2. Which patient presentation would prompt MPDS Telephone CPR (T-CPR) instructions from a dispatcher?

    Answer: A patient who is unresponsive and not breathing normally

    T-CPR instructions are initiated when the patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally, indicating probable cardiac arrest.

  3. For an untrained bystander, which CPR method does MPDS recommend a dispatcher instruct?

    Answer: Compression-only (hands-only) CPR

    Compression-only CPR is recommended for untrained bystanders because it is simpler to perform and still significantly improves cardiac arrest outcomes.

  4. For a responsive patient with a suspected complete airway obstruction due to choking, MPDS directs dispatchers to instruct bystanders to perform:

    Answer: Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)

    Abdominal thrusts are the correct intervention for a conscious, responsive patient with a complete airway obstruction.

  5. In MPDS, Post-Dispatch Instructions (PDIs) are given during which time frame?

    Answer: After dispatch is made, while EMS units are en route to the scene

    PDIs are provided after units are dispatched to keep callers informed, calm, and prepared until EMS arrives on scene.

  6. Which of the following is an example of a Dispatch Life Support (DLS) skill performed by an EMD?

    Answer: Guiding a caller through an emergency childbirth delivery over the phone

    DLS includes guiding callers through emergency childbirth, CPR, choking relief, and other life-saving interventions before EMS arrives.

  7. In MPDS terminology, what does 'PAI' stand for?

    Answer: Pre-Arrival Instruction

    Pre-Arrival Instructions (PAIs) are the step-by-step guidance dispatchers provide to callers while EMS units are responding.

How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. emergencydispatch.org — Test delivery, retake policy, eligibility, fees, exam format, passing score, retake fee, score validity · verified Oct 2026