EMT Medical Practice Test 1

Question 1

You arrive on scene to find a patient with an altered mental status. You quickly scan the scene.  Which of the following items will help to point you in the right direction in finding a cause of the altered mental status?

Accepted Answer

Medications including high blood pressure, anxiety and depression

Answer

When assessing a patient with altered mental status, identifying their current medications is crucial. Medications for conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression can have side effects, interactions, or be taken incorrectly (e.g., overdose or missed doses), all of which can directly contribute to or cause altered mental status. This information provides immediate and relevant clues to the patient's condition.

Question 2

Your patient is not responding to your loud verbal stimuli. You find the following medications: Glucophage and Lipitor. What is the likely cause of the patient’s problem?

Accepted Answer

Diabetic reaction

Answer

The presence of Glucophage (metformin), a medication for Type 2 diabetes, strongly suggests the patient has a history of diabetes. An unresponsive state in a diabetic patient is most commonly caused by a severe diabetic reaction, either hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Therefore, a diabetic reaction is the most likely primary field diagnosis.

Question 3

Your neuro assessment of an unresponsive patient reveals pin point pupils. What is your primary field diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Narcotic

Answer

Pinpoint pupils (miosis) are a classic and highly indicative sign of opioid (narcotic) overdose. Opioids stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, causing the pupils to constrict significantly. In an unresponsive patient, this finding should immediately raise suspicion for a narcotic overdose, requiring prompt intervention.

Question 4

Your patient is a known diabetic who takes up to four insulin injections a day.  Today he is found unresponsive, diaphoretic, and tachycardic. He is also only breathing 18 times a minute.  What is likely the patient’s chief medical issue?

Accepted Answer

Hypoglycemia

Answer

The patient is a known diabetic taking multiple insulin injections, and presents with unresponsiveness, diaphoresis (sweating), and tachycardia. These signs, particularly the cool, clammy skin (diaphoresis) and rapid heart rate (tachycardia), are classic compensatory responses to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), as the body attempts to raise glucose levels. Hyperglycemia typically presents with warm, dry skin.

Question 5

You find that your diabetic patient is hypoglycemic. You have oral glucose to give to the patient. You will give 15 grams of instant glucose to the patient except if they are ___________?

Accepted Answer

Semi conscious without the ability to swallow

Answer

Oral glucose is administered to hypoglycemic patients who are conscious or semi-conscious and *retain a gag reflex and the ability to swallow*. If a patient is semi-conscious and lacks the ability to swallow or has no gag reflex, administering oral glucose poses a significant risk of aspiration. In such cases, alternative routes like intravenous dextrose or intramuscular glucagon are necessary.

NREMT Practice Test

NREMT Practice Test

EMT Medical Practice Test 1