EMT Practice Questions

The correct answers are

B.  

E.  

Why B is correct (Crackles):

Crackles (rales) are a hallmark sign of pulmonary edema, which occurs in left-sided heart failure.

Fluid accumulates in the alveoli

Causes crackling sounds on auscultation

Indicates impaired cardiac pumping ability

NREMT-aligned guidance states:

“Pulmonary edema presents with crackles due to fluid in the lungs.”

Why E is correct (Dependent edema):

Dependent edema is a classic sign of right-sided heart failure.

Fluid backs up into systemic circulation

Leads to swelling in:

Legs

Ankles

Lower extremities

NREMT-aligned guidance:

“Right-sided heart failure results in peripheral or dependent edema.”

Why the other options are incorrect:

A.  

Ascites: Can occur in severe right-sided failure but is less common and not a primary EMT-level finding.

C.  

Wheezing: More commonly associated with asthma or bronchospasm (though CHF can cause “cardiac wheezing,” it is not the best answer here).

D.  

Chest pain: Suggests cardiac ischemia, not specifically CH

F.  

Exact Extracts:

“Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary edema and crackles.”

“Right-sided heart failure causes dependent edema.”

“Fluid accumulation results from the heart’s inability to pump effectively.”

The correct answers are

B.  

E.  

This mechanism is classically known as a “dashboard injury”, where the knee strikes the dashboard during a motor vehicle collision. The force is transmitted along the femur toward the hip.

Why B is correct (Femur fracture):

The force applied to the knee travels up the femur, which can result in:

Femoral shaft fractures

Significant internal bleeding

NREMT trauma guidance states:

“High-energy impacts to the lower extremities can result in femur fractures.”

Why E is correct (Posterior hip dislocation):

Dashboard injuries commonly cause:

Posterior displacement of the femoral head from the acetabulum

This occurs when the femur is driven backward while the hip is flexed

NREMT-aligned content:

“A blow to the knee in a seated position can result in posterior hip dislocation.”

Why the other options are incorrect:

A.  

Tibia fracture: More commonly associated with direct lower leg trauma, not classic dashboard mechanism.

C.  

Ruptured peritoneum: Not a typical injury from this mechanism.

D.  

Rupture of the bladder: More associated with pelvic fractures, not isolated dashboard knee impact.

Exact Extracts:

“A dashboard injury can transmit force up the femur causing hip dislocation.”

“Posterior hip dislocation is commonly associated with knee impact in MVCs.”

“Femur fractures are common in high-energy trauma.”

NREMT stroke management focuses on rapid identification and time-sensitive intervention, particularly for patients who may be eligible for thrombolytic therapy or endovascular treatment.

Option D (Time of first signs or symptoms) is critical. This determines the patient’s eligibility for treatments such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which must be administered within a defined time window.

Option C (Patient’s denial of a headache) is also important because sudden, severe headache suggests hemorrhagic stroke, whereas its absence may support ischemic stroke. This information helps guide diagnostic urgency and treatment planning.

Option A is not immediately relevant prehospital.

Option B is administrative, not emergent.

Option E does not impact acute stroke management.

NREMT stresses the importance of early notification, accurate time history, and focused neurological reporting to improve stroke outcomes.