NREMT Updated EMT Exam Questions and Answers by pia

The correct answers are A and B because EMT burn care focuses on preventing further injury, reducing contamination, and preparing for rapid transport .

Removing jewelry is essential because burned tissues will swell, and constricting items can compromise circulation. Covering the burns with a dry, sterile sheet helps protect against infection and reduces heat loss, which is critical in moderate-to-severe burns.

NREMT-aligned guidance emphasizes avoiding prolonged cooling in significant burns, not applying ointments, and not removing adhered clothing, while prioritizing sterile covering and transport.

The correct answer is A. Memory loss.

Why A is correct (Memory loss):

Memory loss (amnesia) is a common and immediate (acute) sign of closed head injury, especially in concussions. It may include:

Retrograde amnesia (loss of memory before the event)

Anterograde amnesia (inability to form new memories)

NREMT-aligned trauma guidance states:

“Patients with head injuries may present with confusion or memory loss immediately after the event.”

This is considered an early indicator of brain injury.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Beck ' s Triad: Associated with cardiac tamponade (hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds), not head trauma.

C. Battle ' s sign: Bruising behind the ears indicating a basilar skull fracture, but this is typically a late sign, not acute.

D. Raccoon eyes: Periorbital ecchymosis also indicating a basilar skull fracture, and similarly a delayed finding, not immediate.

Key Concept:

Acute signs = occur immediately (e.g., confusion, memory loss, LOC)

Late signs = develop over time (e.g., Battle’s sign, raccoon eyes)

Exact Extracts:

“Early signs of head injury include confusion, disorientation, and memory loss.”

“Battle’s sign and raccoon eyes are late signs of basilar skull fracture.”

“Assessment should identify immediate neurologic changes following trauma.”

The correct answers are B. Femur fracture and E. Posterior hip dislocation.

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.”

The correct answer is B. Focal.

This question is testing recognition of seizure types based on motor activity and level of consciousness.

A focal (partial) seizure originates in a specific area of the brain and typically affects one part of the body, such as a single limb. Importantly, the patient may remain conscious and responsive, which is exactly what is described in this scenario.

The patient has:

Uncontrollable jerking of one arm (localized motor activity)

Ability to answer questions appropriately (preserved mental status)

These findings directly indicate a focal seizure.

According to standard NREMT EMT educational content:

Focal seizures may present with “jerking of one extremity”

The patient may “remain conscious and aware”

These features distinguish focal seizures from generalized seizures.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Tonic: Characterized by sudden muscle stiffening, usually involving the whole body, often with impaired consciousness.

C. Atonic: Involves sudden loss of muscle tone, leading to collapse (“drop attack”), not jerking.

D. Absence: Characterized by brief loss of awareness, staring spells, and unresponsiveness—not motor jerking of a limb.

Exact Extracts:

“Focal seizures affect a specific part of the brain and may produce localized motor activity.”

“The patient may remain conscious during a focal seizure.”

“Generalized seizures typically involve loss of consciousness.”