How Much Do You Know About an EMT’s Job?

By: Kale Havervold
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
How Much Do You Know About an EMT’s Job?
Image: Tashi-Delek / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

An EMT (also known as an emergency medical technician) is responsible for quickly responding to a wide range of accidents or emergencies to provide first aid. This can be anything from car accidents to house fires, to major injuries and dozens of other situations. As you could imagine, this can be a very hard job, and EMTs really never know what they'll have to deal with on any given shift. 

EMTs need to have a wide range of skills, certifications and qualifications to be able to handle these situations. But how much of what an EMT does do you know? Do you know how to successfully stabilize someone with a broken neck? How about what the signs and symptoms of a concussion are? 

Whether you want to flex your EMT knowledge or want to further educate yourself on the topic, this quiz can help you do just that. We will look at all aspects of an EMT's job, covering their actual duties, their preparation and knowledge and even some stats related to the profession as a whole throughout the USA.

Without any further ado, put yourself in the shoes of a first responder, hop in the ambulance and get ready to test yourself against our challenging EMT quiz! 

4 skin turning blue If someone's skin is starting to turn a little blue, what is that likely a sign of?
They have a concussion.
They've eaten too many blueberries.
They have a broken bone.
Their blood is low in oxygen.
If an individual or victim at the scene of an accident has their skin turning blue, it normally means that they have low oxygen in their blood. It is called cyanosis and can often come about quite suddenly.

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6 epipen What type of situation would someone need to carry an EpiPen for?
A heart attack
An allergic reaction
An EpiPen is something used to treat very severe and dangerous allergic reactions. An EpiPen contains a measured dose of epinephrine, which can reverse the overall symptoms of anaphylaxis.
A broken bone
A bruise appearing

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5 carotid artery Where on the body is the carotid artery located?
Leg
Neck
The carotid artery is a major blood vessel that is located in the neck. It supplies blood from the heart up to our necks, face and even our brains. As a result, it is an incredibly important part of our bodies and health.
Arm
Abdomen

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7 treating without consent When attempting to treat injuries, how do you handle getting consent from a victim who is unconscious?
Ask someone else nearby
You may treat without consent if the situation is dire.
While EMTs and other professionals are supposed to get consent from the patient, if they are unconscious, and harm will come to them if they are not treated, you are permitted to treat them.
Call their family
You can't do anything.

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15 concussion symptoms Which of the following is not a common symptom of a concussion?
Confusion
Dizziness
Nausea
Fingers turning blue
A concussion occurs when the brain suffers trauma that causes it to move or shake back and forth in rapid succession. All of the mentioned symptoms are common for concussions, except for fingers turning blue.

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10 stop the bleeding If you arrive to find someone on the scene who is bleeding profusely, what is the very first thing you should try to do?
Stop the bleeding
The very first and most important thing to do is to stop the bleeding. This can be done by applying direct pressure in most cases, often using a clean cloth or gauze if possible.
Get them fluids
Clean up the blood
Stitch them up

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20 possible broken neck What is the very first thing you should do if you believe a victim has suffered from a broken neck?
Sit them up and ask them questions.
Carry them away from their current location.
Stabilize the neck and keep them still.
If you arrive at the scene of an accident as an EMT and notice someone may have broken their neck, it is important to keep them still and stabilize their neck. Moving them or their head and neck could lead to further injuries or issues.
Look for other victims before touching them.

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2 normal heart rate What is a healthy and normal heart rate for an adult?
60-100 beats per minute
A normal heart rate for an average adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute. This will vary on a number of factors such as the age of a person, their physical condition, health and much more.
20-40 beats per minute
140-180 beats per minute
15-45 beats per minute

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11 stroke victims Which of these characteristics or behaviors is something not commonly seen in stroke victims?
Suddenly feeling numb
Feeling very happy and elated
A stroke is an unfortunately common event where the brain isn't getting enough blood. The symptoms of a stroke include a drooping face, trouble speaking and numbness, but not a feeling of happiness.
Trouble speaking or hearing
A drooping face

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26 providing first aid If you notice more than one victim at the scene of an incident, which do you provide first aid to first?
Help the first person you see.
Help whoever asks first.
Flip a coin
Help whoever appears to be hurt the most.
When arriving to a scene with multiple victims, EMTs will quickly assess the situation and help first those who need it most. They will prioritize those who are in the worst shape but still able to be saved and go from there.

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28 vital signs Which of the following is not a vital sign?
Eyesight
Of the provided options, the eyesight of a victim isn't a vital sign. Vital signs can help indicate the functions of the body that are necessary to stay alive. Taking these measurements can help analyze the overall health or condition of a person.
Pulse
Temperature
Blood pressure

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13 training Who sets the minimum requirements for EMT training?
The president
The NHTSA
EMT training is very important to ensure everyone is on the same page and has the knowledge they need to succeed. The minimum standards are set by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Hospitals
State governors vote on it.

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16 where emts are employed Where are EMTs employed in the USA?
Fire departments
Police stations
Hospitals
All of the above
There are many different places that EMTs can work including hospitals, fire departments and police stations. Any place that may deal with emergencies or dangerous situations could likely find a use for some EMTs on staff.

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23 longest bone Which bone in the human body is the longest?
Radius
Femur
The longest bone in the human body is the femur. This bone connects your hip to your knee. In addition to being the longest, the femur is also believed to be the strongest bone in the body.
Tibia
Clavicle

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18 bones Our bodies are full of bones, but how many exist in the average adult human body?
309
173
87
206
The average adult has 206 bones in their body. At birth, however, we have about 270 bones. The number decreases, as several different bones throughout our bodies begin to fuse together as we get older.

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22 endocrine system What is the role of the endocrine system in the human body?
Produce hormones
Regulate growth and development
Regulate metabolism
All of the above
The endocrine system is incredibly important to our bodies for a number of different reasons. It helps produce hormones that regulate everything from our metabolism to our growth and even our mood.

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32 fluids What kind of body fluid can pass and transfer diseases or pathogens?
Blood
Urine
Saliva
All of the above
A variety of different types of bodily fluids are able to transmit and transfer different pathogens. It is very important to be careful around fluids when attending at the scene of an accident or emergency.

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33 aorta Where in the body is the aorta?
In the neck
In the chest and abdomen
The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It begins in the heart, more particularly in the left ventricle. From there, it extends down into the abdomen, before splitting into two arteries that are smaller.
In the leg
In the arm

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29 ulna injury If a victim just snapped their ulna, what part of their body did they injure?
Neck
Arm
If someone snapped their ulna, they would have sustained an injury to their arm. In particular, the ulna is one of the bones that makes up our forearm, along with the radius. It also assists in forming the elbow joint.
Leg
Foot

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8 program began Around when did the EMT program in the USA begin?
The early 1920s
The early 1950s
The early 1970s
The EMT program began in the early 1970s as part of the "Alexandria Plan," The Alexandria Plan is when 24/7 and year-round emergency care was established in Alexandria, Virginia, and soon the idea spread elsewhere.
The early 1980s

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24 left atrium role In our bodies, what is the role of the left atrium?
It delivers blood to the body.
It oxygenates the blood.
It receives blood and pumps to the left ventricle.
The heart is an incredibly complex part of our body, and the left atrium is no different. The left atrium is responsible for a number of things, most notably receiving oxygenated blood and pumping it to the left ventricle.
None of the above

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19 avulsion If an avulsion occurs during an accident, what has happened?
A part of a person's body structure is torn off.
An avulsion is a type of injury where some part of the structure of our bodies is ripped or torn off. This can be anything from losing some skin, to losing all of your skin in an area, to potentially even losing a limb.
A deep pinhole injury
Two broken bones in multiple parts of the body
A person has lost consciousness

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30 arterial bleeding Which type of bleeding is the most harmful and dangerous to the victim?
Capillary bleeding
Venous bleeding
Arterial bleeding
All bleeding can be bad and harmful, but arterial bleeding is the most potentially dangerous. This occurs when an artery is cut and could result in a ton of blood being lost. In some cases, blood might even spurt out of the wound.
All are equally bad

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21 women emts Of the EMTs working in the USA, what percentage of them are women?
Around 35%
According to Data USA and census estimates, it is believed that around 35% of all EMTs in the USA are women. As a result, there are tens of thousands of women working as EMTs and paramedics across the country.
Around 60%
Around 10%
Around 20%

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27 breaths per min How many times a minute should the average adult take a breath?
Between 25 and 30 breaths a minute
Around 60 breaths a minute
Between 12 and 20 breaths a minute
A normal breathing rate for a healthy adult is between 12 and 20 breaths a minute. Anything higher or lower than that could potentially be a cause for concern and should be investigated.
More than 100 breaths a minute

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25 cpr When doing CPR on a victim, what is the recommended ratio of chest compressions and breaths?
100 compressions and then five breaths
30 compressions and then two breaths
When doing CPR, it can be a life or death situation and thus, EMTs need to be able to do it correctly. The correct ratio for chest compressions and breaths is 30 compressions, followed by two breaths.
20 compressions and then three breaths
10 compressions and four breaths

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3 number of emts Approximately how many EMTs are working in the USA, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics?
Around 700,000
Just under 100,000
Just over 250,000
According to stats provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are just over 250,000 EMTs working in the USA. The job outlook is good in the profession, as well, as it is supposed to grow faster than average.
Just over 350,000

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14 levels of emt How many "levels" of EMT are there that the NHTSA recognizes?
One
Two
Three
Four
The NHTSA officially recognizes four separate levels of EMT. These are EMR (emergency medical responder), EMT (emergency medical technician), AEMT (advanced emergency medical technician) and paramedic.

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12 amount of blood in body How much blood does the average person have inside their body?
Around 1.5 gallons
While the average amount of blood inside a person can vary a lot based on size, health, age and sex, the average person has around 1.2 to 1.5 gallons of blood circulating through their body at any given time.
About 2 gallons
Around 3.5 gallons
Around 8 gallons

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35 average age of emt According to the Census Bureau, what is the average age of EMTs in the USA?
Around 50 years old
Around 35 years old
According to census data, the average age of an EMT and paramedic in the USA is 35.9. On average, men are about 36 and a half years old, while women are just over 34 and a half years old.
Around 30 years old
Around 40 years old

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17 explosion injuries During an explosion, what level of blast injury is likely to be the most fatal?
Primary injuries
Secondary Injuries
Out of all the different types of injuries often sustained during a blast or explosion, none have the potential to be as fatal or deadly as secondary injuries. These are injuries caused by shrapnel and other objects sent flying due to the blast.
Tertiary Injuries
Quaternary injuries

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31 pulse on infant If you want to discover the pulse rate of an infant, what is the best and preferred way to do it?
Check their wrist.
Check their elbow.
Despite what you may have expected, checking the elbow of an infant is the correct way to check their pulse. In particular, you will be checking the brachial artery of the child, which is located on the inner elbow.
Check their neck.
Check their feet.

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34 first ambulance service When did the first ambulance service that was based in an American hospital begin?
1911
1786
1934
1865
The first-ever ambulance service that was actually based out of a hospital in American history was back in 1865. It was based out of a hospital in Cincinnati that was called Commercial Hospital.

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9 hypovolemic shock Which of the following is the most common type of shock?
Cardiogenic shock
Septic shock
Anaphylactic shock
Hypovolemic shock
Shock is when there is too little blood flowing throughout the body. There are many different kinds of shock, but the most common is hypovolemic shock. It is caused by a low volume of blood circulating due to fluid loss or haemorrhage.

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1 star of life Which of these is the name for the symbol commonly associated with emergency medical services all over the world?
The Coat of Arms
Star of Life
The Star of Life has been associated with the emergency medical field for decades all across the world. It is a blue star with six points, that features the Rod of Asclepius, which is a Greek symbol for healing.
The Badge of Truth
The Healthy Snake

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