Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test 1. Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test What differences in a child’s airway might make airway management more difficult than in an adult? There are no anatomic differences that affect airway management in children versus adults. longer airway and small tongue a smaller jaw and a proportionally larger tongue smaller jaw, smaller teeth Correct: a smaller jaw and a proportionally larger tongue 2. A normal respiratory rate for an adult is ____ while a normal respiratory rate for a newborn is ____. 8 to16 and 20 to 40 22 to 30 and 50 12 to 20 and 16 to 24 12 to 20 and 30 to 60 Correct 12 to 20 and 30 to 60 Explanation: This is the best of the given answer choices. Under 12 is too low of an RR for adults and above 20 is considered high. Newborns breathe faster than adults. Under 30 would be too low for a newborn. Note: Some newer study materials are suggesting a range of 12 to 24 for adults. This may be to allow for the fact that many people you deal with are under stress and might have a slightly elevated “normal” rate. COPD patients can even be over 24. Check with your instructor and the study material your class uses to verify these figures as you prepare for the test. 3. What is the first thing you should do before inserting a nasopharyngeal airway? Look up the nose to make sure the nostrils are large enough for a nasopharyngeal airway. Select the correct size. Tilt the head back, lube the airway, and insert it into the nostril. Make sure the patient does not have a gag reflex. Correct Explanation: Before the airway can be inserted, the correct size needs to be selected. If the wrong size is inserted the airway may not be effective. A nasopharyngeal airway can be used on a patient with or without a gag reflex. Hint: Be sure to consider describing words like “first” in questions. They indicate that there is one particular correct answer, even if the other answer choices may be related to the question. 4. Emergency care for patients who are not breathing adequately but have a pulse includes all of the following except ____. CPR supplemental oxygen airway management ventilatory support Correct CPR Explanation: If the patient is not breathing adequately but still has a pulse, CPR is not needed. CPR will be required if a person loses their pulse. Hint: Be sure to read the question carefully and keep an eye out for words like “except.” Question 5 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You arrive on scene to find a young woman who is having trouble talking. She has hives and is starting to gasp for air. Her friend says she was just stung by a bee. Your immediate actions should include all of the following except ____. administer epinephrine (if your state and local EMS protocols allow) assess the bee sting for signs of an infection administer supplemental oxygen provide airway support Correct assess the bee sting for signs of an infection Explanation: Epinephrine is used to treat anaphylactic shock, and should be administered if your state and local EMS protocols allow. The patient’s airway may be compromised due to swelling, so airway support is essential. Supplemental oxygen should also be administered. There is no need to assess the bee sting for infection at this point as that is not immediately life-threatening. Hint: Be sure to read the question carefully and keep an eye out for words like “except.” Question 6 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You’re called to a home and find an unresponsive male. Family members said he “passed out.” You assess the scene to be safe. The next thing you should do is: Simultaneously check for a pulse and breathing. Get a temperature to determine if he has heat stroke. Get a blood pressure to determine if it’s too low and may have caused him to pass out. Check the patient’s blood sugar; he might be a diabetic. Correct Simultaneously check for a pulse and breathing. Explanation: In an unresponsive person, you may have to initiate CPR. It’s essential to check to determine if a patient has a pulse and is breathing. Other vital signs and measurements, such as a BP, blood sugar, and temperature can be obtained at a later point. Hint: Be sure to consider describing words like “first” and “next” in questions. They indicate that there is one particular correct answer, even if the other answer choices may be related to the question. Question 7 Wheezing can be described as ____. tiny popping sound a high-pitched whistling sound loud snoring sound wet, crackling sound Correct a high-pitched whistling sound Explanation: Wheezing is produced by narrowing or obstruction of the lower airways, which often causes a high-pitched, whistling sound as the air travels through the narrowed space. Stridor is another sound that can often be heard even without a stethoscope and can indicate an obstruction, but it is a brassy, crowing sound. Question 8 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You are on scene with a 44-year-old female who is complaining of feeling anxious and states, “I can’t breathe.” You should do the following: Assess her respiratory rate and rhythm, check her oxygen saturation, and listen to her lungs. Place a non-rebreather mask and turn the flow to 6 LPM. Immediately start manually ventilating since she said she can’t breathe. Perform an abdominal thrust; she may be choking. Correct Assess her respiratory rate and rhythm, check her oxygen saturation, and listen to her lungs. Explanation: The patient is breathing since she is talking. There is no need to manually ventilate her at this time. You should perform a respiratory assessment including checking oxygenation. Question 9 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test When assessing breathing, what does tidal volume refer to? how regular breathing appears the amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs in one minute whether a person inhales and exhales for the same amount of time the amount of air moved in and out of the lungs in one relaxed breath Correct Explanation: Tidal volume refers to the amount of air moved in and out of the lungs in one relaxed breath. Tidal volume also refers to how deeply the patient is breathing. Minute volume refers to the amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs in one minute. Question 10 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You are treating an adult patient who is unresponsive and just vomited. You need to suction his airway. You should suction the patient’s airway for no more than ____ seconds at a time. 15—20 seconds as long as it takes to remove all of the vomit from the airway 10—15 seconds < 5 seconds Correct Explanation: According to the Red Cross and the book most often used in EMS courses (see references below, new publication 2016), suctioning an adult’s airway should be limited to 15 seconds at a time. Suctioning interferes with oxygenation and can lead to hypoxia. Suctioning sessions may have to be repeated to remove all material necessary, but never suction the mouth or nose for more than 15 seconds at one time for adult patients. Suctioning times are 10 seconds for children and 5 seconds for infants. Note that we have had reports of a new standard for adult suctioning that has been reduced to 10 seconds, but we cannot find evidence of this change in any reliable materials. We have also been told that the answer choices will be ranges of time, so choose 10-15 seconds and you should be fine. References: * American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) (2016-02-12). Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured. Jones & Bartlett Learning. (the book most often used in EMT courses) and * the Red Cross, page 83 of this booklet: http://www.lbtbp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017-CPR-Part-1.pdf Question 11 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test If manually ventilating a patient, you should squeeze the bag every ____ seconds for an adult and every ____ seconds for a child. 2 to 3, 6 to 8 5 to 6, 3 to 5 5 to 6, 5 to 6 8 to 10, 6 to 8 Correct 5 to 6, 3 to 5 Explanation: To maintain adequate perfusion, manual ventilation should be performed at a rate of 1 breath every 5 to 6 seconds in an adult, for a total of 10 to 12 breaths a minute. In a child, manual ventilation should be performed at a rate of 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds, for a total of 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Question 12 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test A nasal cannula can be run at how many LPM? 1 to 15 LPM 1 to 8 LPM 1 to 6 LPM 5 to 10 LPM Correct 1 to 6 LPM Explanation: A flow of over 6 LPM will not increase the delivered FIO2 and may dry the mucus membranes and be uncomfortable. If higher flow rates are needed to maintain adequate oxygen levels, switch to another device, such as a simple mask or nonrebreather. Question 13 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You are manually ventilating a patient using a bag valve mask (BVM). The patient is connected to pulse oximetry and the oxygen saturation reading is 80. You do not see the chest rise. What steps can you take? Put down the ambu bag and start mouth to mouth resuscitation using a barrier device. Squeeze the bag much faster. Reposition the head and make sure you have a tight seal with the mask. Do a finger sweep of the mouth to make sure it’s clear. Correct Reposition the head and make sure you have a tight seal with the mask. Explanation: To ensure ventilations are effective, make sure the airway is open by repositioning the head. It’s also essential to have a tight seal between the patient’s face and the mask or air will escape and not be delivered to the patient’s lungs. Question 14 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You’re on scene at a high school football game. A football player collapsed to the ground. He has a pulse, a respiratory rate of 4 breaths per minute, breaths are very shallow and he is grunting slightly. Airway management should include ____. placing a nasal airway and a nonrebreather with an oxygen flow of 10 LPM administering supplemental oxygen with a nasal cannula at 2 LPM doing a head tilt-chin lift maneuver, placing an oral airway and transporting performing manual ventilation with supplemental oxygen Correct performing manual ventilation with supplemental oxygen Explanation: The patient is not ventilating adequately. A RR of 4 is too low and he needs ventilatory support. Placing a nonrebreather or nasal cannula will not be sufficient since he has a poor spontaneous respiratory effort. While the “grunting* may be an indicator of an obstruction, it would not be a reason to withhold manual ventilation. Hint: When words such as include are in a question, they indicate that the correct answer for the question is not the whole solution…just one part of it. Question 15 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test The lungs are made up of how many lobes? 6 5 4 2 Correct 5 Explanation: There are three lobes on the right lung including the upper, middle and lower. The left lung has two lobes including the upper and lower. The left lung only has two lobes because of the room needed for the heart, which is on the left side. Question 16 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You arrive on scene to a car accident and are treating a 35-year-old patient. He is unresponsive and not breathing. While manually maintaining cervical precautions, you should open his airway by ____. placing a cervical collar and then doing a head tilt-chin lift doing the jaw thrust maneuver doing the head tilt-chin lift opening his mouth wide, while slightly hyperextending his neck Correct doing the jaw thrust maneuver Explanation: The patient was in a car accident and injuries are not entirely known. The jaw thrust technique should be used to open the airway if a cervical injury is suspected. Question 17 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You have a patient who has a history of asthma and is having shortness of breath. The patient has a doctor’s prescription to take 4 puffs of an Albuterol MDI every four hours as needed. Your local EMS policies allow you to help a patient self administer the MDI. What side effect should you watch for from the MDI? bradycardia diarrhea sleepiness increased heart rate Correct increased heart rate Explanation: Albuterol, a bronchodilator used to treat asthma, may cause cardiovascular side effects such as increased heart rate. Question 18 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You have an unresponsive patient with an intact gag reflex. You attempt to place a nasal airway in his right nostril, but you meet resistance and cannot insert. You should ____. push it in with more force try the other nostril and be sure you have lubricated the device try a smaller size switch to an oral airway Correct try the other nostril and be sure you have lubricated the device Explanation: You do not want to use the wrong size airway or it will not be effective. Never force the airway in. An oral airway will not be tolerated with a patient with an intact gag reflex. Question 19 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You’re treating an adult patient who is wearing a nonrebreather. The reservoir bag collapses on inspiration. What action(s) should you take? Tell the patient to take deeper breaths and blow out harder. Switch to a nasal cannula. Tell the patient to relax and breathe slower. Make sure the bag is connected to an O2 source and the flow is at least 10 LPM. Correct Make sure the bag is connected to an O2 source and the flow is at least 10 LPM. Explanation: A non-rebreather should be used with an oxygen flow rate high enough to inflate the reservoir bag, which is a minimum of 10 LPM. If the bag is collapsing on inspiration with a flow of 10 LPM, increase the flow of oxygen to 15 LPM. Switching to a nasal cannula will not deliver the same FIO2. Telling the patient to relax and breathe slower or advising them to take deeper breaths and blow out harder will not fix the problem with the bag collapsing. The patient should try to breathe at a normal rate and depth. Question 20 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test Symptoms of asthma most often include ____. vomiting and confusion wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing headache fever and runny nose Correct wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing Explanation: Asthma causes a constriction of the airways and increased mucus production, which often causes shortness of breath, wheezing breath sounds, and a cough. Fever, vomiting, confusion, and a runny nose are not typical. Question 21 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test The upper airway does not include which of the following? the larynx the trachea the tongue the jaw Correct the trachea Explanation: The trachea is located in the lower airway, which consists of the trachea and lungs. Hint: Be alert for words like not, except, false, incorrect, least (likely), and other negative word forms in questions. These words change the purpose of your search for the correct answer. Question 22 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test The lobes of the lungs are made up of millions of alveoli, which are tiny air sacs. What purpose do the alveoli serve? An exchange between oxygen and carbon monoxide occur in the alveoli. To exchange gases between oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The alveoli exchange oxygen and nitrogen into the bloodstream. This is where the gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. Correct This is where the gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. Explanation: The function of alveoli is to exchange the oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules to and from the bloodstream. Question 23 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You arrive on scene and find a 46-year-old male with difficulty breathing and an altered level of consciousness. He is tachypneic, pale, diaphoretic, and has tachycardia. What are your patient’s respirations per minute? 12-15 15-18 greater than 20 18-20 Correct greater than 20 Explanation: An adult’s normal respiratory rate is between 12-20 breaths per minute. Anything greater than 20 is considered tachypnea. Question 24 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test Your patient is a 32-year-old female who is unconscious without a gag reflex. You ask your partner to hand you an oropharyngeal airway to assist with maintaining the patient’s airway. How do you measure for the correct size? measure from the patient’s earlobe or angle of the jaw to the corner of their mouth measure from one side of the patient’s jaw to the other side measure from the patient’s earlobe to the tip of their nose measure from the patient’s tip of their nose to the corner of their mouth Correct measure from the patient’s earlobe or angle of the jaw to the corner of their mouth Explanation: Using these landmarks will ensure the proper size is determined for each patient. If the size is too small, it will not provide effective oropharynx patency. If the size is too big, it can impinge on the epiglottis which will obstruct the airway or can cause trauma. Question 25 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You are called to an assisted living facility where you find an 86-year-old male who is pulseless and apneic. Your partner starts compressions while you manage the airway. You are ready to place an oropharyngeal airway and notice the patient has dentures that are firmly intact. What would you do before proceeding with the OPA? Leave the dentures in place. Switch to a nasopharyngeal airway. Remove the dentures. Place the OPA and then remove the dentures. Correct Leave the dentures in place. Explanation: If dentures are tight-fitting and you are able to provide effective airway management, leave them in place. If the dentures are loose or are obstructing the patient’s airway, then you would remove them. Hint: Be sure to consider describing words like first, next, before, and after in questions. They indicate that there is one particular correct answer, even if the other answer choices may be related to the question. Question 26 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test Your unit is dispatched to a private residence for a possible choking. You arrive on scene and find a four-year-old female who was pulled out of the pool by her father. He states she was underwater for a minute or two, and she vomited a small amount when he pulled her out. There is remaining vomit in her mouth and airway, and she is apneic. What is the maximum time you are allowed to suction your patient before oxygenating them? 5 seconds 20 seconds 10 seconds 15 seconds Correct 10 seconds Explanation: For pediatrics, the recommended suction time is between 5-10 seconds at a time and can be repeated after proper oxygenation. The suction time for adults is 15 seconds, and for infants, it’s 5 seconds. Additional notes: A 4-year-old is considered a pediatric and not an infant. Here’s the textbook description from our main resource, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured (p. 616). Jones & Bartlett Learning. (Kindle Edition) This is the standard textbook used in teaching EMT classes. “If you do suction, do not withhold oxygen for more than 15 seconds for adult patients, 10 seconds for a child, and 5 seconds for an infant.” Question 27 Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test Your EMS unit is called to a private residence at 3:00 a.m. for difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, you are presented with a two-year-old female who has had a low-grade fever for the past three days. Her mother says the patient woke up with a seal-bark cough and difficulty breathing. What is the best treatment for your patient? administer children’s cough syrup and oxygen via nasal cannula administer bronchodilators and low-flow oxygen administer humidified oxygen withhold oxygen Correct administer humidified oxygen Explanation: Croup often responds well to the administration of humidified oxygen. Bronchodilators are not indicated for croup and can worsen the patient’s condition. Administering cough syrup is not in an EMT’s scope of practice and does not help the child’s symptoms. Hint: Be alert for words like better, best, most, main/mainly, major, and primary/primarily in questions. They indicate that there might be other answers that could work, but the correct answer is the one that is the best of the choices given. Question 28 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You and your partner are at the station when you hear a frantic knock on the front door. A man says his three-year-old daughter is in his car’s back seat, with a sudden onset of difficulty breathing, sore throat, and a high fever. As you approach the patient, you notice she is in the tripod position on her mom’s lap, she looks very ill, and is drooling. What problem do you suspect and how would you treat her? Croup. The best treatment is to administer humidified oxygen and transport rapidly. Pneumonia. The best treatment is to administer oral fluids, high-flow oxygen, and transport in a position of comfort. Epiglottitis. The best treatment is to treat the patient gently and do not cause them to cry. Transport in the supine position with high-flow oxygen, if tolerated. Transport rapidly with lights and siren. Epiglottitis. The best treatment is to treat the patient gently and do not cause them to cry. Transport in a position of comfort with high-flow oxygen, if tolerated. Transport rapidly, but quietly, so as not to alarm the child. Correct Epiglottitis. The best treatment is to treat the patient gently and do not cause them to cry. Transport in a position of comfort with high-flow oxygen, if tolerated. Transport rapidly, but quietly, so as not to alarm the child. Explanation: The patient presents with the classic signs and symptoms of epiglottitis. Sudden onset of difficulty breathing, sore throat, and high fever, accompanied by the patient looking very ill, drooling, and in the tripod position. You want to take care to treat the patient gently and not cause them to cry. Transport rapidly, but quietly, as the siren can scare the child. Their epiglottis is swollen 2-3 times the normal size, and you do not want to risk a complete airway obstruction by placing anything in their mouth. Question 29 - Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation Practice Test for the EMT Test You are presented with a three-year-old male who was witnessed by his babysitter putting a small plastic toy in his mouth. When she tried to take it out, it got pushed farther down his airway. The patient is conscious and coughing forcefully. What is the best course of action? Quickly administer five back blows. Encourage the child to continue coughing. Perform five abdominal thrusts. Perform a finger sweep. Correct Encourage the child to continue coughing. Explanation: Encourage the child to continue coughing. If there is not a complete airway obstruction and the child is breathing on their own, provide supplemental oxygen and transport in the position of comfort. Hint: Be alert for words like better, best, most, main/mainly, major, and primary/primarily in questions. They indicate that there might be other answers that could work, but the correct answer is the one that is the best of the choices given. Question 30 You are a volunteer EMT alone on scene of a vehicle accident, and are performing one-rescuer CPR on a 10-year-old male who was ejected from a vehicle traveling 70 mph. What is the ratio of compressions to ventilations? 15:2 30:2 15:1 30:1 Correct 30:2 Explanation: The ratio of compressions to ventilations in one-rescuer CPR is 30:2 for infants, pediatrics, and adults. Remember that this is only for a one rescuer situation. For two-rescuer CPR on an infant or child, the ratio changes to 15:2 ----------------------------------------------------------- First Responder Practice Test

Question 1 You have just witnessed a patient collapse. He is not breathing. A second rescuer arrives. The second rescuers role is to: A activate the emergency response system and get the AED. B check for a pulse. C begin ventilating the patient. D automatically begin chest compressions. A activate the emergency response system and get the AED. Question 8 Explanation: In this scenario the second rescuer should activate the emergency response system and get the AED. Question 2 When giving mouth to mouth ventilations to an infant: A place your mouth over the infants nose and mouth to create an airtight seal. B pinch the patient's nostrils shut and place your mouth over their mouth creating an airtight seal. C close the patient's mouth and breath only through their nose. D there is no need to create a seal due to the child's smaller lung volume. Correct: A place your mouth over the infants nose and mouth to create an airtight seal. Question 3 When opening up the airway of a patient who is suspected of having a spinal injury you should: A insert a bite stick. B use the head tilt chin lift maneuver. C position the patient on their side. E use the jaw thrust maneuver Correct: E use the jaw thrust maneuver Question 4 The risk of infection to the rescuer while performing CPR is: A high. B extremely low. C non-existent. D moderate. Correct: B extremely low. Explanation: The risk of infection from performing CPR is extremely low however OSHA requires all healthcare workers to use standard precautions. Question 5 Which type of oxygen regulator only has 1 gauge and way to regulate the flow-rate? A Peak flow regulator. B Continuous flow regulator. C High pressure regulator. D Therapy regulator. Correct: C High pressure regulator. Question 6 You have witnessed a patient go into cardiac arrest and began CPR after sending a second rescuer to activate the emergency response system and get an AED. When a third rescuer arrives he should: A help the second rescuer by going to get the AED. B help with simple face mask ventilation. C help with bag mask ventilation. D stand by and maintain scene safety Correct: C help with bag mask ventilation. Question 7 When feeling for a pulse, use: A just your thumb. B 1 finger only. C 2 or 3 fingers. D your thumb and 1 finger. Correct: C 2 or 3 fingers. Question 6 Explanation: When checking a pulse, use 2 or 3 fingers. The thumb should never be used as it has a pulse of its own Question 8 Which of the following signs is not likely to be present in a patient with a severe airway obstruction? A Clutching the neck. B Inability to speak. C Violent coughing. D Cyanosis Correct: C Violent coughing. Question 9 A round of CPR should last 5 cycles or approximately: A 4 minutes. B 5 minutes. C 3 minutes. D 2 minutes Correct: 2 minutes. Question 2 Explanation: A round of CPR lasts for 5 cycles or approximately 2 minutes when performed at the proper rate. Question 10 You are transporting a 5 year old male to the hospital who is agitated and has an oxygen saturation of 92%. He will not tolerate a NRB or nasal cannula, and taking them off of his face. Your best course of action is to: A Restrain the patients hands by tying them to the stretcher. B Put the straps of the mask on tighter. C Have the patient's mother hold the mask close to his face. D hold the mask to his face while diverting his attention Correct: C Have the patient's mother hold the mask close to his face.

What title does EMR stand for in healthcare? emergency medical responder emergency medical resuscitator emergency modality responder emergency medical revivor Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Job Description, Training & Requirements Emergency medical technicians help to treat those who have been struck by sudden injury or ailment and stabilize them so that they can be transported to hospitals. Find out what an emergency medical technician is, the kind of training they must undergo, and the requirements that must be met. What Does an Emergency Medical Technician Do? Emergency Medical Technicians, or EMTs, are first responders who travel to the scene of a medical emergency in order to perform life-saving procedures and get a victim stable enough to take to a full medical facility such as a hospital. They spend much of their time traveling in or driving ambulances, heading where ever they are needed. EMTs are also required to report on a patient's status once they drop them off at a hospital for more intensive treatment, and are generally responsible for the cleanliness and organization of the ambulance to which they are assigned. Being an EMT also requires that an individual undergo brief but intensive training and obtain certification and licensure proving their competency. Aspiring EMTs should be able to keep calm in emergency situations, and capable of communicating clearly and effectively under stress. Showing compassion towards patients and their loved ones is also important, as is having the physical ability to perform strenuous activities such as lifting or moving patients. EMTs must also be able to handle death, as patients may pass away while EMTs are working to save them. EMT Training EMT training and education is most commonly done through post-secondary certificates, which generally take several months to complete. Accelerated training programs may also be available in some areas, during which time a condensed course covers all of the critical material in just a few weeks. Online EMT training does exist, but only covers classroom work. Subjects covered in traditional EMT programs include: EMT fundamentals Medical emergencies Trauma emergencies Most EMT programs include some form of internship or practical experience, intended to give students an idea of what the realities of the job are. Emergency simulations are also a common part of EMT training, and can be physically demanding. Those participating in online training will still need to obtain these practical experiences locally. EMT Requirements Aside from training, there are many other requirements that must be met in order to become an EMT. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Those younger than 18 can sometimes participate in junior EMT programs which allow teens to learn some basics of the job and find out what it's like. Educational programs will generally want individuals to already have some basic life support training, and have completed a CPR class from organizations like the Red Cross. Vaccinations must be current, often including vaccinations for the flu and other common illnesses. EMTs are frequently required to submit to criminal background checks and drug screenings before receiving training or being hired. Certification and Licensure for EMTs

Nationally, certification for EMTs is done through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), which meets licensing requirements in most states. NREMT offers several different levels of emergency medical services certification, with the most relevant being the Emergency Medical Technician, or EMT-Basic, and Advanced EMT or A-EMT. Both credentials require that an applicant pass a cognitive exam, based on their knowledge of emergency medicine, and a psychomotor exam, which evaluates their skills at performing procedures. Applicants are also required to be 18 years or older, have a current certification in basic life support and CPR for healthcare providers, and have taken and passed an appropriate course in EMT (or AEMT) training in the last two years. The AEMT credential additionally requires that candidates already hold a valid license as an EMT. In order to stay certified, EMTs must participate in continuing education and renew their certification every 2 years.

Some states do have their own certifications or licensure exams that operate independently of NREMT certification. Check the laws in your state to find out the exact certification and licensure requirements you will be expected to meet.