FISDAP Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield FISDAP facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A patient is found unresponsive with pinpoint pupils, slow respirations (4/min), and cyanosis. Bystanders report heroin use. What is the priority intervention? → Support ventilation and administer naloxone
2. Which FISDAP feature allows programs to compare their students' skill attainment rates against national averages? → National benchmarking reports
3. A surgical cricothyrotomy is indicated when: → Orotracheal intubation has failed and the patient cannot be ventilated by any other means
4. Under FISDAP's operations tracking, which document captures the transfer of care to a receiving hospital nurse or physician? → Patient care report (PCR) and verbal handoff
5. During transport, a 14-month-old becomes limp and unresponsive. You note the child's glucose is 42 mg/dL. The MOST appropriate initial intervention is: → Establish IV/IO access and administer dextrose
6. Which FISDAP module is specifically designed to help students track their own progress toward clinical competency benchmarks? → Student dashboard
7. Which finding during abdominal assessment BEST indicates aortic aneurysm? → Pulsating abdominal mass
8. What is the primary purpose of professional certification in Airway Management? → To validate competency and knowledge in the field
9. A student documents a call involving a patient rescued from a near-drowning incident. Which FISDAP category best describes this? → Drowning / submersion emergency
10. In FISDAP, documenting care for a patient experiencing a behavioral emergency where the patient is a danger to themselves or others falls under which category? → Psychiatric and behavioral emergency
11. Which of the following FISDAP fields would be used to document that a student performed an IV attempt that was unsuccessful? → Skill performed: IV access — failed attempt
12. In FISDAP data collection, 'patient disposition' refers to which of the following? → Where the patient was taken or left after EMS contact
13. When a student performs CPR during a field internship, which FISDAP data element captures the number of compression cycles performed? → Skill attempt count
14. Which vital sign parameter is used to calculate shock index, and what value suggests hemodynamic compromise? → Heart rate divided by systolic BP; >1.0 is concerning
15. How often are EMS education programs typically required to undergo a full CAAHEP accreditation review? → Every five years
16. A hiker is rescued from a remote mountain trail with a core temperature of 28°C, absent pulse, and fixed dilated pupils. What is the most appropriate action? → Begin CPR and transport to a hospital with rewarming and ECMO capability
17. What is the primary purpose of FISDAP in data collection during student internships? → To track student clinical hours and skills during field internships
18. A patient in ventricular fibrillation receives a defibrillation shock. What is the FIRST action after shock delivery? → Resume CPR immediately
19. During assessment, a patient rates abdominal pain as 9/10. You note guarding and rigidity. These findings together MOST suggest which priority level? → High priority — expedite transport
20. A patient in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is breathing with deep, rapid, sighing respirations. What is the term for this breathing pattern? → Kussmaul respirations
21. A patient on warfarin presents with a major GI bleed. Which reversal agent is most appropriate? → Vitamin K and/or fresh frozen plasma
22. A FISDAP student documents a call where law enforcement requested EMS standby at a volatile scene. Which operational category best fits this entry? → Scene safety and staging
23. A pregnant patient at 32 weeks gestation is hypotensive and diaphoretic after a motor vehicle collision. What positioning modification is most important? → Tilt the backboard or manually displace the uterus to the left
24. A nursing home patient with dementia is combative and appears to be in pain but cannot verbalize symptoms. Which assessment approach is most appropriate? → Use a behavioral pain scale such as PAINAD to assess nonverbal cues
25. During orotracheal intubation, the Sellick maneuver (cricoid pressure) is applied primarily to: → Reduce passive regurgitation of gastric contents
26. A conscious adult patient refuses treatment after a thorough assessment. Which action is MOST appropriate? → Document the refusal and have the patient sign an AMA form
27. FISDAP's aggregate data capabilities allow program directors to do which of the following? → Compare cohort performance against national benchmarks
28. Which FISDAP skill is demonstrated when a student ensures the ambulance cot is properly secured before transport? → Patient packaging and securing
29. Why is continuing education important in Trauma Management? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices
30. A program uses FISDAP to generate end-of-cohort reports for its annual report to CoAEMSP. Which data category is MOST critical to include? → Graduation rate, NREMT first-attempt pass rate, and job placement rate