AEMT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which Apgar component assesses the newborn's muscle tone? → Activity (muscle tone)
2. For a responsive, stable medical patient during transport, how frequently should vital signs be reassessed? → Every 15 minutes
3. Which component of the SAMPLE history is represented by the letter 'M'? → Medications currently taken
4. During a normal delivery, once the baby's head is delivered, you should immediately: → Check for a nuchal cord and suction the airway if needed
5. Which tool is used in the field to rapidly estimate a pediatric patient's weight for medication dosing and equipment sizing? → Broselow tape
6. Which of the following is an advantage of sublingual administration? → All of the above
7. A patient is found unresponsive at the bottom of a staircase. Which mechanism of injury consideration is MOST important? → Spinal precautions due to potential mechanism for cervical or thoracic injury
8. A supraglottic airway device such as the King LT or LMA is best described as: → An advanced airway placed above the glottis to channel air into the trachea
9. What percentage of patients in the pre-hospital environment complain of pain? → 20%
10. Which of the following would be considered a contraindication to administering pain medication to a pediatric patient? → Glascow Coma Score
11. Which of the following correctly describes the 'pediatric chain of survival' priority for preventing cardiac arrest? → Prevention of respiratory failure, since most pediatric arrests are respiratory in origin
12. A 20-gauge IV catheter is inserted and the patient is to receive a fluid bolus. What does increasing the IV bag height accomplish? → It increases flow rate by increasing hydrostatic pressure
13. During scene size-up, what is the FIRST action an AEMT should take upon arriving at an emergency scene? → Ensure scene safety
14. When forming a general impression upon approaching a patient, the AEMT evaluates all of the following EXCEPT: → Blood glucose level
15. The Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) evaluates three components. Which of the following correctly lists them? → Appearance, work of breathing, circulation to the skin
16. When performing a focused exam on a patient with isolated extremity trauma, the AEMT should assess for all of the following EXCEPT: → Pedal edema bilaterally
17. An elderly patient presents with confusion, fever of 101.8°F, and urinary symptoms. You should suspect: → Urinary tract infection (UTI) — a common cause of altered mental status in the elderly
18. Which of the following is a disadvantage of IM administration? → B and C
19. What is the MOST important initial action when a prolapsed umbilical cord is identified? → Position the mother in knee-chest or Trendelenburg and keep the cord moist and warm
20. What is the exclusion criteria that a patient must meet for the Fibrinolytic Therapy Checklist for STEMI? → All of the above
21. When assessing pain in a 3-year-old child who cannot verbalize, you should use: → FLACC scale (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability)
22. The MOST common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is: → Uterine atony (failure of the uterus to contract)
23. The nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is preferred over the OPA in a patient who: → Is semi-conscious and has an intact gag reflex
24. When calculating a drip rate using a macro-drip IV set (10 gtt/mL), what is the drip rate for 1,000 mL to be infused over 60 minutes? → 167 gtt/min
25. In pediatric cardiac arrest, the MOST common initial rhythm is: → Asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
26. Which of the following is considered a barrier to pain management in the prehospital environment? → Difficult vascular access
27. Lactated Ringer's (LR) solution differs from 0.9% NS in that LR: → Contains potassium, calcium, and lactate, more closely mimicking plasma electrolytes
28. What is a long-term benefit of pain control for pediatric patients? → Decreased incidence of post-traumatic stress
29. Which of the following would be considered a means to overcome pain management barriers? → Offline protocols
30. HAZMAT scene operations for EMS personnel operating at the cold zone primarily involve: → Receiving decontaminated patients from the warm zone and providing medical care