Your FREE AEMT Flashcards 2026 – 200+ Cards

EMT = basic life support; AEMT adds IV/IO, fluids, supraglottic airways & select meds; Paramedic adds intubation, cardiac monitoring/manual defib & most IV drugs.

Basic + IV/IO access, IV crystalloids, supraglottic (blind-insertion) airways, and a limited medication formulary — but NOT intubation, manual defibrillation, or cardiac rhythm interpretation.

No. Endotracheal intubation is a Paramedic skill. AEMTs use supraglottic/blind-insertion airway devices (King LT, i-gel, Combitube).

No. Cardiac monitoring, rhythm interpretation, and manual defibrillation are Paramedic-level. AEMTs apply an AED for cardiac arrest.

Oxygen, oral glucose, aspirin, nitroglycerin (assist/admin), epinephrine (auto-injector/anaphylaxis), albuterol, naloxone, dextrose (D10/D50), glucagon, and nitrous oxide — per state/medical direction.

Yes. Peripheral IV access and IV crystalloid fluid administration are core AEMT skills (EMTs cannot).

Yes. AEMTs may give IV/IO dextrose (D10 or D50) for hypoglycemia — an advanced skill beyond the EMT oral-glucose-only level.

The NHTSA document that defines the four nationally recognized EMS levels (EMR, EMT, AEMT, Paramedic) and the skills/meds each may perform.

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).

Current EMT certification + completion of a state-approved (often CAAHEP/CoAEMSP-accredited) AEMT course, including didactic, lab, and clinical/field competencies.

Valid 2 years; recertify through the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) continuing-education model + a current state EMS license.

Offline (indirect) = written standing orders/protocols. Online (direct) = real-time orders from a physician by radio/phone.

Protocols that let the AEMT perform interventions without contacting medical control first.

Scope = what your level/state authorizes you to do; standard of care = how a reasonable provider of your level would act in the same situation.

The legal obligation to provide care while on duty (or when a pre-existing relationship/protocol requires it).

Stopping care without transferring the patient to someone of equal or higher training — a legal liability.

Duty, breach of duty, damages/harm, and causation — all four must be present.

The most basic EMS level: initial care, CPR, AED, hemorrhage control, and basic airway — below the EMT.

Expressed = a competent patient agrees to care; implied = an unconscious/incompetent patient is assumed to consent to life-saving care.

A minor generally needs a parent/guardian's consent; emancipated minors and true emergencies are exceptions (implied consent).

Federal law protecting patient health information — share only with those involved in care or as legally required.

A legal document stating a patient's wishes to limit resuscitation; honor a valid DNR.

Provide limited legal protection for those who help in good faith within their training, off-duty.

Ongoing review of care (chart audits, run reviews) to improve EMS system performance.

AEMTs must report suspected abuse/neglect, certain injuries, and infectious-disease exposures per state law.

A blind-insertion airway (King LT, i-gel, Combitube) seated in the hypopharynx above the glottis to ventilate without visualizing the cords — an AEMT advanced airway.

A supraglottic airway with a soft non-inflatable gel cuff that molds to the laryngeal inlet; fast to place, no cuff to inflate.

A supraglottic dual-cuff tube; one cuff seals the esophagus, one the oropharynx, directing air to the trachea.

Continuous measurement of exhaled CO₂; confirms ventilation/airway placement and detects respiratory depression earlier than SpO₂.

35–45 mmHg.

A sudden rise in EtCO₂ suggests return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC); persistently low EtCO₂ suggests poor compressions or poor perfusion.

At least 94% for most patients; titrate oxygen to maintain it — avoid both hypoxia and unnecessary hyperoxia.

Respiratory distress from pulmonary edema (CHF) or COPD/asthma in an awake, cooperative patient who can protect the airway.

Apnea/respiratory arrest, hypotension, decreased LOC/can't protect airway, vomiting, pneumothorax, or facial trauma.

An inhaled beta-2 agonist (nebulized) that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle for wheezing/bronchospasm in asthma and COPD.

1 breath every 5–6 seconds (about 10–12/min); avoid over-ventilation, which raises intrathoracic pressure and lowers cardiac output.

1 breath every 2–3 seconds (about 20–30/min).

10–15 L/min delivering ~90% FiO₂ — for the hypoxic, adequately breathing patient.

1–6 L/min gives about 24–44% FiO₂ — for mild hypoxia.

Rate <8 or >24, shallow/irregular effort, accessory-muscle use, cyanosis, altered mentation, 1–2 word dyspnea.

Sitting upright leaning forward on the hands — a sign of severe respiratory distress.

Loss of wheezing/air movement in a tiring asthmatic — an ominous sign of impending respiratory failure.

A high-pitched inspiratory sound = upper-airway obstruction (croup, epiglottitis, foreign body, anaphylaxis).

Position, suction, basic adjuncts (OPA/NPA), and BVM first; advance to a supraglottic airway only when basic measures fail.

OPA (oral) only for an unresponsive patient with no gag reflex; NPA (nasal) tolerated by patients with an intact gag — avoid NPA with suspected basilar skull fracture.

Posterior pressure on the cricoid cartilage to reduce gastric insufflation/aspiration — no longer routinely recommended.

Adequate = normal rate/rhythm with good chest rise and clear lungs; inadequate = abnormal rate, poor tidal volume, or hypoxia — assist with BVM.

No more than 15 seconds per attempt (children/infants shorter) to avoid hypoxia.

A falling EtCO₂ can reflect worsening perfusion (less CO₂ delivered to the lungs) even with good ventilation.

No breathing — begin BVM positive-pressure ventilation immediately and consider an advanced airway.

From over-ventilation/too-fast squeezing; raises aspiration risk — ventilate slowly with good seal.

A theoretical concern; still give oxygen to a hypoxic COPD patient — never withhold needed O₂.

Bluish skin/mucous membranes from poor oxygenation — a late sign of hypoxia.

Use of neck/intercostal muscles to breathe — a sign of increased work of breathing/distress.

Falsely high in carbon monoxide poisoning; unreliable with poor perfusion, cold, or nail polish.

Croup = barky cough, gradual, viral (kids); epiglottitis = rapid, drooling, tripoding, high fever — keep the child calm, do not inspect the throat.

Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) until relieved or the patient becomes unresponsive, then begin CPR.

Early recognition/activation → early CPR → early defibrillation → advanced care → post-arrest care (+ recovery).

100–120 per minute.

At least 2 inches (5 cm), no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm); allow full recoil.

30:2.

15:2.

Apply as soon as available, ensure no one is touching the patient, and deliver a shock if advised; resume compressions immediately after.

162–324 mg chewed for suspected ACS (no allergy/active GI bleed) — it reduces platelet aggregation.

A vasodilator for ischemic chest pain; reduces preload/myocardial workload. Sublingual, may repeat every 5 min up to 3 doses.

SBP <90–100 mmHg, recent PDE-5 inhibitor (sildenafil 24 h / tadalafil 48 h), and suspected right-ventricular/inferior MI.

ST-elevation MI — a fully occluded coronary artery; needs rapid transport for reperfusion (PCI). AEMTs cannot interpret the 12-lead but acquire/transmit it where equipped.

Crushing substernal chest pressure radiating to the arm/jaw, dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea — may be atypical in women, elderly, and diabetics.

Onset, Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Time — the pain assessment for chest pain.

Pump failure (often after large MI): hypotension, pulmonary edema, cool clammy skin — supportive care and rapid transport.

Dyspnea, crackles, pink frothy sputum, JVD; sit upright, high-flow O₂/CPAP, nitroglycerin per protocol.

A palpable pulse returns after arrest; a sudden EtCO₂ rise is an early clue — then focus on oxygenation, ventilation, and transport.

Rate 100–120, depth at least 2 in, full recoil, minimal interruptions (under 10 s), avoid over-ventilation.

Obvious death (rigor, lividity, decomposition, decapitation) or a valid DNR — otherwise begin and continue.

A Paramedic-level drug in arrest; AEMT epinephrine use is for anaphylaxis, not as a routine arrest med (per scope/protocol).

SBP < 90 mmHg (or signs of poor perfusion) — a marker of shock.

Asystole = no electrical activity (flatline); PEA = organized rhythm with no pulse — both: high-quality CPR.

Disorganized quivering ventricles, no pulse — the AED shocks it; AEMTs apply the AED, Paramedics manually defibrillate.

Stop chaotic electrical activity so the heart's natural pacemaker can resume an organized rhythm.

Move the patient to a dry surface and dry the chest before applying pads to avoid arcing.

Place pads at least 1 inch away from the implanted device.

Avoid — an inferior/RV MI is preload-dependent and nitro can cause profound hypotension.

Cardiac pain is often pressure-like, exertional, with diaphoresis/dyspnea; reproducible/positional pain is less likely cardiac — but treat suspicious pain as ACS.

The percentage of arrest time spent doing compressions — keep it high (>60-80%) by minimizing pauses.

Every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue and keep compressions effective.

Head 9%, each arm 9%, each leg 18%, anterior trunk 18%, posterior trunk 18%, genitals 1%.

Stop the burning, remove jewelry/clothing, cover with a dry sterile dressing, keep warm, and manage airway/fluids; do not pop blisters or apply ice.

Life-threatening extremity hemorrhage not controlled by direct pressure — apply high and tight, note the time.

Direct pressure → tourniquet (extremity) or wound packing/hemostatic gauze (junctional) for severe bleeding.

Air trapped in the pleural space: severe dyspnea, absent breath sounds (one side), JVD, tracheal deviation (late), hypotension — needs decompression.

Two or more adjacent ribs broken in two or more places, causing paradoxical chest-wall movement; support ventilation, give O₂.

Open pneumothorax — seal with an occlusive (vented) dressing; burp it if a tension pneumothorax develops.

Manual stabilization and limiting movement for suspected spinal injury, guided by selective immobilization criteria — not automatic for every trauma.

No midline tenderness, no focal deficit, normal alertness, no intoxication, no distracting injury — if all met, immobilization may be unnecessary.

Tachycardia, hypotension (late), distended/rigid abdomen, bruising, pallor, altered mentation — high index of suspicion in trauma.

Volume loss → tachycardia, narrow pulse pressure, cool/clammy skin; control bleeding, give O₂, IV fluids cautiously, keep warm, rapid transport.

Titrating fluids to a lower target BP in uncontrolled hemorrhage to avoid disrupting clots — per protocol.

The principle that definitive surgical care soon after major trauma improves survival — minimize on-scene time for critical trauma.

Use mechanism, vitals, and anatomy to decide transport to a trauma center; limit scene time for the critical patient.

Hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds — from blood compressing the heart after chest trauma.

Major internal hemorrhage; use a pelvic binder, handle gently, treat for shock.

Decreasing LOC, unequal pupils, Cushing's triad (hypertension, bradycardia, irregular respirations) — maintain oxygenation/perfusion.

Prolonged compression releases potassium and myoglobin on extrication → hyperkalemia/renal injury; IV fluids before release per protocol.

Do not remove (except cheek/airway obstruction); stabilize in place and transport.

Cover exposed abdominal organs with a moist sterile dressing; do not push them back in.

How the injury occurred — guides the index of suspicion for hidden injuries (e.g., high-speed crash, fall >20 ft).

The study of energy transfer in injury — predicts injury patterns from the MOI.

Rising pressure in a fascial compartment after injury: pain out of proportion, pallor, paresthesia, pulselessness — a surgical emergency; do not elevate or ice.

Control bleeding; wrap the part in moist sterile gauze, seal in a bag, and keep it cool (not directly on ice); transport with the patient.

Irrigate the eye copiously with saline/water from the inner to outer canthus; cover both eyes for a penetrating injury.

Lowered core temperature; handle gently (rough movement can trigger V-fib), remove wet clothing, rewarm passively, give warm O₂.

Hot skin, altered mentation, possible loss of sweating — a true emergency; rapid active cooling and transport.

Significant/critical burns: airway burns, large BSA, full-thickness, circumferential, hands/face/genitals, or with trauma → burn/trauma center.

Singed nasal hair, soot in the mouth, hoarseness, stridor, facial burns — anticipate rapid airway swelling.

Isolated mid-shaft femur fracture without pelvic/lower-leg fracture — reduces pain and bleeding.

Open = bone breaks the skin (infection/bleeding risk); closed = skin intact. Splint, check distal CMS (circulation, motor, sensory).

Assess Circulation, Motor, and Sensory function distal to an injury before and after splinting.

New hypertension after 20 weeks with headache, visual changes, edema, and upper-abdominal pain; risk of seizures (eclampsia).

The placenta covers the cervical opening → painless, bright-red third-trimester vaginal bleeding; do not perform a vaginal exam, transport on the left side.

Premature separation of the placenta → painful vaginal bleeding (may be concealed) with a rigid/tender uterus; a true emergency.

Newborn assessment at 1 & 5 min — Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration; each 0–2 (max 10).

At least 100/min; if under 100 despite warming, drying, stimulation, and positioning, begin positive-pressure ventilation.

Seizures in pregnancy from severe preeclampsia — protect the airway, position left lateral, transport rapidly.

A severe, rapid, life-threatening allergic reaction with airway swelling, wheezing, hypotension, hives, and GI symptoms across multiple systems.

First-line: epinephrine 1:1,000 IM (auto-injector 0.3 mg adult / 0.15 mg child) into the lateral thigh; may repeat in 5–15 min.

Altered mentation, diaphoresis, tachycardia, tremor, slurred speech, seizures — rapid onset; check glucose.

Conscious & can swallow → oral glucose; AEMT may give IV/IO D10/D50 or IM glucagon if unable to swallow.

Only to a conscious patient with an intact gag reflex who can swallow; place between the cheek and gum.

Hyperglycemia with ketosis/acidosis: Kussmaul (deep rapid) breathing, fruity breath, dehydration, abdominal pain; IV fluids and rapid transport.

Three signs — facial droop, arm drift, abnormal speech; any one suggests stroke.

Identify last-known-well time, keep airway/oxygenation/glucose normal, and transport rapidly to a stroke-capable center.

An opioid antagonist that reverses respiratory depression/sedation from opioids; give IN/IM/IV and support ventilation first.

Pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, and decreased LOC — the classic toxidrome.

Protect from injury, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth, position to protect airway after, give O₂, check glucose.

A seizure lasting 5 min or longer, or repeated seizures without recovery — a true emergency; rapid transport (benzodiazepines are usually Paramedic-level).

A hormone that raises blood glucose by mobilizing liver glycogen; given IM/SQ for hypoglycemia when IV access/oral glucose isn't possible.

Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last oral intake, Events leading up.

Suspected infection plus signs of poor perfusion (fever/hypothermia, tachycardia, hypotension, altered mentation) — give O₂/fluids, rapid transport.

Crowning, urge to push, frequent strong contractions <2 min apart — prepare to deliver on scene.

Umbilical cord around the newborn's neck — gently slip it over the head; if tight, clamp and cut.

Cord presents before the baby — relieve pressure (knee-chest/Trendelenburg, gloved hand off the cord), high-flow O₂, rapid transport.

Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI distress, Emesis — from organophosphates/nerve agents.

Tachycardia, hypertension, hyperthermia, agitation, dilated pupils — from stimulants (cocaine, meth).

Headache, nausea, confusion; SpO₂ reads falsely normal — give high-flow O₂ and remove from the source.

Binds some ingested poisons; give only per medical direction to an alert patient who can protect the airway.

Asthma = reversible bronchospasm, often younger, triggers; COPD = chronic (emphysema/bronchitis), older smokers — both wheeze and respond to albuterol.

Mild = local hives/itching; anaphylaxis = multi-system with airway/breathing/circulation compromise → epinephrine IM.

Hyper = gradual, dehydration, fruity breath, Kussmaul; hypo = rapid, diaphoretic, altered/combative — both: check glucose.

Hypoglycemia can mimic stroke — always check blood glucose in any altered/focal-deficit patient.

A mnemonic for altered mental status: Alcohol, Epilepsy, Insulin, Overdose, Uremia, Trauma, Infection, Psych, Stroke.

Ensure scene safety, stay calm, set limits, and use restraints only when necessary, monitored, and per protocol — never prone/positional asphyxia.

Severe agitation, hyperthermia, and superhuman strength — high risk of sudden death; minimize struggle, monitor, rapid transport.

Excessive bleeding after delivery — uterine fundal massage and rapid transport.

Greenish amniotic fluid; if the newborn is not vigorous, suction the airway before stimulating breaths.

Buttocks/feet first — support the body, avoid pulling; if the head doesn't deliver, create an airway and transport immediately.

In late pregnancy the uterus compresses the vena cava when supine — transport the patient tilted to the left side.

Trauma exam findings: Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling.

Simple Triage And Rapid Treatment — sort by Respirations, Perfusion, Mental status into Immediate (red), Delayed (yellow), Minor (green), Deceased/expectant (black).

Life threat needing immediate care — RR >30, no radial pulse/cap refill >2 s, or can't follow commands.

No respirations even after airway repositioning.

The standardized NIMS management structure for organizing personnel and resources at an incident.

Hot = contamination/danger; Warm = decontamination corridor; Cold = safe support/command area. EMS stages in the cold zone.

Scene safety, BSI/PPE, MOI/NOI, number of patients, and need for additional resources — done before patient contact.

Gloves, eye protection, gown, and mask as needed — treat all blood/body fluids as infectious.

For critical trauma/time-sensitive patients with prolonged ground transport; set up a safe, clear landing zone.

Gain access, perform rapid assessment/stabilization, disentangle, and remove — patient care priorities drive the process.

Critical Incident Stress Management — recognizing and addressing provider stress after difficult calls.

An event whose patient needs exceed available resources — triage, ICS, and resource requests are key.

Use due regard with lights/siren, slow at intersections, and wear seatbelts — most crashes happen at intersections.

Protect yourself first; do not enter the hot zone without proper PPE/training; decon before transport.

The patient care report is a legal record, supports continuity of care, and protects the provider — accurate and objective.

A competent adult may refuse; ensure they understand risks (informed), document thoroughly, and encourage care/follow-up.

The pediatric version of START triage, accounting for children's physiology (includes 5 rescue breaths for an apneic child with a pulse).

Patients are re-assessed and may be re-categorized as their condition changes at an MCI.

Where incoming units wait for assignment at a large incident — keeps the scene organized.

Clean/disinfect the stretcher and reusable gear after each call; dispose of sharps in approved containers.

After a needlestick/body-fluid exposure: wash the area, report immediately, and follow post-exposure protocol.

Keep the back straight, lift with the legs, keep the load close — prevents provider injury.

Emergency move only when there's immediate danger, you can't reach a critical patient, or you must access another patient.

Lateral recumbent position for an unresponsive breathing patient without trauma — protects the airway.

Recognize cues → analyze cues → form a hypothesis → generate solutions → take action → evaluate outcomes.

Address life threats in order: (exsanguinating) bleeding, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure.

The immediate sick/not-sick judgment formed on first sight that drives urgency.

Every 5 minutes for an unstable patient; every 15 minutes for a stable patient.

Alert, responds to Verbal, responds to Pain, Unresponsive — a quick mental-status check.

Scores Eye (4), Verbal (5), Motor (6); 3 (worst) to 15 (best); 8 or less = severe, can't protect airway.

Add the best Eye + Verbal + Motor responses; a falling GCS signals deterioration.

A from-the-doorway check of Appearance, Work of Breathing, and Circulation to the skin — rapid sick/not-sick in kids.

Hypertension (widening pulse pressure), bradycardia, and irregular respirations — a late sign of rising intracranial pressure.

Compensated = tachycardia, anxiety, narrowing pulse pressure with normal BP; decompensated = falling BP and altered mentation (late, ominous).

<2 seconds — prolonged suggests poor perfusion (most reliable in children).

Systolic minus diastolic BP; a narrowing pulse pressure is an early shock sign.

Track changes over time — a worsening trend identifies deterioration before any single number looks abnormal.

Children compensate well then crash suddenly; bradycardia in a child usually means hypoxia until proven otherwise.

HR 60–100, RR 12–20, SBP about 90–140, SpO₂ at least 94%.

HR 100–160, RR 30–60 — much faster than adults.

Critical/unstable patients = rapid transport with care en route; stable patients allow more on-scene assessment.

Anticipating injuries/illness based on mechanism, presentation, and history — drives a thorough assessment.

Repeating back orders/handoffs to confirm understanding — reduces errors during care and transfer.

A structured patient handoff: Mechanism/Injuries/Signs/Treatment, or Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation.

Identify relevant signs, symptoms, and history that matter — the first step of clinical reasoning.

Connect and prioritize the findings to figure out what is most likely happening.

Implement the highest-priority intervention within scope, then reassess its effect.

Reassess after every intervention to confirm it helped or to change the plan.

The rapid global judgment that determines transport urgency and the depth of assessment.

A head-to-toe (or focused) exam plus vitals and history, done after life threats are addressed.

A quick head-to-toe survey for a significant MOI to find life threats.

An exam targeted to the chief complaint for a stable patient with an isolated problem.

Expected findings that are absent — documenting them strengthens clinical reasoning.

Use waveform EtCO₂ to monitor ventilation, CPR quality, and detect deterioration over time.