NREMT EMT Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

NREMT EMT Cognitive Exam — Cheat Sheet

The fast-facts you must have locked in before test day, plus the high-yield clinical rules EMTs are tested on most.

Exam Logistics (memorize the numbers)

• Time limit: 120 minutes (2 hours).
• Passing standard: 950 on the scaled ability scale — this is a competency threshold, not a raw percentage.
• Application fee: $104 USD.
• Computer-adaptive test (CAT): each question adjusts to your ability, so you can't skip or go back — answer your best and move on.

Scene Size-Up — Do This First, Every Call

• BSI / PPE → Scene safety → MOI/NOI → # of patients → need for additional resources → C-spine consideration.
• On NREMT, "scene safe, BSI" is almost always the correct first action.

Primary Assessment — XABCDE

• X — control massive/life-threatening external hemorrhage first.
• A — Airway (open with head-tilt/chin-lift; jaw-thrust if trauma).
• B — Breathing (rate, depth, effort).
• C — Circulation (pulse, skin, bleeding).
• D — Disability (AVPU, gross neuro).
• E — Expose/Environment.
• AVPU: Alert · Verbal · Painful · Unresponsive.

Normal Adult Vital Signs

• Heart rate: 60–100 bpm.
• Respiratory rate: 12–20 breaths/min.
• Systolic BP: roughly 90–140 mmHg.
• SpO₂: ≥94% on room air is the general target.

Oxygen Delivery — Rates to Remember

• Nasal cannula: 1–6 L/min → ~24–44% O₂.
• Non-rebreather mask: 10–15 L/min → up to ~90%+ O₂.
• Bag-valve-mask (BVM): 15 L/min; ventilate an adult about every 5–6 seconds (≈10–12/min).

CPR / BLS Quick Numbers

• Compression rate: 100–120/min.
• Adult compression depth: at least 2 inches (≈5 cm), no more than ~2.4 in.
• Compression:ventilation (no advanced airway): 30:2 (1 or 2 rescuers, adult).
• Allow full chest recoil; minimize interruptions; switch compressors ~every 2 minutes.

High-Yield Mnemonics

• SAMPLE (history): Signs/symptoms · Allergies · Medications · Past history · Last oral intake · Events leading up.
• OPQRST (pain): Onset · Provocation · Quality · Region/Radiation · Severity · Time.
• DCAP-BTLS (trauma exam): Deformities · Contusions · Abrasions · Punctures · Burns · Tenderness · Lacerations · Swelling.
• Cincinnati Stroke Scale (FAST): Face droop · Arm drift · Speech · Time.

Shock & Bleeding Priorities

• Bleeding control order: direct pressure → tourniquet for uncontrolled extremity hemorrhage (apply high and tight, note the time).
• Signs of compensated shock: tachycardia, pale/cool/clammy skin, anxiety — hypotension is a late sign.
• Treat for shock: keep warm, high-flow O₂, position supine, rapid transport.

Common EMT-Assisted Medications

• Oral glucose — hypoglycemia in a patient who can protect their airway.
• Aspirin — suspected cardiac chest pain (per protocol, no contraindication).
• Nitroglycerin — chest pain (check BP first; hold if systolic too low or ED drugs taken).
• Naloxone — suspected opioid overdose with respiratory depression.
• Epinephrine auto-injector — anaphylaxis.
• Albuterol — bronchospasm/wheezing per protocol.
• Remember the rights: right patient, medication, dose, route, time, documentation.

Test-Day Strategy

• When in doubt, choose the answer that treats the most life-threatening problem first (airway/breathing/circulation before splinting or bandaging).
• Always assume you have adequate BSI and a safe scene only after you've stated them.
• Because the CAT ends when it's confident, treat every question as if it decides the outcome.