Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Test with focused study methods including flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Practice with hints and detailed explanations to boost your readiness for the exam.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


Which of the following signs is NOT indicative of upper airway burns due to inhalation injury?

  1. Hoarseness

  2. Facial swelling

  3. Wheezing or rhonchi

  4. Stridor

The correct answer is: Wheezing or rhonchi

The correct answer highlights that wheezing or rhonchi are not typical signs of upper airway burns due to inhalation injury. Instead, these sounds are more associated with lower airway issues, usually resulting from bronchospasm or obstruction in the bronchi. In contrast, hoarseness and stridor are directly linked to upper airway involvement. Hoarseness indicates potential laryngeal involvement, while stridor, characterized by a high-pitched wheezing sound, suggests obstructed airflow due to swelling or injury in the upper airway. Facial swelling can also point to potential airway compromise from burns or other injuries in that region, reinforcing the likelihood of upper airway issues. Recognizing that wheezing or rhonchi points more towards the involvement of the lower airways helps clarify the distinctions between airway injuries, emphasizing the locations and mechanisms involved in different types of respiratory distress.