Books and Articles by Arthur Hsieh

Art Hsieh, MA, NREMT-P is a highly experienced paramedic, clinician, and educator, helping hundreds of students prepare for and pass the national examination process. He is the director of a collegiate paramedic academy and editorial advisor of EMS1.com.

Articles & Books From Arthur Hsieh

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-18-2022
This Cheat Sheet is a quick summary of facts you should know about becoming a certified emergency medical technician (EMT), including certification steps, computer adaptive testing, and exam preparation.Getting and maintaining an EMT certificationThe requirements for becoming a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) vary from state to state.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
You should always use practice exams before arriving to take the EMT exam. Practice exams are a great tool for helping you prepare for the big day. Preparation and study can go a long way. Sample questions Directions: Choose the best answer to each question. Mark the corresponding oval on the answer sheet. Your patient presents with a rash on both hands after being exposed to poison oak.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
Anyone hoping to do well on the EMT exam should take a preassessment test. Preassessment test are great for seeing where you stand and identifying which areas need more study. Sample Questions You have arrived at a hospital with a trauma patient. There is a large amount of blood on the floor and walls of the ambulance as well as on the gurney.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
Before taking the EMT exam, you should always prepare with one or more practice exams. This will help you understand the format and find any gaps in knowledge before test day. Sample questions Directions: Choose the best answer to each question. Mark the corresponding oval on the answer sheet. Your patient is fully immobilized on a backboard when he starts to vomit into his airway.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
Practice exams are very helpful when preparing for the EMT exam. Take the time to take a practice exam under testing conditions before test day. This will help you identify knowledge gaps and increase your confidence. Sample questions Directions: Choose the best answer to each question. Mark the corresponding oval on the answer sheet.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
The following practice questions are similar to the EMT exam’s questions about medical fundamentals. Read each question carefully, and then select the answer choice that most correctly answers the question. Sample questions A 50-year-old female is alert but has difficulty speaking clearly and is unable to sit up by herself.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
You will need to know how to treat a pediatric patient as an EMT. For children ranging from infant to toddlers, performing the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) can help you to quickly determine how critical the situation is without rushing right up to the child. As you enter the scene, take a moment to look at the following signs: Appearance: Is the child awake?
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
You will need to know when it is necessary to oxygenate for the EMT exam. EMTs used to give oxygen to everyone, regardless of what the complaint was. Chest pain? Give oxygen. Toe pain? Yep, give that gas too! Medical experts have since discovered that inhaling more oxygen than necessary can be harmful for certain conditions, and it isn’t helpful in situations where it isn’t necessary.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
There are a few female-specific medical conditions you should review for the EMT exam. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection that affects the female reproductive system. Bacteria enter the body through the vaginal canal, usually during intercourse, and can infect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, causing pain, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and fever.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
You will need to know about the nervous system for the EMT exam. Simplistically, the nervous system serves a command and control purpose, primarily by receiving signals from nerves throughout the body, passing them through the spinal cord, processing those signals in the brain, and communicating some type of change in response.