Basic Life Support

What should you do first if you find someone unconscious and unresponsive?

• ALeave them where they are and wait to see whether they come round on their own
• BCheck responsiveness, call emergency services (999), and begin CPR if trained✓
• CWait quietly beside them until somebody more senior arrives on the scene to take charge
• DMove them immediately

Answer: Time is critical in emergencies. Quick response and professional emergency help save lives.

What is the recovery position and when should it be used?

• ASomething that is never needed in practice
• BA position that is used only for people who have suffered a serious injury, such as a broken bone or a burn
• CAny comfortable position
• DPlacing an unconscious person on their side with airway open—used for unconscious but breathing people✓

Answer: The recovery position maintains an open airway and prevents aspiration in unconscious people.

What does CPR stand for?

• ACardiopulmonary Resuscitation—chest compressions and rescue breaths✓
• BCrisis Patient Review—a review meeting held after a serious incident at work
• CCareful Patient Response—a phrase describing a calm approach to service users
• DCardiac Pressure Relief—a term used in engineering rather than in health and social care

Answer: CPR combines chest compressions with rescue breaths to maintain circulation during cardiac arrest. Perform compressions at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute with a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio (30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths).

What should you do if a service user is choking?

• AGive them a glass of water to sip so that the obstruction is washed down into their stomach instead
• BLeave them alone in the room and let the obstruction clear by itself once they have stopped panicking
• CEncourage coughing, perform back blows and abdominal thrusts, call emergency services if needed✓
• DPanic

Answer: Prompt response to choking can prevent asphyxiation and save lives.

What is an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)?

• AA device of limited relevance in care
• BA device that may only be operated by a doctor or a paramedic once they are on scene
• COnly useful for children
• DA device that delivers electrical shocks to restart a stopped heart✓

Answer: AEDs are increasingly available and vital in saving lives from cardiac arrest.

Where would you expect to find an AED in your care setting?

• AThere won't be one
• BIn a locked cabinet only managers can access
• CUsually prominently displayed near first aid supplies or in high-traffic areas✓
• DAEDs aren't common

Answer: Knowing where emergency equipment is located is vital in emergencies.

What should you do immediately after performing emergency procedures?

• ALeave the person on their own to rest quietly in the room until the ambulance crew arrives to help
• BAssume they're fine
• CMove them immediately
• DKeep them comfortable, monitor vital signs, reassure them, and brief emergency responders✓

Answer: Post-emergency care and clear communication with professionals ensures continuity of care.

Why is basic life support training important for care workers?

• AA low priority for care workers, as the emergency services attend very quickly
• BOnly doctors and registered nurses have any need for this kind of training
• CIt enables you to respond effectively in life-threatening emergencies✓
• DIt's never used in practice

Answer: Life support skills can literally save lives. Regular training keeps skills current.

What should be included in your care setting's emergency procedures?

• AWritten procedures can be dispensed with, since staff will already know what to do at the time it happens
• BGeneral guidance only, with no specific content
• CClear steps for calling emergency services, locations of equipment, roles, and communication plans✓
• DOnly for major incidents

Answer: Clear emergency procedures ensure rapid, coordinated response when lives are at stake.

A service user collapses and becomes unresponsive with no pulse. You're trained in CPR. What's your priority?

• AWait for a manager to arrive and tell you whether or not you should begin CPR on the person
• BMove the person onto a bed so that they are lying more comfortably before doing anything else
• CWait for the ambulance crew to arrive rather than starting anything yourself in the meantime
• DCall 999, start CPR, and continue until emergency services arrive or the person recovers✓

Answer: Immediate CPR and emergency services are critical for survival in cardiac arrest.