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 somewhere safe, check for injuries and then call for help

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?

• ASitting the person up and leaning them forward, used for someone who has a nosebleed
• BSitting the person on the floor with knees bent, used for a suspected heart attack
• CLying the person on their back with legs raised, used for someone who has fainted
• 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✓
• DGive them water to drink, pat their back and encourage them to swallow

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 measures blood pressure and oxygen levels through a finger clip
• CA device that restarts breathing by pushing air into the lungs
• 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?

• AStored in the loft or basement, where it will not be damaged
• BIn a locked cabinet that managers hold the key to
• CUsually prominently displayed near first aid supplies or in high-traffic areas✓
• DIn the manager's office, kept with the controlled drugs

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
• BReturn to your other duties, since the emergency services now take over
• CComplete the incident paperwork before attending to them further
• 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
• BDoctors and registered nurses are the staff who need this kind of training
• CIt enables you to respond effectively in life-threatening emergencies✓
• DIt qualifies you to give medication in an emergency without a prescription

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, with the specific steps left to staff on the day
• CClear steps for calling emergency services, locations of equipment, roles, and communication plans✓
• DDetails of the insurance policy and the claims helpline number

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, since CPR must be authorised before it is started
• 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.