First Aid

What is the primary aim of first aid?

• ATo deal with the injury on site so that the emergency services do not have to be called out at all
• BTo cure injuries
• CTo replace medical treatment
• DTo preserve life, prevent deterioration, and promote recovery until professional help arrives✓

Answer: First aid aims to: preserve life (especially by maintaining breathing and circulation), prevent worsening of condition, and promote recovery until emergency medical help arrives.

What should you do if someone is unresponsive and not breathing?

• ABegin CPR - 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, continue until help arrives✓
• BPut them into the recovery position and wait for the ambulance without starting chest compressions
• CLeave them alone
• DWait for help

Answer: CPR protocol: check responsiveness and breathing; if absent, begin CPR with 30 chest compressions (center of chest, 2 inches deep) followed by 2 rescue breaths, repeating.

What is the recovery position?

• AFlat on the back with the head raised on a folded jacket and the legs kept straight out
• BStanding up straight
• COn side, head tilted back, airway open - preserves breathing in unconscious persons✓
• DSitting position

Answer: Recovery position: place unconscious breathing person on their side, tilt head back (airway open), bend top leg for stability. This keeps airway clear and prevents choking.

What should be done for severe bleeding?

• AApply cold water
• BApply direct pressure with clean material, elevate limb, apply tourniquet if necessary✓
• CPut a loose bandage over the wound and let the blood soak into it rather than pressing down
• DJust let it bleed

Answer: For severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with clean/sterile material for at least 10 minutes, elevate the limb above heart level if possible, apply a tourniquet above the wound if bleeding doesn't stop.

How should a burn be treated?

• AApply butter, oil or a greasy cream straight away to keep the air off the burn
• BApply ice directly onto the burn and hold it in place until the pain has eased
• CCool with running water for 10-20 minutes, cover loosely, seek medical help✓
• DPop any blisters

Answer: Burn treatment: cool immediately with cool running water for 10-20 minutes (reduces damage), cover loosely with clean cloth, remove restrictive jewelry/clothing, seek medical help.

What is 'shock' as a medical condition?

• AA minor complaint
• BThe emotional shock a person feels after seeing a bad accident on site
• CFeeling faint for a moment and then recovering without any treatment at all
• DLife-threatening condition where organs don't get enough blood/oxygen✓

Answer: Medical shock occurs when the body's circulation fails to deliver adequate oxygen. Signs include: pale, cold, clammy skin, fast pulse, nausea. Lay person flat with legs elevated.

What should be done if someone is choking?

• AEncourage coughing; if severe, deliver back blows and abdominal thrusts until object dislodges✓
• BLet them cough it out and take no further action even if they stop being able to breathe
• CDo nothing and wait, as the object will be swallowed on its own before long without any help at all
• DHit them on the back only once they have become unconscious

Answer: Choking treatment: encourage coughing if able to cough/speak; if unable, deliver 5 back blows between shoulder blades, then 5 abdominal thrusts; repeat until object clears.

What is an 'open fracture'?

• AA broken bone with an open wound where bone may pierce the skin✓
• BA minor injury that is not serious and needs no medical attention
• CA break in the bone that heals easily on its own without treatment
• DJust a deep bruise over the bone, with no actual break in the skin

Answer: An open (compound) fracture has a break in the skin, exposing bone. Risk includes infection and severe bleeding. Requires immediate medical attention and sterile dressing.

How should an electrical shock victim be treated?

• ASwitch off supply, check responsiveness, provide CPR if needed, call emergency services✓
• BLeave them alone
• CPull them away from the conductor with your bare hands as quickly as you possibly can manage
• DGive them water

Answer: Electrical shock first aid: safely isolate from electrical source (switch off, use non-conducting material), check consciousness/breathing, provide CPR if needed, call 999.

What should be included in a first aid kit?

• AAny contents will do, so long as a box marked with a white cross is kept somewhere in the site office
• BPlasters, bandages, sterile pads, antiseptic, gloves, painkillers, eye pads, triangular bandages✓
• COnly aspirin
• DJust plasters

Answer: First aid kit should contain: plasters, gauze pads, sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, latex gloves, triangular bandages, elastic bandages, painkillers, CPR face shield, and emergency numbers.

What is the purpose of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)?

• ATo deliver electrical shock to restore normal heart rhythm in cardiac arrest✓
• BTo detect whether the casualty still has a heartbeat, and to do nothing further
• COnly for training
• DTo prevent every kind of cardiac event from happening to a worker on the site

Answer: An AED delivers a controlled electrical shock to correct dangerous heart rhythms (ventricular fibrillation). Used with CPR, it significantly improves survival rates.

What should be the response to an eye injury from chemical splash?

• ARub the eye
• BRinse eyes continuously with water for at least 15-20 minutes, seek medical help✓
• CClose the affected eye and keep it shut until the stinging has settled down by itself
• DApply an eye ointment from the first aid kit and cover the eye with a pad until it stops hurting

Answer: Chemical eye injury: flush immediately with running water for at least 15-20 minutes (wash out chemical), hold eyelids open, continue flushing, seek emergency medical help.

What is the 'DRSABCD' action plan used in first aid?

• ADanger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation✓
• BIt is only ever used on training courses and never at a real incident on site
• CAn invented term
• DJust a set of random letters with no agreed meaning in first aid training

Answer: DRSABCD: Danger (check scene safe), Response (check consciousness), Send for help, Airway (clear), Breathing (check/give breaths), CPR (compress/ventilate), Defibrillation (use AED).

How should an unconscious person be positioned if they're still breathing?

• AFace down on the floor with the head turned to one side
• BRecovery position - on side with head tilted back✓
• CFlat on their back with the legs raised on a support
• DSitting upright in a chair with the head tipped forward

Answer: Place unconscious breathing person in recovery position (side, head back, airway open) to prevent airway obstruction and allow fluids to drain from mouth.

What workplace equipment is essential for first aid in electrical environments?

• AFirst aid kit, AED, and trained first aiders, plus emergency procedures for electrical injuries✓
• BJust a phone
• CA standard first aid kit only, since an electrical injury is treated in exactly the same way as any other
• DWhatever is already on site

Answer: Electrical workplaces need: comprehensive first aid kit, AED (for cardiac arrest from shock), trained first aiders (especially CPR), emergency procedures, and eye wash stations.