HOSA CERT SKILLS STUDY GUIDE EXAM 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Opening the Airway
What are the positions to place a concious/unconcious persons? - ✔✔Concious- allow
them to self-manage their position to open thier own airway, they know their body best
Tripod position- like catching your breath after running bent over
unconscious- turn them onto their side, tilt their head to drain fluid from their airway
For the unconcious person, if they are breathing, put them in recover position. If they're
not, try CPR, if you don't know CPR, put them in the recovery position.
✔✔What is the recovery position? - ✔✔1. Laid body on side
2. Bottom arm reached outward
3. Top arm placed on the bicep of the bottom arm
4. Head rested on the hand
5. Bent top or both legs to maintain side-lying position
6. Chin raised forward
7. Mouth pointed downward
Move their head as little as possible in case of spinal injury
Always try to provide comfort
✔✔Controlling Bleeding
What should you do before providing care? - ✔✔1. Identified self through name and
organization
2. Requested permission to treat the individual
✔✔Controlling Bleeding
How do you control it? - ✔✔1. Identified the source of bleeding, arm or leg
2. Applied firm, steady pressure using sterile 4x4 gauze directly on the source of
bleeding
(verbalize pushing hard even if the patient complains of pain)
3. Obtain commerical tourniqet
✔✔Controlling Bleeding
How do you use the tourniqet? - ✔✔1. Place tourniqet 2-3 inches above the wound as
possible on the injured limb closest to the torso
2. Reassure patient that might be painful but tightening is necessary
3. Ensure that the two ends of the tourniqet are clipped together using the buckle or
clasp
4. Secure tounriqet/note the time/ and keep it on until EMS arrives
✔✔What are the signs of shock? - ✔✔-rapid shallow breathing
,-bad capillary refill- if you press the finger/sternum the color returns in more then two
seconds (good- color returns in less than two seconds
-Patient failure to follow commands when squeezing hand
✔✔When the patient has symptoms of shock,
how should you maintain body temperature? - ✔✔1. Remove wet clothing if said in
scenario
2. Place something that provides separation from the patient and ground
3. Wrap the injured patient with dry layers
4. Shield the patient from wind with your body
✔✔Lifts and Carries
One-Person Pack-Strap Carry - ✔✔1. Position self away from patient
2. Bring patients arm above shoulders and grab in front of rescuers chest
3. Hoist patient off the floor
4. Carry to safety
Mostly for short distances
✔✔Lifts and Carries
Two-Person Carry - ✔✔1. Rescuar 1 squats at the patients head and grabs underneath
patients midsection, reaching underneath and grabbing the opposite arms
2. Rescuer 2 grabs the patients legs at the knees
3. Rescuers stand and lower person
Heavier individulals, and when there are more rescuers
✔✔Lifts and Carries
Chair Carry - ✔✔1. Rescuer 1 crosses patients arms in lap, facing the back of the chair,
and grabs the back uprights
2. Rescuer 2 grabs the two front legs
3. Tilt the chair back
✔✔Lifts and Carries
Blanket Drag - ✔✔1. Log roll patient into position on the blanket
2. Squatted at the patients head and grasp the blanket at the head for support
3. Drag patient to safe area
When the rescuer is not able to carry the survivor
✔✔Lifts and Carries
What's a log roll? - ✔✔One person holds head and the rest of the rescuers roll the
person (like a log)
Used for people who are unconcious or have a suspected spinal injury
✔✔Terrorism
What are Active Shooter Tactics? - ✔✔-Active Shooter Events are a new tactic
, -It is an individual trying to kill people in a confined and populated area
-Tactics include:
1. Being unpredictable
2. Tactics evolve quickly
3. No pattern or method in selection or targets
run-hide-fight
✔✔Terrorism
What are CERT protocols for terrorist incidents? - ✔✔-While CERT can help identify
signs of terrorism, they are not equipped to respond to terrorist events
✔✔What are the 8 signs of terrorism? - ✔✔-Surveillance: Observing or recording things
to identify weaknesses.
-Elicitation: Subtly asking questions to gather information.
-Tests of security: Testing security responses by triggering alarms, entering restricted
areas, etc.
-Funding: Obtaining money to supportnexecution of an attack, an unexplained source of
funds
Acquiring supplies: Purchasing or stealing material.
-Impersonation or suspicious people who don't belong: Pretending to be authorized
personnel without a clear reason.
-Rehearsal and dry runs: Practicing movements, timing, or actions to prepare for the
real operation.
-Deployment: Positioning people or materials to carry out the planned attack.
✔✔Terrorism
What does CBRNE stand for? - ✔✔Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and
high-yield Explosives
✔✔Terrorism
What are CBRNE indicators? - ✔✔-Vapor clouds or mists that are unusual for the area
or for the time of day.
-Out of place and unattended packages, boxes, or vehicles.
If you find smth, do not touch and move it away and report
✔✔Light Search and Rescue
What are the goals of search and rescue? - ✔✔-Rescuing the greatest number of
people in the shortest amount of time
-Rescuing the lightly trapped survivors first
✔✔Light Search and Rescue
How do you size-up your surroundings? - ✔✔Observe
-construction types
-related hazards
-weather
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Opening the Airway
What are the positions to place a concious/unconcious persons? - ✔✔Concious- allow
them to self-manage their position to open thier own airway, they know their body best
Tripod position- like catching your breath after running bent over
unconscious- turn them onto their side, tilt their head to drain fluid from their airway
For the unconcious person, if they are breathing, put them in recover position. If they're
not, try CPR, if you don't know CPR, put them in the recovery position.
✔✔What is the recovery position? - ✔✔1. Laid body on side
2. Bottom arm reached outward
3. Top arm placed on the bicep of the bottom arm
4. Head rested on the hand
5. Bent top or both legs to maintain side-lying position
6. Chin raised forward
7. Mouth pointed downward
Move their head as little as possible in case of spinal injury
Always try to provide comfort
✔✔Controlling Bleeding
What should you do before providing care? - ✔✔1. Identified self through name and
organization
2. Requested permission to treat the individual
✔✔Controlling Bleeding
How do you control it? - ✔✔1. Identified the source of bleeding, arm or leg
2. Applied firm, steady pressure using sterile 4x4 gauze directly on the source of
bleeding
(verbalize pushing hard even if the patient complains of pain)
3. Obtain commerical tourniqet
✔✔Controlling Bleeding
How do you use the tourniqet? - ✔✔1. Place tourniqet 2-3 inches above the wound as
possible on the injured limb closest to the torso
2. Reassure patient that might be painful but tightening is necessary
3. Ensure that the two ends of the tourniqet are clipped together using the buckle or
clasp
4. Secure tounriqet/note the time/ and keep it on until EMS arrives
✔✔What are the signs of shock? - ✔✔-rapid shallow breathing
,-bad capillary refill- if you press the finger/sternum the color returns in more then two
seconds (good- color returns in less than two seconds
-Patient failure to follow commands when squeezing hand
✔✔When the patient has symptoms of shock,
how should you maintain body temperature? - ✔✔1. Remove wet clothing if said in
scenario
2. Place something that provides separation from the patient and ground
3. Wrap the injured patient with dry layers
4. Shield the patient from wind with your body
✔✔Lifts and Carries
One-Person Pack-Strap Carry - ✔✔1. Position self away from patient
2. Bring patients arm above shoulders and grab in front of rescuers chest
3. Hoist patient off the floor
4. Carry to safety
Mostly for short distances
✔✔Lifts and Carries
Two-Person Carry - ✔✔1. Rescuar 1 squats at the patients head and grabs underneath
patients midsection, reaching underneath and grabbing the opposite arms
2. Rescuer 2 grabs the patients legs at the knees
3. Rescuers stand and lower person
Heavier individulals, and when there are more rescuers
✔✔Lifts and Carries
Chair Carry - ✔✔1. Rescuer 1 crosses patients arms in lap, facing the back of the chair,
and grabs the back uprights
2. Rescuer 2 grabs the two front legs
3. Tilt the chair back
✔✔Lifts and Carries
Blanket Drag - ✔✔1. Log roll patient into position on the blanket
2. Squatted at the patients head and grasp the blanket at the head for support
3. Drag patient to safe area
When the rescuer is not able to carry the survivor
✔✔Lifts and Carries
What's a log roll? - ✔✔One person holds head and the rest of the rescuers roll the
person (like a log)
Used for people who are unconcious or have a suspected spinal injury
✔✔Terrorism
What are Active Shooter Tactics? - ✔✔-Active Shooter Events are a new tactic
, -It is an individual trying to kill people in a confined and populated area
-Tactics include:
1. Being unpredictable
2. Tactics evolve quickly
3. No pattern or method in selection or targets
run-hide-fight
✔✔Terrorism
What are CERT protocols for terrorist incidents? - ✔✔-While CERT can help identify
signs of terrorism, they are not equipped to respond to terrorist events
✔✔What are the 8 signs of terrorism? - ✔✔-Surveillance: Observing or recording things
to identify weaknesses.
-Elicitation: Subtly asking questions to gather information.
-Tests of security: Testing security responses by triggering alarms, entering restricted
areas, etc.
-Funding: Obtaining money to supportnexecution of an attack, an unexplained source of
funds
Acquiring supplies: Purchasing or stealing material.
-Impersonation or suspicious people who don't belong: Pretending to be authorized
personnel without a clear reason.
-Rehearsal and dry runs: Practicing movements, timing, or actions to prepare for the
real operation.
-Deployment: Positioning people or materials to carry out the planned attack.
✔✔Terrorism
What does CBRNE stand for? - ✔✔Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and
high-yield Explosives
✔✔Terrorism
What are CBRNE indicators? - ✔✔-Vapor clouds or mists that are unusual for the area
or for the time of day.
-Out of place and unattended packages, boxes, or vehicles.
If you find smth, do not touch and move it away and report
✔✔Light Search and Rescue
What are the goals of search and rescue? - ✔✔-Rescuing the greatest number of
people in the shortest amount of time
-Rescuing the lightly trapped survivors first
✔✔Light Search and Rescue
How do you size-up your surroundings? - ✔✔Observe
-construction types
-related hazards
-weather
