2026 Edition First Aid and Emergency
Care Examination questions and
verified answers with rationales
1. What is the first action a nurse or first aider should take
upon arriving at the scene of an emergency?
A. Begin chest compressions immediately
B. Ensure the scene is safe for everyone
C. Move the injured person to another location
D. Ask bystanders to leave
Answer: B. Ensure the scene is safe for everyone
Rationale: Scene safety is always the priority. A responder
should ensure there are no hazards before approaching the
casualty to prevent additional injuries.
2. Which assessment is performed first during the primary
survey of an injured patient?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Airway
C. Medical history
D. Pain assessment
Answer: B. Airway
,Rationale: The primary survey follows the ABCDE approach.
Airway assessment is performed first because a blocked
airway can rapidly become life-threatening.
3. A conscious adult is choking and unable to speak. What is
the recommended immediate intervention?
A. Offer water to drink
B. Perform abdominal thrusts if severe airway obstruction is
confirmed
C. Lay the person flat immediately
D. Begin rescue breathing
Answer: B. Perform abdominal thrusts if severe airway
obstruction is confirmed
Rationale: For a conscious adult with severe airway
obstruction who cannot cough or speak, abdominal thrusts
are recommended until the obstruction is relieved or the
person becomes unconscious.
4. Which pulse site is commonly assessed during adult
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?
A. Radial artery
B. Brachial artery
C. Carotid artery
D. Femoral artery
Answer: C. Carotid artery
,Rationale: The carotid artery is the recommended pulse site
for assessing circulation in an unresponsive adult because it is
a central artery.
5. What is the recommended chest compression rate for
adult CPR?
A. 60–80 compressions per minute
B. 80–100 compressions per minute
C. 100–120 compressions per minute
D. More than 140 compressions per minute
Answer: C. 100–120 compressions per minute
Rationale: Current resuscitation guidelines recommend
compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute to optimise
blood flow during CPR.
6. Which action is most appropriate to control severe
external bleeding?
A. Apply direct pressure over the wound
B. Apply ice directly to the wound
C. Wash the wound thoroughly before dressing
D. Massage the injured area
Answer: A. Apply direct pressure over the wound
Rationale: Direct pressure is the first-line method for
controlling external bleeding. Additional measures may be
needed if bleeding continues.
, 7. Which burn should be cooled with clean running water
immediately after injury?
A. Chemical burn before removing contaminated clothing
B. Thermal burn from hot liquid
C. Electrical burn without assessment
D. Frostbite
Answer: B. Thermal burn from hot liquid
Rationale: Cooling a thermal burn with cool running water for
about 20 minutes helps reduce tissue damage and relieves
pain.
8. A patient is suspected of having a spinal injury after a road
traffic collision. What is the safest action?
A. Encourage the patient to stand up
B. Minimise movement while awaiting emergency services
C. Massage the neck gently
D. Remove the helmet immediately without assistance
Answer: B. Minimise movement while awaiting emergency
services
Rationale: Limiting movement helps reduce the risk of
worsening spinal cord injury until trained personnel provide
appropriate immobilisation.
9. Which finding is most consistent with hypovolemic shock?
Care Examination questions and
verified answers with rationales
1. What is the first action a nurse or first aider should take
upon arriving at the scene of an emergency?
A. Begin chest compressions immediately
B. Ensure the scene is safe for everyone
C. Move the injured person to another location
D. Ask bystanders to leave
Answer: B. Ensure the scene is safe for everyone
Rationale: Scene safety is always the priority. A responder
should ensure there are no hazards before approaching the
casualty to prevent additional injuries.
2. Which assessment is performed first during the primary
survey of an injured patient?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Airway
C. Medical history
D. Pain assessment
Answer: B. Airway
,Rationale: The primary survey follows the ABCDE approach.
Airway assessment is performed first because a blocked
airway can rapidly become life-threatening.
3. A conscious adult is choking and unable to speak. What is
the recommended immediate intervention?
A. Offer water to drink
B. Perform abdominal thrusts if severe airway obstruction is
confirmed
C. Lay the person flat immediately
D. Begin rescue breathing
Answer: B. Perform abdominal thrusts if severe airway
obstruction is confirmed
Rationale: For a conscious adult with severe airway
obstruction who cannot cough or speak, abdominal thrusts
are recommended until the obstruction is relieved or the
person becomes unconscious.
4. Which pulse site is commonly assessed during adult
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?
A. Radial artery
B. Brachial artery
C. Carotid artery
D. Femoral artery
Answer: C. Carotid artery
,Rationale: The carotid artery is the recommended pulse site
for assessing circulation in an unresponsive adult because it is
a central artery.
5. What is the recommended chest compression rate for
adult CPR?
A. 60–80 compressions per minute
B. 80–100 compressions per minute
C. 100–120 compressions per minute
D. More than 140 compressions per minute
Answer: C. 100–120 compressions per minute
Rationale: Current resuscitation guidelines recommend
compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute to optimise
blood flow during CPR.
6. Which action is most appropriate to control severe
external bleeding?
A. Apply direct pressure over the wound
B. Apply ice directly to the wound
C. Wash the wound thoroughly before dressing
D. Massage the injured area
Answer: A. Apply direct pressure over the wound
Rationale: Direct pressure is the first-line method for
controlling external bleeding. Additional measures may be
needed if bleeding continues.
, 7. Which burn should be cooled with clean running water
immediately after injury?
A. Chemical burn before removing contaminated clothing
B. Thermal burn from hot liquid
C. Electrical burn without assessment
D. Frostbite
Answer: B. Thermal burn from hot liquid
Rationale: Cooling a thermal burn with cool running water for
about 20 minutes helps reduce tissue damage and relieves
pain.
8. A patient is suspected of having a spinal injury after a road
traffic collision. What is the safest action?
A. Encourage the patient to stand up
B. Minimise movement while awaiting emergency services
C. Massage the neck gently
D. Remove the helmet immediately without assistance
Answer: B. Minimise movement while awaiting emergency
services
Rationale: Limiting movement helps reduce the risk of
worsening spinal cord injury until trained personnel provide
appropriate immobilisation.
9. Which finding is most consistent with hypovolemic shock?
