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EFA exit exam questions and answers — Set 10 — Elementary First Aid

Set 10 of the Elementary First Aid (EFA) exit exam bank — 30 of 1185 questions, with the correct option marked and a one-line explanation for every one. Read it end to end, jump to a single set, or search it — then sit the same bank as a timed paper. The real DG Shipping exit exam is 30 marks with 15 to pass.

These are the bank's original groupings. Practising deals the whole bank out again every time you reshuffle, so a practice “Set 3” is a different 30 questions each time — the set numbers below are the source file's, and are only used here so the key stays navigable. Options are listed in their original order with fixed letters; when you practise, those move too.

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Set 10 — 30 EFA exit exam questions with answers

1. Advanced communications system and technology stipulated by WHO where medical advice can be sought by:

  • A. Telemedicine
  • B. Satellite communication
  • C. Radio Medical Advice (RMA)
  • D. Compulsory onboard specialized
Answer: C — Radio Medical Advice (RMA)
The correct answer is: "Radio Medical Advice (RMA)". This aligns with maritime first aid standards, DG Shipping exam syllabi, and international emergency resuscitation guidelines.

2. Which of the following is not a good approach to managing stress:

  • A. Talking directly to the person who is causing the stress
  • B. Giving yourself a treat like comfort food or a cocktail
  • C. Accepting that there are things beyond your control
  • D. Trying cognitive therapy to learn new coping skills
Answer: B — Giving yourself a treat like comfort food or a cocktail
The correct answer is: "Giving yourself a treat like comfort food or a cocktail". This aligns with maritime first aid standards, DG Shipping exam syllabi, and international emergency resuscitation guidelines.

3. A high-fiber, low-fat diet and regular exercise can help to:

  • A. Increase CVD
  • B. Increase weight
  • C. Lose weight / maintain cardiovascular health
  • D. None
Answer: C — Lose weight / maintain cardiovascular health
The correct answer is: "Lose weight / maintain cardiovascular health". This aligns with maritime first aid standards, DG Shipping exam syllabi, and international emergency resuscitation guidelines.

4. Which of the following is a laboratory procedure developed to provide an objective behavioural measure of the tendency to binge eat?

  • A. Palatability test
  • B. Food pre-load test
  • C. Full capacity test
  • D. Fully loaded test
Answer: B — Food pre-load test
The correct answer is: "Food pre-load test". This aligns with maritime first aid standards, DG Shipping exam syllabi, and international emergency resuscitation guidelines.

5. Pick one of the following familial factors that plays a role in the development of eating disorders:

  • A. Parental attitudes to sex
  • B. Parental obesity
  • C. Parental attitudes to the media
  • D. Parental attitudes to education
Answer: B — Parental obesity
The correct answer is: "Parental obesity". This aligns with maritime first aid standards, DG Shipping exam syllabi, and international emergency resuscitation guidelines.

6. Body dissatisfaction is associated with triggering bouts of:

  • A. Purging
  • B. Binging
  • C. Dieting
  • D. Shopping
Answer: C — Dieting
The correct answer is: "Dieting". This aligns with maritime first aid standards, DG Shipping exam syllabi, and international emergency resuscitation guidelines.

7. Which danger exists to people when CO2 is discharged into a small enclosed space?

  • A. Damaged eardrums
  • B. Electric shock
  • C. Frostbite
  • D. Respiratory arrest
Answer: D — Respiratory arrest
CO2 extinguishes fire by displacing oxygen, and in an enclosed space it equally displaces the oxygen people need. High CO2 concentrations cause rapid unconsciousness and respiratory arrest, which is why spaces are evacuated and counted before total flooding.

8. When caring for a victim who has a large burn on the forearm, you should ____.

  • A. Use large amounts of cool water to cool the burn
  • B. Use ice or ice water to cool the burn
  • C. Remove any cloth that has stuck to the burn and apply burn cream
  • D. All of the above
Answer: A — Use large amounts of cool water to cool the burn
Cool the burn under cool running water for at least 10 to 20 minutes to stop tissue damage and relieve pain. Ice causes further injury, and cloth that has stuck to the burn must be left in place. Creams should not be applied.

9. Shock is a condition in which the ____.

  • A. Respiratory system fails to deliver air to the lungs
  • B. Circulatory system fails to deliver adequate blood to all parts of the body
  • C. Cardiovascular system fails to deliver blood to the heart
  • D. All of the above
Answer: B — Circulatory system fails to deliver adequate blood to all parts of the body
Shock is the failure of the circulatory system to supply enough oxygenated blood to the body's tissues and vital organs, for example from bleeding, burns or heart failure. Treat by laying the casualty down, raising the legs if possible, keeping them warm and getting medical help.

10. How many back blows are given to a choking child?

  • A. 3
  • B. 5
  • C. 8
  • D. 10
Answer: B — 5
For a conscious choking child, give up to 5 sharp back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts (chest thrusts for infants), checking the mouth after each set and repeating until the obstruction clears.

11. A crew member has fallen from a height of about 5 metres and, though conscious, cannot feel any pain in his limbs. What should you do?

  • A. Put the patient into the recovery position in case he vomits
  • B. Do not move the patient as he may have neck or spinal injuries
  • C. Carry the patient to the ship's hospital
  • D. Tie the patient to any pieces of wood that can be used as splints
Answer: B — Do not move the patient as he may have neck or spinal injuries
Loss of sensation after a fall suggests a spinal cord injury. The casualty should not be moved; keep the head and neck still in line, monitor breathing and get medical advice. Move him only on a spinal board or stretcher with proper immobilisation.

12. Which method of carrying a casualty may be used if the victim is unconscious?

  • A. Pick-a-back carry
  • B. Fireman's lift
  • C. Simple fore-and-aft carry
  • D. Both the fireman's lift and the fore-and-aft carry
Answer: D — Both the fireman's lift and the fore-and-aft carry
The pick-a-back carry needs a conscious casualty who can hold on. The fireman's lift and the two-person fore-and-aft carry can be used to move an unconscious casualty short distances, for example in an emergency where no stretcher is available.

13. If you think someone is having a stroke, you must act FAST. What do the letters in FAST stand for?

  • A. Fingers, Arms, Speech, Time
  • B. Face, Arms, Speech, Time
  • C. Feet, Arms, Speech, Time
  • D. None of these
Answer: B — Face, Arms, Speech, Time
FAST stands for Face (drooping on one side), Arms (weakness, cannot raise both), Speech (slurred or confused) and Time (to call for help). Early recognition and prompt medical treatment greatly improve the outcome of a stroke.

14. For an infant who is choking, you would perform ____.

  • A. The Heimlich manoeuvre
  • B. CPR
  • C. Back blows and chest thrusts
  • D. Holding the infant upside down and shaking
Answer: C — Back blows and chest thrusts
For a choking infant under 1 year, lay the infant face down along your forearm with the head low and give up to 5 back blows, then up to 5 chest thrusts with two fingers. Abdominal thrusts are not used on infants because they risk internal injury.

15. Which item below would be the best thing to apply to a head injury to reduce swelling?

  • A. A bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in cloth
  • B. A hot cloth
  • C. A can of soft drink
  • D. None of these
Answer: A — A bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in cloth
A cold compress, such as ice or frozen peas wrapped in a cloth, reduces swelling and pain by narrowing blood vessels. It should be wrapped to protect the skin and applied for about 10 to 20 minutes. Heat increases swelling.

16. Where would a person having a heart attack most likely feel pain?

  • A. In the chest, spreading to the left arm and shoulders
  • B. In the lower abdomen
  • C. In the legs
  • D. None of these
Answer: A — In the chest, spreading to the left arm and shoulders
Heart attack pain is typically a crushing central chest pain that may spread to the left arm, shoulders, neck or jaw. It is often accompanied by breathlessness, sweating and nausea, and is not relieved by rest.

17. When a person has ingested a poisonous chemical, what should you do?

  • A. Do not induce vomiting
  • B. If the person is conscious, give sips of water or milk
  • C. Both do not induce vomiting and give sips of water or milk if conscious
  • D. None of these
Answer: C — Both do not induce vomiting and give sips of water or milk if conscious
Inducing vomiting can cause further burns to the gullet and choking. If the casualty is conscious, give frequent sips of water or milk to dilute corrosive chemicals, keep the container for identification and get medical advice via the MFAG or radio medical service.

18. Which of the following can cause a stroke?

  • A. A blood clot in an artery in the brain
  • B. A blood clot in an artery in the heart
  • C. A blood clot in an artery in the leg
  • D. A blood clot in an artery in the lungs
Answer: A — A blood clot in an artery in the brain
An ischaemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks an artery supplying the brain, cutting off oxygen to brain tissue. A clot in a coronary artery causes a heart attack, in the lungs a pulmonary embolism and in the leg a deep vein or arterial thrombosis.

19. Which test should you use if you suspect that a casualty has had a stroke?

  • A. FAST - Face, Arms, Speech, Time
  • B. AVPU - Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive
  • C. DR ABC - Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation
  • D. Pulse, respiratory rate and temperature
Answer: A — FAST - Face, Arms, Speech, Time
The FAST test checks for facial drooping, arm weakness and slurred speech, and reminds the first aider that time is critical, so medical advice must be obtained immediately. AVPU assesses level of consciousness and DR ABC is the primary survey, not a stroke test.

20. When you first arrive at the scene of an accident, what is the first thing you should do?

  • A. Shout for help
  • B. Check the casualty's response
  • C. Assess the situation for danger
  • D. Check the casualty's breathing
Answer: C — Assess the situation for danger
The primary survey (DR ABC) starts with Danger: the first aider must make sure the scene is safe for themselves, bystanders and the casualty before approaching. Only then are response, airway and breathing checked and help summoned.

21. How many ureters are present in the human body?

  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4
Answer: B — 2
There are two ureters, one from each kidney, carrying urine down to the single urinary bladder. Urine then leaves the bladder through the single urethra.

22. What is the usual insertion length (at the teeth) of an endotracheal tube in an adult male?

  • A. 21 cm
  • B. 23 cm
  • C. 22 cm
  • D. 24 cm
Answer: B — 23 cm
In an average adult male an endotracheal tube is normally positioned at about 23 cm at the teeth, and about 21 cm in an adult female. This places the tip in mid-trachea, above the carina, avoiding intubation of one main bronchus.

23. Which of the following is NOT a usual site for intravenous injection?

  • A. Veins on the back (dorsum) of the hand
  • B. Veins of the forearm
  • C. Veins of the thigh
  • D. Veins of the foot
Answer: C — Veins of the thigh
Peripheral intravenous injections are normally given into superficial veins of the forearm, antecubital fossa and back of the hand, and occasionally the foot. The thigh has no suitable superficial veins and the deep femoral vessels are not used for routine IV injection.

24. Water conducts heat away from the body at approximately what rate compared with air?

  • A. 10 times faster than air
  • B. 20 times faster than air
  • C. 30 times faster than air
  • D. 25 times faster than air
Answer: D — 25 times faster than air
Water conducts heat about 25 times faster than air at the same temperature, which is why a survivor in cold water loses body heat rapidly and develops hypothermia much sooner than one exposed to cold air. Keeping still and out of the water reduces heat loss.

25. By which method is body heat lost through sweating?

  • A. Radiation
  • B. Evaporation
  • C. Conduction
  • D. Convection
Answer: B — Evaporation
Sweat absorbs body heat as it changes from liquid to vapour on the skin surface; this is cooling by evaporation. Radiation, conduction and convection are the other ways the body loses heat, but they do not depend on sweating.

26. The best treatment for preventing traumatic shock after an accident is to ____

  • A. Have the victim exercise to increase circulation
  • B. Keep the victim warm and dry while lying down
  • C. Keep the victim away from electrical equipment
  • D. Apply ice packs and avoid excitement
Answer: B — Keep the victim warm and dry while lying down
A casualty at risk of shock should be laid down, reassured, kept warm and dry and, if injuries permit, have the legs raised. This helps maintain blood flow to vital organs. Exercise and cooling would worsen the condition.

27. Where there are multiple accident victims, which injuries should be the FIRST to receive emergency treatment?

  • A. Major multiple fractures
  • B. Airway and breathing difficulties
  • C. Back injuries with spinal cord damage
  • D. Eye injuries
Answer: B — Airway and breathing difficulties
In triage, life-threatening problems with airway and breathing are treated first because a casualty can die within minutes without oxygen. Severe bleeding follows, while fractures, spinal and eye injuries are dealt with once ABC is secured.

28. Severe exposure to chlorine gas can be fatal. Chlorine gas is primarily a ____

  • A. Respiratory irritant
  • B. Skin burning agent
  • C. Nerve paralysing agent
  • D. Blood agent
Answer: A — Respiratory irritant
Chlorine reacts with moisture in the airways to form acids that inflame and damage the respiratory tract, causing coughing, choking and pulmonary oedema. It is therefore classed mainly as a respiratory irritant, not a nerve or blood agent.

29. When you inhale, your lungs ____

  • A. Inflate
  • B. Turn purple
  • C. Deflate
  • D. Stop moving
Answer: A — Inflate
During inhalation the diaphragm contracts and the chest expands, lowering pressure inside the chest so air flows in and the lungs inflate. During exhalation the muscles relax and the lungs deflate as air is pushed out.

30. Humans are ____

  • A. Cold-blooded animals
  • B. Warm-blooded animals
  • C. Able to switch between warm- and cold-blooded
  • D. Neither warm- nor cold-blooded
Answer: B — Warm-blooded animals
Humans are warm-blooded (endothermic) and keep a near-constant core temperature of about 37°C regardless of surroundings. That is why exposure to cold causes hypothermia and excessive heat causes heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

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