EFA exit exam questions and answers — Set 19 — Elementary First Aid

Set 19 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.

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Set 19 — 30 EFA exit exam questions with answers

1. A sprained joint may be supported by:

A. A splint or firm bandage to immobilise it
B. Massaging it vigorously
C. Applying heat immediately
D. Exercising it at once

Answer: A — A splint or firm bandage to immobilise it

A sprain is treated by rest, ice, compression and elevation. Immobilising the joint with a splint or firm bandage reduces pain and further damage. Heat and massage in the early stage increase swelling.

2. When washing a chemical out of a casualty's eye, the eyelids should be:

A. Kept closed
B. Held open
C. Covered with a dry pad
D. Pressed firmly

Answer: B — Held open

The eyelids must be gently held open so that water can flush the whole surface of the eye and under the lids. Run the water from the inner corner outward so the chemical does not wash into the other eye.

3. First-degree (superficial) burns can be treated with:

A. Cold water or a cold, wet cloth
B. Butter or oil
C. Ice applied directly to the skin
D. Hot water

Answer: A — Cold water or a cold, wet cloth

Superficial burns are cooled with cool running water or a cold wet cloth to stop the burning and relieve pain. Butter and oil hold the heat in, and ice applied directly can cause further tissue damage.

4. What is the likely result of entering a cargo hold or confined space that has insufficient oxygen?

A. Rapid unconsciousness and death
B. Mild headache only
C. Increased alertness
D. No effect for at least one hour

Answer: A — Rapid unconsciousness and death

An oxygen-deficient atmosphere gives no warning; a person can collapse within seconds and die within minutes. This is why confined spaces must be ventilated, tested and entered only under a permit, and rescuers must wear breathing apparatus.

5. Why must electrical burns not be treated simply as ordinary heat burns?

A. They are always superficial
B. There may be serious internal damage beneath small entry and exit wounds
C. They never need medical attention
D. They heal faster than heat burns

Answer: B — There may be serious internal damage beneath small entry and exit wounds

Current passing through the body can damage deep tissues, nerves and the heart while the visible entry and exit burns look small. Electrical burn and shock victims should always be monitored and seen by a doctor.

6. For a dislocated joint, the first aider should:

A. Move the bone back into place
B. Support and immobilise the joint and get medical help
C. Ask the casualty to exercise the joint
D. Apply heat and massage

Answer: B — Support and immobilise the joint and get medical help

Attempting to put a dislocated bone back can damage nerves, blood vessels and the joint. The first aider supports the limb in the most comfortable position, immobilises it and obtains medical help.

7. The most effective initial method of controlling external bleeding is:

A. Direct pressure on the wound
B. Applying a tourniquet
C. Giving the casualty water
D. Washing the wound with hot water

Answer: A — Direct pressure on the wound

Firm direct pressure on the wound, preferably over a sterile dressing, compresses the bleeding vessels and allows clotting. Elevation helps, and a tourniquet is kept for life-threatening limb bleeding that pressure cannot control.

8. Which of the following are functions of first aid?

A. Reporting the medical emergency
B. Getting medical help
C. Giving initial care to preserve life
D. All of the above

Answer: D — All of the above

First aid includes recognising the emergency, raising the alarm and reporting it, obtaining medical help and giving immediate care to preserve life and prevent the condition worsening until qualified help is available.

9. How should a casualty be separated from a live electrical source?

A. Pull the casualty away with bare hands
B. Switch off the power or use dry, non-conducting material to push the casualty clear
C. Throw water on the casualty
D. Grab the casualty's wet clothing

Answer: B — Switch off the power or use dry, non-conducting material to push the casualty clear

Touching the casualty while the circuit is live can electrocute the rescuer. Isolate the supply first; if this is impossible, stand on dry insulating material and use a dry wooden or plastic object to push the casualty clear.

10. In a case of swallowed poison, vomiting should:

A. Always be induced immediately
B. Never be induced unless instructed by a poison control centre or doctor
C. Be induced with salt water
D. Be induced only for corrosive poisons

Answer: B — Never be induced unless instructed by a poison control centre or doctor

Inducing vomiting can cause further damage, especially with corrosive substances or petroleum products that can burn the gullet or be inhaled into the lungs. Seek medical or poison centre advice and follow it.

11. A second-degree burn should be referred to hospital when it affects critical areas such as the:

A. Face, hands, feet or genitals
B. Back of the shoulder only, if small
C. Tip of one finger only
D. Small area of the forearm

Answer: A — Face, hands, feet or genitals

Burns to the face, hands, feet, genitals and major joints are critical because of risks to breathing, function and cosmetic outcome, even if small. These casualties need hospital care after first aid.

12. For a sprain, the swelling can be reduced by:

A. Applying ice packs
B. Applying hot compresses
C. Massaging the joint
D. Walking on it

Answer: A — Applying ice packs

In the RICE treatment of sprains, cold or ice packs wrapped in cloth applied for 10 to 20 minutes reduce swelling, bleeding and pain. Ice must not be placed directly on the skin.

13. If heat stroke is not treated promptly, it may result in:

A. Brain damage and death
B. Only mild thirst
C. Improved circulation
D. Lower body temperature

Answer: A — Brain damage and death

In heat stroke the core temperature can exceed 40°C, causing brain damage, multi-organ failure and death. Rapid cooling and urgent medical help are essential.

14. Medicinal (activated) charcoal is used in some poisonings because it:

A. Absorbs some of the poison in the stomach
B. Neutralises all poisons completely
C. Induces vomiting
D. Increases absorption of the poison

Answer: A — Absorbs some of the poison in the stomach

Activated charcoal binds (adsorbs) many poisons in the gut and reduces their absorption into the bloodstream. It does not work for all poisons and should be given on medical advice.

15. Which of the following is correct first aid for a snake bite?

A. Apply a tight tourniquet above the bite
B. Keep the casualty still and the bitten limb immobilised and below heart level
C. Cut the bite and suck the venom
D. Apply ice directly to the bite

Answer: B — Keep the casualty still and the bitten limb immobilised and below heart level

A tourniquet cuts off circulation and can cause loss of the limb, so it is not used for snake bite. Keep the casualty calm and still, immobilise the limb below heart level and get medical help urgently.

16. Corrosive chemicals in powder form on a casualty's skin should first be:

A. Carefully brushed off the skin
B. Washed with a small amount of water
C. Neutralised with an acid or alkali
D. Rubbed into the skin with a cloth

Answer: A — Carefully brushed off the skin

Dry powder chemicals should be brushed off first, as a small amount of water may react with them and intensify the burn. The area is then flushed with large amounts of water.

17. Third-degree (full-thickness) burns damage:

A. Only the uppermost layer of the skin
B. All layers of the skin and possibly underlying tissues
C. Only the hair
D. Only the nails

Answer: B — All layers of the skin and possibly underlying tissues

Third-degree burns destroy the full thickness of the skin and may extend into fat, muscle and bone. The area may look white, waxy or charred and is often painless because nerve endings are destroyed.

18. Which artery carries blood from the heart to the brain and is used to check the pulse in an adult?

A. Carotid artery
B. Femoral artery
C. Radial artery
D. Brachial artery

Answer: A — Carotid artery

The carotid arteries in the neck carry blood from the heart to the brain. The carotid pulse is checked beside the windpipe in an unconscious adult because it remains palpable when peripheral pulses are too weak.

19. When plastics are burnt in a shipboard incinerator, which toxic gas may be produced?

A. Hydrogen cyanide
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen
D. Helium

Answer: A — Hydrogen cyanide

Burning plastics such as polyurethane and nylon can release hydrogen cyanide as well as carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride. Cyanide blocks the body's use of oxygen and can be rapidly fatal.

20. Which of the following should NOT be given to a hypothermia casualty?

A. Alcohol
B. Warm, sweet drinks if conscious
C. Dry blankets
D. Shelter from the wind

Answer: A — Alcohol

Alcohol dilates the surface blood vessels and increases heat loss from the core, making hypothermia worse. Conscious casualties may be given warm sweet drinks, sheltered and wrapped in dry blankets.

21. Clothing that is stuck to a burn victim's skin should:

A. Be ripped off quickly
B. Not be pulled off, but cut away around the burn
C. Be soaked in oil before removal
D. Be removed by scraping

Answer: B — Not be pulled off, but cut away around the burn

Pulling off stuck clothing tears away burnt skin, increasing pain, damage and infection risk. Cut around the stuck area and leave it in place for medical staff to deal with.

22. Which statement about hypothermia and frostbite is correct?

A. Every hypothermia patient also has frostbite
B. Hypothermia and frostbite can occur separately
C. Frostbite only occurs in warm climates
D. Hypothermia means freezing of the fingers only

Answer: B — Hypothermia and frostbite can occur separately

Hypothermia is a fall in core body temperature below 35°C, while frostbite is local freezing of tissues. A person can have either condition without the other, so frostbite treatment is needed only where it is present.

23. Which statement about gas poisoning (e.g. carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulphide) is correct?

A. It is life-threatening and needs urgent removal to fresh air
B. It is only harmful if the gas has a smell
C. It only causes mild headache and needs no treatment
D. It is harmless if exposure is under one hour

Answer: A — It is life-threatening and needs urgent removal to fresh air

Toxic gases such as CO and H2S can cause unconsciousness and death within minutes. The casualty must be removed to fresh air by rescuers wearing breathing apparatus, given oxygen and CPR if required.

24. A casualty suffering from heat stroke has ____.

A. A very high internal (core) body temperature
B. A below-normal body temperature
C. A normal body temperature with cold, clammy skin
D. A low pulse rate and heavy sweating only

Answer: A — A very high internal (core) body temperature

Heat stroke is failure of the body's temperature regulation, with core temperature rising to about 40°C or more, often with hot dry skin and confusion. It is a medical emergency requiring rapid cooling.

25. What is the correct first aid for a first-degree (superficial) burn?

A. Cool the area under clean, cool running water
B. Apply salt water to the burn
C. Apply butter or oil to the burn
D. Rub ice directly on the burn

Answer: A — Cool the area under clean, cool running water

A superficial burn should be cooled with cool clean running water for at least 10-20 minutes to stop the burning process and relieve pain. Salt water, fats or ice can irritate tissue and cause further damage or infection.

26. Once a tourniquet has been applied, it should be ____.

A. Left in place and removed only by a doctor
B. Loosened every five minutes by the first aider
C. Removed as soon as bleeding slows
D. Removed whenever the casualty complains of pain

Answer: A — Left in place and removed only by a doctor

A tourniquet is a last resort for life-threatening limb bleeding. Releasing it in the field can cause renewed haemorrhage and shock, so it is left in place, the time of application noted, and removed only under medical supervision.

27. When giving first aid for second-degree burns, blisters should ____.

A. Not be broken
B. Be broken to release the fluid
C. Be cut off with clean scissors
D. Be pricked and covered with ointment

Answer: A — Not be broken

Blisters form a natural sterile barrier over the damaged skin. Breaking them exposes the wound to infection and increases fluid loss, so they should be left intact and covered with a clean, non-adherent dressing.

28. Severe bleeding from a limb may be controlled by applying pressure on ____.

A. The main artery supplying blood to the area (pressure point)
B. The vein below the wound
C. The nearest joint, away from the artery
D. The skin around the wound only

Answer: A — The main artery supplying blood to the area (pressure point)

If direct pressure and elevation fail, pressure on the major artery supplying the area (e.g. brachial or femoral pressure point) against underlying bone reduces blood flow to the wound and helps control haemorrhage.

29. Which action should be AVOIDED when treating frostbite?

A. Massaging or rubbing the frostbitten skin
B. Removing tight clothing and rings
C. Rewarming the part in warm water
D. Protecting the area from further cold

Answer: A — Massaging or rubbing the frostbitten skin

Rubbing or massaging frostbitten tissue damages the frozen cells and worsens the injury. The part should be protected, handled gently and rewarmed in warm (not hot) water when there is no risk of refreezing.

30. When flushing an eye that has been exposed to a chemical, the casualty's head should be positioned so that the ____.

A. Injured eye is lower than the unaffected eye
B. Injured eye is higher than the unaffected eye
C. Face is held looking straight up
D. Head is tilted forward with both eyes closed

Answer: A — Injured eye is lower than the unaffected eye

Keeping the injured eye lower ensures that contaminated water runs away from the face and does not wash the chemical into the unaffected eye. Irrigation with clean water should continue for at least 15-20 minutes.

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EFA exit exam questions and answers — Set 19 — Elementary First Aid

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