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EFA exit exam questions and answers — Set 28 — Elementary First Aid

Set 28 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 28 — 30 EFA exit exam questions with answers

1. When performing Basic Life Support, how do you check for normal breathing?

A. By looking for chest movement and listening and feeling for breath
B. By checking the pupils
C. By feeling the pulse at the wrist
D. By shouting at the casualty

Answer: A — By looking for chest movement and listening and feeling for breath

With the airway open, the rescuer looks for chest movement, listens at the mouth for breath sounds and feels for air on the cheek for no more than 10 seconds. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing.

2. You are called to a casualty having an epileptic seizure. What should you do?

A. Protect them from injury without restraining them and put nothing in their mouth
B. Hold them down firmly to stop the movements
C. Force something between their teeth
D. Pour water on their face to wake them

Answer: A — Protect them from injury without restraining them and put nothing in their mouth

During a seizure, clear the area of hazards, cushion the head and do not restrain movements or put anything in the mouth. Note the duration, and when the jerking stops place the casualty in the recovery position and seek medical help if needed.

3. A casualty has recently banged their head against a filing cabinet. They feel sick and giddy and have a headache. What might be wrong with them?

A. Concussion
B. Heart attack
C. Asthma
D. Food poisoning

Answer: A — Concussion

Nausea, dizziness and headache following a blow to the head are typical of concussion, a temporary disturbance of brain function. The casualty should be monitored for deterioration, which could indicate compression of the brain.

4. If someone has fainted, what should you do to help them recover?

A. Lay them down and raise their legs
B. Sit them upright on a chair
C. Splash cold water in their face
D. Give them a hot drink immediately

Answer: A — Lay them down and raise their legs

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness from reduced blood flow to the brain. Laying the casualty down and raising the legs helps blood return to the brain, and recovery is usually rapid. Loosen tight clothing and ensure fresh air.

5. A casualty has taken an accidental overdose. You should:

A. Seek medical advice, monitor breathing and response, and keep any containers
B. Give them plenty to drink to dilute the poison
C. Make them vomit
D. Walk them around to keep them awake

Answer: A — Seek medical advice, monitor breathing and response, and keep any containers

With an overdose the first aider should obtain medical advice urgently, monitor breathing and level of response, be ready to start CPR and keep any containers or tablets. Giving fluids or inducing vomiting can increase absorption or cause further harm.

6. What should you do for a casualty who has just sprained an ankle?

A. Rest the leg, apply a cold compress and keep it elevated
B. Make them walk on it to prevent stiffness
C. Apply a hot water bottle immediately
D. Massage the ankle firmly

Answer: A — Rest the leg, apply a cold compress and keep it elevated

Sprains are treated using RICE: Rest, Ice (cold compress), Comfortable support and Elevation. This reduces swelling, pain and bleeding into the tissues. Heat and massage in the early stage increase swelling.

7. Which of the following is the priority when treating fractured ribs in a conscious casualty?

A. Help the casualty into a half-sitting position
B. Lay the casualty flat on their back
C. Bind the chest tightly with bandages
D. Make the casualty take deep breaths

Answer: A — Help the casualty into a half-sitting position

A half-sitting position, leaning towards the injured side, makes breathing easier and more comfortable. The arm on the injured side may be supported in a sling. Tight chest binding is no longer recommended as it restricts breathing.

8. What is the treatment for a casualty having an asthma attack?

A. Sit them quietly, leaning forward on a support, and help them use their inhaler
B. Lay them flat on their back
C. Make them breathe into a paper bag
D. Walk them briskly around the deck

Answer: A — Sit them quietly, leaning forward on a support, and help them use their inhaler

Sitting upright and leaning slightly forward on a support makes it easier for the casualty to breathe. The first aider should keep them calm and help them use their reliever inhaler, seeking medical help if the attack does not ease.

9. Which of the following could indicate internal bleeding in the stomach?

A. Vomited blood that looks like coffee grounds
B. Bright red frothy blood coughed up
C. Blood from the ear
D. Bruising on the forehead

Answer: A — Vomited blood that looks like coffee grounds

Blood from the stomach is partly digested and appears dark, like coffee grounds, when vomited. Bright red frothy blood that is coughed up comes from the lungs. Other signs of internal bleeding include shock and abdominal pain.

10. You are called to a casualty who has an abdominal wound. Which is the correct position for the casualty?

A. Flat on their back with knees bent and supported
B. Sitting fully upright
C. Face down
D. Standing and walking

Answer: A — Flat on their back with knees bent and supported

Lying the casualty on their back with the knees raised and supported relaxes the abdominal muscles, reduces strain on the wound and helps prevent it from gaping open or abdominal contents protruding.

11. In which situation would you wrap a casualty in a cold, wet sheet?

A. Heat stroke
B. Hypothermia
C. Fainting
D. Shock from blood loss

Answer: A — Heat stroke

Heat stroke is a life-threatening rise in body temperature. The casualty is moved to a cool place, outer clothing is removed and they are wrapped in a cold wet sheet kept wet until the temperature falls to about 38°C.

12. What is normal body temperature?

A. 37°C
B. 35°C
C. 39°C
D. 40°C

Answer: A — 37°C

Normal core body temperature is about 37°C (98.6°F), with a normal range of roughly 36.5 to 37.5°C. Below 35°C is hypothermia, while 40°C or above suggests heat stroke or severe fever.

13. Burns larger than 1% of the body surface area need to be checked at hospital. What is the equivalent size of 1%?

A. The casualty's palm including the fingers
B. The casualty's whole arm
C. The casualty's thumbnail
D. The casualty's whole hand and forearm

Answer: A — The casualty's palm including the fingers

The palm of the casualty's own hand, including the fingers, is roughly 1% of their body surface area, giving a quick way of estimating burn size. The 'rule of nines' is used for larger burns.

14. What is the normal number of breaths per minute for an adult at rest?

A. 12-20
B. 20-40
C. 5-8
D. 40-60

Answer: A — 12-20

A healthy adult at rest breathes about 12 to 20 times per minute. Faster or slower rates, or noisy or laboured breathing, can indicate illness, injury, shock or poisoning.

15. First aid is the emergency treatment given to:

A. The ill or injured before professional medical help is available
B. Only patients in hospital
C. Only casualties who are unconscious
D. Only crew with prior illnesses

Answer: A — The ill or injured before professional medical help is available

First aid is the immediate help given to an injured or suddenly ill person until professional medical help takes over. Its aims are to preserve life, prevent the condition worsening and promote recovery.

16. On finding a casualty, what should be done first?

A. Look to your own safety so you do not become the next casualty
B. Move the casualty immediately
C. Give the casualty a drink
D. Start CPR without assessing

Answer: A — Look to your own safety so you do not become the next casualty

The first step of any primary survey is to assess the scene for danger to yourself, bystanders and the casualty. On ships this includes gases, fire, electricity and machinery; an injured rescuer cannot help anyone.

17. If there is more than one unconscious or bleeding casualty, you should:

A. Ask for help
B. Treat each one fully in turn
C. Wait for all to regain consciousness
D. Leave them and fetch the medical log

Answer: A — Ask for help

With several casualties a lone first aider cannot manage everyone, so help must be summoned at once while the casualties are quickly assessed and those with life-threatening problems, such as airway obstruction or severe bleeding, are treated first.

18. If the patient's pulse cannot be felt at the wrist, where should it be felt next?

A. At the carotid artery in the neck
B. At the ankle
C. At the temple
D. At the fingertip

Answer: A — At the carotid artery in the neck

The carotid pulse in the neck is a central pulse and remains palpable when the radial pulse at the wrist is weak or absent, as in shock. It is checked beside the windpipe for no more than 10 seconds.

19. An immediate threat to the life of an unconscious casualty may be:

A. The airway being obstructed by the tongue falling back and blocking the throat
B. Mild bruising of the arm
C. A small cut on the finger
D. Feeling cold

Answer: A — The airway being obstructed by the tongue falling back and blocking the throat

In an unconscious casualty lying on their back, muscle control is lost and the tongue can fall back and block the airway. Opening the airway with head tilt and chin lift, or the recovery position, prevents this.

20. The rescuer must immediately start CPR if the casualty:

A. Is unresponsive, not breathing and shows no signs of circulation
B. Is conscious but bleeding
C. Has a fractured arm
D. Is breathing normally but drowsy

Answer: A — Is unresponsive, not breathing and shows no signs of circulation

CPR is started when the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally, indicating cardiac arrest. Chest compressions keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and heart until defibrillation or advanced care is available.

21. If circulation is not restored, the brain will be without oxygen and the person will suffer irreversible damage and die within:

A. 4 to 6 minutes
B. 30 to 60 minutes
C. 1 to 2 hours
D. 24 hours

Answer: A — 4 to 6 minutes

Brain cells begin to die after about 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen. This is why immediate CPR and early defibrillation are essential links in the chain of survival.

22. In the delivery of oxygen from the atmosphere to the brain cells, the two necessary actions are:

A. Breathing and circulation
B. Eating and drinking
C. Sweating and shivering
D. Digestion and excretion

Answer: A — Breathing and circulation

Breathing brings oxygen into the lungs, where it enters the blood, and circulation pumps that oxygenated blood to the brain and other organs. If either fails, the brain is starved of oxygen, which is why BLS addresses both.

23. The amount of oxygen present in the normal atmosphere is about:

A. 21%
B. 16%
C. 78%
D. 50%

Answer: A — 21%

Normal air contains about 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. Exhaled air still contains about 16% oxygen, which is enough to sustain a casualty during rescue breathing. In enclosed space entry the oxygen reading must be 20.9%.

24. Basic Life Support comprises the ABC steps, which stand for:

A. Airway, Breathing and Circulation
B. Alert, Bandage and Carry
C. Assess, Bleeding and Comfort
D. Airway, Bones and Consciousness

Answer: A — Airway, Breathing and Circulation

ABC stands for Airway, Breathing and Circulation, the order in which the first aider checks and supports the vital functions of an unconscious casualty: open the airway, check breathing, then support circulation with compressions.

25. How long should you take to check whether an unconscious casualty is breathing normally?

A. No more than 10 seconds
B. At least 30 seconds
C. 1 minute
D. 2 minutes

Answer: A — No more than 10 seconds

Resuscitation guidelines limit the breathing check to no more than 10 seconds so that CPR, if needed, is not delayed. If in doubt whether breathing is normal, act as if it is not and start CPR.

26. You are a lone first aider with an unconscious, non-breathing adult. What should you do first?

A. Call for help, requesting an AED (defibrillator) and medical assistance
B. Start rescue breaths for 5 minutes before calling
C. Give the casualty water
D. Place them in the recovery position and leave them

Answer: A — Call for help, requesting an AED (defibrillator) and medical assistance

In an adult, cardiac arrest is usually caused by a heart rhythm problem, so early defibrillation is vital. A lone rescuer first raises the alarm and requests an AED, then starts CPR at 30:2 immediately.

27. Which of the following is the correct sequence for the chain of survival?

A. Early call for help, early CPR, early defibrillation, advanced care
B. Early CPR, advanced care, call for help, defibrillation
C. Defibrillation, call for help, advanced care, CPR
D. Advanced care, CPR, defibrillation, call for help

Answer: A — Early call for help, early CPR, early defibrillation, advanced care

The chain of survival links are early recognition and call for help, early CPR to buy time, early defibrillation to restart the heart, and post-resuscitation advanced care. Each link improves the casualty's chance of survival.

28. What should your first action be when treating an electrical burn?

A. Check for danger and ensure contact with the electrical source is broken
B. Apply cold water to the burn immediately
C. Pull the casualty away by the hand
D. Cover the burn with butter or grease

Answer: A — Check for danger and ensure contact with the electrical source is broken

A casualty still in contact with the current is a danger to the rescuer. Switch off or isolate the supply, or separate the casualty using dry non-conducting material, before treating the burns and checking breathing and pulse.

29. HIV/AIDS is a:

A. Sexually transmitted and blood-borne disease
B. Disease spread by mosquito bites
C. Disease spread by contaminated food
D. Disease spread by casual contact such as handshakes

Answer: A — Sexually transmitted and blood-borne disease

HIV is transmitted through sexual contact, infected blood (including shared needles) and from mother to child. It is not spread by casual contact. First aiders protect themselves by wearing gloves when handling blood and body fluids.

30. What is the first aid for chemical contamination of the eye?

A. Flush the eye with clean running water for at least 15-20 minutes
B. Rub the eye to remove the chemical
C. Bandage the eye tightly without washing
D. Apply eye ointment and wait

Answer: A — Flush the eye with clean running water for at least 15-20 minutes

Chemicals continue to damage the eye until removed, so the affected eye is irrigated immediately with plenty of clean, cool running water for at least 15 to 20 minutes, holding the eyelids open, and medical advice is then sought.

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