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MFA exit exam questions and answers — Set 13 — Medical First Aid

Set 13 of the Medical First Aid (MFA) exit exam bank — 30 of 675 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 13 — 30 MFA exit exam questions with answers

1. Which statement about fractures is true?

  • A. A fracture may cause internal bleeding
  • B. A fracture causes only bruising
  • C. Fractures are painless
  • D. All of the above
Answer: A — A fracture may cause internal bleeding
Broken bones can tear blood vessels and organs, so a fracture, especially of the femur or pelvis, can cause severe internal bleeding and shock. Fractures are usually painful and cause swelling and deformity.

2. Amphetamine stimulates the ____ by increasing the amount of certain chemicals in the body.

  • A. Endocrine system
  • B. Central nervous system
  • C. Respiratory system
  • D. Digestive system
Answer: B — Central nervous system
Amphetamines are stimulants that increase the release of dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain, stimulating the central nervous system and causing alertness, raised heart rate and, in excess, agitation and psychosis.

3. Hypoxia is a condition caused by ____.

  • A. A lack of oxygen reaching the body tissues
  • B. An excess of oxygen in the blood
  • C. A high blood sugar level
  • D. A low body temperature
Answer: A — A lack of oxygen reaching the body tissues
Hypoxia means an inadequate supply of oxygen to the body tissues. On board it may result from entering enclosed spaces with low oxygen, toxic gases, airway obstruction or breathing failure.

4. Where should the rescuer stand when performing the Heimlich manoeuvre (abdominal thrusts) on a conscious choking adult?

  • A. Behind the casualty
  • B. In front of the casualty
  • C. Kneeling beside the casualty
  • D. On either side; position does not matter
Answer: A — Behind the casualty
The rescuer stands behind the casualty, wraps the arms around the waist and places a fist just above the navel, then gives sharp inward and upward thrusts to expel the obstruction.

5. Signs of head and spine injuries include:

  • A. Blood or other fluids in the ears or nose
  • B. Unusual bumps or depressions on the head or over the spine
  • C. Seizures, severe headache or slurred speech
  • D. All of the above
Answer: D — All of the above
Fluid from the ears or nose, deformity of the skull or spine, seizures, severe headache and slurred speech all suggest head or spinal injury. The head and neck should be supported and medical advice obtained.

6. Which symptoms would indicate internal bleeding?

  • A. Rapid, weak pulse
  • B. Skin that feels cool or moist, or looks pale or bluish
  • C. Tender, swollen, bruised or hard areas of the body such as the abdomen
  • D. All of the above
Answer: D — All of the above
Internal bleeding produces signs of shock such as a rapid weak pulse and pale, cool, moist skin, together with local signs like tenderness, swelling, bruising or rigidity, often with excessive thirst.

7. Breathing emergencies may be caused by:

  • A. Asthma
  • B. Hyperventilation
  • C. Allergic reaction
  • D. All of the above
Answer: D — All of the above
Breathing emergencies include respiratory distress and arrest. Asthma narrows the airways, allergic reactions can cause swelling of the airway (anaphylaxis), and hyperventilation from anxiety or injury disturbs normal breathing.

8. The nervous system is a complex collection of nerves and specialised cells known as ____.

  • A. Neuroglia
  • B. Glial cells
  • C. Neurons
  • D. Perikaryon
Answer: C — Neurons
Neurons are the specialised nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses throughout the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Glial cells (neuroglia) only support and protect them, and the perikaryon is the neuron's cell body.

9. On finding a casualty, what should be done?

  • A. Look to your own safety so that you do not become the next casualty
  • B. Attend to the casualty even if the atmosphere is unsafe to enter
  • C. Remove the casualty from danger, or remove the danger from the casualty
  • D. Both ensuring your own safety and removing the casualty from danger (or the danger from the casualty)
Answer: D — Both ensuring your own safety and removing the casualty from danger (or the danger from the casualty)
The first-aid priority is DR ABC: check for danger. The rescuer must protect himself, then make the situation safe by removing the danger or moving the casualty from it. Entering an unsafe atmosphere only creates further casualties.

10. What type of breath should be given when performing rescue breathing?

  • A. A shallow breath
  • B. A normal breath
  • C. A deep breath
  • D. A rapid, forceful breath
Answer: B — A normal breath
Each rescue breath should be a normal breath delivered over about one second, just enough to make the chest visibly rise. Deep or forceful breaths cause gastric inflation and vomiting.

11. Which of the following is a sign of severe airway obstruction?

  • A. A forceful cough
  • B. Wheezing between coughs
  • C. A high-pitched noise while inhaling, or no sound at all
  • D. All of the above
Answer: C — A high-pitched noise while inhaling, or no sound at all
With mild obstruction the casualty can cough forcefully and may wheeze. Severe obstruction is shown by a weak or absent cough, inability to speak or breathe, and a high-pitched noise on inhalation, requiring abdominal thrusts or back blows.

12. Which of the following is true when treating an eye injury?

  • A. You cannot get an infection from fluid from an injured person's eye
  • B. If an object penetrates the eye, stabilise it in place with a bandage and get medical help
  • C. You must always use sterile water to rinse the eye
  • D. For a chemical injury to the eye, irrigate for 10 minutes only
Answer: B — If an object penetrates the eye, stabilise it in place with a bandage and get medical help
A penetrating object must never be removed; it is supported with padding and a bandage, both eyes are covered to limit movement and urgent medical advice is obtained. Chemical eye injuries need irrigation for at least 15-20 minutes with clean water.

13. Heat stroke is characterised by ____.

  • A. A very high body temperature
  • B. Hot, red, dry skin
  • C. A rapid pulse and shallow breathing
  • D. All of the above
Answer: D — All of the above
In heat stroke the body's cooling mechanism fails: temperature rises above about 40°C, the skin is hot, red and often dry, and the pulse and breathing are rapid. It is a medical emergency requiring rapid cooling.

14. If two rescuers are performing CPR on a 10-month-old infant, the compression-to-breath ratio is ____.

  • A. 15 compressions : 1 breath
  • B. 15 compressions : 2 breaths
  • C. 30 compressions : 1 breath
  • D. 30 compressions : 2 breaths
Answer: B — 15 compressions : 2 breaths
For infants and children, a single rescuer uses 30:2, but when two rescuers are present the ratio becomes 15:2, giving more frequent ventilations since paediatric arrests are usually respiratory in origin.

15. You are attempting to relieve choking in an infant and the infant becomes unresponsive. What is the next step?

  • A. Leave the infant to get help
  • B. Do a blind finger sweep
  • C. Begin CPR
  • D. Do abdominal thrusts
Answer: C — Begin CPR
When a choking infant becomes unresponsive, place the infant on a firm surface and begin CPR, checking the mouth for a visible object before each set of breaths. Blind finger sweeps and abdominal thrusts are not used on infants.

16. All unsafe working practices should be reported immediately. Whose responsibility is it to report them?

  • A. Everyone's
  • B. The supervisor's only
  • C. Only the site manager's
  • D. Only the safety representative's
Answer: A — Everyone's
Under the ISM Code safety management system, every person on board is responsible for reporting hazards, unsafe acts and near misses, so that they can be investigated and corrected before an accident occurs.

17. On an infant, a lone rescuer should perform chest compressions ____.

  • A. Using two fingers just below the nipple line
  • B. Using the heel of one hand just below the nipple line
  • C. Using the heels of both hands just below the nipple line
  • D. None of the above
Answer: A — Using two fingers just below the nipple line
Infant compressions are given with two fingers on the centre of the sternum just below the nipple line, to about one third of chest depth (4 cm). Two rescuers may use the two-thumb encircling technique.

18. What should you do for a crew member who shows signs of heat stroke?

  • A. Stretch and massage the cramping muscles
  • B. Have him put on a hat to protect him from the sun
  • C. Help him walk slowly to cool down
  • D. Cool him rapidly, e.g. by immersing him in cool water up to the neck
Answer: D — Cool him rapidly, e.g. by immersing him in cool water up to the neck
Heat stroke is life-threatening and requires rapid cooling, ideally by immersion in cold water up to the neck or wrapping in wet sheets with fanning, until body temperature falls to about 38-39°C.

19. ____ is a condition in which an injured person's vital organs fail to receive enough blood because of a serious injury.

  • A. Fever
  • B. Fatigue
  • C. Shock
  • D. None of these
Answer: C — Shock
Shock is circulatory failure in which the vital organs receive insufficient oxygenated blood, commonly after severe bleeding, burns or major injury. Untreated, organ function slows and fails.

20. What compression-to-breath ratio is used when two rescuers carry out adult basic life support?

  • A. 30:2
  • B. 5:1
  • C. 15:1
  • D. 15:2
Answer: A — 30:2
For adults the ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths whether there are one or two rescuers. The 15:2 ratio applies to two-rescuer CPR on children and infants.

21. When using an AED, which of the following is correct?

  • A. Check the pulse before resuming compressions after a shock
  • B. Do not place the pads over medication patches
  • C. After a shock is delivered, wait 10 seconds before resuming CPR
  • D. A hairy chest is a contraindication to AED use
Answer: B — Do not place the pads over medication patches
AED pads must not be placed over medication patches, which should be removed and the skin wiped, as they can cause burns and block current. After a shock, CPR is resumed immediately without a pulse check, and a hairy chest is shaved, not a contraindication.

22. There has been an accident on board and urgent medical advice is needed. The radio call is preceded by the ____.

  • A. Emergency signal
  • B. Urgency signal (PAN PAN)
  • C. Distress signal (MAYDAY)
  • D. Safety signal (SECURITE)
Answer: B — Urgency signal (PAN PAN)
A request for urgent medical advice concerns the safety of a person but not grave and imminent danger to the ship, so it is sent with the urgency signal PAN PAN (PAN PAN MEDICO). MAYDAY is reserved for grave and imminent danger.

23. The pulse rate of a normal adult averages about ____.

  • A. 10 beats per minute
  • B. 40 beats per minute
  • C. 50 beats per minute
  • D. 70 beats per minute
Answer: D — 70 beats per minute
A normal resting adult pulse is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, averaging about 70-72. Children and infants have faster rates, and trained athletes may have slower ones.

24. What does the axial skeleton consist of?

  • A. Skull
  • B. Vertebral column
  • C. Ribs and sternum
  • D. All of the above
Answer: D — All of the above
The axial skeleton forms the central axis of the body and comprises the skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum. The limbs with the shoulder and pelvic girdles form the appendicular skeleton.

25. How should you open the airway of an unconscious casualty with no suspected neck injury?

  • A. Head tilt and chin lift
  • B. Jaw thrust
  • C. Head tilt and jaw thrust
  • D. Lift the chin only
Answer: A — Head tilt and chin lift
The head tilt-chin lift lifts the tongue away from the back of the throat and is the standard method of opening the airway. The jaw thrust without head tilt is reserved for casualties with a suspected spinal injury.

26. In a fractured jaw, immobilisation is achieved by closing the mouth and applying ____.

  • A. Sutures
  • B. A supporting bandage
  • C. Another crew member holding the jaw
  • D. None of these
Answer: B — A supporting bandage
A fractured lower jaw is supported by closing the mouth gently and applying a bandage (e.g. a barrel bandage) or a padded support under the jaw, provided the casualty is conscious and not likely to vomit.

27. Which structure is last in the sequence of urine flow?

  • A. Ureter
  • B. Kidney
  • C. Bladder
  • D. Urethra
Answer: D — Urethra
Urine is formed in the kidneys, carried by the ureters to the bladder where it is stored, and finally leaves the body through the urethra, which is therefore the last structure in the sequence.

28. The normal rate of breathing in an adult at rest is ____.

  • A. 12-20 per minute
  • B. 30-40 per minute
  • C. 20-30 per minute
  • D. 1-2 per minute
Answer: A — 12-20 per minute
A healthy adult at rest breathes about 12 to 20 times per minute. Rates persistently above or below this range are a sign of illness, shock or respiratory distress and should be recorded during the casualty assessment.

29. What should you NOT do before carrying out abdominal thrusts on someone who is choking?

  • A. Encourage the casualty to cough
  • B. Shout for help
  • C. Lean the casualty backwards
  • D. Give up to five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades
Answer: C — Lean the casualty backwards
For a choking adult, encourage coughing, call for help and give up to five back blows with the casualty leaning forwards so the obstruction can fall out of the mouth. Leaning the casualty backwards may drive the object further into the airway.

30. First aid must be administered immediately to:

  • A. Restore breathing and heartbeat
  • B. Control bleeding
  • C. Remove or counteract poisons
  • D. All of the above
Answer: D — All of the above
The urgent priorities of first aid are restoring breathing and circulation, controlling serious bleeding and dealing with poisoning. All of these are life-threatening 'hurry cases' that must be treated immediately before attending to lesser injuries.

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