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Emergency First Aid at Work study materials
Emergency First Aid at Work study resources

Emergency First Aid at Work: Managing an unresponsive casualty who is not breathing normally (CPR, AED, choking)

Emergency First Aid at Work · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Managing an unresponsive casualty who is not breathing normally (CPR, AED, choking)

This domain tests the highest-stakes skills: recognising cardiac arrest, performing effective CPR, using an AED, and managing choking. The exam expects correct sequencing, compression quality, and minimal interruption.

Core rules and concepts

  • Recognise cardiac arrest: unresponsive and not breathing normally. Agonal gasps count as abnormal. Call 999, send for the AED, and start CPR.
  • Adult CPR: place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, the other hand on top, and press down 5–6 cm at 100–120 compressions per minute. Allow full recoil. Give 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths if trained and willing; otherwise do continuous compressions.
  • Minimise interruptions. Swap compressors about every 2 minutes to reduce fatigue. Do not stop to check for a pulse.
  • AED: turn it on and follow the prompts. Bare and dry the chest, attach pads as pictured, ensure no one touches the casualty during analysis or shock delivery, and resume CPR immediately after the shock or “no shock advised” prompt.
  • Choking: if the casualty can cough, encourage coughing. If the cough is ineffective, give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades. If not relieved, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts. Call 999 if not relieved. If the casualty becomes unresponsive, start CPR.

Worked example

A diner clutches their throat and cannot speak or cough. The first aider gives 5 back blows, then 5 abdominal thrusts. The obstruction is not relieved, so they call 999. The casualty becomes unresponsive; the first aider lowers them to the floor, calls for the AED, and starts CPR. Reasoning: back blows and abdominal thrusts are for severe choking while conscious; once unresponsive, CPR is the priority because chest compressions can help expel the object.

Traps that cost marks

  • Delaying compressions to search for a pulse.
  • Compressing too shallowly or too slowly.
  • Leaning on the chest between compressions.
  • Touching the casualty during AED analysis or shock.
  • Performing blind finger sweeps in the mouth.
  • Continuing abdominal thrusts after the casualty becomes unresponsive instead of starting CPR.