First Aid and Basic Life Support
What the domain covers
This domain tests immediate life-saving action and safe first aid until medical help arrives. Expect questions on the primary survey, CPR, AED use, recovery position, bleeding, burns, fractures and heat illness.
Core rules and concepts
- Scene safety first. Check danger, then use DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Call emergency services 108 or 112 early; send someone for the AED.
- Adult CPR: chest compressions at 100-120 per minute, depth 5-6 cm, ratio 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths if trained. Allow full chest recoil and minimise interruptions. Use the AED as soon as it is available and follow its voice prompts.
- An unresponsive person who is breathing normally should be placed in the recovery position and monitored. Do not give food or drink to an unconscious person.
- Control bleeding with direct pressure and a clean dressing. Do not remove an embedded object. For burns, cool with clean running water for about 20 minutes and cover loosely; do not apply ice, toothpaste or oil.
- Suspected spinal injury, major fractures and head injury: keep the person still unless there is immediate danger.
Worked example
An adult collapses in a canteen. The guard checks the scene, taps and shouts, finds no response, calls 108/112 and starts CPR. A colleague brings the AED; the guard applies pads, clears everyone during analysis and follows the prompt. The person begins breathing; the guard places him in the recovery position and monitors until the ambulance arrives. Reasoning: early compressions and AED use improve survival; monitoring continues because breathing may stop again.
Traps that cost marks
Do not start CPR on a person who is breathing normally. Do not give water to an unconscious casualty. Do not apply ice or oil to burns. Do not move a suspected spinal casualty without immediate danger.