First Aid, Emergency Response and Basic Life Support
This domain tests the first few minutes of an emergency: scene safety, the primary survey, CPR quality, and correct first aid for common emergencies.
Primary approach
Check Danger (scene safety, gloves), Response (call the person), Airway (head tilt–chin lift), Breathing (look, listen, feel for up to 10 seconds) and Circulation. Call 108 for help early; send for an AED.
CPR for an adult
- Compressions 30 : 2 ventilations, rate 100–120 per minute.
- Depth 5–6 cm, full chest recoil, minimal interruptions.
- Switch compressors every 2 minutes. Use the AED as soon as it arrives.
Common emergencies
- Choking (conscious adult): 5 back blows then 5 abdominal thrusts; for an infant use back blows and chest thrusts, never abdominal thrusts.
- Severe bleeding: direct pressure with a clean cloth, elevate if possible, do not remove soaked dressings - add more on top.
- Burns: cool running water for about 20 minutes; no ice, toothpaste or oil; do not burst blisters.
- Fracture: immobilise with a splint including the joints above and below, check circulation.
- Snake bite: keep the patient calm and the limb still, remove rings, do not cut, suck or apply a tight tourniquet.
- Shock: lie flat, raise the legs, keep warm, nothing by mouth.
- Unconscious but breathing: recovery position.
Worked example
An adult collapses in the ward. Reasoning: shout for help while checking response, open the airway, check breathing for no more than 10 seconds; if not breathing normally, start 30 compressions at 100–120/min and 5–6 cm depth, ask a colleague to bring the AED and call 108, and continue until help or the patient recovers.
Traps that cost marks
- Spending minutes feeling for a pulse instead of starting compressions.
- Giving water or food to an unconscious patient.
- Applying ice or toothpaste to a burn.
- Removing an embedded object from a wound.