First Aid, CPR and Medical Emergencies
First aid priorities
This domain tests the first actions at a medical emergency: scene safety, response, calling help, CPR and control of bleeding. The exam rewards sequence and restraint, not improvised medicine.
Core rules
- Check danger to yourself and the casualty before approaching. Use gloves or a barrier. Shout for help and call the emergency number, giving exact location and what happened.
- Use DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. If unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR.
- Adult CPR: compressions 30 to 2 breaths, centre of chest, depth 5-6 cm, rate 100-120 per minute. Use an AED as soon as available and follow its prompts.
- Control bleeding with direct pressure and a dressing. Cool burns with running water. Immobilise suspected fractures. Place an unconscious breathing casualty in the recovery position.
- Do not give food or drink, move a suspected spinal casualty unless in danger, or delay help for paperwork.
Worked example
A visitor collapses in reception. The guard checks safety, gets no response, sees no normal breathing, calls the emergency number, starts CPR and sends for the AED. Reasoning: unresponsive and not breathing means CPR immediately. The guard continues until medics take over and then records times and actions.
Traps that cost marks
Spending minutes checking a pulse; giving water to a drowsy person; applying ice directly to a burn; moving a suspected neck injury; and stopping CPR because the casualty looks pale.