A nurse finds an adult visitor collapsed in a corridor. He does not respond, and he is only gasping occasionally. No pulse is felt within 10 seconds. A colleague has gone to call the code team and fetch the AED. What should the nurse do next?

Start chest compressions straight away

Give two rescue breaths and recheck the pulse

Turn him on his side into the recovery position

Keep checking the pulse for another 30 seconds

A man has a deep cut on his forearm with steady bleeding. What is the first measure to control the bleeding?

Firm direct pressure over the wound

Applying ice packs to the wound

A tight tourniquet above the elbow

Raising the arm without any pressure

The immediate first aid for a scald on the forearm from boiling water is to:

Cool it under cool running water

Burst the blisters and dress it

When applying a splint to a suspected fracture of the forearm, the splint should:

Fix the joints above and below the fracture

Be tied very tightly over the fracture site

Go on after forcefully straightening the bone

Cover only the area directly over the break

First aid and basic life support

14 AIIMS NORCET (Nursing Officer) practice questions on First aid and basic life support, part of Fundamentals of Nursing. The first 14 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Hard
A nurse finds an adult visitor collapsed in a corridor. He does not respond, and he is only gasping occasionally. No pulse is felt within 10 seconds. A colleague has gone to call the code team and fetch the AED. What should the nurse do next?
1. AGive two rescue breaths and recheck the pulse
2. BStart chest compressions straight away
3. CTurn him on his side into the recovery position
4. DKeep checking the pulse for another 30 seconds
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Answer: B · Start chest compressions straight away
Occasional gasping (agonal breathing) is not normal breathing and is a sign of cardiac arrest. With no pulse after a 10-second check and help already called, the nurse begins compressions immediately in the C-A-B order of AHA 2020. Compressions come before breaths because every second without blood flow lowers survival. The AED is used as soon as it arrives.
- A: In C-A-B order, compressions come before breaths in adults.
- C: The recovery position is for an unresponsive person who is breathing normally.
- D: Pulse checks longer than 10 seconds delay CPR.
Question 2 · Medium
A man has a deep cut on his forearm with steady bleeding. What is the first measure to control the bleeding?
1. AApplying ice packs to the wound
2. BA tight tourniquet above the elbow
3. CRaising the arm without any pressure
4. DFirm direct pressure over the wound
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Answer: D · Firm direct pressure over the wound
Direct pressure on the wound, with a clean pad or gloved hand, is the first and most effective way to control most external bleeding. If blood soaks through, more pads are added on top without removing the first. A tourniquet is used for life-threatening limb bleeding that direct pressure cannot control. Elevation alone is not reliable and is no longer the main measure.
- A: Ice does not control active bleeding.
- B: A tourniquet is kept for life-threatening bleeding that pressure cannot control.
- C: Elevation alone does not reliably stop bleeding.
Question 3 · Medium
The immediate first aid for a scald on the forearm from boiling water is to:
1. ACool it under cool running water
2. BApply ice directly to the burn
3. CBurst the blisters and dress it
4. DApply toothpaste or ghee to it
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Answer: A · Cool it under cool running water
Cooling with clean, cool running water stops the burning process, eases pain and reduces the depth of injury. It is continued for at least 10 minutes and ideally about 20 minutes, while rings and tight items are removed. The burn is then covered loosely with cling film or a clean non-fluffy dressing. Ice causes vasoconstriction and can deepen the damage.
- B: Ice constricts vessels and can cause cold injury to the burn.
- C: Blisters protect the wound and should be left intact.
- D: Home remedies trap heat and raise the risk of infection.
Question 4 · Medium
When applying a splint to a suspected fracture of the forearm, the splint should:
1. AFix the joints above and below the fracture
2. BBe tied very tightly over the fracture site
3. CGo on after forcefully straightening the bone
4. DCover only the area directly over the break
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Answer: A · Fix the joints above and below the fracture
A splint should immobilise the joint above and the joint below the injury, here the elbow and wrist, so the fracture ends cannot move. The limb is splinted in the position found, unless the circulation is lost. Ties are placed above and below the fracture, not over it, and the fingers are checked for colour, warmth and sensation. A sling is then applied to support the arm.
- B: Ties over the break cause pain and can compromise circulation.
- C: Forcing the bone straight can damage vessels and nerves.
- D: Splinting only the site lets the nearby joints move the bone ends.
Question 5 · Medium
A woman who is 8 months pregnant is choking on food and cannot speak or cough. The rescuer should give:
1. ABlind finger sweeps
2. BChest thrusts
3. CAbdominal thrusts
4. DRescue breaths
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Answer: B · Chest thrusts
In late pregnancy, and in very obese people, the rescuer cannot reach around the abdomen effectively, and abdominal thrusts could harm the fetus. Chest thrusts are given from behind with the hands on the lower half of the sternum. If she becomes unresponsive, she is lowered to the ground and CPR is started, looking in the mouth before breaths. Blind finger sweeps can push the object deeper.
- A: Blind sweeps can push the object further in.
- C: Abdominal thrusts are avoided in late pregnancy.
- D: Breaths cannot pass a complete obstruction in a conscious person.
Question 6 · Easy
According to the AHA 2020 guidelines, chest compressions in adult CPR are given at a rate of:
1. A100-120 per minute
2. B120-140 per minute
3. C80-100 per minute
4. D60-80 per minute
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Hard
A motorcyclist thrown from his bike is unresponsive with snoring respirations and a pulse. A neck injury is suspected. How should the nurse open the airway?
1. ARoll him prone to drain the mouth
2. BJaw thrust without tilting the head
3. CHead tilt with chin lift
4. DPlace a pillow under the head
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Easy
By the rule of nines, a burn covering the entire front of an adult's trunk involves about:
1. A36% of body surface
2. B27% of body surface
3. C9% of body surface
4. D18% of body surface
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Easy
In two-rescuer CPR for a 6-year-old child, the compression-to-ventilation ratio is:
1. A5:1
2. B30:2
3. C3:1
4. D15:2
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 10 · Medium
For a conscious infant with severe choking who cannot cry or cough, the rescuer should give repeated cycles of:
1. A5 chest thrusts, then a finger sweep
2. B5 abdominal thrusts, then 5 back blows
3. C30 compressions, then 2 breaths
4. D5 back blows, then 5 chest thrusts
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Hard
During CPR, the AED advises a shock and one shock is delivered. What should the rescuers do immediately after the shock?
1. ADeliver a second shock straight away
2. BResume CPR, starting with compressions, for 2 minutes
3. CCheck the carotid pulse before doing anything else
4. DGive two breaths and then analyse the rhythm again
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Medium
A conscious person shows signs of shock after a road accident, with no suspected spinal or leg injury. The first-aider should place the person:
1. ASitting with the head down
2. BProne with the head turned
3. CSupine with the legs raised
4. DIn high Fowler's position
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 13 · Easy
For an adult, the recommended depth of chest compressions is:
1. A5-6 cm
2. B3-4 cm
3. C7-8 cm
4. D2-3 cm
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Hard
A 70-kg man has 30% total body surface area burns that happened at 10:00. He reaches hospital at 12:00 having had no IV fluid. Using the Parkland formula, at what rate should Ringer's lactate run until 18:00?
1. A350 mL/h
2. B1,050 mL/h
3. C700 mL/h
4. D525 mL/h
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

First aid and basic life support

A nurse finds an adult visitor collapsed in a corridor. He does not respond, and he is only gasping occasionally. No pulse is felt within 10 seconds. A colleague has gone to call the code team and fetch the AED. What should the nurse do next?

A man has a deep cut on his forearm with steady bleeding. What is the first measure to control the bleeding?

The immediate first aid for a scald on the forearm from boiling water is to:

When applying a splint to a suspected fracture of the forearm, the splint should:

A woman who is 8 months pregnant is choking on food and cannot speak or cough. The rescuer should give:

According to the AHA 2020 guidelines, chest compressions in adult CPR are given at a rate of:

A motorcyclist thrown from his bike is unresponsive with snoring respirations and a pulse. A neck injury is suspected. How should the nurse open the airway?

By the rule of nines, a burn covering the entire front of an adult's trunk involves about:

In two-rescuer CPR for a 6-year-old child, the compression-to-ventilation ratio is:

For a conscious infant with severe choking who cannot cry or cough, the rescuer should give repeated cycles of:

During CPR, the AED advises a shock and one shock is delivered. What should the rescuers do immediately after the shock?

A conscious person shows signs of shock after a road accident, with no suspected spinal or leg injury. The first-aider should place the person:

For an adult, the recommended depth of chest compressions is:

A 70-kg man has 30% total body surface area burns that happened at 10:00. He reaches hospital at 12:00 having had no IV fluid. Using the Parkland formula, at what rate should Ringer's lactate run until 18:00?