First Aid FREE First Aid Burns and Temperature Extremes Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person has a chemical burn on their arm. What is the FIRST step in first aid treatment?
- Apply a neutralizing agent immediately
- Flush the area with large amounts of water for at least 20 minutes (Correct answer)
- Cover with a dry sterile bandage
- Remove clothing only after applying water
Correct answer: Flush the area with large amounts of water for at least 20 minutes
Chemical burns should be flushed with copious amounts of water for at least 20 minutes to dilute and remove the chemical.
Question 2: Which of the following is a sign of heat stroke (not heat exhaustion)?
- Heavy sweating
- Cool, moist skin
- Hot, dry or minimally moist skin with confusion (Correct answer)
- Muscle cramps only
Correct answer: Hot, dry or minimally moist skin with confusion
Heat stroke is characterized by hot, dry or minimally moist skin along with altered mental status, distinguishing it from heat exhaustion where sweating continues.
Question 3: A child touches a hot stove and sustains a small superficial burn. After cooling, you should:
- Pop any blisters that form
- Apply butter or oil to soothe the burn
- Cover loosely with a sterile non-stick dressing (Correct answer)
- Wrap tightly with an elastic bandage
Correct answer: Cover loosely with a sterile non-stick dressing
After cooling a minor burn, cover it loosely with a sterile non-stick dressing to protect from infection without restricting circulation.
Question 4: What is the correct way to rewarm a frostbitten extremity in the field?
- Rub the affected area briskly to increase circulation
- Rewarm in water between 100–108°F (38–42°C) (Correct answer)
- Place the frostbitten area directly next to a campfire
- Walk on frostbitten feet to restore feeling
Correct answer: Rewarm in water between 100–108°F (38–42°C)
Controlled rewarming in water between 100–108°F is the safest method; rubbing can damage fragile frozen tissue.
Question 5: A hiker is found unresponsive with a core body temperature of 86°F (30°C). This is classified as:
- Mild hypothermia
- Moderate hypothermia
- Severe hypothermia (Correct answer)
- Frostbite stage 3
Correct answer: Severe hypothermia
Severe hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature below 86°F (30°C) and requires immediate advanced medical care.
Question 6: When assessing burn severity, a full-thickness (third-degree) burn can be identified by:
- Red, painful skin with intact sensation
- Blisters and intense pain
- Waxy, leathery, or charred skin with little to no pain (Correct answer)
- Only superficial redness without blisters
Correct answer: Waxy, leathery, or charred skin with little to no pain
Full-thickness burns destroy all layers of skin, resulting in a leathery or charred appearance and reduced or absent pain due to nerve destruction.
A person has a chemical burn on their arm.
What is the FIRST step in first aid treatment?