POST First Aid and Emergency Medical Response 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When arriving at the scene of an unconscious person, what is the FIRST action an officer should take before providing aid?
- Begin CPR immediately
- Ensure the scene is safe (Correct answer)
- Call for EMS backup
- Check for a pulse
Correct answer: Ensure the scene is safe
Scene safety must always be confirmed first to prevent the officer from becoming another victim.
Question 2: During CPR on an adult, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio when a single rescuer is performing CPR without an advanced airway?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 5:1
- 10:1
Correct answer: 30:2
Current AHA guidelines specify 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths for single-rescuer adult CPR.
Question 3: An officer finds a subject who is bleeding severely from the thigh after a car accident. What is the most appropriate first intervention?
- Apply a tourniquet 2-3 inches above the wound
- Elevate the leg above heart level
- Apply direct pressure to the wound (Correct answer)
- Apply a pressure bandage and await EMS
Correct answer: Apply direct pressure to the wound
Direct pressure is the first-line treatment for severe external bleeding before escalating to a tourniquet if needed.
Question 4: A tourniquet applied to control life-threatening limb bleeding should be documented with which critical piece of information?
- The officer's badge number
- The time of application (Correct answer)
- The brand of tourniquet used
- The patient's blood type
Correct answer: The time of application
Time of tourniquet application must be documented so medical personnel can assess tissue damage risk from prolonged use.
Question 5: Which of the following is a recognized sign of anaphylactic shock that requires immediate epinephrine administration?
- Mild skin rash with no other symptoms
- Hives, difficulty breathing, and a sudden drop in blood pressure (Correct answer)
- Elevated blood pressure and slow heart rate
- Nausea alone after eating a new food
Correct answer: Hives, difficulty breathing, and a sudden drop in blood pressure
Anaphylaxis presents with skin reactions combined with respiratory distress and/or hypotension, requiring immediate epinephrine.
Question 6: An officer encounters a subject who is conscious but cannot speak, is turning blue, and is clutching their throat. What action should the officer take first?
- Perform rescue breathing
- Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) (Correct answer)
- Call EMS and wait for their arrival
- Begin chest compressions
Correct answer: Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)
The universal choking sign (clutching throat) with inability to speak or breathe indicates complete airway obstruction requiring abdominal thrusts.
Question 7: When using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), what should be done immediately before delivering a shock?
- Continue CPR compressions while the AED charges
- Ensure no one is touching the patient (Correct answer)
- Remove the AED pads and re-position them
- Administer rescue breaths to the patient
Correct answer: Ensure no one is touching the patient
All rescuers must stand clear and avoid contact with the patient before the AED delivers a shock to prevent injury.
POST First Aid and Emergency Medical Response 1
When arriving at the scene of an unconscious person, what is the FIRST action an officer should take before providing aid?