STCW First Aid at Sea 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A crew member is found unresponsive and not breathing normally. After calling for help, what is your FIRST action?
- Begin rescue breaths immediately
- Start chest compressions at 30:2 ratio (Correct answer)
- Apply an AED before starting CPR
- Check for a pulse for at least 10 seconds
Correct answer: Start chest compressions at 30:2 ratio
Current STCW/ILCOR guidelines prioritize chest compressions first at a 30:2 ratio before rescue breaths in adult CPR.
Question 2: Which landmark is used to position hands correctly for chest compressions on an adult?
- Two fingers above the xiphoid process
- Center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum (Correct answer)
- Left side of the chest over the heart
- Just below the clavicle in the midline
Correct answer: Center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum
Compressions are delivered to the center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum to effectively compress the heart.
Question 3: A seafarer suffers a chemical splash to the eye. What is the immediate first aid priority?
- Cover the eye with a sterile pad and seek medical help
- Irrigate the eye with large amounts of clean water for at least 15–20 minutes (Correct answer)
- Apply neutralizing solution matching the chemical type
- Instill antibiotic eye drops from the ship's medical kit
Correct answer: Irrigate the eye with large amounts of clean water for at least 15–20 minutes
Immediate and prolonged irrigation with clean water dilutes and flushes out the chemical to minimize ocular damage.
Question 4: When assessing a casualty using the primary survey, what does the 'D' in the DRABC or DR-ABC mnemonic stand for?
- Defibrillation
- Disability
- Danger (Correct answer)
- Dressing
Correct answer: Danger
The 'D' stands for Danger — always ensure the scene is safe for rescuers before approaching the casualty.
Question 5: A crew member is experiencing signs of anaphylaxis after a bee sting. Which drug from the ship's medical kit should be administered first?
- Oral antihistamine tablet
- Inhaled salbutamol
- Intramuscular epinephrine (adrenaline) (Correct answer)
- Oral corticosteroid
Correct answer: Intramuscular epinephrine (adrenaline)
Intramuscular epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis as it rapidly reverses bronchoconstriction and vasodilation.
Question 6: What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio when two trained rescuers perform CPR on an adult without an advanced airway?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 5:1
- 50:5
Correct answer: 30:2
The recommended ratio for two-rescuer adult CPR without an advanced airway remains 30 compressions to 2 ventilations.
Question 7: A crew member has a suspected spinal injury after a fall from height. How should the casualty's airway be opened?
- Head-tilt chin-lift method
- Jaw-thrust maneuver while maintaining spinal alignment (Correct answer)
- Hyperextension of the neck for maximum airway opening
- Place the casualty in the recovery position immediately
Correct answer: Jaw-thrust maneuver while maintaining spinal alignment
The jaw-thrust maneuver opens the airway without extending the neck, protecting the cervical spine from further injury.
STCW First Aid at Sea 2
A crew member is found unresponsive and not breathing normally.
After calling for help, what is your FIRST action?