21 First-Aid Basics Practice Questions & Answers
Every First-Aid Basics practice question from the CPR, AED & First Aid Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. You come upon an adult lying motionless on a parking lot pavement. What should you do FIRST?
- A.Begin chest compressions
- B.Drag them off the pavement
- C.Give two rescue breaths
- D.Check the scene for hazards✓ Answer
Scene safety comes before patient care: the first-aid sequence is Check-Call-Care. If you become injured you cannot help, so you must confirm the scene is safe (traffic, electricity, hazards) before approaching anyone.
Source: AHA Heartsaver First Aid Basics — 'Check the scene, then the person'Report a problem with this question
2. An adult has a deep forearm cut that is bleeding heavily. What is the FIRST step to control the bleeding?
- A.Press on the wound with a clean cloth✓ Answer
- B.Raise the arm above the heart and wait
- C.Rinse it and apply antibiotic ointment
- D.Put a tourniquet above the elbow first
Firm direct pressure is the first-line action for external bleeding because it physically compresses the vessels and lets clotting begin. Elevating the limb is no longer recommended and does not control bleeding on its own, and a tourniquet is escalated to only if direct pressure fails to control life-threatening extremity bleeding.
Source: AHA/ARC 2020–2024 First Aid Guidelines — direct pressure first for external bleedingReport a problem with this question
3. Direct pressure fails to stop life-threatening bleeding from a leg wound and you have a manufactured tourniquet. How should you apply it?
- A.On the nearest joint, which is the knee
- B.Over the wound, loosened at 5 minutes
- C.2–3 inches above the wound, not on a joint✓ Answer
- D.Loosely, and loosening it every few minutes
A tourniquet is placed 2–3 inches proximal (toward the heart) to the wound and never over a joint, where the artery is protected between bones. It is tightened until bleeding stops and the application time is noted, and it is not loosened, because releasing it restarts fatal bleeding.
Source: AHA 2024 / Stop the Bleed — tourniquet 2–3 in proximal, not over a joint, note timeReport a problem with this question
4. A person has a large shard of glass impaled in their thigh. What should you do?
- A.Leave it in place and pad around it✓ Answer
- B.Pull it out and press on the wound
- C.Bandage tightly over the glass
- D.Work it loose, then bandage it
An impaled object is left in place and stabilized with bulky dressings packed around it, because it may be plugging a damaged vessel; pulling it out, pressing on it, or working it loose can trigger massive bleeding and cause further tissue damage along its path.
Source: American Red Cross First Aid — do not remove impaled objects; stabilize in placeReport a problem with this question
5. A person spills boiling water on their arm. After stopping the burning, what is the best way to cool a thermal burn?
- A.Rub butter or cooking oil over the burn
- B.Run cool water over it for 10–20 minutes✓ Answer
- C.Cover it right away with a tight bandage
- D.Hold ice directly on it for 20 minutes
Cool (not ice-cold) running water for 10–20 minutes removes heat and limits how deep the burn extends. Ice can cause additional cold injury and worsen tissue damage.
Source: Mayo Clinic / AHA First Aid — cool running water 10–20 min; no iceReport a problem with this question
6. Which of the following should you NEVER do to a fresh thermal burn?
- A.Cover it loosely with a clean dressing
- B.Apply ice, butter, or toothpaste to it✓ Answer
- C.Remove rings before swelling starts
- D.Cool it under cool running water
Ice, butter, oil, and toothpaste all trap heat or introduce contaminants and can deepen the burn and raise infection risk. Correct care is cool water, a loose clean non-stick covering, and removing non-stuck jewelry before swelling.
Source: Mayo Clinic Burns first aid — do not apply ice, butter, or ointmentsReport a problem with this question
7. You suspect a person has a broken lower leg. How should you immobilize it before EMS arrives?
- A.Straighten the leg first, then splint it
- B.Have the person walk on it to test it
- C.Splint it in the position you found it✓ Answer
- D.Massage the area to reduce swelling
A suspected fracture is splinted in the position found and supported at the joints above and below the injury. Trying to straighten it can drive bone ends into nerves and blood vessels and worsen the injury.
Source: American Red Cross First Aid — immobilize fracture in position found, support above and belowReport a problem with this question
8. What does the RICE approach for a sprained ankle stand for?
- A.Run, Ice, Compression, Exercise
- B.Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation✓ Answer
- C.Rub, Immobilize, Cooling, Elevate
- D.Rest, Isolate, Compression, Examine
RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, which together reduce swelling and pain in a sprain or strain. Ice is applied about 20 minutes at a time and wrapped, never directly on bare skin.
Source: AHA/ARC First Aid — RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)Report a problem with this question
9. After an injury, a person has pale, cool, clammy skin and a rapid, weak pulse. Besides calling 911, what care is appropriate for shock?
- A.Lay them down, keep warm, nothing by mouth✓ Answer
- B.Elevate the injured leg even though it hurts
- C.Sit them up and walk them around slowly
- D.Give them sips of water and some food
For shock, keep the person lying down, warm, and reassured, and give nothing by mouth in case surgery or reduced consciousness leads to aspiration. Legs are no longer routinely elevated, especially if there is head/neck/back/leg injury or it causes pain.
Source: AHA/ARC First Aid — shock: supine, keep warm, nothing by mouthReport a problem with this question
10. Someone stung by a bee develops hives, swelling of the lips, and wheezing, and has an epinephrine auto-injector. What should you do?
- A.Inject the epinephrine into an arm vein
- B.Inject the epinephrine in the outer thigh✓ Answer
- C.Give an antihistamine pill and wait
- D.Wait to see whether the wheezing worsens
These are signs of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction, so epinephrine is injected into the mid-outer thigh and 911 is called immediately. The thigh's large muscle allows rapid absorption; epinephrine is given intramuscularly, never into a vein.
Source: AHA Heartsaver — epinephrine IM into mid-outer thigh for anaphylaxis, call 911Report a problem with this question
11. For a person having anaphylaxis, which statement about treatment is TRUE?
- A.Epinephrine is the first-line treatment✓ Answer
- B.No need to call 911 after an auto-injector
- C.Antihistamines can replace epinephrine
- D.Epinephrine should be injected in the buttock
Epinephrine is the only first-line treatment that reverses the airway swelling and low blood pressure of anaphylaxis. Antihistamines act too slowly and only ease minor symptoms, so they are never a substitute, and 911 must still be called after any dose.
Source: AHA anaphylaxis guidance — epinephrine first-line; antihistamines not a substituteReport a problem with this question
12. A person is having a generalized seizure on the floor. What is the correct action?
- A.Hold them down firmly to stop the shaking
- B.Splash cold water on them to wake them up
- C.Clear objects away and cushion the head✓ Answer
- D.Put a spoon in the mouth for the tongue
During a seizure you protect the person from injury by clearing objects, cushioning the head, and timing it. You never restrain them or put anything in the mouth—that can break teeth, block the airway, or injure both of you.
Source: American Red Cross First Aid — do not restrain or place objects in a seizing person's mouthReport a problem with this question
13. A woman suddenly develops facial drooping, arm weakness, and slurred speech. What is the correct action?
- A.Call 911 and note when symptoms began✓ Answer
- B.Give her aspirin and have her lie down
- C.Give her some food and water for energy
- D.Wait an hour to see if symptoms resolve
Face drooping, Arm weakness, and Speech difficulty are the FAST stroke signs, and Time means calling 911 at once while noting when symptoms started (which guides clot-busting treatment). Aspirin is NOT given for stroke because some strokes bleed and aspirin would worsen them.
Source: AHA Stroke — FAST recognition; aspirin not indicated for strokeReport a problem with this question
14. A conscious adult has crushing chest pressure and is sweating. He has no aspirin allergy. After calling 911, what may you offer?
- A.A large glass of water and a snack
- B.Nothing by mouth under any circumstances
- C.One adult aspirin (325 mg) to chew✓ Answer
- D.Two acetaminophen tablets for the pain
For a suspected heart attack in an alert adult with no aspirin allergy, having them chew 162–325 mg of aspirin (one 325 mg adult tablet, or four 81 mg low-dose tablets) helps prevent the clot from growing. Chewing speeds absorption; aspirin is indicated for heart attack, not stroke, and pain relievers such as acetaminophen do not help.
Source: AHA — chew 162–325 mg aspirin for suspected heart attack if no allergyReport a problem with this question
15. For adult CPR, what is the recommended rate of chest compressions?
- A.140–160 per minute
- B.60–80 per minute
- C.100–120 per minute✓ Answer
- D.120–140 per minute
The recommended compression rate is 100–120 per minute. Slower rates do not circulate enough blood, while faster than 120 leaves too little time for the heart to refill between compressions.
Source: AHA BLS Guidelines — adult compression rate 100–120/minReport a problem with this question
16. How deep should chest compressions be for an average adult?
- A.About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- B.About 4 inches (10 cm)
- C.About 3 inches (7.5 cm)
- D.About 2 inches (5 cm)✓ Answer
Adult compressions should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep but no more than 2.4 inches. Shallower compressions do not squeeze enough blood from the heart, while deeper ones risk injury.
Source: AHA BLS Guidelines — adult depth ≥2 in (5 cm), ≤2.4 inReport a problem with this question
17. As a lone rescuer performing CPR on an adult, what is the compression-to-breath ratio?
- A.50:2
- B.15:2
- C.5:1
- D.30:2✓ Answer
A single rescuer uses a 30:2 compression-to-breath ratio for all ages. The 15:2 ratio applies only to two-rescuer CPR on a child or infant, and 5:1 is an obsolete ratio from pre-2005 guidelines.
Source: AHA BLS — single-rescuer ratio 30:2 (all ages)Report a problem with this question
18. A 6-month-old infant is choking and cannot cry or breathe. What is the correct technique?
- A.5 back blows, then 5 chest thrusts✓ Answer
- B.Abdominal thrusts just above the navel
- C.Hold the infant upright and pat the back
- D.Sweep a finger blindly through the mouth
For a choking infant you alternate 5 back blows (face-down and head-down on your forearm) with 5 chest thrusts. Abdominal thrusts are never used on infants because they can injure the liver and other organs, holding the infant upright lets gravity work against you, and blind finger sweeps can push the object deeper.
Source: AHA infant choking — 5 back blows + 5 chest thrusts; no abdominal thrustsReport a problem with this question
19. Someone swallowed an unknown household chemical but is awake and alert. What should you do?
- A.Call Poison Control for instructions✓ Answer
- B.Wait to see whether symptoms develop
- C.Make them vomit the chemical back up
- D.Give them milk to neutralize it
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, which gives free substance-specific instructions, and do not induce vomiting or give milk unless directed. Vomiting a corrosive or petroleum product can burn the throat again or be aspirated into the lungs, and waiting for symptoms wastes the window for treatment.
Source: U.S. Poison Control — call 1-800-222-1222; do not induce vomiting unless directedReport a problem with this question
20. A runner collapses with hot skin, confusion, and a very high body temperature (heat stroke). Besides calling 911, what is the preferred cooling method?
- A.Wait for the ambulance without cooling
- B.Cool them fast by cold-water immersion✓ Answer
- C.Give salt tablets and let them rest
- D.Move them to shade and give sips of water
Heat stroke is life-threatening, and rapid whole-body cooling by cold-water immersion lowers the core temperature fastest, which is what prevents organ damage. Delaying cooling until EMS arrives increases the risk of death, shade alone cools far too slowly, and a confused patient must not be given anything to drink because of the choking and aspiration risk.
Source: AHA 2024 First Aid — heat stroke: rapid cooling, cold-water immersion preferredReport a problem with this question
21. A hiker's fingers are frostbitten. What is the correct first-aid action?
- A.Break open any blisters that form
- B.Hold them close to an open flame
- C.Rewarm them in warm, not hot, water✓ Answer
- D.Rub the fingers briskly to warm them
Frostbite is rewarmed gently in warm (not hot) water, and only when refreezing can be prevented, because a freeze–thaw–refreeze cycle causes far worse tissue damage. Rubbing frozen tissue, holding it near direct heat, and breaking blisters all destroy the damaged skin further.
Source: Mayo Clinic Frostbite — do not rub; rewarm in warm water; avoid refreezingReport a problem with this question
Practice questions based on the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR & ECC and American Red Cross first-aid guidance. This is general education, not medical advice, and does not replace hands-on certification. To be certified in CPR/AED/First Aid you must complete an approved in-person course with a skills check. In a real emergency, call 911. Study official materials at cpr.heart.org or redcross.org. Official CPR guidelines →