22 First-Aid Basics Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. You arrive at the scene of a car crash where a person is bleeding. What should you do FIRST before touching the injured person?

   • A.Check that the scene is safe for you to approach✓ Answer
   • B.Immediately begin applying direct pressure to the wound
   • C.Move the person to a more comfortable position
   • D.Give the person water to drink

   Scene safety comes first: if you become injured, you cannot help and you add a second victim. You must ensure there are no ongoing hazards (traffic, fire, electricity) before approaching any patient.

   Source: American Red Cross First Aid — Check-Call-Care sequence (Check the scene first)Report a problem with this question

2. 2. Why do first aid guidelines recommend wearing disposable gloves and avoiding direct contact with another person's blood?

   • A.Because the law requires gloves before any first aid
   • B.Only to keep your hands clean and comfortable
   • C.Because gloves make the bleeding stop faster
   • D.To treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious and prevent disease transmission✓ Answer

   Standard precautions mean treating every person's blood and body fluids as if they carry an infection (such as a bloodborne virus). A barrier like gloves protects both the rescuer and the patient from disease transmission.

   Source: American Red Cross — Standard (universal) precautions for bloodborne pathogensReport a problem with this question

3. 3. A person has a deep cut on the forearm that is bleeding heavily. What is the FIRST action to control the bleeding?

   • A.Apply firm, direct pressure on the wound with a clean cloth or dressing✓ Answer
   • B.Elevate the arm and wait for the bleeding to stop on its own
   • C.Apply a tourniquet above the elbow right away
   • D.Rinse the wound under running water for several minutes

   Firm, direct pressure over the wound is the first and most effective way to control most external bleeding, because it compresses the damaged vessels and lets a clot form. A tourniquet is reserved for life-threatening limb bleeding that direct pressure cannot control.

   Source: American Heart Association / American Red Cross — Direct pressure as first-line control of severe bleedingReport a problem with this question

4. 4. Direct pressure fails to stop life-threatening bleeding from a person's leg, and a tourniquet is available. Where should the tourniquet be placed?

   • A.On the limb a few inches above (closer to the heart than) the wound, not over a joint✓ Answer
   • B.Below the wound, farther from the heart
   • C.Around the person's waist
   • D.Directly on top of the open wound

   A tourniquet is placed 'high and tight' on the limb between the wound and the heart, a few inches above the injury but not over a joint, so it can compress the artery against bone. Placing it proximal to the wound stops arterial blood from reaching the bleeding site.

   Source: Stop the Bleed / American Red Cross — Tourniquet placement 2–3 inches above the wound, not over a jointReport a problem with this question

5. 5. After you successfully apply a commercial tourniquet to control severe bleeding, what should you do with it?

   • A.Remove it as soon as the bleeding slows
   • B.Loosen it every few minutes to let blood flow back
   • C.Cover it with a blanket so it is out of sight
   • D.Leave it in place, note the time it was applied, and let EMS remove it✓ Answer

   Once applied, a tourniquet should stay on and NOT be loosened, because repeatedly releasing it restarts dangerous blood loss. Noting the application time helps hospital staff manage the limb, and only advanced medical providers should remove it.

   Source: American Red Cross / Stop the Bleed — Do not remove or loosen a tourniquet; record application timeReport a problem with this question

6. 6. Which set of signs most suggests that an injured person is going into shock?

   • A.Increased appetite and a strong feeling of hunger
   • B.Warm, dry, flushed skin with a slow, strong pulse
   • C.Redness and swelling only at the injury site
   • D.Pale or ashen, cool and moist (clammy) skin, rapid breathing, and weakness✓ Answer

   In shock the body cannot circulate enough oxygen-rich blood to vital organs, so it shunts blood away from the skin: the skin becomes pale, cool, and clammy while breathing and pulse speed up. Recognizing these signs early allows for prompt EMS activation.

   Source: American Red Cross — Signs and symptoms of shockReport a problem with this question

7. 7. You are caring for a responsive adult who is showing signs of shock while waiting for EMS. What is appropriate care?

   • A.Have the person walk around to keep the blood moving
   • B.Give the person a warm sugary drink to boost energy
   • C.Have the person lie down, keep them from getting chilled or overheated, and reassure them✓ Answer
   • D.Sit the person upright and offer a snack

   Care for shock is to keep the person lying down and calm and to maintain normal body temperature by preventing chilling or overheating, which reduces the body's demands while awaiting EMS. Food and drink are withheld in case surgery or airway problems arise.

   Source: American Red Cross — Care for shock (lie down, keep warm, reassure)Report a problem with this question

8. 8. Why should you NOT give food or water to a person who is showing signs of shock?

   • A.Food and water make shock permanent
   • B.Their condition may worsen and require surgery or lead to vomiting and choking✓ Answer
   • C.Drinking always raises blood pressure to dangerous levels
   • D.It will make the skin turn red too quickly

   A person in shock may deteriorate and need emergency surgery, for which an empty stomach is safer, and a decreasing level of responsiveness makes choking on food or fluid likely. For these reasons nothing is given by mouth.

   Source: American Red Cross — Do not give food or drink to a person in shockReport a problem with this question

9. 9. A person spills boiling water on their arm, causing a painful reddened burn. What is the correct first aid?

   • A.Cool the burn with cool (not ice-cold) running water for several minutes✓ Answer
   • B.Rub butter or oil onto the burned skin
   • C.Pack the burn in ice until the pain stops
   • D.Wrap the burn tightly with an adhesive bandage

   Cool running water removes heat from the tissue, which stops the burn from getting deeper and eases pain. Butter, oil, and tight or adhesive coverings trap heat or damage tissue and are not used.

   Source: American Red Cross — Cool a thermal burn with cool running waterReport a problem with this question

10. 10. Why should you avoid applying ice directly to a burn?

    • A.Ice permanently changes the skin color
    • B.Ice makes the burn heal instantly
    • C.Ice can further damage the already-injured tissue and worsen the wound✓ Answer
    • D.Ice is only unavailable, not harmful

    Ice or ice-cold water can freeze and further injure the fragile burned tissue, deepening the damage. Cool (not cold) running water is preferred because it lowers heat without causing cold injury.

    Source: American Red Cross — Do not apply ice to burnsReport a problem with this question

11. 11. After cooling a burn that has formed blisters, how should you care for it?

    • A.Leave the burn uncovered and open to the air
    • B.Pop the blisters to let the fluid drain out
    • C.Scrub the burn with soap and a brush
    • D.Leave the blisters intact and cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-stick dressing✓ Answer

    Intact blisters are a natural sterile barrier against infection, so they should not be broken. Covering the burn loosely with a clean, non-stick dressing protects it while avoiding pressure on the damaged skin.

    Source: American Red Cross — Do not break blisters; cover burn looselyReport a problem with this question

12. 12. Which burn is generally considered the most serious based on the depth of tissue damage?

    • A.A full-thickness (deep) burn that destroys all skin layers and may look charred or leathery✓ Answer
    • B.A superficial burn with only redness, like a mild sunburn
    • C.A burn that causes brief redness and no blisters
    • D.Any burn smaller than the palm of the hand

    Burn severity increases with depth: a full-thickness burn destroys all layers of skin and possibly deeper tissue, so it is the most serious. Superficial burns affect only the outer layer and are the least severe.

    Source: American Red Cross / American Burn Association — Burn classification by depth (superficial, partial-thickness, full-thickness)Report a problem with this question

13. 13. For a minor cut once the bleeding has stopped, what is the best way to help prevent infection?

    • A.Wash the wound with clean running water, then cover it with a clean bandage✓ Answer
    • B.Apply a tourniquet to keep germs out
    • C.Leave dirt in the wound so a protective scab forms faster
    • D.Blow on the wound to dry it before covering

    Washing a minor wound with clean running water removes dirt and bacteria, and a clean covering keeps out new contaminants — both reduce infection risk. Blowing on a wound actually introduces germs from the mouth.

    Source: American Red Cross — Wound cleaning and infection prevention for minor woundsReport a problem with this question

14. 14. You find an adult who is unresponsive but breathing normally, with no suspected spinal injury. What should you do while waiting for EMS?

    • A.Roll them onto their side into a recovery position to keep the airway clear✓ Answer
    • B.Prop their head up on a thick pillow
    • C.Sit them upright against a wall
    • D.Keep them flat on their back and give water

    The recovery (side-lying) position lets fluids like saliva or vomit drain from the mouth and keeps the tongue from blocking the airway in an unresponsive person. This protects breathing until EMS arrives.

    Source: American Heart Association / American Red Cross — Recovery position for an unresponsive, breathing personReport a problem with this question

15. 15. The letters in the stroke-recognition acronym FAST stand for which of the following?

    • A.Face, Arm, Speech, Time✓ Answer
    • B.Food, Air, Sleep, Temperature
    • C.Fall, Anxiety, Shaking, Tiredness
    • D.Fever, Ache, Sweat, Thirst

    FAST prompts you to check the Face for drooping, the Arms for weakness, and Speech for slurring, and to note the Time signs began. These are the most common, quickly checkable signs of a stroke.

    Source: American Stroke Association / American Heart Association — FAST stroke recognitionReport a problem with this question

16. 16. You notice a person suddenly has a drooping face and slurred speech and cannot lift one arm. What should you do?

    • A.Call 911 (activate EMS) immediately and note the time symptoms started✓ Answer
    • B.Give them aspirin and wait to see if it improves
    • C.Drive them home and suggest they rest
    • D.Have them lie down and sleep it off for a few hours

    These are classic stroke signs, and stroke treatments are far more effective the sooner they are given, so calling EMS immediately is critical. Noting the time symptoms started helps hospital staff choose the right treatment.

    Source: American Stroke Association — Call 911 immediately for stroke; time is brainReport a problem with this question

17. 17. Someone near you suddenly falls to the ground and begins having a seizure with jerking movements. What is the correct care?

    • A.Hold their arms and legs still to stop the shaking
    • B.Splash cold water on their face to wake them
    • C.Move nearby objects away, protect their head, and let the seizure run its course✓ Answer
    • D.Put a wallet or spoon between their teeth

    During a seizure you cannot stop the movements, so the goal is to prevent injury by clearing hazards and cushioning the head. Restraining the person can cause injury and forcing objects into the mouth can break teeth or block the airway.

    Source: American Red Cross / Epilepsy Foundation — Seizure first aid (protect, do not restrain, nothing in mouth)Report a problem with this question

18. 18. Why should you never put an object or your fingers into the mouth of a person having a seizure?

    • A.It would end the seizure too quickly
    • B.It is only a matter of personal preference
    • C.A person cannot swallow their tongue, and objects can break teeth, block the airway, or bite the rescuer✓ Answer
    • D.The mouth must be kept completely dry

    The myth of 'swallowing the tongue' is false; placing objects in the mouth can chip teeth, obstruct the airway, or injure the helper's fingers. Nothing should ever be forced into the mouth during a seizure.

    Source: Epilepsy Foundation / American Red Cross — Never place objects in the mouth during a seizureReport a problem with this question

19. 19. Which group of signs suggests a person is having a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)?

    • A.A slow heartbeat with warm, dry skin and hunger
    • B.A mild runny nose that lasts several days
    • C.Difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives, and feeling faint✓ Answer
    • D.Only itching at the exact spot of a bug bite

    Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening, whole-body reaction that typically causes trouble breathing, swelling of the airway/face, hives, and signs of shock. Recognizing these signs quickly is essential because the airway can close rapidly.

    Source: American Red Cross / American Heart Association — Signs of anaphylaxisReport a problem with this question

20. 20. You are helping a person with a known severe allergy use their epinephrine auto-injector during anaphylaxis. Where is it designed to be injected?

    • A.Into the outer, middle part of the thigh✓ Answer
    • B.Directly into a vein in the arm
    • C.Into the neck near the throat
    • D.Under the tongue

    An epinephrine auto-injector is designed to deliver the medication into the large muscle of the outer mid-thigh, which allows fast, reliable absorption. It can even be given through clothing in an emergency.

    Source: American Red Cross / American Heart Association — Epinephrine auto-injector into the outer mid-thighReport a problem with this question

21. 21. A person tells you they feel dizzy and lightheaded as if they might faint. What is the best immediate action?

    • A.Help them sit or lie down before they fall, to prevent injury✓ Answer
    • B.Have them run in place to boost circulation
    • C.Have them keep standing and walking briskly
    • D.Give them a large meal right away

    Fainting happens when blood flow to the brain briefly drops; helping the person lie or sit down prevents a fall injury and helps restore blood flow to the brain. Lying flat lets blood return more easily to the head.

    Source: American Red Cross — Care for fainting (help the person lie down)Report a problem with this question

22. 22. Under Good Samaritan principles and consent rules, when may you give first aid to an unresponsive adult?

    • A.Never, unless you are a licensed physician
    • B.Only after a family member signs a written form
    • C.Consent is implied, so you may give care because a reasonable person would want help✓ Answer
    • D.Only if the person first says yes out loud

    When a person is unresponsive and cannot give permission, consent is 'implied' — the law assumes a reasonable person would want lifesaving help. Good Samaritan laws further protect a layperson who gives reasonable care in good faith.

    Source: American Red Cross — Implied consent for an unresponsive person; Good Samaritan protectionsReport 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 →