22 Safety & Emergencies Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. An aide is assigned to a client whose record shows no infection of any kind. How should standard precautions be applied on this visit?

   • A.Treat every client's body fluids as infectious and glove up for such contact.✓ Answer
   • B.Wait for the supervising nurse to order precautions before using gloves in the home.
   • C.Base precautions on how sick the client appears and on whether the home looks clean.
   • D.Reserve gloves and gowns for clients whose record lists a diagnosed contagious illness.

   Standard precautions apply to every client because a person can carry a pathogen long before anything appears in the record; blood, all body fluids except sweat, non-intact skin and mucous membranes are treated as infectious, so protection is chosen by the expected exposure rather than by the diagnosis.

   Source: CDC Standard Precautions; 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(v)Report a problem with this question

2. 2. A client has diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile. The aide finishes perineal care and takes off the gloves. What is correct hand hygiene?

   • A.Wash with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds; alcohol misses spores.✓ Answer
   • B.Apply alcohol gel and then wipe the hands with an antibacterial hand wipe.
   • C.Rinse the hands under warm running water and dry them with a paper towel.
   • D.Rub hands with a 60% alcohol gel, which works faster than the kitchen sink.

   C. difficile forms spores that alcohol does not kill; only the friction and rinsing of soap and running water physically remove them from the skin, which is why soap and water is also required whenever hands are visibly soiled.

   Source: CDC Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings (spore-forming organisms)Report a problem with this question

3. 3. An aide finishes perineal care and is about to put clean sheets on the client's bed. What should the aide do next?

   • A.Perform hand hygiene, then put on a fresh pair of gloves before the linens.✓ Answer
   • B.Rinse the gloved hands with alcohol gel and continue with the same pair.
   • C.Handle the linens right away, because the gloves protected the hands well.
   • D.Wash the used gloves at the sink and keep wearing them while making the bed.

   Gloves leak and hands become contaminated during removal, so hand hygiene is required after every glove removal; disposable gloves are never washed or reused, and gloves are changed between a dirty task and a clean one on the same client.

   Source: CDC Hand Hygiene / glove use; 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(v)Report a problem with this question

4. 4. An aide must move a heavy box of supplies from the floor onto a table in the client's home. Which action uses correct body mechanics?

   • A.Bend the knees and hips, hold the box close, and lift with the leg muscles.✓ Answer
   • B.Lift quickly in one motion with the feet together to shorten the strain.
   • C.Lift the box at arm's length and twist at the waist to set it on the table.
   • D.Bend forward at the waist with straight legs and lift with the back muscles.

   The leg muscles are far stronger than the back, and holding the load close shortens the lever arm that strains the lumbar spine; a wide base of support with pivoting feet instead of twisting protects the aide from the back injuries that end home-care careers.

   Source: 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(x); NIOSH safe lifting principlesReport a problem with this question

5. 5. Wearing gown, mask, eye protection and gloves, an aide finishes care for a client on contact precautions. Which removal sequence is correct?

   • A.Mask, then eye protection, then gown, and the gloves last on the way out.
   • B.Gown, then gloves, then mask, and the eye protection last after leaving.
   • C.Eye protection, then mask, then gloves, and the gown last at the bedside.
   • D.Gloves, then eye protection, then gown, and the mask last after leaving.✓ Answer

   Gloves are the most contaminated item and come off first so they cannot soil the face or clothing, and the mask comes off last and outside the care area so the aide is still protected from airborne or droplet contamination while in the room.

   Source: CDC Sequence for Donning and Removing PPEReport a problem with this question

6. 6. The chain of infection has six links. Which routine action by the aide breaks the chain, and at which link?

   • A.Recording the client's temperature, which breaks the chain at the susceptible host.
   • B.Hand hygiene between tasks, which breaks the chain at the mode of transmission.✓ Answer
   • C.Wiping the kitchen counter weekly, which breaks the chain at the portal of exit.
   • D.Opening a window each morning, which breaks the chain at the portal of entry.

   In home care the aide's hands are the main vehicle carrying organisms from one person, surface or task to the next, so hand hygiene removes that vehicle and breaks the chain at the mode of transmission — the link an aide can control on every single visit.

   Source: CDC principles of infection prevention (chain of infection)Report a problem with this question

7. 7. An aide strips bed linens that are soiled with stool. Which action is correct?

   • A.Fold the linens over the arm and add them to the family's regular wash load.
   • B.Roll the soiled area inward, hold the bundle away from the uniform, and bag it.✓ Answer
   • C.Shake the linens over the tub to loosen debris, then carry them to the washer.
   • D.Pile the linens on the bathroom floor until the rest of the room is cleaned.

   Shaking linen aerosolizes organisms into the room air and holding it against the uniform contaminates the aide's clothing for the next client, so soiled linen is rolled dirty-side in, kept away from the body, and bagged where it is removed.

   Source: CDC Environmental Infection Control (laundry); 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(vi)Report a problem with this question

8. 8. A client vomits on the kitchen floor. After putting on gloves, what should the aide do?

   • A.Pour bleach directly onto the vomit and leave it there for the rest of the visit.
   • B.Absorb the vomit with paper towels, clean the floor, then disinfect the area.✓ Answer
   • C.Spray disinfectant over the vomit first and wipe everything up in one pass.
   • D.Mop the area with plain hot water, which lifts the soil and the germs together.

   Disinfectants are inactivated by organic material, so the spill must first be absorbed and the surface cleaned before an EPA-registered disinfectant or fresh bleach solution can work for its full contact time; waste then goes into a sealed leak-proof bag.

   Source: CDC environmental cleaning; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii)Report a problem with this question

9. 9. A client self-injects insulin at home and holds the used needle out toward the aide. What should the aide do?

   • A.Recap the needle carefully with one hand and set it aside for the nurse's visit.
   • B.Have the client drop it, uncapped, straight into the sharps container nearby.✓ Answer
   • C.Break the needle off the syringe and put both halves in a sealed plastic bag.
   • D.Wrap the needle in several layers of paper towel and place it in the kitchen trash.

   Most needlesticks happen during recapping, bending or breaking, so used needles are never manipulated by hand and go uncapped into a rigid, puncture-resistant, leak-proof container kept upright at the point of use — household trash puts the family and sanitation workers at risk.

   Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)-(viii); FDA safe sharps disposalReport a problem with this question

10. 10. While bagging trash, an aide is stuck by a needle left loose in the bag. What is the first action?

    • A.Finish the remaining tasks, then report the stick to the office at day's end.
    • B.Squeeze the site to force out blood and cover it with a clean adhesive bandage.
    • C.Apply alcohol gel to the puncture and watch to see whether the site turns red.
    • D.Wash the puncture site with soap and running water right away at the nearest sink.✓ Answer

    Washing immediately with soap and water reduces the inoculum at the wound, and the exposure must then be reported to the agency at once because post-exposure evaluation and any prophylaxis are time-sensitive; squeezing the wound does not help and delays care.

    Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030(f) post-exposure evaluation and follow-upReport a problem with this question

11. 11. Lunch was served at noon and the client ate half. At 2:30 p.m. the leftover chicken is still sitting on the counter. What should the aide do?

    • A.Refrigerate it in a covered deep pot so it cools slowly and stays moist.
    • B.Leave it out until suppertime, then reheat it thoroughly until it steams.
    • C.Discard the chicken, since it sat in the danger zone longer than two hours.✓ Answer
    • D.Discard the outer pieces and refrigerate the rest of the chicken meat.

    Between 40°F and 140°F bacteria multiply rapidly, so perishable food left out more than two hours is discarded; reheating does not destroy the heat-stable toxins some bacteria have already produced, which is why 'when in doubt, throw it out' applies.

    Source: USDA FSIS Danger Zone (40–140°F) and the 2-hour ruleReport a problem with this question

12. 12. The aide cuts raw chicken on a board and now needs to slice tomatoes for the client's salad. What should the aide do?

    • A.Put the tomatoes on a clean corner of the board, since they will be washed.
    • B.Rinse the board under cold running water and use the other side for tomatoes.
    • C.Wash the board with hot soapy water, or take a clean board, before slicing.✓ Answer
    • D.Wipe the board with the dish towel and slice the tomatoes on the same surface.

    Raw poultry juices carry Salmonella and Campylobacter, and tomatoes are eaten without cooking, so nothing will kill what transfers; a dish towel or a cold rinse spreads the bacteria rather than removing them, while hot soapy water or a separate board stops the cross-contamination.

    Source: USDA FSIS Clean and Separate (cutting boards, cross-contamination)Report a problem with this question

13. 13. The client's daughter insists on keeping scatter rugs in the hallway the client walks through, and refuses after the aide explains the fall risk. What should the aide do?

    • A.Report the hazard to the supervising nurse and document what was observed.✓ Answer
    • B.Remove the rugs anyway while the daughter is out, since safety comes first.
    • C.Tell the client to walk in the kitchen only and keep the hallway unused.
    • D.Accept the decision and say nothing more, because the home is the family's.

    The aide is a guest with no authority over the client's property, so a hazard that cannot be corrected is reported up the chain to the supervising nurse, who can address it with the family and revise the plan of care; removing property without permission or restricting the client are both outside the aide's role.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(vi) and (h)(1) aide reporting to the supervising nurseReport a problem with this question

14. 14. Walking to the bathroom with a gait belt in place, the client's knees suddenly buckle. What should the aide do?

    • A.Step back out of the way so the aide is not pulled down with the client.
    • B.Pull the client upright by the gait belt and steady them against the wall.
    • C.Grab the client under the arms and carry them the last steps to the bathroom.
    • D.Ease the client down to the floor, protecting the head, and bend at the knees.✓ Answer

    A falling adult's weight cannot be held up safely, and trying injures both people; sliding the client down the aide's body to the floor with bent knees controls the descent, protects the head, and keeps the aide's back from taking the load.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(x) safe transfer techniques and ambulationReport a problem with this question

15. 15. An aide finds the client on the bedroom floor, awake, with the right leg turned outward and severe hip pain. What should the aide do first?

    • A.Help the client into a chair, then phone the agency office for instructions.
    • B.Call the client's daughter first so the family can decide about the hospital.
    • C.Call 911, stay with the client, and leave the leg in the position it is in.✓ Answer
    • D.Roll the client onto the good side and place a pillow under the injured hip.

    A shortened, outwardly rotated leg with hip pain signals a probable fracture, and moving the client can displace bone ends and damage vessels or nerves; the aide activates EMS, stays with the client, and notifies the supervisor and completes an incident report afterward.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(vii) recognizing emergencies and emergency proceduresReport a problem with this question

16. 16. A client on a home oxygen concentrator wants a scented candle lit in the same room. What should the aide do and why?

    • A.Open a window before lighting it, since fresh air carries the extra oxygen off.
    • B.Turn the flow down one liter first, which lowers the oxygen around the candle.
    • C.Keep the candle unlit and explain that oxygen makes a flame burn much faster.✓ Answer
    • D.Place the lit candle on a shelf across the room, since three feet is enough.

    Oxygen does not burn but it supports combustion, so fabric, hair, bedding and oxygen tubing ignite far more easily and burn far hotter in an oxygen-enriched room; open flames and smoking are excluded from the home entirely, and equipment stays at least 5 feet from any heat source. Changing the liter flow is a nursing order the aide may not alter.

    Source: Home oxygen safety (FDA/NFPA); 42 CFR 484.80(g) aide scope of dutiesReport a problem with this question

17. 17. The aide smells smoke and finds a fire spreading in the kitchen. The client uses a walker. What should the aide do first?

    • A.Get the client out of the home first and then call 911 from outside.✓ Answer
    • B.Close the kitchen door and go back for the client's purse and medicines.
    • C.Call the agency supervisor to report the fire and ask what should be done.
    • D.Find the extinguisher, aim at the top of the flames, and sweep side to side.

    RACE puts Rescue first: people come before property, and a client who ambulates slowly with a walker needs the head start, which is why the exit route is planned in advance as part of the client's individual emergency plan. Only a small contained fire is fought, and an extinguisher is aimed at the base of the flames, never the top.

    Source: NFPA fire response (RACE/PASS); 42 CFR 484.102 emergency preparednessReport a problem with this question

18. 18. At lunch the client suddenly cannot speak or cough, clutches the throat, and turns dusky. What should the aide do?

    • A.Sweep a finger through the mouth to find the food, then offer sips of water.
    • B.Give abdominal thrusts and have someone call 911 while continuing them.✓ Answer
    • C.Encourage strong coughing and pat the client on the back until it comes up.
    • D.Lay the client flat on the floor and wait for the airway to relax on its own.

    Inability to speak, cough or breathe means the airway is completely blocked and no air is moving, so thrusts must start immediately; a blind finger sweep can push the object deeper, water cannot pass an obstruction, and encouraging coughing only helps when the obstruction is partial.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(vii); standard first-aid choking care for a conscious adultReport a problem with this question

19. 19. A client's leg wound is bleeding heavily and the gauze the aide applied is already soaked through. What should the aide do?

    • A.Rinse the wound with cool water to find the source, then press again.
    • B.Add more layers on top and keep firm pressure while 911 is on the way.✓ Answer
    • C.Wrap a belt tightly above the wound to stop the flow to the whole leg.
    • D.Remove the soaked gauze, look at the wound, and place a fresh pad on it.

    Lifting a soaked dressing tears away the clot that is forming and restarts the bleeding, so layers are added over it and uninterrupted direct pressure continues; the aide also wears gloves and watches for shock while waiting for EMS.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(vii); standard first-aid bleeding controlReport a problem with this question

20. 20. A client spills hot soup on the forearm; the skin is red with one small blister. What should the aide do?

    • A.Hold the arm under cool running water, then cover it with a clean dry cloth.✓ Answer
    • B.Spread butter over the burn and wrap the arm snugly with an elastic bandage.
    • C.Place a bag of ice on the burn and open the blister so that it can drain.
    • D.Rub antibiotic ointment in well and leave the burned area open to the air.

    Cool running water draws heat out of the tissue and stops the burn from deepening, while a loose clean covering protects it; ice causes further tissue injury, butter and ointments trap heat, and an intact blister is a sterile barrier that must not be opened.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3)(vii); standard first-aid burn careReport a problem with this question

21. 21. An aide notices fingermark-shaped bruises on a client's upper arms, and the client says her son 'gets rough' when he moves her. What should the aide do?

    • A.Ask the son directly how the bruises happened before telling the agency.
    • B.Wait for a second incident so there is proof before reporting anything.
    • C.Photograph the bruises and keep the note private until the client agrees.
    • D.Report the suspicion to the supervisor that day and document what was seen.✓ Answer

    The standard is reasonable suspicion, not proof: the aide reports what was observed and what the client said, promptly and objectively, and the agency and the authorities investigate. Confronting the suspected abuser can endanger the client and destroy evidence, and waiting allows the harm to continue.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.50(a)(1)(x) right to be free from abuse and neglect; 42 CFR 484.80(h)(1)Report a problem with this question

22. 22. The client's large dog growls and blocks the hallway every time the aide arrives, and the client will not shut it in another room. What should the aide do?

    • A.Shut the dog outside in the yard without asking so the hallway is clear.
    • B.Work around the dog quietly, since the home and the dog belong to the client.
    • C.Stay out of reach, tell the supervisor of the unsafe condition, and document it.✓ Answer
    • D.Bring the dog treats at every visit so that it learns to accept the aide.

    The aide's own safety is part of a safe care environment, and an aggressive animal is a hazard the aide has no authority to manage alone; reporting it lets the agency negotiate a safe arrangement with the client, while handling the dog or ignoring the threat risks a bite and an interrupted visit.

    Source: 42 CFR 484.80(h)(1) aide reporting; OSHA General Duty Clause, 29 U.S.C. 654(a)(1)Report a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the federal HHA competency requirements (42 CFR 484.80). Not affiliated with any training program or registry, and not medical advice. State requirements vary. Federal HHA rule →