TheoryFirst Aid / CPR / AED (US)
Practice Test
Practice first aid, CPR and AED questions matched to Red Cross and AHA guidelines, fully offline.
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First Aid / CPR / AED (US) exam — full Q&A walkthrough
Every question read aloud with the answer explained. Play it on your commute, then test yourself.
30 free First Aid / CPR / AED (US) questions
Sampled across every topic area — not just the first page. Try them as a quiz or flip them as flashcards.
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Emergency Response & Action Steps
In the emergency action steps (Check–Call–Care), what is the FIRST thing you should do?
Correct — A. Begin with CHECK: make sure the scene is safe for you and others before approaching, then check the person. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
What is the correct order of the emergency action steps?
Correct — A. The emergency action steps are Check the scene and the person, Call 911, then Care for the person. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
What is the very first thing you should do on arriving at an emergency scene?
Correct — B. Checking for danger first protects you, the victim and bystanders. An injured rescuer cannot help anyone. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
How should you check whether a collapsed person is responsive?
Correct — B. Check response by talking and touching: give a simple command and gently squeeze the shoulders. Never shake a victim violently. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
What is the emergency telephone number for an ambulance in the United States?
Correct — C. 911 is the emergency number in the United States. Call 911 for police, fire, or ambulance. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
An adult collapses, is unresponsive and is NOT breathing normally. What should you do?
Correct — C. An unresponsive victim who is not breathing normally is in cardiac arrest. Start CPR immediately and send for an AED. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
A victim is unresponsive but IS breathing normally. What is the best position for them?
Correct — C. An unconscious victim who is breathing should be placed on their side (recovery position) to keep the airway clear and let fluids drain. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Why is the recovery (side) position used for an unconscious, breathing victim?
Correct — B. On their side, the tongue is less likely to block the airway and any vomit or fluid can drain out rather than being inhaled. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
How do you open the airway of an unconscious adult?
Correct — A. A gentle head-tilt and chin-lift moves the tongue away from the back of the throat and opens the airway. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
You are alone with an unresponsive adult and have a cell phone. What should you do?
Correct — B. Call 911 on speaker so you can follow the dispatcher's instructions and start CPR without leaving the victim. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
When checking for normal breathing, how long should you take?
Correct — B. Look, listen and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Occasional gasps are NOT normal breathing. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Which best describes the overall aims of first aid?
Correct — B. The aims of first aid are to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, and promote recovery until medical help arrives. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Which of these is a danger you should look for before helping at a road crash?
Correct — D. Traffic, fuel/fire and broken glass are all hazards. Make the scene as safe as possible before approaching the victim. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
In the Check–Call–Care steps, the 'Call' step means you should:
Correct — B. Call 911 (or direct a bystander to call) as early as possible so help is on the way while you give care. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
How often should you monitor an unconscious victim in the recovery position?
Correct — B. Keep checking the victim's breathing and response continuously, as their condition can change at any time. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
During a primary survey, what is the FIRST element a rescuer assesses?
Correct — B. The primary survey follows the ABCDE approach starting with responsiveness/level of consciousness before moving to airway, breathing, and circulation. Determining consciousness guides all subsequent actions. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Which type of consent allows a rescuer to treat an unresponsive adult stranger?
Correct — C. Implied consent is the legal principle that an unconscious or unresponsive person would consent to emergency care if they were able to; it removes the need for explicit verbal agreement. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
A teenager is found unresponsive. Her parents are not on scene. Which consent principle applies?
Correct — C. In a life-threatening emergency involving a minor whose guardian is unavailable, implied consent applies and the rescuer may provide care. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
The bystander effect refers to which phenomenon?
Correct — A. The bystander effect (diffusion of responsibility) means that the more people present, the less likely any single person is to intervene — making direct eye contact and assigning roles critical. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Which mnemonic helps gather a patient's medical history during a secondary survey?
Correct — D. SAMPLE stands for Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the emergency — a standard secondary-survey history tool. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
In a mass-casualty incident using START triage, a victim who is breathing at 32 breaths/min and has a radial pulse is tagged:
Correct — C. START triage tags RED/immediate for respirations >30/min, absent radial pulse, or altered mental status — this patient's respiratory rate of 32 meets the RED criterion. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
A rescuer suspects a gas leak in a building where a victim collapsed. The BEST action is to:
Correct — B. Scene safety is paramount; a gas leak is an immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) hazard. Rescuers should not enter and should activate 911 for specialized responders. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Which vital sign is considered the MOST sensitive early indicator of shock?
Correct — C. Heart rate rises early in compensated shock before blood pressure drops, making tachycardia the most sensitive early vital sign indicator of hypovolemia or shock. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Expressed consent requires that a patient:
Correct — B. Expressed (informed) consent means the competent, conscious adult has been told what the rescuer intends to do and has verbally or physically agreed to receive care. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
During a secondary survey, DCAP-BTLS is used to assess:
Correct — D. DCAP-BTLS (Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling) is a systematic head-to-toe physical exam framework used in the secondary survey. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
A responsive adult refuses emergency care despite signs of a serious condition. The rescuer should:
Correct — C. A competent adult has the legal right to refuse care; the rescuer should document the refusal, clearly explain the risks of declining treatment, and respect the decision while continuing to offer help. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Which of the following best defines 'duty to act' in a first aid context?
Correct — D. Duty to act applies to individuals with a professional or contractual obligation (e.g., lifeguards, EMTs on duty) to provide care; it does not generally apply to untrained bystanders. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
A normal respiratory rate for a resting adult is:
Correct — A. A resting adult respiratory rate of 12-20 breaths per minute is considered normal; rates outside this range may indicate respiratory distress or altered physiology. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
In START triage, a non-breathing adult victim who does not breathe after one airway repositioning attempt is tagged:
Correct — D. In START triage, apneic adults who do not breathe after a single attempt to open the airway are tagged BLACK (expectant/deceased) because resources are directed to savable patients. -
Emergency Response & Action Steps
Which action BEST reduces the bystander effect at an emergency scene?
Correct — A. Direct assignment — pointing at one person and saying 'You in the red shirt, call 911 now' — overcomes diffusion of responsibility by creating personal accountability.
First Aid / CPR / AED (US) sample questions
Tap any question below to reveal the answer and a plain-English explanation.
Emergency Response & Action Steps The AVPU scale measures:
A. Alert, Voice, Pain, and Unresponsive levels of consciousness ✓
B. Airway, Vital signs, Pupils, and Urge to breathe
C. Anxiety, Vigilance, Pain response, and Urgency
D. Airway, Ventilation, Pulse, and Urine output
Correct — A. AVPU is a rapid neurological assessment: Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, or Unresponsive — used to quickly categorize level of consciousness during primary survey.
CPR & Defibrillation (AED) What is the recommended ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths in CPR for all ages?
A. 15 compressions to 2 breaths
B. 30 compressions to 2 breaths ✓
C. 5 compressions to 1 breath
D. 10 compressions to 2 breaths
Correct — B. For a single lay rescuer, the ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths for adults, children and infants.
Airway & Choking A conscious adult is choking but can still cough forcefully and speak. What should you do?
A. Give 5 hard back blows immediately
B. Encourage them to keep coughing and watch closely ✓
C. Lay them on the floor
D. Give them water to drink
Correct — B. With a mild (partial) obstruction the person can still move air. Encourage coughing and monitor in case it becomes severe.
Bleeding, Wounds & Shock What is the most effective first action to control severe external bleeding?
A. Apply a tourniquet straight away
B. Apply firm, direct pressure over the wound ✓
C. Wash the wound under a tap
D. Give the victim a drink
Correct — B. Firm, direct pressure over the wound is the first and most effective way to control most external bleeding.
Cardiac, Stroke, Seizures & Diabetes The acronym FAST helps recognize a stroke. What does it stand for?
A. Fever, Aches, Sweating, Tiredness
B. Face, Arms, Speech, Time ✓
C. Fall, Awake, Stand, Talk
D. Fast pulse, Anxiety, Shaking, Thirst
Correct — B. FAST = Face (drooping), Arms (weakness), Speech (slurred), Time (call 911 immediately).
Allergies, Anaphylaxis & Asthma What is anaphylaxis?
A. A mild skin rash
B. A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction ✓
C. A type of headache
D. A common cold
Correct — B. Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction that affects breathing and/or circulation and needs immediate treatment.
Burns, Fractures, Bites & Environmental What is the correct first aid for a thermal (heat) burn?
A. Apply ice directly to the burn
B. Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes ✓
C. Spread butter on the burn
D. Cover it with a tight bandage straight away
Correct — B. Cool the burn under cool (not icy) running water for 20 minutes. This limits the damage and relieves pain.
Legal Duties & Infection Control What does 'duty of care' mean for a first aider?
A. You must carry a first aid kit at all times
B. Once you begin helping, you should continue to a reasonable standard until you hand over care ✓
C. You are legally required to help every stranger
D. You must pay for the victim's treatment
Correct — B. Duty of care means that once you start first aid, you should continue providing reasonable care until you can hand over to someone equally or more qualified.
About the First Aid / CPR / AED (US) test
Prepare with confidence for your first aid and CPR certification in the United States. This study app covers the knowledge behind first aid, CPR and AED courses (American Heart Association and American Red Cross style), so you can walk into your class or refresher ready.
What you get
- 120+ original practice questions covering the emergency action steps (Check-Call-Care), CPR for adults, children and infants, using an AED, choking and the Heimlich maneuver, bleeding and shock, burns, fractures, snake and spider bites, anaphylaxis, asthma, stroke, heart attack, seizures and legal duties (Good Samaritan / OSHA).
- Plain-English explanations for every answer so you learn the reasoning, not just the right option.
- Timed mock exams that build real exam-day confidence.
- Study by topic to focus on your weak spots.
- Available in English and Spanish.
You will be tested on
- DRSABCD and the primary survey
- CPR and AED use
- Bleeding, shock and wound care
- Fractures, burns and common emergencies
How TheoryPractice helps you pass
- Real exam-style questions with instant, detailed explanations
- Full timed mock exams that mirror the real test format
- Flashcards & quiz modes from the same question bank
- Progress tracking so you know exactly when you're ready
Topics in this question bank
DRSABCD and the primary survey
CPR and AED use
Bleeding, shock and wound care
Fractures, burns and common emergencies
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