This practice test covers the full US workplace first aid curriculum: patient assessment, basic life support, bleeding and wound care, burns and electrical shock, shock and anaphylaxis, serious injuries, bone and joint injuries, sudden illness, poisoning, cold and heat emergencies, and mental wellness first aid. Questions span beginner to advanced difficulty and include scenario-based application.
This test is suitable for workers preparing for first aid certification renewal, supervisors checking their first aid knowledge baseline, and anyone completing a first aid awareness program. It is not a substitute for hands-on training with a qualified provider.
Module 1: First Aid Introduction and Program Basics
Question 1 | Beginner
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151, what does “near proximity” mean for a high-hazard workplace when determining whether an on-site first aid responder is required?
- A) Within 5 miles of a hospital or clinic
- B) EMS response time of 3 to 4 minutes to the specific worksite address
- C) A medical facility visible from the job site
- D) Within the same zip code as the nearest urgent care center
Question 2 | Intermediate
A first aid kit at a construction site has not been restocked after several incidents over the past month. It now contains only three bandages and one pair of gloves. Which OSHA standards does this violate?
- A) 29 CFR 1926.50 only
- B) 29 CFR 1910.151(b) and 29 CFR 1926.50
- C) Only ANSI Z308.1-2021
- D) No OSHA standard; kit contents are not regulated
Module 2: Finding Out What Is Wrong
Question 3 | Beginner
A worker is found unconscious near electrical equipment. What is the correct first step?
- A) Tap the worker’s shoulder and check for breathing
- B) Begin CPR immediately
- C) Confirm the power source is off before approaching or touching the worker
- D) Roll the worker away from the equipment
Question 4 | Intermediate
During a secondary survey, you ask a conscious worker the SAMPLE history questions. The “E” stands for:
- A) Evaluation of vital signs
- B) Events leading up to the incident
- C) Emergency contacts
- D) Extremity check
Module 3: Basic Life Support
Question 5 | Beginner
A co-worker collapses and is unresponsive. You confirm she is not breathing normally. You are alone. What is the correct order of actions for an adult?
- A) Begin CPR for 2 minutes, then call 911
- B) Call 911 first, then begin CPR immediately and retrieve the AED
- C) Retrieve the AED first, then call 911, then begin CPR
- D) Wait for a trained responder before starting CPR
Question 6 | Advanced
During CPR on an adult, what compression rate and depth are required per 2024 AHA guidelines?
- A) 60 to 80 compressions per minute; 1 inch depth
- B) 100 to 120 compressions per minute; at least 2 inches depth, no more than 2.4 inches
- C) 80 to 100 compressions per minute; at least 1.5 inches depth
- D) 120 to 140 compressions per minute; at least 2.5 inches depth
Module 4: Bleeding and Wound Care
Question 7 | Intermediate
A worker has a severe laceration to the forearm. Direct pressure with a bulky dressing has been applied but blood is soaking through rapidly. What is the next step?
- A) Remove the soaked dressing and apply a fresh one
- B) Add more material on top of the existing dressing and continue pressure; do not remove
- C) Apply a tourniquet 2 to 3 inches above the wound immediately
- D) Elevate the arm above the head and wait for EMS
Module 5: Shock and Anaphylaxis
Question 8 | Beginner
A worker was stung by a bee 5 minutes ago and now has hives, is having difficulty breathing, and feels faint. She says she has a known bee sting allergy but does not carry an EpiPen. What is the correct first aid response?
- A) Give her an antihistamine (Benadryl) and monitor her for 30 minutes
- B) Call 911 immediately; position appropriately; do not give antihistamines in place of emergency care
- C) Have her lie flat with her legs elevated and give her water to drink
- D) Apply a cold pack to the sting site and wait to see if symptoms improve
Module 6: Burns and Electrical Shock
Question 9 | Beginner
A worker spills a hot liquid on her forearm. The skin is red, painful, and blistered. What is the correct immediate first aid?
- A) Apply butter or cooking oil to soothe the burn and cover with a bandage
- B) Apply ice water or ice packs directly to the burn to cool it quickly
- C) Cool with running cool water for 10 to 20 minutes; do not pop blisters; cover loosely
- D) Pop the blisters to reduce pressure, then apply an antibiotic ointment
Module 7: Serious Injuries
Question 10 | Advanced
A construction worker falls 20 feet from scaffolding. She is conscious, says her back hurts, and is trying to sit up. Bystanders are supporting her arms to help. What should you do?
- A) Let her sit up if she feels better in that position; it is safer than lying flat
- B) Gently lower her back to the floor and hold her still; direct everyone to stop moving her
- C) Have her walk to a shaded area nearby to be more comfortable while you call 911
- D) Ask her to rate her pain on a scale of 1 to 10 and proceed based on her answer
Module 8: Bone, Joint and Muscle Injuries
Question 11 | Beginner
After splinting a suspected forearm fracture, what is the correct post-splint check?
- A) Ask the worker to bend their elbow to confirm mobility is preserved
- B) Check circulation, sensation, and motor function (CSM) at the fingertips
- C) Apply ice directly to the splint to reduce swelling
- D) Remove the splint after 30 minutes to see if the pain has reduced
Module 9: Sudden Illness
Question 12 | Intermediate
A diabetic worker is confused, pale, sweating, and shaking. He says he feels “strange.” He is conscious and able to swallow. What is the most likely condition and the correct first aid?
- A) Hyperglycemia; call 911 and do not give food or water
- B) Hypoglycemia; give a fast-acting carbohydrate such as 4 oz of juice or regular soda
- C) Heat exhaustion; move him to a cool area and give cool water
- D) Stroke; apply FAST assessment and call 911
Module 10: Poisoning
Question 13 | Beginner
A worker accidentally ingests a chemical cleaning product. What is the most important first action?
- A) Induce vomiting to remove the chemical before it is absorbed
- B) Give the worker large amounts of milk to neutralize the acid
- C) Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for substance-specific guidance
- D) Apply activated charcoal if available in the first aid kit
Module 11: Cold and Heat Emergencies
Question 14 | Intermediate
A construction worker on an outdoor site in July has hot, dry skin, is confused, and has a body temperature of 104°F. What does this indicate and what is the correct first aid?
- A) Heat exhaustion; move to a cool area and give cool fluids
- B) Heat stroke; call 911 immediately and begin aggressive cooling (ice packs to neck, armpits, and groin; or cold water immersion)
- C) Dehydration; give water and rest in shade for 30 minutes
- D) Sunburn; apply sunscreen and move to a shaded area
Scenario-Based Learning
Scenario: The Warehouse Morning
At 8:15 AM, two workers are in a receiving bay at a food distribution warehouse. One of them, a 47-year-old man named Deon, is unloading a pallet. He suddenly stops, grabs his chest, says “I don’t feel well,” and sits down heavily on the floor. He is pale and sweating. His co-worker Amara is the only other person in the bay. A first aid kit is on the wall 30 feet away. The AED is in the main corridor 60 feet away. The warehouse is 0.7 miles from the nearest hospital; average EMS response is 7 minutes.
Q1: What should Amara do in the first 30 seconds?
Check responsiveness immediately (tap shoulders, call his name loudly). If Deon responds, have him stop all activity, sit or remain still, loosen tight clothing, and call 911. Tell the dispatcher: the address, that a worker has chest pain and is pale and sweating, his approximate age, and that she is with him. Do not leave him alone while calling. She can use her cell phone while staying with him.
Q2: Does this warehouse meet OSHA’s near proximity standard for a high-hazard workplace?
No. A 7-minute EMS response time does not meet OSHA’s 3 to 4 minute threshold for workplaces where cardiac events are foreseeable. A food distribution warehouse — with physical labor, forklift traffic, and the age profile of a mixed workforce — is a setting where cardiac events are foreseeable. The employer should have a trained first aid responder on every shift and a documented EMS response time verification on file.
Q3: Deon becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally while Amara is on the phone with 911. What does she do?
Tell the dispatcher that he has become unresponsive and is not breathing. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Begin chest compressions immediately: position herself beside him, place the heel of one hand on the center of his chest, place the other hand on top, and push hard and fast at 100 to 120 per minute. If a second person is available, send them for the AED. If alone, begin compressions and only retrieve the AED if it can be done in under 10 seconds without stopping CPR.
Q4: If Deon had been having a stroke instead of a cardiac event, what would the FAST assessment show?
Facial drooping on one side when asked to smile. Arm weakness (one arm drifts lower when both are raised). Speech slurred, confused, or unable to repeat a simple sentence. Time to call 911 immediately and note the exact time symptoms began. The key distinction for first aid: do not give aspirin for suspected stroke (aspirin is appropriate for suspected heart attack). Aspirin worsens hemorrhagic stroke, and no field assessment can distinguish hemorrhagic from ischemic stroke.
Quick Reference: NEVER / ALWAYS
Sources
- AHA/Red Cross, “2024 First Aid Guidelines” (Circulation, 2024)
- OSHA, “29 CFR 1910.151: Medical Services and First Aid”
- OSHA, “29 CFR 1926.50: Medical Services and First Aid (Construction)”
- Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222
- American Heart Association, “2024 CPR and ECC Guidelines”
- ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021: Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits