Marking Guide

The assessment must adhere to the following guidelines, including the supplementary protocol requirements and answers to the corresponding oral questions provided below.

The following scenarios apply to these courses:

  • Emergency (Paediatric) First Aid at Work: Scenarios 1 – 8
  • First Aid at Work including Requalification: All scenarios
Practical Scenarios

Unit 1: Emergency First Aid at Work

Scenario 1: Primary Survey & Safe Airway Position

Participants must demonstrate the primary survey using DR AB:

D – Dangers

R- Response

A – Airway

B – Breathing

Safe Airway Position (SAP)

Assuming normal breathing, participants must place their casualty into SAP (recovery position).

Question: Which side would you place your casualty if they are pregnant.

Required Answer: Left (position of inferior vena cava)

Scenario 2: Secondary Survey (Top-to-Toe)

Participants must demonstrate the secondary survey checking the following areas:

  • Eyes, nose, ears and mouth
  • Skull
  • Chest and abdomen
  • Spine
  • Shoulders and arms
  • Legs and ankles

Ensure participants are wearing gloves and check these after touching a part of the casualty.

Question: What part of the body is a visual check only

Required Answer: Pelvis (fixed bone – can shatter is rocked)

Scenario 3: CPR and the safe use of an AED

Participants must perform CPR at floor level for a minimum of 2 minutes.

For rescue breaths, they should open the airway using the head tilt and chin lift technique, blowing steadily into the mouth while ensuring the chest rises, and taking no more than 5 seconds to deliver two rescue breaths.

If a participant is unwilling or unable to provide rescue breaths, they may continue with compression-only CPR, but should be encouraged to administer rescue breaths if possible. 

Reasonable Adjustment: If a participant has a medical condition that affects their mobility, they may perform chest compressions using their foot as an alternative demonstration.

Scenario 4: Choking

Back Blows

  • Stand to the side and slightly behind the casualty.
  • Support the casualty’s chest with one arm and lean them forward to ensure that if the blockage is dislodged, it will exit through the mouth rather than move further down the airway.
  • Deliver up to five sharp blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand, checking after each blow to see if the obstruction has been cleared.

Abdominal Thrusts

  • Stand behind the casualty.
  • Wrap both arms around the upper abdomen and lean the casualty forward.
  • Clench your fist and position it between the navel and the rib cage.
  • Grasp your fist with the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards.
  • Repeat up to five times, checking after each attempt to see if the obstruction has been cleared.

Question: When should you stop administering choking treatment?

Required answer: When the obstruction is cleared, or when emergency services take over.

Question: What is the first step if the casualty becomes unresponsive after you’ve eased them to the floor?

Required answer: Call emergency services and begin CPR immediately.

Question: How would you help a casualty who is wheelchair bound or if you are unable to get your hands around the casualty to perform abdominal thrusts?

Required Answer: Perform back blows only

Scenario 5: Bleeding and Hypovolaemic Shock

Question: State two signs or symptoms of shock.

Required Answers: Grey or blue, clammy and cold skin; feeling sick; feeling thirsty; rapid, shallow breathing; rapid, weak pulse.

Question: Name two actions a first aider should take after the emergency services have taken over the casualty’s care.

Required Answers: Clear the scene, properly dispose of soiled dressings, complete the accident/incident report, restock the first aid kit, provide emotional support to bystanders, seek emotional support for themselves.

Scenario 6 : Minor Injuries

Minimum required answer/demonstration:

  • Small cut or graze: Wear gloves, clean the wound thoroughly, and cover it with a plaster or dressing.
  • Bruise: Wear gloves and apply a cold compress to the area for at least 20 minutes.
  • Small splinter: Wear gloves, clean the affected area, and attempt to remove the splinter with tweezers or by scraping with a blunt edge, such as a bank card. If unsuccessful, dress the area without applying direct pressure and seek medical assistance.
  • Nosebleed: Wear gloves, seat the casualty with their head tilted forward, and pinch the soft part of the nose for 10 minutes. Repeat another 2 times before seeking medical assistance.
  • Minor burn/scald: Wear gloves, run cool water over the burn for at least 20 minutes. Cover the area with a sterile non-fluffy dressing or cling film applied in a layer over the burn.

Scenario 7: Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Question: What is your next course of action once the seizure has ended?

Required Answer: Place the casualty in the recovery position.

Question: Name one situation when you would call emergency services while treating a casualty experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure.

Required Answer: If the casualty is unresponsive for more than five minutes, if the seizure lasts for more than five minutes, or if it is a repeated seizure.

Scenario 8: Anaphylaxis

The participant uses a test Epipen to demonstrate the correct injection into their own thigh, ensuring they check pockets first.

Question: What’s the maximum time you’d leave before administering a second epipen into the opposite leg.

Required Answer: 3 minutes

Unit 2: First Aid at Work

Scenario 9: Head and Spinal Injuries

Question: In what circumstance should you call the emergency services?

Required Answer: Participants should respond if any of the following occur:

  • the person becomes unresponsive after a blow to the head
  • shows deteriorating levels of response
  • has unequal pupil size
  • blood or watery fluid coming from the ears or nose
  • noisy breathing or sudden changes in personality.

Scenario 10: Major Ilnness

Question: Give one example of when you should call the emergency services during an asthma attack?

Required Answer:  Participants must choose one of the following responses: when medication has no effect after 5 minutes, when it is their first attack, or when breathlessness makes talking difficult.

Unit 3: Paediatric First Aid at Work

Scenario 11: Meningitis

Question: A child complains of a severe headache, has a fever, and develops a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.  What should you do?

Required Answer:

  • Call 999 / 112 immediately.

  • While waiting:

    • Keep the child comfortable, ideally lying down.

    • Monitor their breathing and responsiveness.

    • Be prepared to start CPR if they become unresponsive and stop breathing.

  • Do not give food or drink (they may lose consciousness).

  • If safe to do so, reassure the child until help arrives.

Scenario 12: Sepsis

Question: A 6-year-old with a sore throat deteriorates rapidly, becomes drowsy, breathes quickly, and their skin looks mottled.  What should you do?

Required Answer:  

  • Call 999 /112  immediately.

  • While waiting:

    • Lay the child flat and keep them warm with a blanket.

    • Monitor vital signs – breathing, responsiveness, colour.

    • Be ready to start CPR if they stop breathing.

    • Give constant reassurance and do not leave the child unattended.

Created: 18 October 2024
Last Modified: 1 October 2025
Author: Phil Newton

Version: Version: 1.24