Basic Life Support (BLS) For Beginners Quiz

Answer: Deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potentially serious condition in which a blood clot forms in one of the body's "deep veins", most frequently in the leg. It causes swelling and pain in the affected part of the body, and if not treated can lead to a pulmonary embolism. This happens when part of the blood clot breaks free and travels to the lungs, where it can block a blood vessel.

DVT is often associated with long-distance air travel, when the sufferer may be confined to their seat for long periods, but individuals who are obese or smokers are particularly at risk.

Answer: Relaxed tongue

Children (especially those under the age of four) are more likely to suffer from an obstruction from a small object, such as a piece of food or another item getting stuck in the throat. Adults, however, are most likely to suffer from a "relaxed tongue" obstruction, especially when they become unconscious and the tongue slips down into the throat, blocking the airway.

In many cases this can be alleviated by manually manipulating the head to enable the flaccid tongue to slip back out of the airway.

Answer: Urinary bladder

As well as the three listed, other solid organs include the spleen, tongue, and ovaries. The urinary bladder is classed as a "hollow organ". As you might guess, it is hollow because it is designed to hold the urine inside the body until it can be emptied.

Other "hollow organs" include the heart, the stomach, and the small and large intestines, all of which have empty space inside them that can be filled or emptied as necessary to the body's functions.

Answer: Brain and spinal cord

The brain is protected and supported by the skull, while the spinal cord runs from the base of the brain down through the vertebra (backbone) as far as the pelvis.

The peripheral nervous system consists of all the spinal, cranial and other nerves which feed back into the spinal cord and thus to the brain. Different types of nerves transmit particular sensations such as touch and pain back to the brain.

Answer: Kidney stones

Kidney stones form (as the name suggests) either in the kidney or the ureter and are caused when waste products crystalize and form a hard lump which can be very painful if it gets too large. Small kidney stones are usually excreted naturally in the urine, but larger ones will need to be broken up through a surgical procedure.

The best way to avoid getting kidney stones is to drink plenty of water, which keeps your urine well diluted and prevents crystals from forming. So don't get dehydrated, people!

Answer: AB+

There are seven different blood types: O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, and AB+, classified by the antigens present in the blood. The last of these, AB+, has both A and B antigens, and is the rarest blood type. This does however mean that it is the universal recipient, meaning an individual with AB+ blood can be given a blood transfusion from any of the other six types.

O- is the universal donor blood type, meaning it can be given to someone with any of the other blood types.

Answer: Airway, breathing, circulation

The mnemonic "ABC" is intended to help the EMS practitioner to remember the three things that need to be checked when conducting basic life support (BLS), and the order in which they should be administered.

Very briefly, this means checking the airway is open (to enable air to get to the lungs), checking the patient is breathing, and if necessary performing CPR to restore circulation, thus delivering oxygen to the body.

For further details of this crucial procedure, please consult a medical professional!

Answer: High

Individuals with type-1 diabetics need regular shots of insulin to maintain their blood sugar level at a safe level. Insulin is a hormone which performs an essential role in moving glucose out of the blood and into the body's cells, where it is broken down and energy is produced. So after eating it's particularly important for diabetics to insure they have injected enough insulin to prevent their blood sugar levels from becoming dangerously high.

Answer: Nosebleed

Exposure to a high level of carbon monoxide gas can be very serious, and even fatal if not treated quickly. Deaths, while fortunately fairly rare, are usually caused when a faulty household appliance, such as a cooker or boiler, fails to burn off the gas, which then leaks into the enclosed space of a house and is breathed in by the occupants.

Other symptoms, as well as those listed, include a feeling of light-headedness similar to intoxication, loss of physical co-ordination, and chest pain caused by a heart attack. If you feel any of these, it's usually advisable to get out of the house as soon as possible and call for medical help.

Answer: Direct pressure

Minor bleeding is relatively common, and can be caused by accidents with sharp objects, falls, or other less serious mishaps. The best way to control it is to apply direct pressure directly onto the wound, which will help to prevent blood flow and assist with clotting. If you can apply a clean and absorbent piece of material first, all the better.

A tourniquet is only necessary to control serious bleeding from a serious wound, and you wouldn't be popular if you amputated your child's leg just because they'd grazed their knee falling off their bike.