SET - 6 | EFA Exit Exam Mock - Questions and Answers - 2026

The most effective and immediate way to control severe external bleeding is to apply firm, direct pressure to the wound using a clean dressing, a sterile pad, or even your hand if nothing else is available. Elevating the limb can help reduce blood flow, but direct pressure is the primary action. Tourniquets are for life-threatening bleeding not controlled by direct pressure and are a last resort. Washing with seawater could introduce infection.

Heat stroke represents the most severe and life-threatening manifestation within the spectrum of heat stress disorders, indicating a critical failure of the body's thermoregulation. Unlike milder forms such as heat exhaustion or heat cramps, heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent permanent organ damage, disability, or fatality, making its prevention crucial for crew health and safety under all maritime standards.

The correct answer is "No." For third-degree burns, immediate immersion in water can cause hypothermia and further tissue damage due to the body's inability to regulate temperature, contrary to the treatment for minor burns. Standard maritime first aid protocols emphasize cooling only minor burns with copious amounts of cool, clean water and preventing heat loss for more severe injuries.

With a pulse present, the immediate priority is to maintain oxygenation; therefore, continue rescue breathing if the victim is not breathing normally, as per maritime first aid protocols. This ensures vital organs receive oxygen until professional medical help arrives or the victim regains spontaneous breathing. STCW guidelines emphasize maintaining circulation and respiration in emergency situations.

Under international maritime regulations, including SOLAS and STCW, first aid is intended to preserve life, prevent further injury, and promote recovery. If a person is definitively deceased, further medical intervention is not applicable, and the focus shifts to proper procedures for handling deceased individuals. Therefore, attempting first aid on a deceased person is not appropriate or required by safety standards.

The most important principle when dealing with a suspected fracture is to immobilize the injured limb before any movement. This helps to prevent further damage to bones, nerves, and blood vessels, and reduces pain. Attempting to straighten the limb or moving without stabilization can cause severe complications.

According to international maritime first aid guidelines, the standard procedure for performing abdominal thrusts on an adult victim in distress involves delivering a series of 6 to 10 thrusts to dislodge an obstruction. This repetitive action is designed to create sufficient intrathoracic pressure to expel the foreign object effectively. Therefore, Option B, "6 to 10 thrust," accurately reflects the recommended protocol for this lifesaving maneuver.

Holding one's breath offers absolutely no protection against the inherent dangers of a confined space, which include immediate risks such as oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, and flammable atmospheres. Safe entry into confined spaces is governed by stringent maritime regulations, including SOLAS and the ISM Code, requiring a formal Permit-to-Work system, thorough atmosphere testing, continuous ventilation, and the presence of trained stand-by personnel. Relying on personal breath-holding ability completely disregards these critical safety protocols and can lead to severe injury or fatality.

Shellfish poisoning can manifest with a range of severe neurological and physiological symptoms, including numbness spreading from the face, dizziness, and excessive salivation, all of which are critical safety concerns under maritime health and safety regulations. Therefore, recognizing the multifaceted nature of these symptoms is essential for prompt and appropriate medical intervention at sea, as per STCW standards for seafarer well-being. Prompt identification of any of these symptoms necessitates immediate medical attention to prevent potentially life-threatening outcomes.

Option B is correct because immediate cooling is a critical first-aid measure for heat stroke, a life-threatening condition where the body's temperature regulation fails. Prompt cooling reduces the risk of organ damage and improves the casualty's chances of survival, aligning with general maritime safety and first-aid protocols mandated by international maritime conventions. This rapid intervention is crucial to prevent further deterioration and potential fatalities onboard.

The statement accurately describes blood as the primary transport medium of the cardiovascular system, and correctly identifies its major components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, all essential for life support functions vital in maritime safety contexts. Therefore, Option A is true as it aligns with fundamental biological and physiological principles relevant to human health and survival at sea. This knowledge is implicitly important under STCW for maintaining crew health and operational readiness.

Asphyxia is a condition arising from a severe lack of oxygen in the body, preventing vital organs, particularly the brain, from functioning. Marine safety protocols, as outlined in SOLAS and STCW, emphasize the critical need for adequate oxygen supply in enclosed spaces and during emergency situations to prevent this life-threatening state. Therefore, the correct answer is that asphyxia occurs when a person cannot get enough oxygen.

A comminuted fracture, as indicated by Option A, describes a bone broken into three or more fragments, effectively creating pieces that are separated or "floating," a critical distinction in emergency medical protocols onboard vessels dictated by maritime safety standards. This classification guides immediate first aid and stabilization procedures to prevent further injury, a cornerstone of STCW medical care requirements. Understanding fracture types is essential for providing effective initial treatment in a maritime environment where immediate medical evacuation may be delayed.

Diarrhea onboard can be caused by various contaminants including bacteria present in contaminated drinking water, improperly handled dairy products, or unwashed vegetables, all of which fall under a broad scope of maintaining food and water safety as stipulated by maritime safety regulations to prevent outbreaks. Ensuring the integrity of potable water, the proper storage and preparation of all foodstuffs, and rigorous hygiene practices are critical for preventing such gastrointestinal illnesses in accordance with STCW and SOLAS requirements. Therefore, the most comprehensive and correct answer acknowledges that any of these sources, or a combination thereof, can lead to diarrhea among the crew and cadets.

A stroke, a critical medical emergency onboard, occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, commonly due to a blood vessel rupturing in the brain, as per maritime medical guidelines that emphasize prompt recognition and treatment of such conditions to maintain crew safety and operational continuity. This aligns with STCW requirements for maintaining a safe working environment and ensuring the well-being of all seafarers through appropriate medical preparedness. Understanding the physiological cause is essential for crew to provide accurate information to medical professionals and to assist in emergency response procedures as outlined in shipboard medical manuals.

In any emergency, your immediate priority is to **assess the scene for safety** to prevent further casualties and ensure your own survival. Subsequently, it is crucial to **estimate the number of victims and call for help** to mobilize resources effectively. Before engaging directly, **get the first aid kit and put on appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)** to provide care safely and efficiently, aligning with established maritime safety protocols and principles found in SOLAS and STCW.

A tourniquet is a last resort for severe, life-threatening hemorrhage where direct pressure and other measures have failed to control bleeding, as improper application can cause nerve damage and tissue death. Maritime medical guidelines prioritize less invasive methods like direct pressure and elevation to manage bleeding effectively. Therefore, a tourniquet should not be the first resort for stopping bleeding according to established marine first aid protocols.

Entering a confined space like a cargo hold with insufficient oxygen, below 20.9%, can rapidly lead to asphyxiation and death as the body cannot sustain vital functions. SOLAS and STCW regulations mandate strict confined space entry procedures, including atmospheric testing and ventilation, to prevent such fatal hazards. This confirms that the statement is undeniably correct, making Option A the accurate answer.

Option B is correct because elevating the head in case of a leg wound can increase blood flow to the injured limb, potentially worsening bleeding and shock. Maritime first aid protocols for limb injuries focus on controlling bleeding by direct pressure and elevating the injured limb above the heart, not the head.

Anisakiasis is a parasitic infection of the gastrointestinal tract in humans, caused specifically by the ingestion of larval nematodes, commonly known as Anisakis worms. These worm-type parasites naturally reside in the flesh of various marine fish and cephalopods, and the infection occurs when such seafood is consumed raw or undercooked. Maintaining proper food handling and cooking standards on board vessels is a critical maritime safety and health practice to prevent crew illnesses like anisakiasis, making Option D the correct explanation.

The immediate and most effective first aid for a burn is to cool it with cool (not ice-cold) running water for a sustained period (10-20 minutes or longer). This helps reduce pain, swelling, and further tissue damage. Ice can cause frostbite, breaking blisters increases infection risk, and applying butter or oil can trap heat and worsen the burn.

A tissue is indeed a group of like cells organized to perform a specific function, forming a fundamental level of biological organization that underpins all living organisms, including those relevant to maritime health and safety protocols. This biological principle, while not directly codified in SOLAS or STCW, is foundational to understanding human physiology and the potential impacts of various environmental or operational factors onboard. Therefore, the statement is biologically accurate.

If a person is choking, you should do nothing as long as they are able to cough, as this indicates they are still expelling the obstruction themselves. Intervening prematurely with first aid when spontaneous coughing is occurring could dislodge the object in a way that makes it more difficult to remove or cause further harm.

Smoking significantly increases the risk and severity of frostbite rather than reducing it. Nicotine in tobacco causes vasoconstriction, which constricts blood vessels and reduces vital blood flow to the extremities, making them more vulnerable to freezing. This impaired circulation diminishes the body's natural defense mechanisms against cold injury, directly undermining crew health and safety in cold weather operations.

Correct treatment for hypothermia involves a multi-faceted approach encompassing all listed actions: removing the victim from the cold environment, insulating them with blankets to prevent further heat loss, and carefully rewarming them with warm fluids if conscious, aligning with established maritime safety protocols. These measures collectively aim to gradually restore the body's core temperature, as mandated by SOLAS and STCW standards for casualty care.

When communicating a medical emergency, providing comprehensive information allows shore-based medical teams or rescue coordinators to offer the best advice and prepare for potential evacuation. Essential details include who you are (vessel identity), where you are (position), what happened (nature of illness/injury), how many people are affected (number of casualties), and what immediate steps you have already taken (initial first aid given). This aligns with established maritime distress communication protocols.

A toxic gas instrument, as per SOLAS and STCW requirements for enclosed spaces, *does* measure expected gas presence, and often this includes oxygen deficiency as well as the presence of toxic gases like hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, the statement that it measures expected gas presence is correct, making Option C the appropriate answer. This functionality is critical for ensuring the safety of personnel entering potentially hazardous atmospheres onboard vessels.

For a suspected fracture, the primary goal is to immobilize the injured area to prevent further damage, reduce pain, and minimize swelling. This typically involves splinting the limb to include the joint immediately above and below the suspected fracture site. Realignment should only be attempted by medical professionals, movement is harmful, and heat packs are generally not recommended for acute injuries due to increased swelling.

For most common jellyfish stings, rinsing the affected area with seawater (or vinegar for some specific species, like Box Jellyfish, if available) helps to neutralize or remove remaining stinging cells (nematocysts) without triggering more venom release. Fresh water can worsen stings, and rubbing with sand can embed more stingers. Ice can help with pain but is not the primary treatment for neutralizing the venom.

Elevation of a wounded limb aids in reducing blood flow and swelling, a fundamental principle of first aid to mitigate further injury and promote healing, consistent with maritime safety protocols for casualty management. This action helps to control hemorrhage and manage shock effectively until professional medical assistance can be rendered, aligning with STCW and SOLAS mandated safety practices.