First Aid Practice Test (Ireland) 2026
The PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) course is the workplace first aid course in Ireland, assessed with a practical skills check and a multiple-choice exam. This practice covers the primary survey, CPR and AED use, choking, bleeding, burns, injuries and sudden illness, based on PHECC clinical practice guidelines and HSE advice. It is study material, not medical advice.
En bref
Pour réussir : No single government exam. The course provider runs the skills assessment and multiple-choice exam. The certificate is valid for two years. Organisé par : Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) sets the First Aid Response standard and guidelines; courses are run by PHECC-recognised institutions. Entraînez-vous ici gratuitement avec 80 questions, chacune avec la réponse et une explication. Vérifié à partir des sources officielles le 10 octobre 2026.
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Question 1 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. 112 or 999
In Ireland, call 112 or 999 for an ambulance.
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Question 2 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. Scene safety and infection control precautions, such as gloves
The primary survey starts with scene safety and standard infection control precautions, such as gloves.
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Question 3 sur 25
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Réponse: D. Straight away, before going on with the rest of the survey
Catastrophic external bleeding is controlled at the very start of the primary survey.
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Question 4 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. Call 112 or 999 and check their breathing
If the patient is unresponsive, call 112 or 999 and check breathing.
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Question 5 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. Head tilt and chin lift
Use a head tilt and chin lift. A jaw thrust can be used if a spinal injury is suspected.
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Question 6 sur 25
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Réponse: A. 12 to 20 breaths per minute
PHECC lists a normal adult respiratory rate of 12 to 20 per minute.
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Question 7 sur 25
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Réponse: A. 60 to 100 beats per minute
PHECC lists a normal adult pulse of 60 to 100 per minute.
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Question 8 sur 25
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Réponse: C. Call 112 or 999, get an AED and start CPR
Unresponsive and not breathing normally means cardiac arrest: call for help, get an AED and start CPR.
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Question 9 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: D. In the centre of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone
Push in the centre of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone.
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Question 10 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. 100 to 120 per minute
PHECC guidelines give a compression rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
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Question 11 sur 25
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Réponse: A. 5 to 6 cm
Compress an adult chest 5 to 6 cm, the green band in the diagram.
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Question 12 sur 25
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Réponse: D. The chest should come all the way back up
Let the chest recoil fully so the heart can refill with blood.
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Question 13 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: B. 30 compressions to 2 breaths
PHECC uses 30 compressions to 2 ventilations.
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Question 14 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: C. About 1 second
Give each ventilation over about 1 second.
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Question 15 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. Less than 10 seconds
Keep hands-off time under 10 seconds so blood keeps moving.
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Question 16 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. Give compression-only CPR
If you cannot ventilate, continue with compression-only CPR.
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Question 17 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: C. About one-third of the chest depth, about 5 cm
For children, compress about one-third of the chest depth: about 5 cm with two hands, or about 4 cm with one hand for a small child.
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Question 18 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: C. About one-third of the chest depth, about 4 cm
For infants, compress about one-third of the chest depth, about 4 cm.
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Question 19 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: D. 30:2
The PHECC FAR guidelines use 30:2 for children and infants as well as adults.
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Question 20 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: D. Paediatric pads, or adult pads if paediatric pads are not available
Use paediatric pads for children under 8. If none are available, use adult pads.
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Question 21 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: D. One on the front of the chest and one on the back
For infants, place the AED pads front (anterior) and back (posterior).
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Question 22 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: B. On the upper right chest, below the collarbone
One pad goes on the upper right chest below the collarbone. Follow the pictures on the pads.
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Question 23 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: C. On the lower left side of the chest, below the armpit
The second pad goes on the lower left side so the shock crosses the heart.
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Question 24 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: D. Stand clear and not touch the patient
Nobody should touch the patient during analysis or a shock.
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Question 25 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: B. Restart CPR at once, starting with compressions
Resume compressions immediately and keep hands-off time short.
Clavier : 1–4 pour répondre, Entrée pour la question suivante.
L’examen réel : No single government exam. The course provider runs the skills assessment and multiple-choice exam. The certificate is valid for two years.
À savoir avant l’examen
- The First Aid Response (FAR) course is three days long and leads to a PHECC FAR certificate.
- A FAR certificate is valid for two years. A two-day refresher course must be completed before it expires.
- FAR replaced the former Occupational First Aid (OFA) course and is recognised by the Health and Safety Authority.
- PHECC publishes the First Aid Response clinical practice guidelines. The 2026 set includes updated adult basic life support, burns and asthma guidelines.
- To call an ambulance in Ireland, phone 112 or 999.
- HSE uses FAST for stroke: Face, Arms, Speech, Time.
Questions fréquentes
Is there a government first aid exam in Ireland?
No single government exam. PHECC sets the First Aid Response standard, and recognised course providers run the skills assessment and multiple-choice exam.
How long does a FAR certificate last?
Two years. You need to complete a two-day refresher course before it expires.
What replaced Occupational First Aid (OFA)?
The PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) course replaced OFA and is recognised by the Health and Safety Authority for workplace first aid.
What is the emergency number in Ireland?
Call 112 or 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Do PHECC guidelines change?
Yes. PHECC updates its clinical practice guidelines regularly, so always follow the version your course teaches.
Sources
- PHECC: First Aid Response CPGs 2026
- PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines for First Aid Response, 2021 edition (updated June 2023), copy published by a course provider
- HSE: Stroke symptoms
- St John Ambulance Ireland: First Aid Response (FAR)
- Resuscitation Council UK: First aid guidelines 2025 (European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2025)