The answer options
- Place their arms by their side
- Press firmly between their shoulders
- Check their airway remains openCorrect
- Give them a hot sweet drink
Why that is the answer
Once a casualty is placed in the recovery position, you must continuously monitor them to ensure their airway remains open and clear, and that they continue to breathe normally. An unconscious person's condition can deteriorate rapidly. Never attempt to give an unconscious casualty anything to eat or drink, including a hot sweet drink, because they cannot swallow properly and could choke. Keep checking them until emergency services arrive.
How this comes up in the real test
Questions from incidents, accidents and emergencies appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.
The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.
More incidents, accidents and emergencies questions
- After a collision, someone is unconscious in their vehicle. When should you call the emergency services?
- An adult casualty isn’t breathing. CPR should be administered to keep the blood flowing. How hard should you press against their chest?
- An injured motorcyclist is lying unconscious in the road. The traffic has stopped and there’s no further danger. What could you do to help?
- At an incident, a casualty is unconscious but breathing. When should you move them?
- At an incident, a casualty isn’t breathing. What should you do while helping them to start breathing again?
- At an incident, how could you help a casualty who has stopped breathing?