Theory Mastery

First aid at an accident — recovery position, CPR and AED

What the exam asks here: 'Unconscious' feels like one emergency with one fixed response.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 9 questions

The trap

Many learners think: If a victim is not breathing, it is better to wait for the ambulance than to start CPR yourself, because you haven't taken a course.

The rule is: Not breathing (normally)? Start directly with 30 chest compressions. Waiting costs the victim precious minutes; the book gives the step plan specifically for the untrained bystander

Challenge

'Unconscious' feels like one emergency with one fixed response. But the book deliberately splits here: if the victim IS breathing, the recovery position is the right action; if she is not breathing normally, the recovery position is wrong and seconds count for compressions. One signal — two very different next steps.

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The model

Is the victim breathing? Then the recovery position, four steps (Book p.171-172). Not breathing (normally)? Then immediately 30 chest compressions 5-6 cm deep, 100-120 per minute, then 2 breaths (Book p.173) — repeat until the AED or help arrives.

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Core

In principle you do not move a victim — except in a life-threatening situation such as burning or drowning danger (Book p.171). Emergency services are usually there quickly; your job is the help that cannot wait a second. If the victim IS breathing but unconscious, you place them in the recovery position in four steps: the near arm at a right angle, the far arm across the chest with the back of the hand against the cheek, pulling up the far leg and rolling the victim towards you until the bent elbow touches the ground, and finally setting hip and knee at right angles, gently tilting the head back, calling (or having someone call) 112, and checking breathing every minute (Book p.171-172). If they are not breathing normally, CPR is the right action. A course is recommended to do this safely, because unskilled CPR can cause harm — but the book still gives the complete step plan for the untrained bystander, because waiting costs too much time. First check consciousness, call 112 immediately, check breathing for a maximum of 10 seconds, and then start directly with 30 chest compressions: hands centred on the chest, 5 to 6 centimetres deep, at least 100 (max. 120) times per minute. Then 2 breaths, and as soon as the AED arrives: attach the electrodes and do exactly what the device instructs (Book p.172-174). An AED needs no course: it is a portable device that helps with resuscitation via spoken instructions, even for someone who has never taken a course (Book p.173).

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Why it matters

Every minute without compressions during cardiac arrest sharply lowers the chance of survival — waiting for the ambulance because you 'have no course' can be the difference between life and death. And putting a non-breathing victim in the recovery position anyway means giving zero compressions while the clock keeps ticking.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: First aid at an accident — recovery position, CPR and AED

Active recall

At a playground in Alkmaar you find an unconscious man. You look, listen and feel for ten seconds: he is not breathing normally. What do you do?

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Teach back

Explain: how do you determine whether an unconscious victim needs the recovery position or CPR, and may you use an AED without a course?

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Memory hook

Breathing: recovery position. Not breathing: 30x 5-6 cm at 100-120/min, then 2 breaths. AED: no course needed.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: First aid at an accident — recovery position, CPR and AED

Source: RVV 1990 art. 31 · WVW 1994 art. 7 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Unconscious victim: which action matches which breathing status? (Book p.171-174)Breathing normallyNot breathing (normally)Actionrecovery position (4 steps)30 chest compressions + 2 breaths, repeatNumber to remembercheck breathing every minute5-6 cm deep, 100-120 per minuteDoes the AED need training?n/ano — speaks the instructions out loud
What to look at: Breathing normally: recovery position, 4 steps. Not breathing (normally): 30 compressions of 5-6 cm at 100-120/min, then 2 breaths, then AED.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At a junction in Maastricht you see a cyclist get hit. The cyclist lies motionless on the street and does not respond when you call her name. You are alone, no one has called yet. What is your key follow-up question to decide what to do next?

Show the answer

Is the victim breathing? Then the recovery position, four steps (Book p.171-172). Not breathing (normally)? Then immediately 30 chest compressions 5-6 cm deep, 100-120 per minute, then 2 breaths (Book p.173) — repeat until the AED or help arrives.

Exam questions on this topic

About First aid at an accident — recovery position, CPR and AED: which statement is correct?

  1. You can use an AED as an untrained bystander; the device tells you exactly what to do via spoken instructions.
  2. For every unconscious victim you put them in the recovery position, even if they are not breathing.
  3. If a victim is not breathing, it is better to wait for the ambulance than to start CPR yourself, because you haven't taken a course.
Show the answer

Correct answer: You can use an AED as an untrained bystander; the device tells you exactly what to do via spoken instructions.

You can use an AED as an untrained bystander; the device tells you exactly what to do via spoken instructions

Why learners get this wrong: For every unconscious victim you put them in the recovery position, even if they are not breathing.

Open this question

About First aid at an accident — recovery position, CPR and AED: which statement is WRONG?

  1. The recovery position is for a victim who IS breathing.
  2. You may only use an AED if you have completed a resuscitation course.
  3. Not breathing (normally)? Start directly with 30 chest compressions. Waiting costs the victim precious minutes; the book gives the step plan specifically for the untrained bystander.
Show the answer

Correct answer: You may only use an AED if you have completed a resuscitation course.

You can use an AED as an untrained bystander; the device tells you exactly what to do via spoken instructions

Why learners get this wrong: For every unconscious victim you put them in the recovery position, even if they are not breathing.

Open this question

At a playground in Alkmaar you find an unconscious man. You look, listen and feel for ten seconds: he is not breathing normally. What do you do?

  1. I start directly with 30 chest compressions 5-6 cm deep, then 2 breaths
  2. I wait until the ambulance arrives, because I haven't taken a CPR course
  3. I put him in the recovery position and wait for the ambulance
Show the answer

Correct answer: I start directly with 30 chest compressions 5-6 cm deep, then 2 breaths

The recovery position is for a victim who IS breathing; if he is not breathing normally, you start chest compressions

Why learners get this wrong: If a victim is not breathing, it is better to wait for the ambulance than to start CPR yourself, because you haven't taken a course.

Open this question

At a cycling accident in Assen you need to give chest compressions. How many centimetres do you press down the breastbone at minimum?

Show the answer

Correct answer: 5 cm

Correct: 5.0 cm (±1.0).

Open this question

In an office in Maastricht a colleague has fallen down the stairs. She does not respond when you shake her shoulders, but she is breathing normally. What do you do?

  1. I call 112 and leave her lying until the ambulance arrives, as I know no first aid
  2. I call 112, open her airway and put her in the recovery position
  3. I call 112 and start 30 chest compressions, because she is unconscious
Show the answer

Correct answer: I call 112, open her airway and put her in the recovery position

False — You wait because you have no course. The step plan is meant for bystanders: with unconsciousness and breathing you open the airway and put the victim in the recovery position

Why learners get this wrong: If a victim is not breathing, it is better to wait for the ambulance than to start CPR yourself, because you haven't taken a course.

Open this question

Statement: you may only use an AED if you have first completed a resuscitation course.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: You may only use an AED if you have completed a resuscitation course.

Open this question

In a sports canteen near Hengelo a man collapses. He does not respond when you speak to him and shake him, and after ten seconds of looking, listening and feeling he is not breathing normally. There is no AED yet. What do you do?

  1. Call 112, ask for an AED and start 30 chest compressions straight away
  2. Call 112, ask for an AED and put him in the recovery position
  3. Call 112 and, without a course, wait until the ambulance arrives
Show the answer

Correct answer: Call 112, ask for an AED and start 30 chest compressions straight away

False — you delay help because you have not had a course. Waiting costs the victim precious minutes: start chest compressions straight away and attach the AED as soon as it arrives; the device tells you exactly what to do

Why learners get this wrong: For every unconscious victim you put them in the recovery position, even if they are not breathing.

Open this question

Put the basic CPR steps in the correct order, from first to last.

Answer options: Call 112 (or have someone call) · Check breathing (max. 10 seconds) · Check consciousness · Give 2 breaths · Start 30 chest compressions

Show the answer

Correct answer: Check consciousness; Call 112 (or have someone call); Check breathing (max. 10 seconds); Start 30 chest compressions; Give 2 breaths

Open this question

Which actions belong to placing a breathing, unconscious victim in the recovery position? (multiple answers possible)

  1. Gently tilt the head back to keep the airway open
  2. Place the far arm across the chest, hand against the cheek
  3. Pull up the far leg and roll the victim towards you
  4. Immediately start 30 chest compressions once he is on his side
  5. Check breathing every minute
Show the answer

Correct answer: Gently tilt the head back to keep the airway open; Place the far arm across the chest, hand against the cheek; Pull up the far leg and roll the victim towards you; Check breathing every minute

Why learners get this wrong: For every unconscious victim you put them in the recovery position, even if they are not breathing.

Open this question

Frequently asked questions

‘If a victim is not breathing, it is better to wait for the ambulance than to start CPR yourself, because you haven't taken a course’ – is that true?

No. Not breathing (normally)? Start directly with 30 chest compressions. Waiting costs the victim precious minutes; the book gives the step plan specifically for the untrained bystander

‘For every unconscious victim you put them in the recovery position, even if they are not breathing’ – is that true?

No. The recovery position is for a victim who IS breathing. If they are not breathing (normally), you start chest compressions and breaths, not the recovery position

‘You may only use an AED if you have completed a resuscitation course’ – is that true?

No. You can use an AED as an untrained bystander; the device tells you exactly what to do via spoken instructions

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