ACA ACA First Aid & Emergency Response 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the ACA minimum first aid certification requirement for instructors leading trips on Class III+ water?
- Standard First Aid and CPR only
- Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or higher with CPR (Correct answer)
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification
- Basic CPR only
Correct answer: Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or higher with CPR
ACA recommends a minimum of Wilderness First Aid (WFA) plus CPR for instructors on Class III+ water due to the remote nature of river environments.
Question 2: What are the early signs of hypothermia that an ACA instructor should recognize in a student?
- Hot skin, rapid pulse, and confusion
- Shivering, slurred speech, poor coordination, and pale skin (Correct answer)
- High energy, sweating, and flushed cheeks
- Nausea, vomiting, and muscle cramps only
Correct answer: Shivering, slurred speech, poor coordination, and pale skin
Early hypothermia symptoms include shivering, slurred speech, poor motor coordination, and pale or bluish skin as the core body temperature begins to drop.
Question 3: What is the correct field treatment for mild-to-moderate hypothermia during an ACA paddling course?
- Submerge the patient in warm water immediately
- Remove wet clothing, insulate from ground and wind, provide warm fluids if alert, and shelter from weather (Correct answer)
- Vigorous exercise to generate body heat
- Apply direct heat sources like hand warmers directly to the skin
Correct answer: Remove wet clothing, insulate from ground and wind, provide warm fluids if alert, and shelter from weather
Treatment includes removing wet clothing, insulating the patient from cold surfaces and wind, providing warm sweet fluids if the patient is alert, and protecting from further heat loss.
Question 4: What is the ACA-recommended response to a paddler who has been submerged and is unresponsive after rescue?
- Place in recovery position only and monitor
- Begin CPR immediately and activate emergency medical services (EMS) (Correct answer)
- Perform abdominal thrusts to expel water before CPR
- Warm the patient before beginning resuscitation
Correct answer: Begin CPR immediately and activate emergency medical services (EMS)
An unresponsive, non-breathing drowning victim requires immediate CPR and activation of EMS — there is no role for abdominal thrusts in modern drowning resuscitation.
Question 5: What does SAMPLE stand for in ACA field patient assessment?
- Situation, Activity, Movement, Position, Location, Evaluation
- Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent history, Last intake, Events leading up (Correct answer)
- Severity, Assessment, Medical history, Pain level, Location, Evaluation
- Shock status, Airway, Movement, Pulse, Level of consciousness, Examination
Correct answer: Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent history, Last intake, Events leading up
SAMPLE is a patient history framework: Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent medical history, Last oral intake, and Events preceding the incident.
Question 6: What is 'cold shock response' and why is it critical knowledge for ACA instructors?
- Gradual performance decline after extended paddling in cold water
- The sudden, involuntary gasp reflex and hyperventilation triggered by sudden cold water immersion, which can cause drowning (Correct answer)
- Freezing of paddle equipment in sub-zero temperatures
- A psychological fear response that prevents entry into cold water
Correct answer: The sudden, involuntary gasp reflex and hyperventilation triggered by sudden cold water immersion, which can cause drowning
Cold shock is an involuntary gasp reflex and hyperventilation that occurs within the first 30–90 seconds of cold water immersion, which can cause immediate aspiration of water and rapid drowning.
ACA ACA First Aid & Emergency Response 1
What is the ACA minimum first aid certification requirement for instructors leading trips on Class III+ water?