Emergency procedures: why it matters
When something goes wrong, fire, a serious injury, a collapse, the first few minutes decide the outcome. Knowing the site emergency plan before you need it is what keeps people alive.
Every site has arrangements for raising the alarm, evacuating to an assembly point and getting first aid. The test checks you know your part: react quickly, follow the plan and do not put yourself at risk.
Emergency procedures revision notes
The points below are the core of what the CITB test wants you to know on this topic. Learn these and most questions answer themselves.
Know the plan in advance
Learn the alarm, escape routes, assembly point and who the first aiders are during your induction, before any emergency. You cannot read the plan while it is happening.
Raise the alarm first
At the first sign of a serious emergency, raise the alarm so everyone can respond. Warning others comes before tackling the problem yourself.
Evacuate and account
Leave by the nearest safe route, do not stop for belongings, do not use lifts, and go straight to the assembly point so the roll call can account for everyone.
Keep routes clear
Escape routes, fire exits and assembly points must be kept clear at all times. A blocked exit can cost lives in seconds.
Basic first aid
Make the scene safe first, then check the casualty. Do not move them unless they are in danger, call 999, and give clear directions to the site so help can find you.
Do not be a hero
Only act within your training and never put yourself in danger to help. A second casualty makes everything worse and ties up the rescue.
Hear a question in Polish
The questions stay in English, exactly like the real CITB test, but you can listen to each one read aloud in native Polish. Press Play in Polish below to try it.
What is the first thing you should do if you find someone unconscious on site?
Check for breathing.
Call for an ambulance.
Move them to a safe place.
Try to wake them up by shaking them.
Every wrong answer can also come with an AI explanation that points to the specific rule behind the correct answer, so you learn from each mistake instead of just memorising. Native Polish audio and AI explanations are two things you will not find on other CSCS practice sites.
Emergency procedures practice questions
Five questions in the real CITB format: one stem, four lettered options, one correct answer. Select Reveal explanation to check your answer and read why it is right.
Q1. Which of the following is a key step in the DRSABC emergency procedure?
- A.Remove any nearby debris.
- B.Call for backup.
- C.Perform abdominal thrusts.
- D.Assess for danger.
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: D. Assess for danger.
Assessing for danger ensures the safety of both the rescuer and the casualty.
Q2. How should you treat a minor cut or abrasion on site?
- A.Apply a tourniquet.
- B.Cover it with a clean dressing.
- C.Pour alcohol directly on the wound.
- D.Leave it exposed to air.
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: B. Cover it with a clean dressing.
Clean the wound and cover it with a sterile dressing to prevent infection.
Q3. What should you do if someone is experiencing a severe allergic reaction?
- A.Give them water to drink.
- B.Help them use their epinephrine auto-injector.
- C.Encourage them to lie down.
- D.Offer them food.
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: B. Help them use their epinephrine auto-injector.
Using an epinephrine auto-injector can quickly counteract the allergic reaction.
Q4. When performing CPR, what is the recommended compression to breath ratio?
- A.15:1
- B.15:2
- C.30:2
- D.30:1
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: C. 30:2
The recommended ratio for CPR is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
Q5. Which of these pieces of information is crucial when calling emergency services?
- A.The last meal the casualty had.
- B.The site manager's name.
- C.The exact location of the incident.
- D.The weather conditions.
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: C. The exact location of the incident.
Providing the exact location helps emergency services reach the casualty as quickly as possible.
Common mistakes
These misconceptions catch people out in the test and on site. Unlearn them before you sit the real exam.
Mistake 1: “Move an injured person straight away.”
Correct: Unless they are in immediate danger, do not move a casualty, you could worsen a spinal or other injury. Make the scene safe, call for help and keep them still and reassured.
Mistake 2: “Finish the task before reacting to the alarm.”
Correct: When the alarm sounds, stop and evacuate immediately. Treating it as a drill or finishing the job first can be fatal if the emergency is real.
Mistake 3: “Anyone can step in and give first aid medication.”
Correct: First aid is about keeping a casualty alive and stable until professionals arrive, not giving drugs. Act within your training, call 999 and let trained first aiders and paramedics take over.
Related CSCS topics
Build a complete picture by practising these related syllabus areas too: