the art of questioning in first aid

Questioning

When we assess a casualty, we can evaluate vital signs whether they are conscious or unconscious. But if the person is awake and responsive, we have something incredibly valuable at our disposal: information—straight from the source.

At RealMed First Aid, we teach a simple, effective three-step process when dealing with any conscious casualty:

✅ Notice the problem
✅ Sit them down
✅ Ask them questions

🧐 Step 1: Notice the Problem

In first aid, we may be treating injuries or illnesses—but above all, we're dealing with people. Don’t just react to the obvious; take a moment to notice what’s really going on from their perspective.

🔹 A casualty covered in blood may appear critically injured, but it could be from a superficial head wound or even someone else’s blood.

🔹 Someone hunched over clutching their chest might not be having a heart attack—they could be choking, suffering from asthma, experiencing an allergic reaction, or have a chest injury.

Jumping to conclusions can increase the casualty’s anxiety and hinder cooperation. Observe carefully before acting.

🪑 Step 2: Sit Them Down

If the casualty is fully alert and breathing normally, a chair is fine.
If they are not fully alert, having trouble breathing, or experiencing chest pain, it’s safer to position them on the floorin case of collapse.

🗣️ Step 3: Ask Questions

All questions are valuable—but some are better.

Every answer gives you insight into:

• Their level of consciousness – Are they lucid or confused?

• The clarity of their airway – Are they speaking clearly or struggling?

• Their breathing status – Can they speak in full sentences or just short gasps?

🧩 The Power of SAMPLE

A helpful acronym we use in first aid is SAMPLE. It guides you through a structured, conversational way to get key info from the casualty:

S – Symptoms
A – Allergies
M – Medications
P – Past Medical History
L – Last Oral Intake
E – Events leading up

Let’s break that down:

S – Symptoms

Symptoms are what the casualty feels (pain, nausea, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, etc.)—not what we can see.

💬 “Aside from the injury, how are you feeling?”
💬 “Do you feel dizzy, tired, or sick?”

Even minor symptoms like tiredness can indicate something deeper—like low blood sugar or early signs of shock.

A – Allergies

Allergic reactions can range from minor to life-threatening.

💬 “Do you have any allergies?”
💬 “Have you been exposed to anything you're allergic to?”

If someone mentions a medication like erythromycin, don’t stress if you don’t know what it is. Note it down and pass it on. You don’t need to understand it to recognise it might be important

M – Medications

Knowing what medications they take can help explain symptoms—or guide further treatment.

💬 “Do you take any medications regularly?”
💬 “Do you need to take anything right now?”
💬 “Do you have it with you?”

Even common meds like insulin, GTN, or an EpiPen can tell you a lot. For unfamiliar medications, just record the name for handover.

P – Past Medical History

You’re not collecting their full health record—just relevant details.

💬 “Have you had anything like this before?”
💬 “Any medical conditions or surgeries we should know about?”

Sometimes, an illness (like diabetes or epilepsy) might explain the incident—or help prevent it from happening again.

L – Last Oral Intake

When did they last eat or drink? This can affect energy levels, blood sugar, hydration, and more.

💬 “When did you last eat or drink?”
💬 “What was it?”
💬 “Any alcohol or energy drinks?”

Low blood sugar isn’t just for diabetics. Anyone can become light-headed, irritable, or weak from not eating—especially if they’ve been active or stressed.

✅ If sugar helps and they improve quickly, you’ve likely found the issue. Follow it up with something more substantial (like a snack with protein and carbs) to prevent a relapse.

E – Events Leading Up

Understanding what happened before the incident gives context to the symptoms or injuries.

💬 “What were you doing before this happened?”
💬 “Did anything unusual happen today?”

If they can’t tell you, try asking bystanders—but remember, people often exaggerate or misremember, so always look at the scene and the casualty for clues.

💬 How to Ask These Questions

SAMPLE is a guide—not a script. Use your own words and ask naturally, even while treating the casualty or preparing your gear.

A typical flow might look like:

🗣️ “What happened here?” (Events)
🗣️ “And how are you feeling?” (Symptoms)
🗣️ “Has this happened before?” (Past History)
🗣️ “Are you on any medication?” (Medications)
🗣️ “When did you last eat or drink?” (Last Oral Intake)
🗣️ “Do you have any allergies?” (Allergies)

Avoid leading questions like “It’s sore, right?” or “You’ve been eating properly, haven’t you?”

Get these answers early—if the casualty deteriorates, you may lose the opportunity to ask. Even seemingly unimportant answers still rule things out and provide helpful handover info.

🎯 Good Questioning Is Good Care

Questioning isn’t just about collecting facts—it builds rapport, reduces fear, and provides one of the only forms of non-pharmaceutical pain relief we have in first aid.

The better your questions, the clearer your understanding—and the more effective your response.

💡 RealMed First Aid: Training That Sticks

We don’t just teach first aid—we build confidence, critical thinking, and real-world readiness. Join one of our hands-on, scenario-based courses and learn how to ask the right questions when it matters most.

📍 We Come to You
RealMed First Aid delivers interactive, group first aid courses across New Zealand. Our hands-on, scenario-based training builds real confidence for real emergencies.

RealMed First Aid is not NZQA-accredited. Our training aligns with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and follows NZ Resuscitation Council guidelines.