New CPR and AED questions are now live in the DVSA theory test — here’s everything learner drivers in the Chilterns need to know
Somewhere on a road near you, a driver will collapse at the wheel. A cyclist will be struck at a junction. A pedestrian will suffer a cardiac arrest on the pavement. And statistically, the person closest to them — the first person on the scene — will be you, or someone very much like you.
That thought used to sit quietly in the background of driver training. Not any more.
As of this week, the DVSA has introduced new theory test questions covering CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators — AEDs. If you’re a learner driver preparing for your theory test in 2026, first aid is no longer just good citizenship. It’s now part of the official knowledge you’ll be examined on.
This article is your complete guide. We’ll cover what the new questions are testing, walk you through the DRSABCD protocol step by step, explain exactly how to use a public AED, and — because this is a genuinely local resource — we’ll tell you where to find defibrillators across the Chilterns.
Why 1 in 10?
The statistic in our headline isn’t dramatic licence. According to the British Heart Foundation, fewer than one in ten people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK survive. The reason is devastatingly simple: the gap between collapse and the arrival of a paramedic is often eight to twelve minutes. Irreversible brain damage begins within four to six minutes of the heart stopping.
The single most important factor in closing that gap is bystander CPR. When someone nearby starts chest compressions immediately, survival rates can more than double. Add a defibrillator used within three to five minutes, and survival rates can rise to over 70%.
Drivers are uniquely placed to help. We’re mobile, we cover ground, and we’re already trained to be alert on the road. The DVSA’s decision to embed first aid knowledge in the theory test reflects something that road safety campaigners have argued for years: that a driving licence should make you more capable in a crisis, not just better at negotiating roundabouts.
What the New Theory Test Questions Cover
The updated DVSA question bank tests learner drivers on two core areas:
1. Recognising and responding to a cardiac arrest — including when to call 999, how to position an unconscious casualty, and when to begin CPR.
2. Using an automated external defibrillator (AED) — including whether AEDs are safe to use without training, what an AED does to the heart, and the correct sequence of actions when one is available.
You won’t be asked to perform CPR in the theory test, of course. But you will be expected to understand the correct order of actions, the appropriate compression rate and depth, and the role an AED plays alongside CPR — not instead of it.
The good news is that this knowledge is genuinely learnable, and once you know it, you won’t forget it. Let’s go through it now.
The DRSABCD Protocol: Your Step-by-Step Cheat Sheet
DRSABCD is the framework used by first responders and increasingly taught to the general public. Each letter represents a distinct action, performed in sequence. In a real emergency, working through this mentally keeps you calm and keeps the casualty alive.
D — Danger
Before you do anything else, check for danger — to yourself, to bystanders, and to the casualty.
If you’ve come across a road traffic collision, this step matters enormously. Is traffic still moving? Are there fuel spills, live wires, or unstable vehicles? A second casualty helps no one. Make the scene as safe as you reasonably can, use your hazard lights, and if you have a warning triangle, deploy it at a safe distance behind the incident.
You cannot help anyone if you become a casualty yourself.
R — Response
Kneel beside the casualty and check whether they’re conscious. Gently tap their shoulders and speak clearly: “Can you hear me? Open your eyes.”
If they respond — even a groan or movement — they are conscious. Place them in the recovery position if they’re breathing, and call 999.
If there is no response whatsoever, move immediately to the next step.
S — Send for Help
Call 999 now, or instruct a specific bystander to do so. Don’t shout “someone call 999” into a crowd — bystander diffusion means everyone assumes someone else is doing it. Point at someone and say: “You — call 999 and come back to tell me it’s done.”
Tell the operator:
- Your exact location (use a what3words address if you have the app)
- What has happened
- The number of casualties
- The condition of the casualty
The operator will stay on the line and guide you. Do not hang up.
A — Airway
Tilt the casualty’s head back gently by placing one hand on their forehead and two fingers under their chin. Lift the chin. This opens the airway by moving the tongue away from the back of the throat.
Look for obvious obstructions. If you can see something clearly blocking the airway, carefully remove it. Do not perform a blind finger sweep — you may push an obstruction deeper.
B — Breathing
With the airway open, spend no more than ten seconds checking for normal breathing. Look for chest rise. Listen for breath sounds. Feel for breath on your cheek.
Occasional gasps — known as agonal breathing — are not normal breathing. If in doubt, treat the casualty as though they are not breathing.
If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and monitor them until help arrives.
If they are not breathing normally, start CPR immediately.
C — CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest — on the lower half of the breastbone (sternum). Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers, keeping them raised away from the ribs.
With straight arms, compress the chest firmly downward by 5 to 6 centimetres. Then allow the chest to fully recoil before compressing again. Your compression rate should be 100 to 120 compressions per minute — roughly the beat of the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive, which is not a coincidence.
If you’re trained in rescue breaths, give 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths (30:2 ratio). If you’re not trained or not confident, continue with hands-only CPR — uninterrupted chest compressions. This is now the recommended approach for untrained bystanders and is almost as effective.
Do not stop unless:
- A defibrillator is ready to be used
- A paramedic or other trained responder takes over
- The casualty begins to show signs of life
- You are physically unable to continue
D — Defibrillation
An AED will not restart a stopped heart. What it does is correct an abnormal heart rhythm — specifically ventricular fibrillation, where the heart quivers chaotically instead of pumping. It delivers a controlled electrical shock to reset that rhythm, giving CPR a fighting chance of restoring circulation.
AEDs are designed for use by anyone. They talk you through every step with clear audio instructions. You cannot accidentally shock someone who doesn’t need it — the device analyses the heart rhythm itself and will only advise a shock when appropriate.
Here’s how to use one:
- Switch it on — most have a large green button or open automatically when the lid is lifted.
- Attach the pads — the AED will show diagrams. One pad goes below the right collarbone. The other goes to the lower left side of the chest, below and to the left of the heart. Remove or cut through clothing. Dry the chest if it’s wet.
- Let it analyse — ensure no one is touching the casualty while the AED analyses the rhythm. Say clearly: “Stand clear.”
- Follow its instruction — if a shock is advised, make sure no one is in contact with the casualty, then press the shock button when prompted.
- Resume CPR immediately — after any shock, go straight back to chest compressions. Do not wait to check for a pulse. The AED will prompt you when to stop for another analysis, typically after two minutes.
The AED will guide you throughout. Trust it.
Where to Find AEDs in the Chilterns
Public AEDs are registered on the national Circuit database, maintained by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with NHS England. Many are accessible 24 hours a day.
Here are some known defibrillator locations across our local area. We strongly recommend downloading the GoodSAM Responder app or visiting www.defibfinder.uk to find your nearest device in real time — these databases are far more current than any printed list.
Princes Risborough
- Princes Risborough Town Council offices, Bell Street
- The health centre on Longwick Road
- Princes Risborough railway station
Aylesbury Vale area
- Aylesbury town centre (multiple locations including the market square and Waterside Theatre)
- Wendover Memorial Hall
- Stoke Mandeville Village Hall
- Haddenham village centre
Wycombe district
- High Wycombe town centre (including the Eden Shopping Centre and the Guildhall)
- Marlow town centre
- Princes Risborough and Monks Risborough parish noticeboards list several local cabinets
Rural Chilterns
- Many village halls, churches, and parish council buildings across the escarpment hold registered AEDs, including in Chinnor, Lacey Green, Bledlow, and Great Missenden.
- The Chiltern Society has been active in supporting community defibrillator schemes across the AONB.
If you’re ever unsure of your nearest AED, the 999 operator will be able to direct you or send someone to retrieve it while you continue CPR. This is not a reason to pause compressions.
A Note for Theory Test Candidates
For those revising specifically for the new theory test questions, here are the key facts to be confident in:
- The correct compression rate is 100 to 120 per minute
- The correct compression depth is 5 to 6 centimetres
- For untrained bystanders, hands-only CPR is recommended
- AEDs are safe for use by anyone — no training is required
- An AED analyses the heart rhythm automatically and will only advise a shock if needed
- CPR should resume immediately after a shock — do not pause to check for a pulse
- Agonal (gasping) breathing should be treated as no breathing
- The DRSABCD sequence should be followed in order
These facts are testable. But more than that, they’re actionable. Knowing them could one day make the difference between a statistic and a survivor.
The Bigger Picture
The DVSA’s decision to include CPR and AED questions in the 2026 theory test is, in our view, one of the most meaningful changes to the learner driver curriculum in years. Not because it makes the test harder — it doesn’t, significantly — but because it changes what a driving licence represents.
A licence has always been a declaration that you can operate a vehicle safely. With these changes, it’s beginning to mean something more: that you can also respond, calmly and effectively, when the road presents you with something no amount of mirror-signal-manoeuvre can prepare you for.
Learn the DRSABCD protocol. Bookmark your nearest defibrillator. And if you ever find yourself kneeling on a pavement with your hands on someone’s chest, know that you are already giving them the best possible chance.
That is what it means to be a truly safe driver.
For more background on first-aid knowledge and the theory test, read my guide to CPR and defibrillator questions.
