15. Medical Emergencies

Question 1

What does ABCDE stand for?

Answer 1

Airway, breathing, circulation, disabiltiy, exposure

Question 2

A checks:

Answer 2

Check airway

Question 3

B checks:

Answer 3

Respiratory rate
Spo2 levels
Chest expansion

Question 4

C checks:

Answer 4

Pulse
Blood pressure
Capillary refill time

Question 5

D checks:

Answer 5

ACVPU (alert, confused, verbal, pain, unconscious)

Question 6

E checks:

Answer 6

Check for any body signs

Question 7

Normal respiratory rate:

Answer 7

12-20 breaths per min

Question 8

Normal spo2:

Answer 8

95-100%

Question 9

Normal pulse rate:

Answer 9

60-100 bpm

Question 10

Normal blood pressure:

Answer 10

120/80 mmHg

Question 11

Normal capillary refil time:

Answer 11

3 seconds

Question 12

What does SBAR stand for?

Answer 12

Situation, background, assessment, recommendations

Question 13

How would you manage a conscious pt who has collapsed?

Answer 13

Oral glucose
Supine position

Question 14

How would you manage an unconscious collapsed pt?

Answer 14

Check airway and assess if breathing
Oxygen
Recovery position

Question 15

What are the two types of asthma attack?

Answer 15

Acute
Life threatening

Question 16

How would you manage an asthma attack?

Answer 16

Salbutamol inhaler - every 30-60 seconds for adults, every 15 seconds for kids
999
Oxygen

Question 17

What are the 2 types of epileptic seizures?

Answer 17

Absence sezures
Tonic/clonic seizures

Question 18

How would you manage an epileptic seizure?

Answer 18

Remove any sources of harm
Time seizure
If over 5 mins - 10mg of buccal midazolam
999
Oxygen

Question 19

How would you manage hypoglycaemia?

Answer 19

Oxygen
Oral glucose, if conscious
1mg of IM glucagon, if unconscious
999

Question 20

How would you manage anaphylaxis?

Answer 20

Mild reactions - 10mg of antihistamine
Severe reactions - 999, remove source, oxygen, 0.5mg IM adrenaline, repeat if necessary

Question 21

List the 4 signs of a stroke:

Answer 21

FAST
facial drooping
arm weakness
speech slurred

Question 22

How would you manage a stroke?

Answer 22

999
Oxygen

Question 23

What is angina?

Answer 23

Chest pain caused by narrowing of arteries

Question 24

What is an MI?

Answer 24

Myocardial infarction
A complete blockage of arteries to the heart

Question 25

How would you manage angina/MI?

Answer 25

Oxygen
GTN spray - sublingually and repeat after 3 mins
999
Aspirin - 300mg chewed and swallowed

Question 26

What are the 3 signs of a cardiac arrest?

Answer 26

Complete loss of consciousness
Unresponsive
Absence of normal breathing

Question 27

How would you manage a cardiac arrest?

Answer 27

999
CPR: 30 compressions, 2 rescue breaths
Defibrillator

Question 28

When would you use a defibrillator?

Answer 28

If a person is unconscious and not breathing

Question 29

List the 7 steps to using a defibrillator:

Answer 29

1. Turn it on
2. Cut persons clothing to expose chest and wipe chest area
3. Apple chest pads
4. Stop CPR and ensure no one touching pt
5. Allow defib to analyse heart rhythm
6. Press shock - if required
7. Continue CPR

Question 30

List 3 useful sources of information in relation to medical emergencies in the dental practice:

Answer 30

GDC
BDA
SDCEP