Emergencies & Records - Outcome 8

Question 1

Signs & Symptoms of Syncope

Answer 1

• Feeling of warmth or flushing (flushed)
• Nausea
• Rapid heart rate
• Perspiration
• Pallor (pale skin colour)
• Lower blood pressure

Question 2

Treatment of Syncope

Answer 2

1. Place the patient in a supine/subsupine position with the head lower than the feet.
2. Complete head tilt/jaw thrust to open airway.
3. Loosen any binding clothes on the patient.
4. Evaluate oxygen level, if below 94% administer oxygen.
5. Have an ammonia inhalant ready to administer by waving it under the patient’s nose several times.
6. Have oxygen ready to administer.
7. Monitor and record the patient’s vital signs.
8. If unresponsive, call for emergency assistance (9-1-1).
9. Documentation.

Question 3

Postural Hypotension Signs & Symptoms

Answer 3

-Low blood pressure
-Altered state of consciousness to possible loss of consiousness

Question 4

Postural Hypotension Treatment

Answer 4

1. Place the patient in a subsupine position with the head lower than the feet.
2. Establish an airway.
3. Slowly move the patient into an upright position.
4. Monitor and record vital signs.
5. If unresponsive, call for emergency assistance (9-1-1).
6. Documentation.

Question 5

Angina Attack Signs & Symptoms

Answer 5

-Tightness or squeezing sensation in the chest
-Pain radiating to the left sholder
-Pain radiating to the left side of the face, the jaw and the teeth

Question 6

Angina Attack Treatment

Answer 6

1. Call for emergency assistance (9-1-1).
2. Position the patient in a semi upright comfortable position.
3. Monitor vital signs
4. Ready nitroglycerin (tablets, spray, or topical cream) from emergency kit.
5. Administer oxygen if needed
6. Documentation

Question 7

Acute Myocardial Infarction (Hearth Attack)

Answer 7

1. Call for emergency assistance (9-1-1).
2. Postion patient in a semi-upright comfortable position.
3. Monitor vital signs.
4. Administer oxygen if needed.
5. Ready aspirin and nitroglycerin from the office’s emergency kit.
6. Initiate basic life support (CPR) if the patient becomes unconscious.
7. Documentation.

Question 8

Asthma Attack Signs & Symptoms

Answer 8

-Coughing
-Wheezing
-Increased Anxiety
-Pallor
-Cyanosis (bluish skin around the nails)
-Increased pulse rate

Question 9

Asthma Attack Treatment

Answer 9

1. Call for assistance.
2. Position the patient as comfortably as possible (upright is usually best).
3. Have patient self-medicate with an inhaler.
4. Administer oxygen as needed.
5. Monitor vital signs.
6. Documentation.

Question 10

Hyperventiliation Signs & Symptoms

Answer 10

-Rapid, shallow breathing
-Light-Headedness
-Tightness in the chest
-Rapid heartbeat
-Lump in the throat
-Panic-Stricken appearance

Question 11

Hyperventilation Treatment

Answer 11

1. Place the patient in an upright comfortable position.
2. Use a quiet tone of voice to calm and reassure the patient.
3. Have the patient breathe into his or her cupped hands.
4. Monitor vital signs.
5. Documentation.

Question 12

Anaphylaxis Signs & Symptoms

Answer 12

• Feeling physically ill
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats)
• Sudden drop in blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness

Question 13

Anaphylaxis Treatment

Answer 13

1. Call for emergency assistance (9-1-1).
2. Place the patient in a supine position.
3. Monitor vital signs.
4. Start basic life support (CPR) if the patient becomes unconscious.
5. Prepare EpiPen for administration.
6. Administer oxygen if needed
7. Documentation.

Question 14

Generalized Seizure Signs & Symptoms

Answer 14

• Unconsciousness
• Increased body temperature
• Rapid heart rate
• Increased blood pressure

Question 15

Generalized Seizure Treatment

Answer 15

1. Call for emergency assistance (9-1-1).
2. If a seizure occurs while the patient is in the dental chair, quickly remove all materials and dental instruments from the mouth and place the patient in a supine position.
3. Protect the patient from self-injury during movements caused by the convulsion.
4. Prepare anticonvulsant (diazepam) from the drug kit if necessary.
5. Initiate basic life support (CPR) if necessary.
6. Monitor vital signs.
7. Documentation.

Question 16

Cerebrovascular Accident Signs & Symptoms

Answer 16

-Face drooping
-Arm weakness
-Speech difficulty

Question 17

Cerebrovascular Accident Treatment

Answer 17

1. Call for emergency assistance (9-1-1).
2. Place patient in a semi-sitting position with head elevated.
3. Monitor vital signs
4. Initiate basic life support (CPR) if the patient becomes unconscious.
5. Documentation.

Question 18

Diabetic - Hyperglycemia Signs & Symptoms

Answer 18

• Excessive urination
• Excessive thirst, dry mouth, and dry skin
• Acetone breath (fruity smell)
• Blurred vision and headache
• Rapid pulse
• Lower blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness

Question 19

Hyperglycemia Treatment

Answer 19

1. If the patient is conscious, ask when he or she last ate, whether the patient has taken insulin, and whether he or she brought insulin along to the dental appointment.
2. Retrieve the patient’s insulin if it is available. If able, the patient should self-administer the insulin.
3. Position patient in comfortable position.
4. Call for emergency assistance (9-1-1) if necessary.
5. Provide basic life support (CPR) if the patient becomes unconscious.
6. Monitor vital signs.
   Documentation.

Question 20

Diabetes - Hypoglycemia Signs & Symptoms

Answer 20

• Mood changes
• Hunger
• Perspiration
• Increased anxiety
• Possible unconsciousness

Question 21

Hypoglycemia Treatment

Answer 21

1. If the patient is conscious, ask when he or she last ate, whether he or she has taken insulin, and whether he or she brought insulin along to the dental appointment.
2. Give oral glucose from emergency kit or a concentrated form of carbohydrate, such as a concentrated orange juice
3. Call for emergency assistance (9-1-1) if necessary.
4. Provide basic life support (CPR) if the patient becomes unconscious.
5. Monitor vital signs.
6. Documentation.

Question 22

Management of Medical Emergencies

Answer 22

In the event that a patient experiences a medical emergency, the student must remain with the patient and summon assistance immediately from the nearest faculty member. The faculty member will determine if the situation is life threatening or non-life threatening and will initiate appropriate treatment intervention.

The faculty member will determine which other individuals (students, staff, faculty) will assist in stabilizing the patient and assist in the management of the emergency situation.

At all times, the responsible faculty must remain with the patient. The clinic emergency kit, AED and oxygen should be brought to the area and prepared for use.

Answer 23

In compliance with the School of Health and Public Safety and SAIT’s policy regarding Occupational Health and Safety, All SAIT students have a duty to report work related incidents and near misses while at SAIT, or off campus while engaged in SAIT approved activity.

An incident is an event which results in harm to people, damage to property, equipment or environment, loss of process, or negative impact on the public or stakeholder. Whereas, a near miss is an event that, under slightly different circumstances, could have resulted in harm to people, damage to property or environment, or loss to process.