Emergency Medical Response Quiz

Recognizing an Emergency

• Be aware of unusual signs, sounds, odors, sights, and behaviors
• Unusual sounds: screams, crashes, cries for help
• Strange odors: smoke, gas, or chemicals
• Unusual sights: blood, broken objects, unconscious people
• Erratic behaviors: confusion, anger, disorientation

Recognizing an Emergency (CHECK, CALL, CARE)

• Scene safety: check the situation before approaching the victim
• If unsafe, call for help
• Assess victim: approach and check consciousness by gently tapping and asking if ok
• Call EMS (Emergency Medical Services) as soon as possible
• Tell them: actions taken, location, phone number, assistance needed, number of people at the scene, victim condition

Obtaining Permission to Provide Care

• If the victim is conscious, ask for permission before giving care
• If the victim is unconscious or unresponsive, assume consent is given
• Ask around what happened
• Identify injuries reasonably

Basics of CPR

• CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• Check responsiveness and breathing simultaneously
• If unresponsive and not breathing, call for help
• Check pulse: use carotid pulse for adults and children
• Find carotid artery by putting index and third finger on the neck (next to windpipe)
• When a pulse is felt, count the number of beats in 15 seconds
• Multiply this number by four to get the heart rate per minute
• For infants, check brachial pulse; pulse is on inner arm between shoulder and elbow

Chest Compressions

• Adults: press sternum down two inches at a rate of 100-200 compressions per minute
• Children: use adult method on children showing puberty signs
• Infants: use two fingers on sternum, compress 1 1/2 inches deep at 100-120 compressions per minute

Compression and Ventilation Cycle

• Perform 30 compressions, then 2 breaths (1-second) using the head-tilt/chin-lift method
• 5 cycles of the method in two minutes

Chest Compressions for Different Age Groups

• 8 and 8+ years old: adult defibrillator
• Follow AED prompts
• Undress person for bare chest
• Put pads on bare chest (upper right, lower left)
• Don't touch person
• AED checks heart rhythm
• If told by AED, press electric shock button

Partially Obstructed Airway Choking Victim (Conscious)

• If the victim can cough/talk, tell them to continue coughing to clear the obstruction

Completely Obstructed Airway Choking Victim (Conscious)

• If the victim can't talk, breathe, or cough, perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)

Unconscious Victim with Obstructed Airway

• Give CPR
• Check inside mouth for objects of obstruction
• Take it out using a hook/C-shaped motion

Infants with Obstructed Airway

• Do five back blows, then five chest thrusts

Types of Open Wounds

• Abrasion: scrape on top of skin
• Incision: clean cut caused by sharp object (e.g., knife)
• Laceration: jagged cut caused by skin tearing due to accidents
• Puncture: caused by sharp objects like nails
• Avulsion: tissue torn from body

Types of Bleeding

• Arterial (artery): bright red, spurting, life-threatening
• Venous (vein): dark red, steady flow, quite easy to control
• Capillary: slow, oozing, easiest to control

Methods to Control Bleeding

• Direct pressure with a sterile dressing (cloth)
• Elevation: raise the injured area above the heart
• Pressure bandage for constant pressure

Care for Minor Wounds

• To prevent infection: wash hands, wear gloves, clean the wound, cover with a sterile dressing
• Infection signs: swelling, redness, heat, pain, fever, pus, red streaks

Care for Closed Wounds

• Bruises: put cold compress to reduce swelling
• Serious closed wounds: look for internal bleeding
• Signs of pain, tenderness, cold/clammy (sweaty) skin

Open Wounds

• Severe wounds: need immediate attention to prevent blood loss and infection
• Deep cuts, lacerations, and deep punctures
• Signs: lot of bleeding, visible tissue damage, potential exposure to internal organs
• Treatment: put direct pressure to control bleeding, elevate wound above heart level, use sterile dressing
• If bleeding continues, use a tourniquet

Minor Wounds

• Abrasions, small cuts, scrapes
• Treatment: clean wound with soap and water, prevent infection, use antiseptic, cover with sterile bandage
• Heals within a few days

Causes of Shock

• Excessive pain
• Infection
• Heart attack
• Dehydration
• Psychological trauma
• Severe bleeding, allergic reactions, metabolic issues, fluid loss, neurogenic shock

Types of Shock

• Anaphylactic: allergic reaction to a substance
• Cardiogenic: damage to the heart muscle
• Hemorrhagic: severe bleeding or loss of blood, plasma
• Metabolic: loss of body fluid
• Neurogenic: injury to brain/spinal cord

Signs and Symptoms of Shock

• Signs: pale, cyanotic skin, cold to touch, sweating
• Cyanotic skin: blood pressure may be low or undetectable
• Symptoms: pain, anxiety, restlessness
• Possible symptoms: excessive thirst, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision

Treatment for Shock

• Goal: eliminate cause of shock, improve circulation
• Give oxygen if available
• Position victim flat on back to support circulation to brain and heart (or side for vomiting)
• Cover victim in blankets
• Don't give food/drink
• Moisten lips with a wet cloth

Poisoning Introduction

• Can be exposed due to ingestion, inhalation, injection, or skin contact
• Immediate action needed (medical help especially)
• Poison Control Centers (PPC) can provide guidance

General First Aid Steps for Poisoning

• Check consciousness and breathing
• If unconscious/not breathing, do artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth)
• If ingested, save container/label and induce vomiting

Types of Poisoning and First Aid Steps

• Ingestion: call PPC/EMS, encourage vomiting
• Inhalation: ensure personal safety, remove victim, and ventilate
• Contact: rinse skin with water (15-20 minutes), remove contaminated clothing
• Injection: remove stingers (if insect bites), wash area

Types of Burns

• Superficial (first-degree): epidermis, red skin, normal swelling (5-6 days to heal)
• Partial-thickness (second-degree): epidermis and dermis, blisters, painful
• Full-thickness (third-degree): all skin layers, white/black, painless (3-4 weeks to heal)

General First Aid for Burns

• Remove source of heat
• Cool area with running water (10-20 minutes) to reduce pain and swelling
• Cover burn with sterile, non-stick dressing to protect from infection
• Don't apply ice to a burn

Specific First Aid Based on Burn Severity

• Superficial and mild partial-thickness burns: cool area, pat dry, cover with sterile dressing
• Elevate area to reduce swelling
• Severe partial-thickness and full-thickness burns: get medical help, cover burns with thick sterile dressing, avoid removing clothing stuck to burn

Chemical Burns

• Skin contact: wash area with water for 15-30 minutes, remove contaminated clothing
• Eye contact: flush eyes with water for 15-30 minutes (TILT head to prevent contamination to other eye)

Types of Heat-Related Emergencies

• Heat Cramps: muscle pain/spasm, treat by applying firm pressure and giving electrolyte drinks
• Heat Exhaustion: pale, clammy skin, fatigue, nausea, need hydration, coolness, remove excessive clothing, put cool cloth, elevate feet
• Heat Stroke: high body temperature, dry skin, need coolness, put in cool water/sponge with cold water/ice packs

Hypothermia and Frostbite

• Hypothermia: body temp below 95°F, shivering, confusion, weakness, warm victim slowly, remove wet clothing
• Frostbite: tissue fluids freeze, redness, tingling, unconsciousness, treat by putting affected areas in warm water (100°F-104°F), avoid warming up too fast

Types of Bone and Joint Injuries

• Fractures: break in bone, deformity, pain, treat by using splints or slings
• Dislocations: bone displaced from joint, swelling, limited movement, immobilize and get medical assistance
• Sprains: ligament injury, RICE method
• Strains: muscle/tendon injury, RICE method
• Eye Injuries: foreign objects, flush eyes with water, cover with sterile dressing

Eye Injuries

• Foreign objects: redness and pain, flush eyes with water; don't rub eye
• Embedded objects: cover with sterile dressing and get medical help
• Blows to eye: treatment, put sterile dressing, and keep victim flat, get medical help

Ear Injuries

• Ruptured eardrum: place gauze loosely in outer ear, avoid liquids, get medical help
• Fluid drainage: position victim on injured side and drain, elevate head to reduce pressure

Head and Skull Injuries

• Brain injury symptoms: clear fluid from nose/ears & unequal pupils, position victim flat, and treat for shock

Chest and Abdominal Injuries

• Sucking chest wound: cover with nonporous material, and tape on three sides; position victim on injured side
• Abdominal injuries: cover organs coming out with moist sterile dressing

Heart Attack and Stroke

• Heart attack: chest pain, shortness of breath, keep calm, get medical help
• Stroke: use F.A.S.T. assessment, get medical attention

Other Sudden Illnesses

• Fainting: lay victim flat, elevate legs, get medical help
• Convulsions: remove dangerous objects, place pillow under head, if seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, get medical help

Types of Dressings and Their Uses

• Dressings: sterile coverings that control bleeding and prevent infection
• Materials: gauze pads/thick compresses. Emergency substitutes: clean handkerchiefs and pillowcases

Bandaging Techniques

• Roller gauze bandages: versatile for securing dressings on different body parts; width differs
• Elastic bandages: give support and help circulation
• Don't overstretch because it can cut circulation

Checking Circulation

• Signs of poor circulation: swelling, cyanotic skin
• Do nail bed test to assess blood flow. If poor circulation is found, loosen bandages.

Discussions Questions

• Essential steps for recognizing an emergency and their importance
• Differences in CPR approaches for adults, children, and infants; implications of these differences
• Various types of shock and underlying causes; importance of recognizing differences in first aid response
• Key first aid steps for managing bleeding and wounds, variations based on severity.
• Treatment protocols for heat-related emergencies (differentiating heat exhaustion & heat stroke)
• Primary considerations in providing first aid for poisoning based on routes of exposure

Test your knowledge on emergency medical conditions and responses with this quiz. Covering topics from blood circulation to handling emergencies like fainting and convulsions, it aims to enhance your awareness of critical first-aid measures. Perfect for those interested in medical or emergency care training.