First Aid Sudden Illness and Allergies Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person at a picnic is stung by a bee and quickly develops swelling of the face and tongue, and is having difficulty breathing. They have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector. What is the most appropriate action?
- Give them a cold drink to try and reduce the swelling.
- Have them lie down with their legs elevated to treat for shock.
- Wait for paramedics to arrive before taking any action.
- Immediately assist the person with using their epinephrine auto-injector. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Immediately assist the person with using their epinephrine auto-injector.
The signs described (facial swelling, difficulty breathing) indicate anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. The priority is to administer epinephrine immediately using the person's prescribed auto-injector, as this can reverse the effects of the reaction. Calling 911 is also critical, but administering the life-saving medication should not be delayed.
Question 2: Which of the following acronyms is most commonly used by the public to help recognize the major signs and symptoms of a stroke?
- FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) (Correct answer)
- RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- SAMPLE (Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last oral intake, Events)
- AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
Correct answer: FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time)
The FAST acronym is a widely used tool to quickly recognize the major signs of a stroke. It stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services. RICE is for musculoskeletal injuries, SAMPLE is for gathering a person's history, and AED is a medical device.
Question 3: You witness an individual suddenly collapse and begin to have a convulsive seizure, with their body jerking uncontrollably. What is the most appropriate action to take while the seizure is occurring?
- Move nearby furniture and objects away to protect them from injury. (Correct answer)
- Place a wallet or other object in their mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue.
- Hold their arms and legs down firmly to prevent the convulsive movements.
- Immediately begin chest compressions and rescue breaths.
Correct answer: Move nearby furniture and objects away to protect them from injury.
During a convulsive seizure, the primary goal is to protect the person from injury by clearing the area of hard or sharp objects. You should never restrain the person or put anything in their mouth, as this can cause further harm like broken teeth or jaw injuries. Let the seizure run its course and call for emergency medical help if it lasts longer than 5 minutes.
Question 4: Which of the following is an appropriate first aid treatment for a person who is conscious, able to swallow, and showing signs of a low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) emergency, such as shakiness and confusion?
- Give them a large glass of water and have them rest.
- Provide them with a form of sugar, such as juice or non-diet soda. (Correct answer)
- Administer a dose of their prescribed insulin.
- Encourage them to perform light exercise to raise their blood sugar.
Correct answer: Provide them with a form of sugar, such as juice or non-diet soda.
A person with low blood sugar needs to consume sugar to raise their glucose levels quickly. Giving them 15-20 grams of sugar in the form of juice, glucose tablets, or regular soda is the standard treatment. Insulin would lower their blood sugar further, which is dangerous. Water has no sugar, and exercise would use up more sugar. This care is only for a conscious person who can safely swallow.
Question 5: A person suddenly feels dizzy and becomes pale before fainting. After they have fainted but are breathing normally, what is the best position to place them in while they recover, assuming no other injuries?
- Sitting upright in a chair to help them wake up.
- On their side in the recovery position.
- Lying on their back with their legs elevated 8-12 inches. (Correct answer)
- Standing them up and walking them around slowly.
Correct answer: Lying on their back with their legs elevated 8-12 inches.
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain. Lying the person flat on their back and elevating their legs helps restore blood flow to the brain, aiding recovery. The recovery position is used if you must leave the person or if they are vomiting. Sitting them up or walking them around could cause them to faint again.
Question 6: In addition to difficulty breathing and swelling of the face or tongue, which of the following is a common sign of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)?
- A slow, bounding pulse.
- A skin reaction, such as hives or widespread redness. (Correct answer)
- Feeling cold and shivering.
- High blood pressure.
Correct answer: A skin reaction, such as hives or widespread redness.
Anaphylaxis is a multi-system reaction. Along with respiratory distress, common signs include skin reactions like hives, itching, or flushed skin. Other signs can include a rapid, weak pulse and low blood pressure (not high), and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or vomiting.
First Aid Sudden Illness and Allergies Questions and Answers
A person at a picnic is stung by a bee and quickly develops swelling of the face and tongue, and is having difficulty breathing.
They have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector.
What is the most appropriate action?