First Responder Flashcards

Except for one, every option below is accurate for an agonal gasp:

Answer: The patient's head moves as a result of their constant force.

Agonal gasps are not characterized by constant force or head movement. They are typically isolated, infrequent, and ineffective gasps that may sound like snorting or gurgling, and they usually proceed slowly and weakly. The patient's head does not move with constant force during an agonal gasp, as these are reflexive, not purposeful, breaths.

When a victim is being carried on a stretcher,

Answer: The AED can remain connected and powered on.

When a victim is being carried on a stretcher, the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) should remain connected and powered on. This ensures continuous monitoring of the patient's heart rhythm during transport. Keeping the AED ready minimizes interruptions in care and allows for immediate defibrillation if a shockable rhythm is detected.

When a patient lets out an agonizing gasp, you are checking to determine if they are responsive. This is:

Answer: not breathing normally.

An agonal gasp is a critical sign that a patient is not breathing normally and is likely in cardiac arrest. It is an ineffective, reflexive gasp that should not be mistaken for adequate breathing. Recognizing agonal gasps is crucial because it signals the immediate need to initiate CPR.

Which of the following describes an early hypoxic sign?

Answer: disorientation.

Disorientation is an early and significant sign of hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen in the body's tissues. As oxygen levels decrease, the brain's function is impaired, leading to confusion and an altered mental state. Recognizing disorientation early is crucial for prompt intervention to restore oxygenation.

You are in charge of chest compressions while your colleague is giving a patient mouth-to-mouth ventilations. In order to reduce the number of chest compressions that are interrupted, your spouse is breathing strongly and quickly. Which of the following descriptions of this situation is accurate?

Answer: Breathing quickly and forcefully is incorrect because it pushes air into the stomach rather than the lungs.

Breathing quickly and forcefully during ventilations is incorrect because it is more likely to push air into the patient's stomach (gastric inflation) rather than their lungs. Gastric inflation can lead to complications such as vomiting and reduced effectiveness of chest compressions. Ventilations should be delivered slowly and gently, just enough to make the chest visibly rise.

When a patient stops breathing when you are by yourself and you have already triggered the emergency response system, you ought to:

Answer: Return to the victim after getting an AED.

When a patient stops breathing and you are by yourself, after activating the emergency response system, your next action should be to return to the victim after getting an AED. Early defibrillation significantly increases the chances of survival for cardiac arrest patients. Retrieving the AED promptly is a critical step in the chain of survival.

When administering mouth-to-mouth breathing techniques to an adult, it's crucial to:

Answer: As you close your lips around the victim's mouth, inhale deeply.

When administering mouth-to-mouth breathing to an adult, it's crucial to create an airtight seal by closing your lips around the victim's mouth. You should then inhale deeply to ensure you have enough air to deliver a full breath, which should be given slowly over about one second, making the chest visibly rise. Pinching the victim's nose closed is also essential to prevent air leakage.

What ratio of two rescuers performing CPR on a child?

Answer: 15 to 2.

For two rescuers performing CPR on a child, the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15 compressions to 2 breaths. This ratio is used for children and infants in a two-rescuer scenario to provide more frequent ventilations. Pediatric cardiac arrest is often respiratory in origin, making adequate breathing support vital.

When employing a basic face mask:

Answer: supply air for a duration of one second.

When employing a basic face mask or performing mouth-to-mouth ventilations, each breath should be supplied for a duration of approximately one second. This allows enough time for the air to enter the lungs and for the chest to visibly rise. Delivering breaths too quickly can force air into the stomach, causing complications.

The patient is becoming unresponsive as you are giving them an abdominal thrust. The first action you ought to take is:

Answer: turn on the system for emergency response.

If a patient becomes unresponsive while you are giving them abdominal thrusts for a choking emergency, the immediate first action is to activate the emergency response system (call 911/EMS). Once EMS is en route, you should then begin chest compressions, as the patient is now in cardiac arrest due to the airway obstruction.

All of the following conditions, with the exception of:

Answer: emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that develops over time, characterized by damage to the air sacs in the lungs. In contrast, pneumonia is an acute lung infection, vomiting can lead to acute aspiration, and aspiration itself is an acute event where foreign material enters the lungs. Emphysema is a chronic condition, not an acute event like the others.