APC Emergency Response Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pharmacy customer collapses and has no pulse. The nearest AED is two minutes away. What should the pharmacist do FIRST?
- Wait for the AED before starting any intervention
- Begin chest compressions immediately while someone retrieves the AED (Correct answer)
- Administer atropine from the emergency kit
- Perform the Heimlich maneuver
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions immediately while someone retrieves the AED
High-quality chest compressions must begin immediately in cardiac arrest; early CPR significantly improves survival outcomes.
Question 2: A pharmacist notices a staff member experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which action is CONTRAINDICATED during the seizure?
- Timing the duration of the seizure
- Placing something in the person's mouth to prevent tongue biting (Correct answer)
- Protecting the person's head from injury
- Moving dangerous objects away from the person
Correct answer: Placing something in the person's mouth to prevent tongue biting
Placing objects in the mouth is dangerous and contraindicated as it can cause injury to the person or the rescuer.
Question 3: When managing a suspected opioid overdose in the pharmacy, which medication can a pharmacist administer as an emergency intervention?
- Flumazenil
- Naloxone (Correct answer)
- Activated charcoal
- Diazepam
Correct answer: Naloxone
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression and is available for emergency use.
Question 4: A patient on warfarin presents with uncontrolled bleeding after a laceration. Beyond applying direct pressure, what specific concern should a pharmacist flag when calling emergency services?
- The patient's recent INR history and anticoagulant use (Correct answer)
- The brand of warfarin the patient is taking
- Whether the patient has eaten recently
- The patient's blood type
Correct answer: The patient's recent INR history and anticoagulant use
Anticoagulant use significantly affects bleeding management and must be communicated to emergency responders to guide treatment decisions.
Question 5: A fire breaks out in a pharmacy storage area. What is the primary priority according to emergency response principles?
- Salvage high-value medications first
- Evacuate all persons to safety (Correct answer)
- Attempt to extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher
- Call the fire brigade and wait at the front desk
Correct answer: Evacuate all persons to safety
Life safety is always the first priority; evacuation of all persons must occur before any attempt to fight the fire.
Question 6: What does the acronym DRSABCD stand for in the Australian first aid framework?
- Danger, Response, Send, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation (Correct answer)
- Danger, Response, Shout, Assess, Bleeding, Compressions, Drugs
- Detection, Response, Scene, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Defibrillation
- Danger, Resuscitation, Send, Assistance, Bleeding, Compressions, Defibrillation
Correct answer: Danger, Response, Send, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation
DRSABCD (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation) is the standard Australian first aid action plan.
Question 7: In the context of pharmacy emergency preparedness, what is the purpose of a 'crash kit' or emergency kit?
- To store controlled drugs securely in case of after-hours access
- To provide immediate access to essential medications and equipment for life-threatening emergencies (Correct answer)
- To fulfill regulatory requirements for narcotic storage
- To manage patient complaints during a staffing emergency
Correct answer: To provide immediate access to essential medications and equipment for life-threatening emergencies
An emergency or crash kit contains essential medications and equipment enabling rapid response to acute, life-threatening situations.
APC Emergency Response Procedures 3
A pharmacy customer collapses and has no pulse.
The nearest AED is two minutes away.
What should the pharmacist do FIRST?