BTC Emergency Procedures & Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A ventilator alarm sounds 'Low Minute Volume' during an emergency. Which parameter should the biomedical technician check first?
- Inspiratory time setting
- Circuit tubing for disconnection or leaks (Correct answer)
- Humidifier water level
- FiO2 sensor calibration
Correct answer: Circuit tubing for disconnection or leaks
Circuit disconnection or leaks are the most common cause of low minute volume alarms and represent an immediate patient safety hazard.
Question 2: Which class of fire extinguisher is appropriate for an electrical equipment fire in a biomedical equipment room?
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C (Correct answer)
- Class D
Correct answer: Class C
Class C extinguishers are rated for energized electrical equipment fires and use non-conductive agents such as CO2 or dry chemical.
Question 3: When an IV infusion pump alarms 'Occlusion Downstream' during emergency drug delivery, the technician should:
- Increase the infusion rate to overcome the block
- Inspect the IV line distal to the pump for kinks or closed clamps (Correct answer)
- Replace the pump immediately
- Switch to a bolus delivery mode
Correct answer: Inspect the IV line distal to the pump for kinks or closed clamps
A downstream occlusion alarm indicates a blockage between the pump and patient; inspecting the IV line for kinks or closed clamps resolves the most common causes.
Question 4: In an emergency, which action should be taken if a medical device's ground wire is found to be broken?
- Continue using it with extra caution
- Tag it out of service and remove it from patient care immediately (Correct answer)
- Tape the wire together temporarily
- Increase the isolation monitoring frequency
Correct answer: Tag it out of service and remove it from patient care immediately
A broken ground wire creates a risk of electrical shock to the patient; the device must be immediately removed from service and tagged for repair.
Question 5: During a hospital disaster drill, which biomedical technician duty has highest priority?
- Documenting all equipment serial numbers
- Ensuring life-support and critical-care equipment is functional (Correct answer)
- Updating the asset management database
- Calibrating non-critical diagnostic devices
Correct answer: Ensuring life-support and critical-care equipment is functional
Ensuring that life-support and critical-care equipment is operational is the biomedical technician's highest priority during any disaster scenario.
Question 6: An automated external defibrillator (AED) advises 'No Shock Advised' for a patient in cardiac arrest. What does this mean?
- The AED is malfunctioning and should be replaced
- The rhythm detected is non-shockable, such as PEA or asystole (Correct answer)
- The patient's heart rate is too fast
- The electrode pads are not making contact
Correct answer: The rhythm detected is non-shockable, such as PEA or asystole
A 'No Shock Advised' message means the AED has analyzed the rhythm and determined it is not a shockable rhythm such as VF or pulseless VT; CPR should continue.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a medical gas zone valve box in an emergency?
- To regulate gas pressure to individual rooms
- To allow isolation of medical gas supply to a specific zone during emergencies (Correct answer)
- To measure gas consumption for billing
- To filter contaminants from the gas supply
Correct answer: To allow isolation of medical gas supply to a specific zone during emergencies
Zone valve boxes allow medical staff to shut off gas supply to a specific area in an emergency such as a fire or gas leak without affecting the entire facility.
BTC Emergency Procedures & Response 3
A ventilator alarm sounds 'Low Minute Volume' during an emergency.
Which parameter should the biomedical technician check first?