CMA Emergency Procedures & First Aid 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the FIRST action a CMA should take when a patient collapses in the medical office?
- Call 911 immediately
- Begin chest compressions
- Check for responsiveness and breathing (Correct answer)
- Retrieve the AED
Correct answer: Check for responsiveness and breathing
Checking for responsiveness and breathing first determines whether an emergency exists and guides all subsequent actions.
Question 2: What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR performed by a single rescuer?
- 15:2
- 5:1
- 20:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 30:2
Current AHA guidelines specify 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths for single-rescuer adult CPR.
Question 3: When performing the Heimlich maneuver on a conscious adult, where should abdominal thrusts be directed?
- Lower chest
- Upper abdomen just below the ribcage (Correct answer)
- Center of the sternum
- Upper chest near the clavicle
Correct answer: Upper abdomen just below the ribcage
Thrusts applied to the upper abdomen just below the ribcage create upward pressure to expel a foreign body airway obstruction.
Question 4: Which type of shock is caused by a severe allergic reaction resulting in widespread vasodilation?
- Cardiogenic shock
- Hypovolemic shock
- Distributive (anaphylactic) shock (Correct answer)
- Obstructive shock
Correct answer: Distributive (anaphylactic) shock
Anaphylactic shock is a form of distributive shock in which massive histamine release causes widespread vasodilation and circulatory collapse.
Question 5: What is the FIRST-LINE medication for treating anaphylaxis in an emergency?
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Corticosteroids
- Supplemental oxygen only
- Epinephrine (EpiPen) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Epinephrine (EpiPen)
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis because it rapidly reverses vasodilation, bronchospasm, and laryngeal edema.
Question 6: A patient is experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. What should the CMA do FIRST?
- Restrain the patient's movements
- Insert a tongue depressor to prevent biting
- Clear the area of dangerous objects and cushion the patient's head (Correct answer)
- Perform rescue breathing immediately
Correct answer: Clear the area of dangerous objects and cushion the patient's head
Protecting the patient from injury by removing hazards and cushioning the head is the priority; restraining movements or inserting objects can cause harm.
Question 7: An AED should be used when a patient exhibits which condition?
- Unconscious but still breathing normally
- Rapid, irregular pulse only
- Respiratory distress without circulatory compromise
- No pulse and not breathing normally (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No pulse and not breathing normally
AEDs are indicated for patients in cardiac arrest, defined as having no pulse and no normal breathing.
CMA Emergency Procedures & First Aid 1
What is the FIRST action a CMA should take when a patient collapses in the medical office?