COM Emergency Procedures & Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient suddenly becomes unresponsive during an orofacial myology session. What is the FIRST action the clinician should take?
- Call 911 immediately
- Check for responsiveness and breathing (Correct answer)
- Begin chest compressions
- Administer oxygen
Correct answer: Check for responsiveness and breathing
The first step in any emergency is to assess the patient's responsiveness and breathing before initiating further action.
Question 2: Which type of seizure is most likely to require emergency medical services (EMS) activation during a therapy session?
- Absence seizure lasting under 30 seconds
- Simple partial seizure with full awareness
- Tonic-clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (Correct answer)
- Focal seizure with brief confusion
Correct answer: Tonic-clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
A tonic-clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus) is a medical emergency requiring immediate EMS activation.
Question 3: A patient reports feeling light-headed and you observe them sweating profusely during a session. These signs are most consistent with:
- Hypoglycemic episode (Correct answer)
- Anxiety attack
- Syncope from dehydration
- Anaphylactic reaction
Correct answer: Hypoglycemic episode
Profuse sweating combined with light-headedness is a classic presentation of hypoglycemia, especially in diabetic patients.
Question 4: When a patient faints (vasovagal syncope) in the dental or therapy chair, what is the correct immediate positioning?
- Upright seated position
- Supine with legs elevated (Correct answer)
- Recovery position on their side
- Head between knees while seated
Correct answer: Supine with legs elevated
Laying the patient supine with legs elevated increases cerebral blood flow and is the standard response to vasovagal syncope.
Question 5: An orofacial myologist discovers a patient has no pulse and is not breathing. After calling 911, what should be initiated immediately?
- Rescue breathing only
- Chest compressions at 100–120 per minute (Correct answer)
- AED use before compressions
- Abdominal thrusts
Correct answer: Chest compressions at 100–120 per minute
Current CPR guidelines prioritize high-quality chest compressions at 100–120 per minute before any other intervention.
Question 6: Which of the following is the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 10:1
- 20:2
Correct answer: 30:2
Current AHA guidelines recommend a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR.
Question 7: A child patient is suspected of having a foreign body airway obstruction and is conscious but cannot cough effectively. What intervention is indicated?
- Back blows and abdominal thrusts (Correct answer)
- Finger sweep of the mouth
- Immediate intubation attempt
- Have the child cough harder
Correct answer: Back blows and abdominal thrusts
For a conscious child with complete airway obstruction, alternating back blows and abdominal thrusts are the recommended intervention.
COM Emergency Procedures & Response 2
A patient suddenly becomes unresponsive during an orofacial myology session.
What is the FIRST action the clinician should take?