First Aid & Basic Life Support Flashcards

A crew member was stung by a bee and now has hives, wheezing, and throat tightness. They carry an epinephrine auto-injector. Where should it be administered?

Answer: Into the outer thigh

Epinephrine auto-injectors are given into the outer (anterolateral) thigh and can be given through clothing if needed.

What is the recommended first aid for a minor thermal burn on a firefighter's hand?

Answer: Cool it with cool running water for at least 10 minutes

Cool running water limits tissue damage, while ice, butter, and popping blisters can worsen injury or cause infection.

A crew member drank large amounts of plain water all day without eating and now has nausea, headache, and confusion despite frequent urination. What condition is most likely?

Answer: Hyponatremia (low blood sodium)

Drinking excessive water without replacing electrolytes can dilute blood sodium, producing hyponatremia.

After a lightning strike near a burn unit, several people are down. Which victims should generally be treated first?

Answer: Those who appear to be in cardiac arrest

Lightning victims in arrest often respond to prompt CPR, so 'reverse triage' prioritizes those who appear dead.

Why is a standard pulse oximeter unreliable for a patient with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning?

Answer: It may show falsely normal oxygen saturation because it cannot distinguish carboxyhemoglobin

Standard pulse oximeters read carboxyhemoglobin as oxyhemoglobin, giving a misleadingly normal value.

For an adult in cardiac arrest, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer?

Answer: 30:2

Single-rescuer adult CPR uses 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths.

A crew member is bitten on the lower leg by a rattlesnake during line prep. What is an appropriate first aid action?

Answer: Keep the person calm, immobilize the limb, remove tight items, and evacuate to care

Immobilization, removing constricting items, and rapid transport are recommended; tourniquets, cutting, suction, and ice cause harm.