DDA Health Safety & Daily Living Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When supporting an individual with a seizure disorder, which action is CONTRAINDICATED during a seizure episode?
- Turning the person on their side
- Placing something in the person's mouth to protect their tongue (Correct answer)
- Timing the duration of the seizure
- Clearing the area of sharp or hard objects
Correct answer: Placing something in the person's mouth to protect their tongue
Never place anything in the mouth of a seizing person; it is a dangerous myth that can cause injury to both the individual and the caregiver.
Question 2: An individual supported by a DDA has a behavior support plan (BSP). The DDA should implement BSP strategies:
- Only when the target behavior occurs frequently
- Consistently during all interactions as outlined in the plan (Correct answer)
- At the DDA's discretion based on the situation
- Only when a supervisor is present to observe
Correct answer: Consistently during all interactions as outlined in the plan
Consistent implementation of BSP strategies across all settings and interactions is essential for effectiveness and fidelity.
Question 3: Which approach to teaching daily living skills is MOST consistent with person-centered practices?
- Teaching skills in the order the DDA finds most logical
- Using a standardized curriculum for all individuals regardless of preference
- Selecting skills based on the individual's goals and expressed interests (Correct answer)
- Focusing exclusively on skills required for institutional compliance
Correct answer: Selecting skills based on the individual's goals and expressed interests
Person-centered practices prioritize the individual's own goals, preferences, and interests when planning and teaching daily living skills.
Question 4: A DDA is assisting an individual with meal preparation. The individual wants to use a sharp knife but has limited fine motor control. The BEST response is to:
- Refuse the request entirely to ensure safety
- Allow the individual full independence regardless of risk
- Assess risk and provide appropriate adaptive tools or hand-over-hand support (Correct answer)
- Document the refusal in the daily log and move on
Correct answer: Assess risk and provide appropriate adaptive tools or hand-over-hand support
A balanced approach addresses safety concerns while preserving the individual's right to participate through risk assessment and adaptive supports.
Question 5: An individual begins choking on food and cannot cough, speak, or breathe. The DDA's IMMEDIATE action should be:
- Call 911 and wait for paramedics to arrive
- Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) (Correct answer)
- Give the individual a drink of water to dislodge the food
- Lay the individual flat and begin rescue breathing
Correct answer: Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)
A complete airway obstruction requires immediate abdominal thrusts to dislodge the foreign object before calling 911 if the person becomes unconscious.
Question 6: Proper hand hygiene for a DDA providing personal care requires washing hands for at LEAST:
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- 60 seconds
Correct answer: 20 seconds
The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively reduce pathogen transmission.
Question 7: Which is the MOST appropriate method to document a supported individual's health status change at the end of a shift?
- Tell the oncoming DDA verbally and skip written documentation
- Write a brief note in the communication log including time, observations, and actions taken (Correct answer)
- Report only to the supervisor and let them document it
- Document it only if the change required emergency services
Correct answer: Write a brief note in the communication log including time, observations, and actions taken
Written documentation in the communication log with time, objective observations, and actions taken ensures continuity of care and creates a legal record.
DDA Health Safety & Daily Living Skills 3
When supporting an individual with a seizure disorder, which action is CONTRAINDICATED during a seizure episode?