Emergency Response Procedures Flashcards

During a mass casualty incident in the ICU, the START triage system categorizes a patient who is breathing at 22 breaths/min, has a radial pulse, and can follow commands. What color tag should be assigned?

Answer: Red (immediate)

A patient breathing spontaneously, with a radial pulse, and able to follow commands is tagged Red (immediate) under START triage, indicating life-threatening but salvageable injuries.

When activating a hospital Code Blue for an adult ICU patient, which immediate action takes highest priority before the crash team arrives?

Answer: Begin high-quality chest compressions

High-quality chest compressions are the single most important intervention in cardiac arrest, as they maintain coronary and cerebral perfusion until advanced care arrives.

A fire is reported in the ICU medication room. Using the RACE acronym, what is the FIRST action staff should take?

Answer: Rescue persons in immediate danger

RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate — Rescue of persons in immediate danger is always the first priority.

During rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in a hemodynamically unstable trauma patient, which induction agent best preserves cardiovascular stability?

Answer: Ketamine 1–2 mg/kg

Ketamine maintains sympathetic tone, making it the preferred induction agent in hemodynamically unstable patients requiring emergency RSI.

A patient on mechanical ventilation develops sudden hypotension, decreased SpO2, and absent breath sounds on the right. After ETT displacement is excluded, what is the most urgent next step?

Answer: Perform needle thoracostomy on the right at the 2nd intercostal space midclavicular line

These findings indicate tension pneumothorax, which is a clinical diagnosis requiring immediate needle thoracostomy without waiting for imaging.

In the event of a hospital power failure affecting ICU ventilators, what is the minimum backup power duration that US Joint Commission standards require for life-safety systems?

Answer: 90 minutes

The Joint Commission requires emergency generator systems to activate within 10 seconds and provide at least 90 minutes of backup power for life-safety branch circuits.

During a hazardous material (HAZMAT) exposure incident, ICU staff receive a potentially contaminated patient from the ED. Which PPE level is appropriate for initial patient decontamination?

Answer: Level C — powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) and chemical-resistant suit

Level C PPE with PAPR or air-purifying respirator and chemical-resistant clothing is appropriate for patient decontamination when the hazardous substance is identified but not immediately life-threatening to rescuers.