Sudden Medical Emergencies Flashcards
7 cards from real First Aid practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sudden Medical Emergencies flashcards as text
A person is having a severe asthma attack and their rescue inhaler is not working. They become too weak to speak. What is the priority action?
Answer: Call 911 immediately and keep them upright
A severe asthma attack unresponsive to a rescue inhaler is life-threatening and requires immediate emergency services; keeping the person upright eases breathing.
You find an unconscious adult who is breathing. There is no suspicion of spinal injury. What position should you place them in?
Answer: Recovery position (on their side)
The recovery position keeps the airway open and prevents aspiration if the person vomits while unconscious.
A 55-year-old man suddenly develops slurred speech, facial drooping on one side, and cannot raise both arms equally. Using FAST, what should you do?
Answer: Call 911 immediately — these are stroke signs
FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs indicate stroke — every minute matters, call 911 for fastest definitive treatment.
An infant appears to be choking and cannot cry or cough. Which technique is correct for a choking infant under 1 year?
Answer: Alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts
For infants, alternating 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts (not abdominal thrusts) is the correct technique to relieve obstruction.
A hiker collapses with cool, pale, clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, and confusion after hours in the heat. This presentation most suggests which emergency?
Answer: Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion features heavy sweating, cool clammy skin, weakness, and near-normal mental status, unlike heat stroke which causes hot dry skin and altered consciousness.
You are performing CPR alone on an adult. EMS has been called. At what rate should you deliver chest compressions?
Answer: 100-120 compressions per minute
Guidelines recommend 100-120 compressions per minute to maximize blood flow during CPR.
A person experiences anaphylaxis after a bee sting: hives, throat tightening, and difficulty breathing. The correct first action is to:
Answer: Administer epinephrine auto-injector and call 911
Epinephrine is the only effective first-line treatment for anaphylaxis; antihistamines act too slowly and do not reverse airway swelling.