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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

  1. A person with known heart failure suddenly develops extreme shortness of breath, pink frothy sputum, and crackling lung sounds. This presentation suggests:

    Answer: Acute pulmonary edema — call 911 and sit the patient upright

    Pink frothy sputum and crackles in a heart failure patient signal acute pulmonary edema; sitting upright reduces fluid backing into the lungs and EMS must be called.

  2. A teenager at a pool is pulled out unresponsive and not breathing. There is no pulse. After calling 911, what is the correct CPR sequence for a drowning victim?

    Answer: 2 rescue breaths first, then cycles of 30:2 compressions and breaths

    Drowning victims suffer hypoxic cardiac arrest, so rescue breathing is prioritized — start with 2 breaths, then continue standard 30:2 CPR.

  3. A 70-year-old woman is found confused with a blood pressure of 80/40 and heart rate of 130. Her skin is warm and flushed. Which type of shock does this presentation most suggest?

    Answer: Septic (distributive) shock

    Septic shock causes vasodilation, producing warm flushed skin, hypotension, and tachycardia — unlike cardiogenic or hypovolemic shock where skin is typically cool and pale.

  4. You suspect a co-worker is experiencing a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Their symptoms resolved after 10 minutes. What is the correct response?

    Answer: Call 911 — TIA is a medical emergency and a warning sign of impending stroke

    A TIA signals high immediate stroke risk; ~10-15% of TIA patients have a major stroke within 3 months, making same-day emergency evaluation critical.

  5. A runner collapses at the finish line and is not breathing or responsive. An AED is 2 minutes away. What should bystanders do in the meantime?

    Answer: Begin chest compressions immediately at 100-120 per minute

    Immediate high-quality chest compressions maintain perfusion; every delay before compressions decreases survival, so do not wait for the AED.

  6. A person reports sudden onset of the 'worst headache of their life' with neck stiffness and sensitivity to light. What condition does this suggest and what should you do?

    Answer: Subarachnoid hemorrhage — call 911 immediately

    A sudden 'thunderclap' headache described as the worst ever, with neck rigidity, is the classic presentation of subarachnoid hemorrhage — a life-threatening emergency.

  7. While giving rescue breaths during CPR, you notice the victim's chest does not rise. What should you do before the next breath attempt?

    Answer: Reposition the head with a head-tilt/chin-lift and ensure a proper seal

    Failed chest rise usually indicates improper head position or an inadequate mask seal; repositioning corrects the airway and allows effective ventilation.