First Aid Sudden Illness and Allergies 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Where is the correct injection site for an epinephrine auto-injector?
- Upper arm deltoid muscle
- Outer thigh through clothing if necessary (Correct answer)
- Buttocks for fastest absorption
- Abdomen like an insulin injection
Correct answer: Outer thigh through clothing if necessary
The outer thigh (vastus lateralis) is the recommended injection site and can be given through clothing in an emergency.
Question 2: A co-worker suddenly develops severe chest pain and shortness of breath. You ask if they are allergic to aspirin and they say no. What should you do?
- Give them one regular aspirin (325mg) to chew while calling 911 (Correct answer)
- Have them take two ibuprofen tablets for pain relief
- Withhold all medication and just call 911
- Give them antacids in case it is heartburn
Correct answer: Give them one regular aspirin (325mg) to chew while calling 911
For suspected heart attack, one regular aspirin chewed (not swallowed whole) can help prevent further clotting while waiting for EMS.
Question 3: A person with diabetes tells you their blood sugar is low and hands you candy, then loses consciousness before eating it. What should you do?
- Pour the candy into their mouth anyway
- Call 911 and do not give anything by mouth (Correct answer)
- Rub honey on their gums immediately
- Wait for them to regain consciousness before giving sugar
Correct answer: Call 911 and do not give anything by mouth
An unconscious person should never receive anything by mouth due to choking risk; call 911 for IV glucose administration.
Question 4: Which of the following describes the correct way to remove a bee stinger?
- Squeeze it with tweezers and pull it out quickly
- Scrape it out sideways with a flat rigid object like a credit card (Correct answer)
- Leave it in place to avoid pushing more venom in
- Suck it out with your mouth to remove the venom
Correct answer: Scrape it out sideways with a flat rigid object like a credit card
Scraping sideways removes the stinger without squeezing the venom sac, which would inject more venom into the wound.
Question 5: A person begins having a seizure while standing. Your FIRST action should be:
- Call 911 immediately before doing anything else
- Gently lower them to the ground to prevent a fall injury (Correct answer)
- Place them in a chair to keep them upright
- Open their mouth to check if their tongue is blocking airway
Correct answer: Gently lower them to the ground to prevent a fall injury
The immediate priority is preventing injury from falling by guiding the person to the ground before anything else.
Question 6: Which of the following is a late sign of anaphylaxis indicating the situation is becoming critical?
- Mild sneezing and watery eyes
- Skin flushing and itching at the site of the sting
- Stridor (high-pitched breathing noise) and cyanosis (Correct answer)
- Stomach cramping and nausea
Correct answer: Stridor (high-pitched breathing noise) and cyanosis
Stridor and cyanosis indicate severe airway swelling and oxygen deprivation, representing a critical, life-threatening stage of anaphylaxis.
Question 7: How long should you hold an epinephrine auto-injector against the thigh after injection?
- 1 second then remove immediately
- 3 seconds then massage the area
- 10 seconds to ensure full delivery (Correct answer)
- 30 seconds for complete absorption
Correct answer: 10 seconds to ensure full delivery
Holding for 10 seconds ensures all the medication is delivered before removing the device.
First Aid Sudden Illness and Allergies 4
Where is the correct injection site for an epinephrine auto-injector?