First Aid Sudden Medical Emergencies 5

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Acute pulmonary edema — call 911 and sit the patient upright

Answer

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.

Question 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?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 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?

Accepted Answer

Septic (distributive) shock

Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 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?

Accepted Answer

Begin chest compressions immediately at 100-120 per minute

Answer

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

First Aid Practice Test

First Aid Practice Test

First Aid Sudden Medical Emergencies 5