OPOTA First Aid and CPR 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR by a single rescuer?
- 15 compressions to 2 breaths
- 30 compressions to 2 breaths (Correct answer)
- 20 compressions to 1 breath
- Continuous compressions with no breaths
Correct answer: 30 compressions to 2 breaths
The AHA and OPOTA recommend 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths for single-rescuer adult CPR.
The 30:2 ratio maximizes blood flow during compressions while providing adequate ventilation. Compressions should be at least 2 inches deep at 100-120 per minute. This ratio reflects research showing circulation is more critical than ventilation in early minutes of cardiac arrest.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of applying a tourniquet in a tactical emergency?
- To reduce swelling
- To stop life-threatening hemorrhage from an extremity (Correct answer)
- To immobilize a broken bone
- To check blood pressure
Correct answer: To stop life-threatening hemorrhage from an extremity
Tourniquets stop life-threatening hemorrhage from an arm or leg when direct pressure is insufficient.
Hemorrhage is the leading preventable cause of death in trauma. Officers are trained to apply tourniquets high and tight, 2-3 inches above the wound, and tighten until bleeding stops. Time of application must be noted. Current data shows properly applied tourniquets can remain in place for several hours without causing limb loss.
Question 3: What are the signs of a tension pneumothorax that an officer should recognize?
- Excessive sweating and hunger
- Difficulty breathing, tracheal deviation, absent breath sounds on one side, and distended neck veins (Correct answer)
- Numbness in fingers and toes
- Nausea and abdominal pain
Correct answer: Difficulty breathing, tracheal deviation, absent breath sounds on one side, and distended neck veins
Tension pneumothorax presents with respiratory distress, tracheal deviation, absent breath sounds, and distended neck veins.
A tension pneumothorax occurs when air enters the chest cavity but cannot escape, compressing the lung and shifting the heart. It can be fatal within minutes. Initial treatment involves applying a chest seal with a one-way valve over any penetrating chest wound.
Question 4: In Ohio, what does 'implied consent' mean in emergency first aid?
- A signed medical release form
- The legal assumption that an unresponsive person would consent to life-saving treatment (Correct answer)
- The officer's consent to provide aid
- A hospital's agreement to accept patients
Correct answer: The legal assumption that an unresponsive person would consent to life-saving treatment
Implied consent is the legal principle that an unconscious person would consent to emergency life-saving treatment if they could.
Implied consent allows first responders to provide emergency treatment to persons who are unconscious or unable to give express consent. It does not apply to conscious, competent adults who refuse treatment--those refusals must be respected and documented.
Question 5: What is the correct technique for controlling severe bleeding using direct pressure?
- Light pressure, checking every 30 seconds
- Firm, continuous pressure with gauze, maintained without lifting to check (Correct answer)
- Apply pressure for 10 seconds then release
- Use a bare hand without any barrier
Correct answer: Firm, continuous pressure with gauze, maintained without lifting to check
Severe bleeding requires firm, continuous pressure maintained without lifting to allow clot formation.
Direct pressure must be firm, applied with gauze or hemostatic dressing, and maintained continuously for at least three minutes. Repeatedly removing the dressing disrupts clot formation. If blood soaks through, add dressings on top without removing the original. If direct pressure fails on an extremity, transition to a tourniquet.
Question 6: What position should an officer place an unconscious but breathing patient in?
- Flat on their back with legs elevated
- Recovery position (on their side) to maintain airway (Correct answer)
- Seated upright against a wall
- Prone with head turned to the side
Correct answer: Recovery position (on their side) to maintain airway
The recovery position on their side prevents aspiration and maintains an open airway.
The recovery position places the patient on their side with the head supported and mouth angled downward. This prevents the tongue from blocking the airway and allows secretions to drain. Officers frequently encounter unconscious individuals from overdose, intoxication, or head trauma.
OPOTA First Aid and CPR 2
What is the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR by a single rescuer?