PCA Health & Safety Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using a RACE protocol during a fire, what does the letter 'C' stand for?
- Call 911 immediately
- Contain the fire by closing doors (Correct answer)
- Check for victims in the building
- Conserve oxygen supplies
Correct answer: Contain the fire by closing doors
In RACE (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate), 'C' stands for Contain — closing doors slows the spread of fire and smoke.
Question 2: A client begins choking and cannot cough, speak, or breathe. After calling 911, what should the PCA do next?
- Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) immediately (Correct answer)
- Lay the client flat and begin CPR
- Encourage the client to drink water to dislodge the object
- Sweep the mouth with a finger to remove the object
Correct answer: Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) immediately
A conscious adult who cannot cough or breathe requires immediate abdominal thrusts to clear a complete airway obstruction.
Question 3: Which environmental modification is most effective for preventing falls in an elderly client's home?
- Installing grab bars in the bathroom and securing loose rugs (Correct answer)
- Keeping all lights off at night so the client sleeps undisturbed
- Placing furniture close together so the client has surfaces to hold
- Asking the client to stay in bed as much as possible
Correct answer: Installing grab bars in the bathroom and securing loose rugs
Grab bars provide stable support in high-risk areas, and securing loose rugs eliminates a major tripping hazard.
Question 4: A client's oxygen concentrator alarms and stops flowing. What should the PCA do first?
- Turn the concentrator off and back on to reset it
- Check that the device is plugged in and the tubing is not kinked, then call for help if the alarm continues (Correct answer)
- Increase the flow rate to compensate for the interruption
- Move the client outdoors for fresh air immediately
Correct answer: Check that the device is plugged in and the tubing is not kinked, then call for help if the alarm continues
A quick check for power and obstructions can resolve simple equipment failures; if the problem persists, supervisor or emergency services must be contacted.
Question 5: A PCA finds a client unconscious and not breathing. CPR-trained agency policy requires calling 911 first. After calling, what is the next step?
- Wait by the door to guide paramedics
- Begin chest compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute (Correct answer)
- Collect the client's medications to hand to paramedics
- Position the client in the recovery position and monitor
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute
After activating EMS, immediate high-quality chest compressions at 100–120 per minute are the next priority to maintain circulation.
Question 6: How should a PCA respond if a client reports a sudden, severe headache described as 'the worst of my life'?
- Offer two acetaminophen tablets and encourage rest
- Call 911 immediately and keep the client calm and still (Correct answer)
- Schedule a same-day doctor's appointment
- Apply a cold compress to the forehead and monitor for 30 minutes
Correct answer: Call 911 immediately and keep the client calm and still
A 'thunderclap' headache described as the worst ever is a red-flag symptom of a possible subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring immediate emergency care.
Question 7: During an earthquake, a PCA is indoors with a client who uses a wheelchair. What is the safest action?
- Take the client outside immediately through the nearest exit
- Move the client to an interior doorway and stand in it
- Lock the wheelchair and have the client shelter under a sturdy table or desk, protecting their head and neck (Correct answer)
- Move to windows to watch for falling debris
Correct answer: Lock the wheelchair and have the client shelter under a sturdy table or desk, protecting their head and neck
The Drop, Cover, Hold On method applies to wheelchair users — lock brakes, lean forward, and protect the head and neck under a sturdy surface.
PCA Health & Safety Protocols 3
When using a RACE protocol during a fire, what does the letter 'C' stand for?