RCFE - Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Emergency Procedures Test 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a power outage at an RCFE, what is the FIRST action staff should take?
- Call the utility company to report the outage
- Check on all residents, prioritizing those who rely on electrical medical equipment (Correct answer)
- Immediately evacuate all residents to a safe outdoor area
- Wait 15 minutes to see if power is restored before acting
Correct answer: Check on all residents, prioritizing those who rely on electrical medical equipment
Resident safety is always the first priority. Staff must immediately check on all residents, especially those dependent on oxygen concentrators, electric beds, or other powered medical equipment, as these individuals face immediate risk during a power failure.
Question 2: When a resident is discovered missing from an RCFE, what is the FIRST step staff should take?
- Immediately call local law enforcement and file a missing person report
- Conduct a thorough search of the entire facility and surrounding grounds (Correct answer)
- Notify the resident's family or responsible party
- Complete an incident report and wait for the administrator
Correct answer: Conduct a thorough search of the entire facility and surrounding grounds
Before escalating to law enforcement or family notification, staff must first conduct a rapid, thorough search of the building and immediate grounds. The resident may simply be in a common area, another resident's room, or a nearby outdoor space.
Question 3: During an earthquake while inside an RCFE, what should staff and ambulatory residents do?
- Immediately run toward the nearest emergency exit
- Drop, cover, and hold on until all shaking has completely stopped (Correct answer)
- Move to interior hallways and stand flat against the walls
- Open windows to prevent pressure from building up in the building
Correct answer: Drop, cover, and hold on until all shaking has completely stopped
The universally recommended response to an earthquake indoors is Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Running during shaking increases fall risk, and standing in hallways does not provide adequate overhead protection. Evacuation should occur only after shaking stops.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST describes what an RCFE's emergency disaster kit should contain for residents?
- A minimum 72-hour supply of each resident's medications and medical supplies (Correct answer)
- Only bottled water and non-perishable food sufficient for one day
- A single first aid kit shared among all residents and staff
- Residents' personal valuables and electronic devices
Correct answer: A minimum 72-hour supply of each resident's medications and medical supplies
California regulations require RCFEs to maintain emergency supplies sufficient for at least 72 hours (3 days). This includes each resident's medications, medical supplies, food, and water, since residents may have complex chronic conditions requiring uninterrupted treatment.
Question 5: Under what circumstance should RCFE staff call 911 during a medical emergency WITHOUT waiting for administrator approval?
- Only when the resident or their family specifically requests emergency services
- Only after attempting to reach the resident's personal physician first
- Whenever a resident displays signs of a life-threatening emergency such as chest pain, stroke, or stopped breathing (Correct answer)
- Only when two staff members agree the situation is serious enough
Correct answer: Whenever a resident displays signs of a life-threatening emergency such as chest pain, stroke, or stopped breathing
In a life-threatening situation, staff must call 911 immediately. Delaying emergency services to seek administrative approval or contact a physician first can cost a resident their life. Rapid activation of emergency medical services is a core duty of care.
Question 6: During a lockdown emergency at an RCFE — such as an active threat in the surrounding area — what should staff do with the facility's exterior doors and windows?
- Prop exterior doors open so emergency responders can enter quickly
- Lock and secure all exterior doors and move residents away from windows (Correct answer)
- Post one staff member at each door to personally screen all visitors
- Leave doors in their normal state to avoid alarming residents
Correct answer: Lock and secure all exterior doors and move residents away from windows
During a lockdown, the goal is to create a secure barrier between residents and the external threat. All exterior doors must be locked, and residents should be moved away from windows to prevent exposure to potential danger outside the building.
RCFE - Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Emergency Procedures Test 1
During a power outage at an RCFE, what is the FIRST action staff should take?