SDPD First Aid and Emergency Medical Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer encounters a subject displaying signs of opioid overdose: pinpoint pupils, slow breathing, and unconsciousness. What medication can officers administer under SDPD protocol?
- Epinephrine (EpiPen)
- Naloxone (Narcan) (Correct answer)
- Aspirin
- Glucose gel
Correct answer: Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone (Narcan) is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid overdose and is authorized for law enforcement use under California law.
Question 2: A victim is experiencing anaphylactic shock after a bee sting, with hives, throat swelling, and difficulty breathing. What is the primary treatment?
- Administer oral antihistamines and monitor
- Apply ice to the sting site and call EMS
- Administer epinephrine via auto-injector and call EMS (Correct answer)
- Place in recovery position and perform rescue breathing
Correct answer: Administer epinephrine via auto-injector and call EMS
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis; it counteracts the life-threatening systemic allergic reaction and EMS should be summoned immediately.
Question 3: When an officer suspects a victim has suffered a spinal injury, how should the airway be opened if the victim is unconscious and not breathing?
- Head-tilt chin-lift method
- Jaw-thrust maneuver without head tilt (Correct answer)
- Roll victim onto their side and open mouth
- Hyperextend the neck and lift the chin
Correct answer: Jaw-thrust maneuver without head tilt
The jaw-thrust maneuver opens the airway without moving the cervical spine, making it the preferred technique when spinal injury is suspected.
Question 4: What are the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) an officer might observe in a subject?
- Slow heart rate, pale skin, and confusion
- Rapid heart rate, sweating, shakiness, and confusion (Correct answer)
- High blood pressure, flushing, and dry skin
- Slow breathing, drowsiness, and sweet-smelling breath
Correct answer: Rapid heart rate, sweating, shakiness, and confusion
Hypoglycemia typically presents with rapid heart rate (tachycardia), diaphoresis, tremors, and altered mental status due to glucose deprivation of the brain.
Question 5: A subject has an impaled object in the chest. What is the correct field treatment?
- Remove the object and pack the wound
- Stabilize the object in place and do not remove it (Correct answer)
- Apply direct pressure around and over the object
- Cover with an airtight seal on all four sides
Correct answer: Stabilize the object in place and do not remove it
Impaled objects should always be stabilized in place because removal can cause uncontrolled internal bleeding and further injury.
Question 6: When treating an open chest wound (sucking chest wound), what type of dressing should be applied?
- A thick pressure dressing taped on all four sides
- A vented (three-sided) chest seal or commercial chest seal (Correct answer)
- A wet saline dressing to keep tissue moist
- A standard gauze pad held in place by hand
Correct answer: A vented (three-sided) chest seal or commercial chest seal
A vented or three-sided seal allows air to escape on exhalation while preventing air from entering on inhalation, preventing tension pneumothorax.
Question 7: What is the recommended compression depth for adult CPR?
- 1 to 1.5 inches
- At least 2 inches but no more than 2.4 inches (Correct answer)
- 3 to 4 inches
- As deep as possible without limit
Correct answer: At least 2 inches but no more than 2.4 inches
AHA guidelines specify a compression depth of at least 2 inches but no more than 2.4 inches to ensure effective cardiac output without causing injury.
SDPD First Aid and Emergency Medical Response 2
An officer encounters a subject displaying signs of opioid overdose: pinpoint pupils, slow breathing, and unconsciousness.
What medication can officers administer under SDPD protocol?